Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Kimber 84L or mountain ascent in 270 or 280AI

It's not a usual thing

Actually was related to Savage 99's comments.

Risk vs Reward : We know that the .270 or .30'06 will sell, but the .280AI, .280, 6.5-06, .257 etc. might take longer to move.
If the distributors could offer some custom caliber selection in a timely manner, we might not have to take the "inventory-friendly" option.

I think Kimber is somewhat "mainstreaming" it. It's the most interesting round in an 84L to me. Not because the other options are bad...but I think the .280AI is the most for the least in a light weight long action (again, not that "the most" is of REAL measureable advantage over the other options).

I couldn't have put that better myself. I think it was Big Stick that said a long time ago, that the 280 Ackley was the best thing that ever happened to 06 brass (or words to that effect) and I tend to agree. When you consider case capacity (velocity) and bullet weights/construction available in 284, I think it maximizes the benefit of 06 brass.

Things are different on here....the average CF member (being more than a bit "loonie"),regards a Kimber as "mainstream",and I suppose it is since these same members also tend to own one or two customs, or more.

But to an awful lot of people,Kimbers are not mainstream.....first they are not commonly available,at least back here you order and wait for them sometimes months.

Second, you don't see many in stock in many stores.And IME Kimbers linger an awful long time on gun store racks,while M70's and Remingtons flie off the shelves come hunting season....at least back here.

Third you can't find 280AI ammo (ever) in any store in the northeast that I frequent....and some are good sized and high volume gun shops who easily do as much gun business as any Cabela's or similar stores.

By "mainstream", I mean I can walk in and pick one off te rack like I can a Remington,Winchester, or Ruger 30/06 or 270,7 mag,or 243.Plus a good variety of ammo and easily available brass to feed it.

I think that would really help the cartridge take off if it were chambered by Winchester, Remington,and Ruger....right now it is strictly the fodder of rifle nuts and handloaders.

No cartridge will ever be truly popular if chambered for hard to obtain rifles and with no easily available ammo. Jus my view from where I sit.

True....

JCM one other thing I did not mention is that the advantages to a 280AI are pretty nuanced and ellusive to the average guy who struggles to distinguish between a 270 and a 30/06.....nevermind something sitting squarely in the middle.

I mean we "get it" on here,but the average hunter/rifleman is gonna be lost

I just ran into cabelas here in MN and found a box of the Nosler 280AI fodder. Surprised to see it. Little dusty from being there awhile. I agree with what everyone has to say about the 280AI. Truth is I likely wouldnt see any difference between the any of them at the ranges i typically shoot and trust myself in taking. I guess it came down to the "just because" argument. Being that i roll my own helps it out alot.

Well Bob, by your criteria, a 30-30 is better than the 280 Ackley........... After all, it's killed more animals and it's available in more locations.

RD: If I really believed that, I wouldn't have a 7mm Mashburn

NOW you're talking out on a limb when it comes to ammo...you'll never see that in a gunstore anywhere


Backing up the rare and exotic,hard to find...is a fleet of 270 Winchesters.....you know, the Gay Peasant cartridge?.

Mix them up, I say! Life's a gamble.

Nope, I know where there is one sitting on the shelf. Brand new and just waiting....

Handled it in the store 2 days ago.

And I know where there is a barely shot one that might be for sale soon...

[quote=Savage_99]Have you felt inside of your fired brass to see if there is any significant thinning at the expansion web?

The headspace is tighter shooting 280 ammo through a saami spec AI than the original wildcat. This causes less expansion at the web.....not more!

Shod

I really like the .280 AI on paper. Had a plain ol' .280 for a short while, but it was pretty bland to me. I shoot a .270 WSM and a 7 rem mag. Not only are rifles a dime a dozen, but ammo is too. Most hunters are not handloaders, and most can't even shoot well enough to squeeze all the performance out of a 7-08. They don't know what the round is or what it can do, and there are cartridges that make it unnecessary, perhaps even irrelevant (gasp!).
I still want one, just because. Maybe if the new Forbes rifle is chambered in one I'll finally give in.

Funny, i made my rifle lighter in the off season and my fantasy is still a lighter rifle.

Ok you two- Can you PM me some information?

I suppose it depends what one calls "light" no?

For me, the Kimber MT at 6lbs 4oz's all-up weight is the absolute limit of light-weight... and I'd prefer it 8oz's heavier ala a no.2 contour.

Very true Brad just razzin' ya. You know I don't shoot 300+ very often (haven't in 5-6 years) and only 400ish a couple times so absolute tack driver for my hunting rifle is not needed. Though I do carry it all the time so the lighter the better for my backpacking rifle. So long as I can still hit kill zone and knock 'em down is all I'm looking for.

My Kimber is right at 5 pound 8 oz all up (empty mag) and still wish she was lighter, but will be money ahead shaving oz elsewhere now so I won't.