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Joined: Sep 2010
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OP
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Posts: 307 |
I am considering having one put together. I own a 25/06 and 30/06 and my pea brain is telling me this will be the best of both worlds, could someone please enlighten me with some real world experience and numbers.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,159
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I vote do because I have hunted with one for almost 20 years. I love it and it is my go to rifle for everything I hunt. I shoot other calibers like the 257 Roberts and 30.06 but I like my 280 AI for hunting. What I like about the 280 AI: very accurate, manageable recoil, plenty of range for everything I hunt, easy to reload for, brass life is good and brass is easy to fire-form from 280 brass, great bullet selection in 7mm. It may not be perfect but it's pretty dang close. You won't be disappointed if you build one. If you don't reload Nosler offers a couple of good factory loads but you really need to load your ammo to reach its full potential.
.280 AI Fan
"I don't make jokes, I just watch the government and report the facts" Will Rogers
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing" Unknown
Trump 2024!
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,547
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Ackleyman pretty much summed it up !!
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Joined: Sep 2010
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What twist of barrel and what is more cost effective a stiller predator action or a blueprinted 700?
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 14,807
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Do it if you have not done one before. This AI stuff is just a hobby and fun for awhile.
Wait until after this hunting season. It will shorten the winter.
Other similar cartridges will do about the same.
All guns should be locked up when not in use!
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Joined: Jan 2007
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What twist of barrel and what is more cost effective a stiller predator action or a blueprinted 700? Most cost effective is a Montana or a Nosler. Both can be had for the cost of a Stiller or blueprinted 700 action, and both are good rifles and ready to go. But then so is a 7-08 Montana for most things I can think of doing. The 280 AI doesn't really do any more than the 30-06, but it does it with greater efficiency. The 30-06 will wake up when loaded up to full power behind a Scenar or 208 Amax. These days hard decisions mostly revolve around glass.
It ain't all burritos and strippers my friends...
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 172
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I really like mine, dose all I ask of it. Its my go to big game rig. Actions, depends on if you have a 700 action or not. I think it would be pretty close if you had to buy new.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,453
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I'd go 1-9 twist and for cost, a "blueprinted" 700. Most gunsmiths perform most of the necessary "blueprinting" before they screw on your new barrel. IMO, anything beyond, squaring the action face, bolt face, truing up the bolt lugs ( or just lapping them in if there not to outta whack) and cleaning up the action threads is really a waste of money on a hunting rifle. Remember when you buy a custom action they don't come with a trigger, magazine follower, magazine spring or bottom metal. Not sure how many customs come with a recoil lug either. Pretty easy to see that a Stiller Predator will cost you more than a grand by the time it's ready for it's barrel.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,379
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Another yes vote, I've been very happy with mine and it loves 150 TTSX's and RL22.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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TopCat makes a good argument for a factory Montana or Nosler, but if you want to put one together, I agree with RDFinn. A "blueprinted" 700 action is probably the best way to go considering what you get at a reasonable cost. My rifle is built on a Win. 70 action but a Rem 700 is hard to beat for an accurate rifle. Mine is a 1-10 twist but nothing wrong with a 1-9 twist especially if you plan to shoot 160 grain bullets. Mine has a 23" barrel but I would probably go 24" if I built one today. Action and barrel length really comes down to personal preference.
.280 AI Fan
"I don't make jokes, I just watch the government and report the facts" Will Rogers
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing" Unknown
Trump 2024!
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Joined: May 2005
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My brother absolutely loves his M70 push feed rebarreled by E. R. Shaw. Fingernail size groups with 160gr Sierra boattails are the norm, and deer don't like it at all.
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." Robert E. Howard
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971
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Joined: May 2003
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I had exactly the same cartridges and did pick up the 280AI, especially for elk. Which to me means 160 plus grain bullets.
I have a Sako A7 25-06, and a Sako 85 30-06
Now I have a 280 AI and its more my first choice if I'm western hunting than anything else.
If I'm hunting thicker stuff where 300 is a long shot I just use my 260.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,335
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I have a 280AI chambered/threaded Rock barrel,dies and some brass i picked up here in the classifieds.
I might be selling it as i'm building another 7wby,if anyone's interested in it let me know.
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,122
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I love mine! I have a stainless select shilen barrel mated to a Whitworth action trued and lugs lapped in.
I went with the saami spec chamber so I can use 280AI Nosler brass or fireform 280 brass if I choose.
The original wildcat chamber will have headspace issues if you try to use 280AI Nosler brass and therefore is only recommended to fire form.
There nothing special or magic about the 280AI however I enjoy playing around making loads for something different.
Shod
The 6.5 Swede, Before Gay Was Ok
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,653
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Have an RBros built AI. McM Hunters Edge, bedded, trued, Kampfeld fluted bolt, 24" #4 Broughton finished at .660, 1-9. On a cold morning was around 2904 average, pretty close to advertised. First load with the 150TTSX was 56.5 IMR4350 that went .307". The rifle is far better than I am and have messed up my share of groups. Would be easier with more than a fixed 6x, but I want to go on a few hunts before swapping the scope - if I ever do.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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Here's mine, built on a pre 64 M70 action, pac-nor fwt barrel and a mcm edge stock.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Just about a perfectly balanced cartridge. It will overlap the 25 and 30-06 a fair amount on both ends with 120-180 gr. bullets. Only reason not to build one is the other rifles may stay in the safe at least for awhile.
It for me is about the top end that I would want in an ultra light rifle. A Titanium Pierce action for the 280AI sure would be nice.
Mine is a truck gun throw down rifle on a Ruger action. Not worthy of a photo even if I knew how.
Handwerks rifle is just about perfection.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
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Joined: Dec 2007
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I like the 280.
120's at 3340 and 162's near 3k. They all get it done without much fuss.
“Life is life and fun is fun, but it's all so quiet when the goldfish die.”
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Joined: Sep 2003
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If I saw a rifle for sale that I liked but chambered in a odd cartridge like the 280 ai I would not buy it. One rifle guys experience with it: Link
All guns should be locked up when not in use!
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