Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats First custom

...that I've had built at least

RBros built 280AI
700, trued
bolt fluted by Kampfeld
McM Hunter's Edge, bedded
24" #4 Broughton finished at .660
Timney set at 2.5lbs
Talley lows
FX3 6x42 CDS with Aluminas

Test group with factory Nosler 140 ABs was said to be just over a half inch, outside. Don't know the weight, but balances about 1/2" forward of the recoil lug. Can't wait to shoot it!

Terrible cell phone pics (can't find my camera...)

Looks great!

Well done. Great looking rifle

A nice looking, well thought out rifle, in a great caliber...enjoy.

Thanks. A cheap fishing scale shows about 7.5lbs

barrel contour?

Remington magnum as I see a lack of shank?

#4 - almost bigger than I'd like, but prefer a heavier barrel to a lighter one. Thinking of doing a 22" #3 in 243 next

Travis builds some incredible rifles! You will very happy with that one for a long time to come.

I am a 280Ai fan, I like it.

Lots of good builders out there. I would not hesitate to have RBros build me one. I have actually seen a good bit of their work. Have rebarreled a couple guns they initially built. No surprises everything was well done. Their guns I rebarreled were because of round count not any other issues.

Go #2 or equivalent. They'll still shoot.

Nice looking

Nice rifle, getting ready to send one away also to have it rebarrled in 280ai.

Wow. That is a nice build. Let us know how it shoots.

Very nice....

Even though it is a gusting day with 12-17mph winds, had to test out the AI real quick. All factory Nosler ammo - 140 ABs, 150 LRABs, 160 NPs with me, and not Travis behind the trigger, here is how it did. Ignore the shot with lines, started a second group with one load and decided to only shoot one group for each for today and started a different group.



Next time will wait for a calm day and take more time. Each 3-shot group was done in less than a minute with time (and a quick cleaning) between each group to cool.

with better pics

Nice looking gun.

Nice looking rig and it certainly looks like it is going to shoot!

You need to change your handle, again.

Yeah, yeah... probably done with a 270 for good.

One thing is for certain, this rifle is a lot better than I am! Was able to mess up a couple groups without much effort, but did manage to get this one off

That will work....

You hanging out with that at the tri-state gun club? Nice rifle!

Certainly want to start loading for it after my two years is up in Germany. Chrono'd three Nosler factory loads at the range with Hawk_Driver. Was only 34 degrees with a PA of about 60 feet. Have read velocity slows between 2.5 - 4 fps per 1.8 degrees so that factors in.

...............Claimed.....Actual avg.....spread..... diff
140 ABs........3150........2983............49.........-167
150 LRABs.....2930........2904............10.........-26
160 NPs........2950........2736............31.........-214

I would expect a difference with the cold temps, but a 214fps difference? Claimed looks real for the LRABs

Ordered my 1st 280 AI yesterday and hope it shots as well as yours.Nice looking Rifle. looks like the 280 ai is getting more popular these days.

Goats260

I'm headed towared the 280AI cliff as well.....and can't seem to find the brakes.

Great looking rig. You are going to love the 280 A.I. especially in that rifle.

So did some shooting today, tried different ammo, played with the scope, and don't know whats up with these flyers.

Group on the left is off a bipod measured 9/16" (not including flyer). Group on right without bipod, off bags, went 5/8". About the same really. Had another group touching, also with a flyer - and didn't clean between groups. Am I just [bleep] it up?

Both Nosler 150 ABLR ammo



Next week trying some handloads

Your rifle may not like that ammo.

Could also be the bipod. With a stiff stock I use a soft rest (bags with cloth diapers folded over them).

Could be the scope, due to parrelax. Could be your cheek weld, or sight picture.

Or wind gusts.

If those were handloads I would suggest adjusting seating depth and purchasing a concentricity gauge.

is the barrel getting warm when the flyer happens?

Flyer typically seems to be the second shot

It could just be some inconsistency in the factory fodder possibly.

Shoot a nine shot group, one three shot group at a time, all at the same POA. That will likely give you a better idea of what the load is doing.

John

Nice rifle, sure love mine, just a perfect big game rifle.

Loading up some 150 TTSXs and 160 ABs tonight, but will keep playing with the factory stuff as well. Might just try the 9 shots to see. Thanks

Accubonds were under an inch, but not impressive at .866" and .706" with IMR 4831 and 4350.

Really wish I had more of the TTSXs to try out, but just went with three of each to get a general idea. After shooting earlier to check velocity we loaded up 56.5 grains of IMR4350.

First 3-shot was .05 off, went .307". Second was .1 off and I pulled one. The other two were .156". Loaded up nine more of each and can try them next time.



All were running in the 2960ish range

First time shooting it in 18 months. Here is the first group



then I tried a similar load with different seating depth that went to crap. Then weather went bad. Happy with that first one at least. Same load as the one on the left in the other photo

What loads are you shooting?

56.5 imr4350 150ttsx

Keep getting tempted to switch the scope and stock due to the rifles potential, but keep telling myself it is for hunting and not groups.

So were you high, shooting to the left or right? I see in the other targets, you are also not zeroed. Do you have any target pics where you are zeroed in? Very nice rifle though. "18 months" later and I expect the damn thing to finally be zeroed in...

That's what happens when you get a new rifle, a few rounds loaded, then sent out of the country for a year and a half without being able to settle on a round or even think about zeroing it till you choose a load. But 1.5" high I'll take. One click left, should be good if I stick with that load.

280AI that I just sold did really well with 150 TTSX. Sort of surprised me. They grouped better on avg than 160 Accubonds. Going to load some in anticipation of my new 280AI. I used IMR 4831 with the TTSX. Plan to try RL19 and 4350.

If that load is averaging under .5", I would take it hunting and not look back. Fantastic hunting bullet.

Bsa you need to get a life ........your way to hung up on other peoples targets!

You just need some more trigger time, Taco. That gun is talking to you, saying nice things. You should try building a perfect nest on the bench and analyzing your "follow through." Maybe even some dry firing.
I have found that my rifles like to punish me for not keeping them busy. After a lay off, I really have to get my head in the game again.

He's a tool.

Think you're right. Need to slow it down, get set up right, and see what the rifle can do and not what I can do with it.

And as for the BSA comments, I wasn't sure if he was kidding or being an ass. Does he expect people to re-zero every load they're working on? I don't give a damn where they are hitting, I'm trying to find out how they're grouping. And if I had 18 months in the states near a range to get it done, it would have been long ago. But when you're stationed in Germany and doing training missions in various European countries and haven't seen your rifle that entire time...

He's a clown...........

Somewhere above I read you were cleaning between groups. Stop doing that, let the barrel settle in, and see how it does.

Just got all my reloading stuff set up and (mine and not a buddy's) and 49 rounds loaded. 20 of the proven load with 150ttsx, then different charges for 145lrx, 150ablr, 162amax. All with IMR 4350 and Fed210s right now. Will see what the rifle says this week, work with any that show potential, and try to fine tune.

I wonder if fed 210's would make much difference vs cci br2's. I do not have any but have plenty cci and 215's. Have heard not to use the 215's unless over 60g of powder. Have no idea if this is correct.

VV N165 is another that works really well in a 280AI and the best I used in mine!

I shoot 59gr of RL-22 with the 162 A-max. It's giving me great accuracy. You can go up to 62gr but mine liked it best at 59gr so thats where I stopped.

N165 is the prime powder for the 280 AI. 63 gr with 140's goes < 1/2 moa in my gun.

I spent several seasons with my first 280AI and 63gr of N165 and 140 Accubonds. Never had a whitetail run more than 75 yards however got tiny entrance and exit holes. Most were heart/lung placement. Most deer ran. Big internal destruction but almost no blood trails. The exception to this was a 275 yard shot doe. Much greater blood loss and exit hole. I have never fully understood the internal ballistics of the Nosler Accubond. Given that it is a bonded bullet, could I have still been getting core separation at high speed? Probably going close to 3000 fps at under 100 y ranges.

Did you ever ditch the bipod and put it on bags for testing?

No. Have so far tested it as I'll use it. Thinking Tuesday I'll take it out and work it out from bags and take plenty of time.

Switch the 140 accubond to the 140 ballistic tip should see some better blood trails?

That's for sure!

Just don't put the BT where you intend to eat.

Will definitely try the BT's. My last rifle loved the 150 TTSX's. Hoping new rifle will be ready in a month or so. Emailed Borden today. Will still have to send off to stock guy for inletting and bedding. 100 degrees here so would not be shooting it anyway right now. I sold my 280AI 700 build to someone a few weeks ago. I am going do some work up loads in anticipation of the new rifle. Think am going to start with N165 and 150gr TTSX and 150gr BT. Unfortunately shaping up to be a whitetail only year for me. Have some 168gr Berger's to try but there is not much point this year. My shots will never be over 400y. Have never shot a whitetail over 300y.

Only the back end of the AB is bonded; the front isn't. Might explain your smaller exit holes as the front of the bullet blows off under impact and the rear penetrates.

At longer ranges velocity is lower and the bullet holds more frontal area...bigger exit(?).

Bob,
How gray is your hair? You're pretty smart.


Proverbs 20:29 (NASB)

The glory of young men is their strength,
And the honor of old men is their gray hair.

loder: Thanks,I am dark brown on top and gray on the sides,and not really all that smart.

But I have shot a pretty fair number of animals with different 140-7mm bullets at different velocities and distances so have some idea of what they will do.

At high impact velocities the bullet will expand more dramatically which means, it will either fragment and the front will disappear,being made of alloy cores and jackets, which is a bit more brittle(the Partition does this at close range and blows the nose clear to the partition)....or if it hangs onto the mushroom,the jacket will peel back along the shank. Either way frontal area will be less resulting in the smaller exit hole. You see this very frequently with a Partition,and I have seen it at close range from a 130 Interlock which was just sheared off at the cannelure.

At distance,as velocity drains,expansion is not so dramatic, the bullet is stressed less,and hangs onto more of its expanded frontal area,but still has enough weight to maintain momentum and (sometimes) punch through.Perfect storm.

There are a million variables because no two shots are always the same but in general that's what I think caused what the poster described. My WAG anyway.

This would explain the interior destruction and the small exit hole. I was never able to reconcile the two together with the 140 Accubond. Nosler ads show the bullet mushrooming and retaining most of it's weight @ 3100+ fps. Result has always been a deer down under 75y. Hard to fault that record. A high shoulder shot might get me the " bang flop". For some reason I am programmed for the heart shot. I spoke to one of the tech guys at Berger a few months ago seeking 280AI load data. I got the impression from this guy that the Berger might be too frangible for a close shot from a high velocity cartridge like the 280Ai.

I was so programmed. Prior to my first-ever Red Stag hunt I consulted with a premier Stag guide & inquired about the high point shoulder shot. He explained it to me & I decided to do so. I was impressed with the results. At the shot, the Stag stumbled on three legs maybe 15 yards at the most & fell over. When the ranch hands dressed him out, they were so surprised at the terminal destruction they wanted to know what bullet I was shooting. I was shooting a 300 WSM, 165 AB @ 3050 fps.

Calling this halftime at the range. Tried out four charges with the 145 LRX and it likes it hotter. 55.0 gave me .935" outside, better than the first two, but then 55.5 grouped at .648" outside. I'll take that.

Will see if it likes anything else

Just wasted LRX that group. Went out to 200 yards with a poor rest and shot a poor group, imagine that.

Put my bipod on and tried two 150 ABLR loads thinking why not. At 56gr I got a 1.05" 3-shot at 200 yards with a 6x scope (center to center). Will take it.

I shouldn't have started reloading, can see this is going to be expensive and time consuming.

I tried to tell you to leave that gun stock. i tried to tell you reloading costs more cause you will constantly be dicking around looking for the perfect load and shooting more, cause your ammo doesnt cost as much.

WOJ's never listen.

Good to see you got your stuff all set up and running.

But everyone knows 270s are gay and don't work on game. Had to switch. Then the Nosler factory ammo sometimes gave me a great group, sometimes opened up. With a custom and the money I spent I better be getting great groups unless I mess it up. Yeah, that's my excuse.

I just started getting serious about reloading this year. I still am learning the craft. I have already spent more money on supplies and gear than have on most of my guns. I have replaced every reloading item, other than the press, that came in my Redding Deluxe kit. Aside from being expensive, it is frustrating as hell. There is nothing like loading up 30 test loads and running to the range, only to find that the loads shoot poorly and you just wasted an enormous amount of time and money. Once you buy a custom rifle you are duty bound to find the perfect load. At the end of the day it is an expensive hobby.

Settled on the 145 LRX



Same results as the photo a couple posts above (when I don't mess it up)

Made final corrections for zero and finally convinced myself not to get a VX6 2-12 and stay with the FX3 6x42. The extra mag might be good for groups on paper, but the steel coyote at 440 being hit every time with the 6x said I don't give a [bleep] about paper.

One more time at the range, best group yet. Outside to outside was .469 for a .185" group. Before I hunt it I certainly need to dirty up the barrel with a shot, then call it good. Finally put a couple through a chrono, average of 2970. Slower than expected, but oh well

He was kidding you, notice the smiley face winking at the end of his comments. BSA is a damn good guy, sorry the humor was lost in typing.

Don't think I can learn much more about the rifle at the range, so wanted to step it out a ways and see how it did. Unfortunately I didn't find any place where I could set up a target and some water bottles, but I did find a few rocks to shoot at. Forgot what it was, maybe 470, had an elk vital size rock I was popping every time with the CDS adjustment. Had a smaller one at 595 that I shot high on twice before going down two clicks and was either right on it or right next to it. Either way, would have been vital shot. I think the high shots were from being at 8540' instead of the 8000 my chart was for, plus it was downhill slightly. That's the stuff I want to learn. Was fun

Sweet rig Taco.......really nice. Maybe you could buy a relatively cheap RF like the Leupy 1000i TBR (gives you true ballistic range), takes out all the guessing. Nice shooting too....I really like the CDS.

Thanks, and that's a good suggestion. Have the standard RX1000 right now, but the TBR would be a nice touch.

2970 with a 140gr, that is right on the heels of a .270

I would be pizzed.

2970 with a 145 Barnes. Don't know why they run slower. Have had 160 Abonds at 2930 and 150ttsx at the same?

Lots of proven, accurate loads have been ruined by a chrono.......

This is true.

Taco, if you are happy with that load, run it.

Although it only chrono'd at 2970 I can't argue this accuracy. Every time under .5" @ 100 unless I knowingly pull one. And with a 6x scope.

This wouldn't bother me in the least. And I'd still have better bullet selection than the .270 offerings.

Hmm... decided to shoot the last 3 rounds of previous load testing just to free up the cases. 160AB, 55.5 IMR4350 @ 2960 and this happens

.242"

I went ahead and did it, sent it off to Kampfeld with the new stock to get bedded and had the barrel fluted. Feels better balance wise, can't wait to go shoot it. I sent it without the bolt, scope, rings, and as such it weighed 6.1lbs on his scale. Anyone know what a LA 700 bolt, TI fluted weighs?

Nice rig and good shooting, Taco.

Switched to RL26 and averaging 3120 with the 145LRX and still < .5 @ 100

That probably won't bounce off.... (grins)

~11.05 oz