Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 280AI on a Abolt action?

I bought a stainless Abolt 270, but have decided I don't want another 270. I currently don't have a stainless big game rifle and I'm pretty set on a 280ai. Should I build off of the Abolt or sell and buy a 700? I plan on shooting the 160 AB, but don't want to rule out the 175s. Barrel will be 22". Any advise on the rifle and or the cartridge is appreciated.

If you rebarrel the A-Bolt, you will have a lot of money invested in it, You would not come close to recovering it if you decide to sell.

Since you want a 22" barrel, there are quite a few good 280 options in a used 700. Rechambering to 280AI would be relatively inexpensive. They are 9-1/4 twist.

Savage is chambering the 280AI in several rifles now, and most have 22" barrels. They are 9-twist. The only ones I have seen for sale so far are the Axis. The other models haven't reached the market yet.

In a 24" barrel, I would look at a Kimber Montana (or Classic Select). They are 9-twist. Magazine space MAY be limited with the 175's.

Personally, I like a 24" barrel on a 280AI, and a 9-twist. YMMV

It's a great round. You won't be disappointed.

What WhelenAway said times 2.

After doing some measurements I'm gonna lose the Abolt, probably go with a 700.

Other than the Storm, none of the factory AIs float my boat.

Still keep drifting towards the 7mag for long sleek bullets, but I'm just not a fan of recoil, although I will be going with a brake.

you could save yourself some time and money and buy this one:

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/ts-customs-280-ai.205211/

You can get some very long magazine space in the Remington 700, especially if you have a gunsmith open up the mag box .120 for a Wyatt's mag box!

This extra length is gold when it comes to chasing lands with long VLD bullets!

Best wishes

Make that times 3.

Another option is the Christensen Ridgeline in 280AI. I've and one for almost a year, and thus far it hasn't disappointed me. Shoots 160gr Partiions and 162gr ELD-Xs just fine.

Load 150s over R26 in the 270 as is and you will NEVER see a difference in the field. It'll save you a ton of money as well.

I've had a bunch of hunting rifles built and NONE did anything better than an accurate factory rig. I doubt I build anymore as there are so many good options in the factory arena these days as well as tons of aftermarket goodies to accessorize said rifles. Paper punchers are a diff story, but the same can be said of them these days as well.

I bought a Kimber M84 in 280AI 5 months ago.
I chambered a Sav 110 in 280AI 3 weeks ago.
I chambered a Win M70 in 280AI 1 week ago.

I have not shot any yet.

I have honed out some 280AI FL die necks.

I have drawn antelope, deer, and elk tags.
The target practice starts in October.

I am optimistic about the 280AI

Kimber Hunter in 280 AI???????

It says "84M" on the price tag, but says "84L" on the receiver.

Thanks.... I changed my spreadsheet.

tikka, is what I would look at using. the triggers are awesome, the port style action is pretty darn stiff. and from what I hear there is pretty much no truing of the action needed. add to that the new model tikka have different hand grip options. that is the only factory action I would use only because it needs nothing other than a barrel screwed on. beyond that I would buy a remington clone custom action.

Can a barrel be rebored one caliber up? I’m thinking two is a minimum but not sure. You could get everything you want cheaper than the other options if that’s possible.

Two calibers is generally the minimum.

I’d just buy a 700 donor and a mag sporter barrel of your choice. Cut it to 22”, 280ai throated for a good bullet and be done. Leaves you open to stock swaps/upgrades in the future if you find something you like.

Good in theory, but you'll be limited to 1-9.25 or 1-9.5 twist, if you choose to rechamber a Rem 700 280 Rem. A new barrel opens up the option for twist. All of my 280AIs are 1-9 or better.

(3) unfired 280AI rifles ready to shoot.

2018 Kimber factory barrel L84 8 lb 5 oz as shown
1980 Sav 110 Bartlein barrel 11 lb 3 oz as shown
1949 Win 70 Bartlein barrel 11 lb 9 oz as shown
I will be testing them in a couple weeks and hunting in 4 weeks.

I had a serious craving for a 280 AI and lucky for me, Eddie Fosnaugh helped me out with it. I had him to do me a full custom build on a 700 action thats one of the most accurate rifles I own. It averages in the 3's and 4's with the occasional group in the 1's a time or two when I'm having a really good day. It loves the 150 gn ABLR on top of 60.5 gns of R26.

I had it built heavy, but it sure is a sweet shooter.

Eddie's work is top shelf stuff.