Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 280 ackley do or dont?

I like the 280, as a 270, would not mind owning a 6.5x55 AI

7/08 does most all I'd want, and a Rem Mag takes over from there in OEM.

A proper built and ammo'd 280AI is a good one.

Agreed. I have been trying to wrap my head around the 280 AI for over 30 years, ever since my old pal on here RinB had both the Ackley and RCBS version. He seemed unimpressed and so was l...since l was stomping 280 improved velocities with about any 7RM l loaded for. So l never blew the coin to bother with it.

I hardly consider it an essential item for any active BG hunter. Other stuff works as well
or better. The cartridge is a favorite of rifle nuts on here but in a fairly active lifetime of BG hunting l have yet to see a single one afield anywhere...but someone must be using it!

The 280 AI is a "lesser included" in a standard 7 rem mag. I also get the same ballistics from my FF loads (low pressure) for the 7mm Mashburn in the same action and barrel length with greater reserves for heavier bullets.

Those here will have to forgive me if the cartridge causes me to yawn.

There isn't a need for any one specific cartridge as a dozen others can do the same thing that it does. It is about a want.

6.5 Creed, 260, 6.5x284, 6.5-06, 270, 7-08, 7x57, 280, 280AI, 7RM, 7SAUM, 7WSM, 7whateverthefuck, 308, 30-06... and on... and on... and on...

They'll all kill deer and elk. Many will do the same thing as the other. Big deal. It isn't about well this doesn't do anything that does. It's about what you want for any reason. I like it because it's different. I don't have any issue with brass because Nosler supplies it. I can handload or shoot factory. I can get most of the performance of a 7RM with using less power and having less recoil and having an extra round in the box.

In all reality a deer probably won't know the difference between any of the calibers mentioned above given the same shot placement and bullet type. Shoot what's fun and what you like.

I've been shooting my 280's since they were stamped express so you know how long that's been. Sometimes good things should be left alone..this is a prime example IMO.

The 280's are all fine cartridges, whether stamped AI or express.

If I had a LA, a standard bolt face, and a .284 tube, I'd take the 280 whatever. If it had a mag bolt face, I'd do the 7RM, Saum, Wsm, Wby, or MSM. Don't see any need to compare a .473 BF against a .532.

They all launch good bullets at meaningful velocity.

Have had a number of them over the years.

Don's post was just a cheap shot--an idiot could produce the same results with any cartridge. They are idiots and brainfarts involved in handloading...

Go with the SAAMI version, it is slightly different than the older version and Nosler brass works very well--been buying Nosler 280AI brass since it came out.

280AI Versions

Buying Nosler brass and handloading the SAAMI is the easy way to get the most out of the 06 parent case. The Nosler manual's results are spot on for current rifle. I run a 24" and subtract 50fps to line up with Nosler's result. It outruns all similar SD bullets from other versions on the 06 parent case. The Gibbs is an exception, but it is a PITA to make, for me, and you have a short neck to boot.

Recoil-wise, you can build a 280AI from a 1 to 1 1/2# lighter than a 7RM - 7WB. Have and shoot them--am fond of the 7WB in a weightier format. This elk season reminded me that there are good reasons to carry a lighter rifle--getting older is on that list.

I basically shoot mine with 140s now and with today's bullets it is the single best bullet weight for the cartridge...for me. Have run them all including the 175 for a while in a long-throated rifle. To run a heavier bullet now, I go with the mag cases. For shooting longer
& more comfortably, a 6.5...

Am also very fond of a 280 on hand. Noted this past year after snagging 100 Nosler Long Range 150's that the long boat-tail (about 3x) sits deeply in the case. The AI version will recover case capacity given up to VLD type bullets. Throating longer will not help you with that particular bullet...:)

If deciding to use a single rifle it would be the 280AI with 140-160s to cover game.

Bob, serious question here. Why do you harp on the fact that a 7mm Mag is better (faster) than the Ackley ? No schitt, it's faster. It uses more powder, has greater recoil and greater muzzle blast. Your (continued) argument is as valid as saying that a 30/06 is "better" than a 308, or a 300 WM is better than a 30/06. Of course the 280 Ackley isn't deit like, but the advantage of much less case trimming and a slight boost in velocity are worth it to some. A lighter barrel contour can be used with the Ackley as well, or at least every frickin one I've seen has anyway. Now if someone actually thinks that they can get 7mm Mag velocities (safely) with a 280 Ackley, I'll be happy to join in with you and tell them they're FOS.

Don't....

Picking a 280 Ackley over a standard 280 makes way more sense to me than picking a 7mm Mashburn over a 7mm Rem Mag as you can still shoot factory ammo in an Ackley. No one makes factory ammo for a Mashburn

The only (possible) argument I can see is if some has a standard 280 and they want to spend the money on re-chambering because they are wanting more velocity. The reality is you're probably only going to see less than a 100 fps gain and even at that, you're on the verge of hot rodding the Ackley. If a guy has a 280 and wants more velocity, than build a 7 mag. The guy who probably had the most influence on the 280 Ackley's popularity, at least in fairly recent times, was Kenny Jarrett. I called Kenny Jarrett many years ago and got a copy of an article he wrote for Precision Shooting. In the article, there were 5 loads he suggested, one for 140's using IMR-4350, and the load in my rifle was warm (hard bolt lift).

I've hunted primarily with a standard .280 Mountain Rifle for twenty years and it's always done everything I've asked of it. I wouldn't re-chamber a 22-24" barrel for a 280AI but I would build one from scratch using a reasonable weight 26". I don't hump the mountains like I once did so a little longer/heavier barrel is not a bad thing. For me it's going to be a tossup between the 280AI and a 7LRM (or something close to it). Have an extra action available in each size. Not sure if I want to beat myself up burning the additional powder in a mag case.

What kind of velocity are you getting?

It's a great cart on a .473 L/A..arguably the best you can do on that platform.

I've tried to trip my 280AI chambered Rock barrel in this very thread, if i dont i'll screw it onto an action and give it a fair shake.

Thinking 150 Scenar and 145 LRX combo wouldnt suck..

Agreed.

David

Just loaded up some rounds last night for a new 280AI. Had some fire-formed brass. FL resized them and used Rel 22 with 162 Gr. A-Maxes. Expect to get around 2,800 FPS out of the 23" barrel (per quickload).

I did fill a case with H20 and weighed it just to make sure of capacity. Quickload had 74 grs water and I measured 72.5 grains. Easy fix.

A few pics of mine

I'm heading to the range this AM with my 280AI. I put it together three years ago and I've never carried it hunting.
Ran out of it's favorite bullet, the 150 Ballistic Tip and couldn't find anymore for months. Then a friend slid me a partial box so we are back in business.
It's just a '77 vintage 700 action with a 23" Shilen #2 in a Mountain Rifle pattern Edge, a Rifle Basix trigger and and a 3.5-10 gunmetal grey Leupy. Pretty standard campfire stuff.
My oldest has a near twin to it in a lefty 700.

Nice!
What's your load for the 150's?

61 grs of Rel22

16bore,
with the 62g of RL22 I'm getting 3050 fps.