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

I think the dislike stems from some 280 AI guys claiming how incredible their round is. Keeping up with the 7 mag, superior to the 270 or 30-06. Things like that. So it's a case of backlash, in a way. The reality is the 280 AI is just fine, but isn't anything special compared to a bunch of other rounds.

Savage 99's case is different, as he is an idiot.

I think you need to read what I said again.

I've not AI'd any of the several 280's I've owned over the years.

There's no doubt of some performance gain, but aside from the possibility of less case trimming, I've just seen no need when the standard case is loaded to it's potential.

My current favorite below.

MM

I have had three "improved" 280's, two AI and one RCBS. I have also shot a 280 a lot. My 280 with a longer throat, OAL 3.45, is about 30-35 fps behind the "improved" cases at equal pressures. In a hunting rifle, I would use a 22-23" barrel.

The reason the improved cases are more difficult to get to feed as slickly as a standard is because of the reduced body taper. The shoulder angle has nothing to do with that other than most "improveds" have both.

Also the idea that a 280 AI is lighter than a 7 mag is just wrong thinking. Same stock, same barrel, same action...the magnum will be slightly lighter because the chamber removes a little more steel.

I would get the standard built but have the throat extended. Cases and dies are cheaper. Or just get a 270 or a 7RM.

Thanks to some of the guys here for advice, I will tell my brother to make his a 280 ackley.

Kimber 84L changes that

Specs? Smith?

MM, what is your load and what velocity do you get loading it to full potential?

Rechambering a factory barrel that isn�t getting the velocity one is looking for is throwing good money at bad. The barrel is likely still going to be slow, but now it will be slow with a few hundred extra dollars sunk into set back/rechambering and new dies. What I�m trying to not so eloquently say is that rechambering won�t fix the slow velocity issue if the barrel has loose bore dimensions.

Also, I�m not sure what being a �reloading chicken� is, but a 280 AI isn�t going to change things. If that means your brother backs down when pressure signs are encountered on the brass, he is a smart man, as pressure signs don�t often occur until over 70,000 psi.

Have him load some 120 ttsxs at 3150 fps in the factory barrel, and he�ll not want for a 280 AI any longer.



The problem there being the throat length to magazine length on the Kimber 280 AI. Long throat, not so long mag box.

I think you need to read what I said again.