Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting The .280AI Strikes Again

Today was the opening day of rifle season, the weather nigh perfect (34 degrees and near dead calm winds), and the woods were alive with birds, squirrels, and lots of bear poop. .

At 8:08 AM I was standing near my favorite tree in my favorite place to be when looking to put some venison on the meat pole when a fat 7 point buck came up the ridge out of a thicket and stopped about 40 yards away. The .280 AI spoke and he dropped dead in his tracks. The 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, even at this close range, blew right thru him with a minimum of meat damage.

As near as I can tell this is the 32nd deer (360th round down the bore) at ranges of 15 to near 300 yards this particular rifle and load has taken. We have yet to keep one of the 120 NBT inside a deer and all 32 of the deer have been DRT. It is a deer killing machine.

One surprising thing about this buck was that he showed absolutely no signs of any rutting activity. This is well out of the norm for mid November. Either the rut hit really early or it hasn't got going yet.

As soon as I can figure out how to get the camera out of video mode I will post a picture of the buck. (this may take a while and the intervention of my computer geek brother)

Even better than getting a buck with my favorite rifle was getting to spend the day hunting with my dad. Most fun I have had in a long time.

If you can take every possible opportunity to spend days in the field with your dad, kids, spouses, and good friends. Savor them.

Times just do not get any better and they are all too fleeting in this uncertain world we live in.

Cool beans HBB!

Way to go, HBB! I've never owned a 280AI, but have shot a few with the standard 280, and always found it a stellar performer.

Congrats!
Sounds like a fun hunt.

I have a SIG 970 .280 I need to try out. Its just sitting in the safe and waiting its turn.

If it wasn't for the big bears working the place we hunt this year I would take a page from your book and do some stunt shooting on deer with a .223. But the .280AI gives me more warm fuzzies in case I run into a bear coming thru the thicket.

I am too young and pretty to wind up as a pile of bear poop.

It truly was one of the best days I have spent afield.

Just had some loin from this buck for supper. I must say he is a most tasty critter.

It's always a treat when you've bagged a critter with your warm fuzzy favorite rifle.

Way to score early, Shannon! Deer in your area should be rutting any day now, so get out there for round 2.

Got The Pictures up Finally:

Alright! Congrats!

Nice buck for the freezer. Congrats.

Yes, he is the best tasting buck I have killed in a long time.

Congrats!
I like the rifle. Looks like a older 700 ADL with a medium weight stainless barrel. who made your barrel?

Its a 1982 vintage 700 ADL . The barrel is #3 contour Shilen SS Matchgrade finished at 23 inches.

Can't go wrong with a Shilen.

I too have one. One of my top three favorites.

Mine is the synthetic stocked version. We have one in .270 too that is crazy accurate and murder on deer.

I get similar performance out of my old FN Mauser in 7x57AI. 26 inch Shilen barrel on mine.