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

Three more reasons to get a 280ai

The moose was 560yds

The muley was 365yds

The whitetail was 390yds

All taken with my Kimber 280ai and a 140gr Barnes TTSX between November 21-26 2016







Best cartridge ever....... lol!

Wonderful animals! Congrats!

No other cartridge coulda done that!

RBO: That guy owes you big time! Those are all great animals and to get all three on one trip is a really exceptional treat for both of you.

They are all great but I really love the whitetail....he is really impressive.

Alberta I assume or did I miss that? What general area?

Think it coulda been done with a 270?

Sounds like the 280ai is about the same position as the 16 gauge is to shotguns.😇

The 280ai is quite possibly the ultimate North American hunting cartridge. From the plains to the mountain range, and from western blacktails to the speed goats of the prairies, the northern whitetails, Utah bull elk, right up to the Alaskan moose, it is at home. It might not be a first choice for a 1000yd gong shooter, but as a practical hunting cartridge I can't think of a better all round cartridge. There are a few that would fit the bill, but when you average the trajectory, with the kinetic energy, felt recoil, bc and bullet selection, if you reload there isn't a better cartridge. If there is id love to hear what it is?

Don't nobody be talking bout no 16 gauge shotguns, my momma don't be talking bout 16 gauge shotguns. You hear me boy???

RBO: That guy owes you big time! Those are all great animals and to get all three on one trip is a really exceptional treat for both of you.

They are all great but I really love the whitetail....he is really impressive.

Alberta I assume or did I miss that? What general area?

Think it coulda been done with a 270?

It would have over-penetrated with 130's.

First off, I'd suggest the 7mm RM. Same bullets, higher velocities or same velocities with lower pressures (take your pick), MUCH better selection of factory ammo, identical rifles except for the chamber and possibly the cartridge follower and a wider selection of rifles, too. Essentially there is NOTHING a .280AI can do that a 7mm RM can't do but there are things a 7mm RM can do that a .280 AI cannot - particularly with heavier bullets. [Full disclosure: My first centerfire rifle was a 7mm RM back in 1982. It has been used for prairie dogs to elk.]

Secondly, I would suggest, like others here, a .30-06 as a candidate for the best "all-around" rifle choice. This is what I've purchased as wedding gifts for my current and future sons-in-law. (The future one doesn't get his until after the ceremony.) As an "all around" rifle and especially for non-handloaders, a .30-06 is hard to beat. The selection of factory ammo is second to none with options from reduced recoil to light bullets to heavies in the 220g range or more. And don't forget cheaper ammo than the .280AI for those that shoot factory stuff. And again, in rifles identical to the .280AI. While a .280AI may beat a .30-06 in specific situations, the difference is pretty minimal from a practical standpoint for most shooters. If hunting in brown bear territory, I'd much rather have a .30-06 with a 220g bullet than a .280AI.

Lastly, while there are many good candidates, in wildcats I opted for a 6.5-06AI. All three daughters love shooting mine and I'll put it up against a .280 AI any day.

Not knocking the .280AI as I think it is a fine cartridge. My choice is a standard .280 Rem and I feel no need to ream the chamber to an AI config. It works fine as-is.

First off, I'd suggest the 7mm RM. Same bullets, higher velocities or same velocities with lower pressures (take your pick), MUCH better selection of factory ammo, identical rifles except for the chamber and possibly the cartridge follower and a wider selection of rifles, too. Essentially there is NOTHING a .280AI can do that a 7mm RM can't do but there are things a 7mm RM can do that a .280 AI cannot - particularly with heavier bullets. [Full disclosure: My first centerfire rifle was a 7mm RM back in 1982. It has been used for prairie dogs to elk.]

Secondly, I would suggest, like others here, a .30-06 as a candidate for the best "all-around" rifle choice. This is what I've purchased as wedding gifts for my current and future sons-in-law. (The future one doesn't get his until after the ceremony.) As an "all around" rifle and especially for non-handloaders, a .30-06 is hard to beat. The selection of factory ammo is second to none with options from reduced recoil to light bullets to heavies in the 220g range or more. And don't forget cheaper ammo than the .280AI for those that shoot factory stuff. And again, in rifles identical to the .280AI. While a .280AI may beat a .30-06 in specific situations, the difference is pretty minimal from a practical standpoint for most shooters. If hunting in brown bear territory, I'd much rather have a .30-06 with a 220g bullet than a .280AI.

Lastly, while there are many good candidates, in wildcats I opted for a 6.5-06AI. All three daughters love shooting mine and I'll put it up against a .280 AI any day.

Not knocking the .280AI as I think it is a fine cartridge. My choice is a standard .280 Rem and I feel no need to ream the chamber to an AI config. It works fine as-is.

Um...... nope.

Clearly this could only happen with the 280ai, I don't know what else I have to do to prove it to you guys.

Good luck with that.

It was definitely a trip to remember, and yes it was in northern Alberta. The muley was just shy of 160, the moose I'm guessing would be in the high 140's (we never measured) but the whitetail grossed over 170 and to be honest the pictures don't do it justice.

As for the 270...... doubt it.