Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats New 280AI barrel - what length

Of the 6 280s I have, the 2 custom builds are 24". Should be just fine for 280AI, if or when I decide rechamber.

Mine's 24" and feels just right

My Borden/Kampfeld 280 AI wears a 23" tube. Pushes 140's to 3200 fps, shoots 3/8 moa @ 100 yards and weighs 6 lb 13 oz.

What's not to like?

24+. My 284 has 28" and that gives about the velocity of a 7 mag with shorter barrel.

Yep, it almost makes me think I don't need my 06 anymore....

I have had 3 280ai's in 24". Lilja#4 Bartlein #3 Hart #3 currently. I would not want any shorter or longer. Bartlein #3 was nose heavy @24", Lilja was a little nose heavy. Hart is perfectly balanced in an edge fill stock. I am going with a Hawk Hill #2 on a 6.5x47 build. It is a copy of the Bartlein 2b contour. Wondering if should stick with 24" or go shorter. The balance of the barrel matters to me slightly more than the velocity gain/loss.

I'm with you guys.

If you had the 84L Montana in 280 AI you would have a much better handling rifle. And pretty much duplicate the 7 WSM performance. I'd go 24" on the Ackley

I wouldn't pay that much for a Kimber - you are goofy

$1,200 bucks for that thing...

I spent less on my finnlight when I bought it.

I was just pointing out Savage 99's bullshit.

22" on my M70 FW & it works nicely.

I wouldn't put a 24" on my 06 so why on my 280 AI?

My last rifle purchase, last summer, was a Kimber 84L MA-280AI and it handles perfectly with the factory tube at 24". I do NOT use the brake, but, slightly more muzzle weight would be OK.

After 50+ years of packing about 150 different rifles all over BC and some other parts of western Canada, I have come to prefer a 23" tube on all of mine. No reason, just like it and that is damned near as important as accuracy, IME and IMO.

My 280 Ack is 24" Pac Nor #3 contour, with a 1:8 twist.

I have a 25" on my HCR and am getting 3100 fps with 150 gr Ballistic Tips and 7828sc.

That's the way I feel about Finnlites, but to each his own.

Now you're rebarrelling your bargain Finnlite because they don't chamber what you want, and I assume you'll be restocking it too.

BTW - Last Montana I bought was $950 NIB.

The finnlight was a 270 I just couldn't hang with the gayness of it.

As for Sako vs Kimber - I like the option to carry extra magazines, and love the bolt throw...

Ok. I can understand the detachable magazines. I am not a fan of them, but I know a lot of people like them. Depending on how you hunt, I know they can be pretty handy.

I appreciate the short-lift, but on three-lug rifles I've had the bolt lift was hard (due to the shorter camming ramp). For me, two lug bolts operate easier.

As I said, to each his own


Regarding the 270, if it's a shooter I would keep it a 270, but we all have to spend our money as we see fit

Sako 85s,especially the finnlite is [bleep] junk. 1899 cdn for a plastic stock, taper locked scope mounts and fugged up ejector system.

I think so, it's called the chronograph of reality without all the jacked up emotion and defending of cartridge choices that a lot of guys seem to go with.

I've had guys in shock when they find out I have both a 280AI and a 7 Rem Mag,...they just can't see why one would have both. Then they tell you about their 308's and 30-06's..:-)

I remember when my son first shot his 280AI. I had just sold his hunting buddy a NIB stainless/walnut M70 Fwt in 270....The 270 was running 3135 fps with a 130 gr.,pretty much the same velocties as the 280AI with 10 grs less bullet weight. No deer will be able to discern that.

I've chambered 7 or 8 280AI's and there's no magic in it.
Nothing wrong with it, it's just not a 7 Rem Mag all other things being equal. The 10 gr more powder capacity of the 7 Mag does make a difference just like the approximate 10 grs case capacity differences of many other rounds like 308 to 30-06, 30-06 to 300 Win Mag, 223 to 22-250, 243 to 240 Wby etc. etc.

Yea, a 280ai will never have the power of a 7mm Rem. And in practical hunting terms, it doesn't do anything a good old 30-06 won't do.

It's only a matter of personal preference. For me, the 280 Ack has a bunch of small advantages that are not worth arguing individually. But added together, and for someone who reloads, it makes a pretty sweet package.