Some cartridges really are better when Ackley Improved, and the 280 is one of them. Plus, You can buy factory ammo for the 280 AI, and most that shoot the cartridge are hunter's that may or may not reload.
Several years ago, I built a 260 AI with one of my Savage actions. I wasn't impressed with the small gains I had over what I get out of my 260 Remington LR 10. After a few range trips, I took the barrel off the action and sold the barrel, dies, and brass.
I know several guy's that swear by their Ackley Improved 223's & 7mm-08's as well as the 260 Remington, but to me it just isn't worth all the trouble for the small gains in velocity that you get.
Dave, there's a good reason that guy's like myself have gotten vast improvements in velocity with the 6.5 CM cartridge. It's called " Quality Brass"!
Hornady brass always sucked. The large primer pocket brass from Hornady usually wouldn't last past 2-3 mild loads before the primer pockets were shot, and the primers would fall out.
Now that we have Lapua, Starline, Peterson, and Alpha small primer brass, we can push the limit a lot easier, and get higher velocities while still being at safe pressure limits.
I have no problem hitting 2900+ fps using Lapua and Starline SRP brass, but the load that I stay with is the the 2880 fps range.
![]()
Bookmarks