Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 75

Thread: 280 Ackley Improved anyone?

  1. #1
    Team Savage 243LPR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    E-town,Pa
    Posts
    1,148

    280 Ackley


    Came across these in the new Sportsmans Guide,not sure who the mfr is. http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/c...aspx?a=1692602
    "An armed society is a polite society"
    "...shall not be infringed" What's the confusion?

  2. #2
    Team Savage
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    103
    This is interesting. I am curious who makes it. I might order one and see what kind of quality. Could always return it.

  3. #3
    Team Savage 243LPR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    E-town,Pa
    Posts
    1,148
    Thats what I was thinking.
    "An armed society is a polite society"
    "...shall not be infringed" What's the confusion?

  4. #4
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Sun City, Arizona
    Age
    71
    Posts
    814
    I did order one and should be here tues or wed. I would think they are Shaw barrels but could be wrong. I figured for the money can't be too bad, I hope.

    Bruce

  5. #5
    idahoorion
    Guest
    I know it says sporter contour but if that is a photo of actual item I'll be interested to know what the contour is? I'll be looking for your report!
    Idahoorion

  6. #6
    Team Savage
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    103
    Let us know!! How can they sell them so cheap?

  7. #7
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Sun City, Arizona
    Age
    71
    Posts
    814
    Quote Originally Posted by idahoorion View Post
    I know it says sporter contour but if that is a photo of actual item I'll be interested to know what the contour is? I'll be looking for your report!
    Idahoorion
    well, the barrel came in yesterday ahead of schedule, no complaints about the delivery. the barrel overall length is 23"(not 24 as stated in the ad), at the muzzle it measures
    .562, has 9 twist, and it looks like a pencil! I am pretty sure it is not an ER Shaw barrel but haven't got a clue who it's made by. I guess for the money I didn't go wrong as it looks to be finished nicely and has nice rifling, also looks to be 40* shoulder looking in the chamber with magnifying glass and flashlight.
    now I need to get some dies and decide what I will do for brass, I have seen Nosler at Cabelas for $54 for 50rnds. i'll post some pics as soon as PhotoBucket starts acting normal again.

    Bruce


    Last edited by devildogandboy; 04-20-2014 at 11:55 AM.

  8. #8
    Team Savage
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    103
    Man that does look like a thin barrel. Finish looks nice though, I may order one. Thanks for the pics.

  9. #9
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Sun City, Arizona
    Age
    71
    Posts
    814
    Quote Originally Posted by SUTTERERMAN85 View Post
    Man that does look like a thin barrel. Finish looks nice though, I may order one. Thanks for the pics.
    yep, i'm thinking good for a lite weight hunter!

    Bruce

  10. #10
    coho51
    Guest
    Anymore updates on this?

  11. #11
    Team Savage
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Central Kentucky
    Age
    69
    Posts
    1,223
    I also ordered one and received yesterday. No ideal who makes it. I would classify it as a feather-weight contour (#2). Definately not a Savage sporter weigh contour. Only weights 2 lbs, 0.5 oz vs. a 2 lb, 10 oz. 24" 7mm RM Savage factory sporter contour barrel for comparison. It is a 23" barrel, not 24" as advertised. The crown is flat, not recessed. The stainless steel finish is polished. Threaded with ease into a Savage small shank action. If you're looking for a light-weight hunting/mountain rifle, then this could be the ticket. I plan to put it on a new Savage 111 LWH action to replace a 20" factory LW barrel (2lbs, 0.5 oz). If it will shoot 3-shot groups as good as it looks, then I am going to be one happy owner. I am cautiously optimistic, since the price is too good to be true. Waiting on dies and 280 AI brass to find out.
    Last edited by jpdown; 04-26-2014 at 12:37 PM.

  12. #12
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Elizabethtown,Pa
    Age
    75
    Posts
    1,313
    Quote Originally Posted by devildogandboy View Post
    , also looks to be 40* shoulder looking in the chamber with magnifying glass and flashlight.
    now I need to get some dies and decide what I will do for brass, I have seen Nosler at Cabelas for $54 for 50rnds.
    Bruce

    Both the traditional and SAAMI versions have 40 degree shoulders.

    Before buy anything, brass, dies and etc, you should verify which you have, the traditional or SAAMI version. The problem, both versions are called "AI" or "Ackley Improved".

    After another discussion on the subject I did a bit more searching and found this...

    From the reamer/headspace gauge maker's point of view, SAAMI standardization of the 280 Ackley Improved has created problems. Mostly, it's a matter of making sure folks are informed about the change, proper fireforming--if they want to go this route--and which ammo to use in which chamber.

    Ackley's intent, with rimless, shouldered cases, was to headspace the improved chamber so that the un-improved parent cartridge could be loaded and safely fired in it--the parent round was held between the breechface and the neck/ shoulder junction of the improved chamber. He advised that the breech-face-to-neck/shoulder junction in improved chambers be held some.004" to .006" shorter than in the parent chamber. Traditionally we, and other reamer makers, have done this, grinding reamers with a MINIMAL RADIUS at the N/S junction for more positive headspacing during fireforming.

    Nosler/SAAMI shortened the traditional 280 AI headspace another .014". Additionally, the radius at the N/S junction was specified at .060" +.025". This was likely done because it's very difficult to form 40-degree shoulders with small radii--they're supplying fully formed ammunition, remember.

    What does this mean for the owner of a 280 AI?

    First, if you have one headspaced the traditional way, don't buy Nosler ammo unless you want to see evidence of excess headspace and risk case separation--its shoulder location guarantees at least .014" excessive headspace. When you need new cases, fireform them from 280 Remington brass.

    Second, if you have a SAAMI-spec chamber, you can buy Nosler ammo OR fireform 280 Remington. The N/S junction on the SAAMI chamber IS .014" closer to the breech face, but the .060" radius at this points provides a little more room to accomodate 280 Rem ammo. You may feel a little resistance as you turn down the bolt handle, but it will go and the case will be held securely during fireforming.

    Finally, re-loading. Don't use dies made to the old spec to re-size cases fired in SAAMI-spec chambers. The few re-size dies I checked that were made to the "old" spec would not reach the shoulder of a case fired in the SAAMI chamber.

    You CAN use SAAMI-spec dies to re-size cases fired in old-spec chambers, but be sure to set the die so it barely touches the shoulder of the fired case. DO NOT set the die so it bumps the shellholder when the ram is up--you'll introduce excess headspace or crush the case.

    There are different versions of the 280 AI out there, so this commentary doesn't apply to everyone. If anyone has questions about his specific rifle, I'm willing to try to answer them.

    Dave Manson
    1-810-953-0732
    A thread on Nosler Reloading site > http://www.noslerreloading.com/viewt...15233&p=114065

    Its only pure speculation on my part, but if you were to put a new unsized unfired 280 Remington case in the chamber, if its the traditional you should have about .129" protrusion, .125" protrusion plus .004" for the crush on the neck-shoulder junction. If its a SAAMI chamber it would have about .139", .125" plus .014" crush.

    Bill
    Each morning eat a live green toad, it will be the worst thing you'll have face all day.

  13. #13
    brushape
    Guest
    thats pretty cool, If I hadnt just got the loads dialed on my 30-06 I would definitly go this route

  14. #14
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Colorado
    Age
    73
    Posts
    272
    Received mine yesterday. It looks like it is a decent barrel. I went thru it with my borescope and found what looks like some very very minor pitting and right at the crown some darker spots but not necessarily rust. I will give it a good cleaning with JB and then see how it looks. I am gonna mount it on a Stevens 30-06 I have been hatching for a while and make a light weight mountain rifle out of it.

    Edited to say that I JB'd the barrel this morning and it looks really nice. None of what I saw yesterday was there. Frankly the only thing I do not care for is the crown and that will get fixed when my Gunsmith threads it for a muzzlebrake.
    Last edited by Rooster 50; 05-01-2014 at 02:06 PM.
    There are 3 kinds of people in this world. Those who can do math and those who can't

  15. #15
    Team Savage GaCop's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Warner Robins, Ga
    Age
    77
    Posts
    4,985
    For the price, could it possibly be an Adams & Bennett barrel?

  16. #16
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Colorado
    Age
    73
    Posts
    272
    My new Mountian Rifle is just about done. Turns out my gunsmith had a takeoff 7MM Vais brake but it was a fairly large diameter and cerrakoted black. We decided to turn the base down to match my barrel and recoat it black so I will have a blk action and scope and a SS barrel and a blk muzzlebrake. I took the Stevens stock and reinforced it with carbon fiber arrows and am going to place a 1in bedding block at the forend to stabilize this thinner barrel. My only problem now is that I cannot find my silver spiderweb paint so I had to order some more.

    Hope to have some pics by this time next week.
    There are 3 kinds of people in this world. Those who can do math and those who can't

  17. #17
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    1,248
    Rooster 50, could you please explain the bedding block further? Thanks.......Jim

  18. #18
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Elizabethtown,Pa
    Age
    75
    Posts
    1,313
    Quote Originally Posted by FW Conch View Post
    Rooster 50, could you please explain the bedding block further? Thanks.......Jim
    What he is referring to is a portion of the barrel bedded at or near the end if forend tip. Sometimes its only bedded or at times its a pressure point putting a small amount of upward tension on the barrel. I don't know about now but at one time Remington used a raised "V" shape section to apply pressure on the barrel when the action screw were tightened. At the time they found on the average their sporter weight rifles shot better with the pressure point.

    Sometimes it helps, sometimes not. My little Mod 70 in 270-08 Imp with it's pencil thin 22" barrel shoots tons better with a pressure point than fully floated. Its brother, a SA 70 action with the same weight barrel chambered in 270-08 shoots better fully floated.

    If you want to experiment, loosen the action screws, place a few pieces of a business card under the barrel about 1/2" back from the forend tip, re-tighten the screws to put some tension on the barrel thenshoot a few groups.

    Bill
    Each morning eat a live green toad, it will be the worst thing you'll have face all day.

  19. #19
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Colorado
    Age
    73
    Posts
    272
    Quote Originally Posted by BillPa View Post
    What he is referring to is a portion of the barrel bedded at or near the end if forend tip. Sometimes its only bedded or at times its a pressure point putting a small amount of upward tension on the barrel. I don't know about now but at one time Remington used a raised "V" shape section to apply pressure on the barrel when the action screw were tightened. At the time they found on the average their sporter weight rifles shot better with the pressure point.

    Sometimes it helps, sometimes not. My little Mod 70 in 270-08 Imp with it's pencil thin 22" barrel shoots tons better with a pressure point than fully floated. Its brother, a SA 70 action with the same weight barrel chambered in 270-08 shoots better fully floated.

    If you want to experiment, loosen the action screws, place a few pieces of a business card under the barrel about 1/2" back from the forend tip, re-tighten the screws to put some tension on the barrel thenshoot a few groups.

    Bill

    Bill got it right. I am definitely concerned that this barrel will start to wander by the 3rd shot if it comes to that, so I figured why not just bed it. I don't use a hard bedding substance for this. More like a cushion. I don't really want any upward pressure.
    FWIW my gunsmith and I both think the barrel looks great. Now we just have to see how it shoots. I have close to 60 brass already fire formed from my last 280 AI hopefully they will chamber fairly easy and not have to be bumped back too much.
    There are 3 kinds of people in this world. Those who can do math and those who can't

  20. #20
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Elizabethtown,Pa
    Age
    75
    Posts
    1,313
    Quote Originally Posted by Rooster 50 View Post
    I don't use a hard bedding substance for this. More like a cushion.
    Some guys use RTV.
    Each morning eat a live green toad, it will be the worst thing you'll have face all day.

  21. #21
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    1,248
    Thanks Rooster and Bill. I am familiar with the pressure point and the RTV.

  22. #22
    Basic Member DrThunder88's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Metro Detroit
    Posts
    1,383
    I see there's already a thread about these barrels...and it has more info on them than SPG does!

    I contacted them about the twist rate, which they didn't know, but SPG customer service pointed me to Connecticut Valley Arms for more information. Based on this unrelated barrel, I suspect the actual manufacturer is Bergara.

  23. #23
    Team Savage
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Central Kentucky
    Age
    69
    Posts
    1,223
    +1 Bergara would be my guess also. I don't beleive it is a A&B or Shaw barrel.

  24. #24
    Team Savage
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Central Kentucky
    Age
    69
    Posts
    1,223
    I've been trying to resist the urge for a 280 AI for several years. When I saw the first post on this barrel, I said what the heck. I ordered one to take a look. When I received the barrel and saw it was a #2 light weight contour, I decided to put it on a Savage 111 LWH action. Below is a picture of my latest build with the 280 AI barrel. To give it that classic look, I did a 120 grit AO sand-blast and air brushed the action and SS barrel with satin black bake-on Gun-Kote. I also bedded the action to free float the barrel and tang. Total rifle weight is 7 lbs, 7 oz with scope. Took it to the range this past weekend for break-in and to start load development. I gave IMR 7828 SSC and H4831 SC a try with 150 gr Ballistic Tips using Nosler 280AI load data. The thin barrel heats up quickly in 75F weather and I beleive 3-shot strings are about the limit to avoid fliers. I saw no pressure signs working up to the max load with H4831 in 0.5 gr increments. Started to see pressure signs at 62.5 gr of IMR7828. I found a promising load with both powders. But IMR 7828 shows the most potential so far. The barrel cleaned up quickly with only minor copper fouling when compared to my other Savage factory barrels. So far, I am pleased with this barrel.

    Anyone with a 24" 9 twist barrel in 280AI got some powder, bullet and load advice they can share? I'm using Nosler 280 AI brass, and CCI primers. Thanks.


  25. #25
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    806
    Jpdown thats an awesome job. Just weighed my 110 EL 7mm rm today and I thought its.9lb, 1oz decent for a carry rifle. Your 280ai comes in at the weight of my daughter's 308 Axis with rail.mounts.scope and sling. Pretty impressive indeed! Its now up to 8lbs, 6ozs in a Boyds prairie hunter which was shortened.with pachmayr 1" pad. I wonder if their Maple line would be any lighter?

    Again awesome job!

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. 25-06 Ackley Improved
    By Hair_Boxers in forum Picture Post
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 04-19-2016, 06:53 PM
  2. 6.5-06 Ackley Improved
    By stomp442 in forum Ammunition & Reloading
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 10-07-2013, 11:34 PM
  3. 110 fcp lapua ackley improved
    By 300ultramag in forum 110-Series Rifles
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12-24-2011, 08:18 PM
  4. 280 Ackley Improved
    By dbk84 in forum Ammunition & Reloading
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 10-21-2009, 06:26 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •