280 Ackley Improved

[dbk84]

Does anyboy have one? What are your thoughts on this cartridge.....just fishin for some feed back... :)

[sinman]

I had a regular 280 but I see nothing bad about the AI version. You can even get proper headstamp brass for it from Nosler.

[laportecharlie]

I have a LH Browning Stainless Stalker that started life as a 280 Rem. The gun came with a BOSS and as a result the barrel was only 20". Fairly lackluster performance so I sent it to Darrell Holland in Oregon. He blueprinted the action and installed a 26" Schneider barrel in a #4 contour chambered for 280AI. What a difference! 140 grain bullets @ 3250 fps and well under 1 MOA in a sporter with a 2.5 X 10 scope. Whats not to like?
Charlie

[Rooster 50]

I have one that I like a lot. Funny thing is it shoots one hole groups while fireforming, but opens up to about 5/8th of an in with formed brass. Never figured that one out.

[dbk84]

thanks fellas.

[GaCop]

How is barrel life on the 280AI?

[wbm]

I have one that I like a lot. Funny thing is it shoots one hole groups while fireforming, but opens up to about 5/8th of an in with formed brass. Never figured that one out.

Had a 22-250AI that did the same thing. ???

[laportecharlie]

GaCop,
I would guess that if you take care of it a 280AI barrel would last you the rest of your life. Mine has right at 200 rounds thru it (mostly fire form loads) and it just keeps getting better.
Charlie

[GaCop]

Thanks. I'm looking at replacing the 308 barrel on my 112 BVSS with a heavy varmint 280AI for 1000 yard shooting. The 280AI will see a lot of long range use.

[thunderchief]

I was thinking about building one up myself. I was thinking full bull around 28". Curly maple stock for longggg distance shooting also. Keep us posted.

[GaCop]

Ordered a heavy varmint barrel from Sinman last night. 28", 1 in 9 twist, chrome moly, .850" at the muzzle. Should have it in six or seven weeks. $331 with shipping and insurance.

Tom

[sage flats shooter]

Mine is built on a springfield 03-a3 action 25" 5 wt shilen barrel.
Gets +3200 fps with the 140 gr. accubond bullets.
It hammers everything.... killed an elk with it at a ranged 460 yards.

It gets 2 thumbs up from me, reality is that it performs very close to the 7 Rem Mag without the belt and less powder used.

Just my two cents,
Steve D. the HP
Sage Flats Shooter

[savageboy]

If Long Range shooing is your primary goal with this rifle, just a thought, alot of the guys I am shooting with are going to straight .284 Win. (for high bc and good barrel live vs. the 6.5's) as they are getting 2950 ish fps with the long very high BC 180gr. Bergers. In face one of the guys (Charles Ballard- see 6mmbr.com) just won down in New Mexico with his .284. Not bad for a NC boy!
I just mention this as the 140's in 7mm don't even come close to the BC of the VLD 180's. And I am not sure what the .280AI will do with them.
I would guess it would be close, but I have never looked at it- I sm still shooting the 6.5's and I like them.

[GaCop]

I definitely want to try the 180's in my Ackley 280. Should be a great 1000 yard bullet.

[GaCop]

Still waiting for my barrel from Sinman. In the interim, I ordered my dies and brass which arrived yesterday. I'll find out just how good the Nosler brass is. Looking it over, the quality seems to be above par, no dents in the case mouth. The box indicates the cases are ready to load as primer pockets are deburred, cases are sized and case mouth is chamfered. Measuring a few of the cases turned up a measurement of 2.521" which is well below the max of 2.540". I'll start load development using 150gr, 168gr and 175gr SMK's. As Hornady doesn't make an altered case to fit the comparator, I'll have to sacrifice one of the Noslers to make my own. Initially, I'll seat bullets to the max length until I can check my bullets OAL in the new barrel with the comparator.

[sinman]

reamer and headspace gauge waiting for the blank to show up and then a few days after that happens a 280ai will have life.

[GaCop]

Good to hear Devin. Looks like I'll have a barrel waiting on me when I get back from California late October.

[sinman]

actually you might have it before oct even gets here

[GaCop]

Now, that would be fantastic! Might even take the rig to California to try it out (if the barrel arrives before my departure date of the 28th). I already have test loads made up with 150, 168 and 175 grain SMK's using RL-19 and 22. Any good ranges in or around North Highlands/Sacramento?

[GaCop]

Devin,

Is the the 280AI chamber for no turn necks?

Tom

[GaCop]

California trip ended up being scrubbed for now. Barrel arrived yesterday and was mounted/headspaced w/o issue. Looking forward to shooting it this weekend.

[GaCop]

No outstanding groups to report. My best group was with the 150 grain SMK coming in at about 3/4". The 168 and 175 grain loads tested were nothing to brag about. The recoil with the 175 grain SMK is a little stout. I didn't expect stellar performance the first time out. I don't know what the velocities were as my battery in the chronograph crapped out shortly after I started shooting (note to self.............keep an extra battery with the chronograph!

[GaCop]

Amazing how accuracy improves when all ring screw are tight! Tested 150 gr SMK's and 162 gr A-Max, all shootin around 3/4" at 100 yards.

[GaCop]

Accuracy gone south again......I suspect the Lee full length die set for increased neck runout after full length sizing. Redding dies on the way.

[GaCop]

Refireformed the cases and neck runout is back to .001-.002 so the Lee F/L die was definately the culprit. Redding Full length die arrived yesterday so I sized a few cases in it and checked runout.............001-.002 so I'm good to go.