Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 280 AI......I want one. Tell me all about it.

Yes typo.....these damned computers insist on spelling for me.

If the shoulders aren't coming out sharp, it's not an adequate fireforming load. The chamber has sharp shoulders (if cut correctly). It's not a Weatherby cartridge with the goofy radius shoulders. So, a load with sufficient pressure to make the brass form to the chambers, will in fact, make sharp shoulders.

And, yes, such a load can be made with no bullet, and COW. Cream of wheat, or similar (make sure it is plain though, with no salt or additives). Shotgun/Pistol powder such as Unique, Clays, Universal Clays, or similar. Start with about 10-12 grains. Fill the case with C.O.W. and jam in a wad of paper towel, Kleenex, cotton, or whatever, in the neck to keep the filler from spilling. Fire and look at the cases, and work up just like with a loaded bullet. The filler weight is sufficient to produce enough pressure. Just keep increasing the powder charge, until the cases fill out the chamber. Same with a bullet fireforming load. If the shoulders aren't sharp, bump up the charge of powder.

Makes me like 270's even more!

Great cartridge. In fact, its magical, or at the very least lucky. By all means, go 280AI. I'm pretty happy with my Montana, couldn't imagine pouring money into an A-bolt, but that's just me.

You could go with a big 7, but they tend to make people very defensive of their positions/opinions.

You could go 270, but then you'd have to start wearing skinny jeans and drinking latte.

Or, you could go 280AI and be just right.

HUGE +1

I killed a bunch of woodchucks & coyotes not to mention dented steel fire forming 257 AI cases, and when I had my 280 AI FF'n for it gave me fantastic practice offhand shooting.

There is something lovely about that 40 degree shoulder, but I won't likely do another 280 AI but just stick with a straight-up 280 Rem.

It's not going to do anything that a 270 can't do. Or a 30-06.

But if you want one, just buy a Kimber and skip the ABolt.

Yeah, it will. It will shoot 7mm bullets. Good luck doing that with an 06 or 270

By that argument there really only needs to be a handful of big game cartridges and get rid of all the rest.

There isn't anything a 270 can do that a 280 can't do better. Even more so when it is a 280AI. The idiots that buy those 270's just haven't seen the light yet. A guy I work with keeps telling me its a "laser" because he shoots one. Not really. The .280 is far more versatile than a .270 could ever be.

I once shot a huge sheep (with a BIG 7) while my buddy was soaking his mouth in the river trying to cool his lips off.

He had burned his lip on his latte. In his defense, he had just bought a 270 (Tikka no less) that year, so he hadn't really figured out how to properly deal with the latte aspect. His barista skills have improved since then, but the skinny jeans just have to get old on a backpack hunt.

Like what? "Far more" versatile.....?

I've used the 270 and the 280,(and a dumbed down 7 Rem Mag which is a 280AI equivalent) and seen them all used by others ,many times; and any animal hit properly with any of them have achieved the same singular degree of "dead".

You can look at bullistic tables and see some fractional differences but on game animals you won't see any. The bullet construction will matter more in terminal effect than any other factor in distinguishing one from the other.

280AI is a fabulous round for hunting unicorns.

Don't look at 'em too long though, your eyes will cross and you'll get bullimia.

I like to think of it this way--the 30-06 and .270 are great cartridges, but they won't do anything a .280 AI can't do.

That's true.....

I almost bought one yesterday but came to my senses in time to save myself....

C'mon Bob, you know you want one.

Thats right! I even took a barrel off an 06 to make a 280ai.

.277" = 7.04mm

I really don't.....

I tried to watch this and it goes to Dennis Leary singing a rather "popular" song....might want to check which link you posted. I would like to follow up with the correct one you intended to post, I like to think I am never to old to learn!!!! Thanks.

Edit: Nevermind...I see that link is your signature, not something you were trying to explain. Well....maybe it is??? but not about the COW.