Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Mess with it or leave alone

Hello. This is my first post on the forum but have lurked here often.

I am looking for some advise.

I would like to make my go-to rifle a wee bit better?

I have M70 action that has a Hart stainless barrel chambered in 280 AI. McMillan stock. Shoots very well and has about 600 rounds through it. It currently has a 25 inch barrel.

It is a light rifle now but it would be easier to handle at altitude and backpack with a shorter barrel.

What could go wrong having it cut to 24 or maybe 23"?

Runs 160 accubonds at 2840 or so and less than 1 MOA past 300. I don't want to give up much velocity. With powders and bullets I have tested, accurate loads are usually at the top of the Hodgdon manual, can take more without any pressure signs but have always stopped at the high end of the Nosler guide (seems like another node right past there though).

Anyone have an idea how much 1 - 2 inches in length would change velocity or charge where the accuracy node would be? It's a #3 contour barrel if I remember.

Leaving it alone is an option too.

Thanks

Always figured 25 fps per inch of barrel. If it were mine,I'd leave it alone.

And Welcome to the 'fire Lostleader.

Based on what you posted, it would make me want to not change a thing.

This ^^^^

25" and done. Leave it alone.

I wouldn't touch it

I'm in the "leave it alone" camp, too.

Off with it's head if that's what you want. I'll take handy over a few FPS any day of the week.

Making rifles shoot ain't magic, cutting a few inches off ain't gonna ruin a good shooting rifle.

X2!

David

My favorite barrel length is 20". I own 4 rifles with stubby barrels, they are a joy to pack. With your rifle I can't see how bobbing it to 22" would hurt anything. Make it a lot more handy for sure, and no critter is gonna know that torpedo bullet was going 75fps slower, or whatever it might come out to.

Let us know what you decide, I would be curious to see what actual velocity loss is if you do cut it back.

I think those extra fps are awesome! It annoys me that most rifles are sold with short stubby things. 25in is about the perfect compromise of wt and length for a 280AI to at least make it worth the AI. My vote is to leave the bbl alone. You can only get rid of a few oz by lopping off inches of bbl anyway.

Short and thick� Same way I like my women.

He didn't say anything about doing it to save weight.

Amazing how many folks are scared to 'mess' with something. Just shows how many believe there is juju in rifles.


I've never missed a shot and thought 'Gee, I would have made that shot with an extra 2" of barrel'

My .280AI has a 23 inch #3 Shilen and it works fine. 3325 fps with the 120 NBT and 2840 with a mild load of 7828 and the 162 AMax.


Its also handier than a longer snouted rifle.

I'll take handy over length in a hunting rifle everyday and twice on Sunday.

I was going to switch to lower scope rings, repaint the stock and maybe cerokote the stainless.

Then I started thinking through other stuff to go through if taking it to a smith. If the rifle wasn't going around on horseback and backpack, I'd probably be trying to figure out how to make the barrel longer.

Probably should be worried about building another rifle instead.

I was going to switch to lower scope rings, repaint the stock and maybe cerokote the stainless.

Then I started thinking through other stuff to go through if taking it to a smith. If the rifle wasn't going around on horseback and backpack, I'd probably be trying to figure out how to make the barrel longer.

Probably should be worried about building another rifle instead.

lostleader;
Welcome to the 'Fire from just across the medicine line in the south Okanagan.

Over the years I've cut down a few rifles, though most if not all that I can recall off the top of my head were pre-chronograph days so I'm not able to comment on velocity loss.

For me the decision to cut the barrel down was solely to improve what I thought was the overall handling or feel of the rifle. Depending upon how you like to hunt and subsequently shoot game, that may or may not be an issue to you.

That being said then, for me the balance or handling didn't change much with only an inch taken off. One that stands out ended up with a 21" barrel that to me felt "just right".

Horseback and backpack rifles are a whole different topic - I ran a Ruger No 1 for a horseback rifle and whatever was the lightest in the safe for a backpacking rifle, but again that's personal preference for sure.

Hopefully that information was somewhat useful to you or someone out there sir. Again welcome to the 'Fire and good luck with your rifle whichever way you decide.

Dwayne

I'd cut it to 23", recrown and be done with it.

I'd go to 23" in a heartbeat and would prefer 22".

Ask all these dumb [bleep] who are fretting a "velocity loss",what boolit they are shooting and how they are arranging POA/POI...if only because it will be funnier than [bleep]. A BC increase,will wayyyyyyyyyyyy more than offset the "velocity loss". Hint.

162A-Max/Re-22 and 22" of spout,with an erector of repute,will get you to the 1200yd line easily. You'll get 2800fps+,standing on your head.

I mean EASILY.

As in real [bleep] EASILY.

Hint.(grin)

Beware the Window Licking Clueless Dumb [bleep] and their ever eager Imaginations and copious Pretend.

Re-hint.





(Addendum: if only for pointy-headed slowwwwwwwwwww "learners")


The aforementioned 162 at a 22"/2800fps launch at 2500' elevation in standard atmosphere,from a 250yd zero,eats exactly 25MOA to 1000yds. Wind is 5.9MOA in 10mph full value. That boolit retains 2000fps+ of impact velocity to the 625yd line. 1000ft lbs of "energy" to the 925yd line.

Build for balance/handling and rest assured...that EVERYTHING else will easily fall into place as defaults. I'd not go 25" until STW case capacity,in .284" bore sizing,if only because I shoot 7-08,7-08AI,284Win,280,280AI,7mmRemmie and STW.

Re-hint.

First off welcom.
Second ......by all means mess wit it that is what we do

Cut it.

This isn't the mona lisa..

My favorite rifle is my Pre 64 model 70 338 with a 22" Douglas barrel. My second favorite rifle is a Model 70 Classic 338 with a 26" barrel. Both shoot the same loads within about 50 fps of each other and accuracy is absolutely the same. I wouldn't fret cutting one off if it makes it more handy to your tastes. Accuracy won't suffer because of a shorter tube and the amount of drop difference isn't worth a moment of worry.

Boxer knows of what he speaks. Cut it, crown it, load good bullets, kill stuff.

Bob

Off with its' head!

I posted a leave it alone. I don't care about velocity loss as I shoot anyting from a 16"-26" barrel on my rifles. My favorite all around day to day rifle uses a 20" barrel but if I had it to do all over again I'd run a 22"-24 on it. I'd like to change the balance of it a bit more towards the muzzle end.

Cutting the barrel down from 25" to 22" isn't going to change accuracy or velocity enough to amount to anyting in the end. I also feel that lopping of 3" of barrel isn't going to make the rifle any more portable or easier to handle. The only thing cutting off 3" could do is change where it balances.

I like my rifles a little muzzle heavy, IMO it makes them settle down a little better for off hand shooting. If shortening the barrel a few inches doesn't affect that, then I'd have no problems shortening a barrel. However if you really want to change the way it handles you need to shorten it on both ends. Shorten the stock as well as the barrel and keep the balance where you like it, and then you'll see a real difference in handing and portability.

Cut it off to 22". If it were me, it'd be 23", 'cause I'm messy.

BTDT and a cut and a re-crown is no big deal and no worry.

Bullets matter more than 25-100 fps.

Boxer: I'm using IMR4831. With this rifle seems best accuracy and good enough speed with 160s. Have used RL22 and plenty fast but not quite as accurate. Have RL 22 to re-try and IMR 7828 SSC to try if I shorten this. Might hit a different node that is just as fast or faster (I'm such an optimist).

taylorce1: Agree about the muzzle heavy bit and never thought about cutting the stock back.

BC30cal: my problem is the horseback and painful forced marches often occur on the same trip.

This is a great group and thank you all for the suggestions. Will talk it over with the smith.

This may have to wait...I had planned on taking a fall off from mountain hunting but I got a phone call today. Need to decide if I can get in good enough shape fast enough. It's such darn steep country!

Mazel Tov that muthaphucka!




Travis

You'll be as good as you can get, never ever refuse a hunt!

Don't cut it. You will end up with a long action 7mm-08 and not save much weight. In my humble opinion, The entire reason a 280ai exists is to try and replicate 7mm rem mag ballistics in a non-magnum action. Why go the other way with it?!
Save the money trying to tinker with this gun and put it toward a short action lightweight 7mm-08. Now you are getting a true weight savings (1lb +) and not creating a hybrid gun that is trying to be something it isn't (lightweight or fast).

TFF

25", 24", 23". Nothing there that will change the outcome of a hunt, Do as you please.

However, leave the Stainless as is, No "Men's Make up" on a Backpack/Horseback rifle.

Stainless is permanent, none of the coatings are.

Leave it as is and get another rifle.

I thought the reason for the AI rounds was the cartridges look much more cooler than the parent round. Seriously, I do know should get 2 more rifles actually.

On the other hand, it does shoot like this now. Needs more than a 10x scope to see how it really does.

Thanks

Excellent. That's a very good shooter..

Cut to 22"

You'll not notice much either way by cutting an inch or two from the barrel. Cut it if you want. Handy wins. Is there is a tight spot in the barrel near the length you want it to be? If so hedge your accuracy bets by crowning there. If there isn't a tight spot it will still be just as accurate given a good crown but maybe a different load.

Cut any from the back of the stock and you'll likely notice a difference from the LOP change. Is that something you really want to screw with.

Just my .02.

Dave.