Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 280ai build help

So my buddy is wanting to build a 280ai. he will be using a bartlein 3b barrel, stiller predator action, jewell, and McMillan hunter stock. He is trying to decide if he wants to go with the standard fill or carbon? Will it be barrel heavy if he goes carbon? How will it handle recoil? Neither of us have ever had a 280ai so we don't know what to expect recoil wise. He will be shooting it suppressed mostly. Thanks in adance

I did a 2b in a McMillan hunter(standard ). With a 22" barrel it balances between the action screw and lug.

I've done a couple heavier barreled 6.5-284's like the 280 you mention. Keep the shank short like 1/2" or so. No longer than 24" on barrel. I done this with a Classic edge andn# 4 Lilja. Also Am working on a similar one for a friend with a bartlein mag contour and high tech stock.

The 280AI will be fine in a build like you're talking about. My 280AI is a featherweight contour in hunters edge. It's not bad but not as enjoyable to "me" as the heavier 6.5's or especially the 6 creed I got started today.

Hope this helps some.

A Bartlein 3B is a very heavy contour, it's equivalent to most other makers #5. It's going to be nose heavy in any sporter stock but with the edge fill it'll be really unbalanced.

I don't think the Bartlein 3b will fit in a Mcmillan hunter. I have a Bartlein #3 and that's about all it can take. Bartlein #3 is like most #4 and the Mcmillan hunter is only good up to a #4.

Shot my AI for about 30 years.....you can blindfold me and I can't tell the difference between it and my '06's. If you sneak in a 7mag while I'm blindfolded I could probably tell the difference.

You'll enjoy the round.

Don't use that heavy 3b contour, but if you must go standard fill on the stock. A bartlein 2b will be much better. You can use either edge fill or standard fill.

I have a 280 AI New Mcmillan Hunter standard fill swirl and a #3 Hart cut at 23" and it is perfect.

I'd skip the 3b and run a Mark Chanlynn no4.
I'd skup Stiller and run a Defiance.
And I'd definitely skip a Jewell on a hunting rifle.

dave

I would look at the 2b or a Brux #3 contour ?

#3 Bartlein is a stout barrel for a hunting rifle. I just did one on a 280Ai and wish had dropped down to a 2b. Much heavier than othe makers #3. Have a Hart 3 going on another 280ai that is lighter than most #3's. Recoil will be very manageable with any of the mentioned barrels.

With a suppressor it will be way nose heavy. Why bother with the edge fill?

I have heard both sides of the Jewell on a hunting rifle argument. Are the new fancier Timney triggers supposed to be as good as a Jewell and more resistant to fouling?

Well I have several Jewells, a few Timneys, but Prefer a Shilen on my hunting type Remingtons. I'm going light and have a #2 Shilen at 24.5". It is being shipped to Brown Precision to Mark Brown For an ultra light Kevlar stock.

I have a Brux #3, 24" sitting in a Manners EH3 with a Timney and it's a sweet rig, maybe my favorite

I have a 700 with a 24" #3 Bartlein going into an EH3. Really wish had gone #2B. Haven't seen it put together yet. It is with stock guy being bedded. Shot the barreled action in an old Remington stock and it grouped well. Looking forward to seeing the EH3. Took a leap of faith and ordered it sight unseen.

If you're talking about the Timney Calvin Elite triggers, I have one and I like it but my Jewell HVRs aren't going anywhere. They remain the gold standard.

"Fouling" regarding triggers is only an issue if you neglect your guns.

Sometimes you have to grab the barrel contour that is in stock and have it turned, and that's a better option than waiting a year.

A few more bucks and a good smith and you can have any barrel contour and length you like.

It's a small investment toward personal satisfaction.

I've never waited longer than 5 months for a barrel, what are you guys buying that takes a year besides possibly an Obermeyer....

I think Obermeyer is a lot closer than that now. I wouldn't recontour a barrel on either of my lathes. If I happen to have the wrong contour, my barrelmaker will recontour it for me.