Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Talk to me about cartridge conversions

I’d really really like a stainless Tikka in .280 Rem but they don’t make it. I don’t know Jack about converting rifles into different cartridges, so educate me. What are my donor options?



P

For a 280 Rem you will need a Long Action aka 30-06 length action with a .473 bolt face. You want stainless, so make sure it is. What is your Total Weight Goal? Is this a hunting/hiking rifle or do you want a heavier rifle for sitting in a stand or simply a long range benchrest type rifle?

Pharm,

You will need a donor action, or if you already have one set up like above mentioned in 30-06 or 25-06 you will needto have the old barrel removed and a new barrel installed. Lots of barrel options but I'd look at maybe a Bartlein stainless or carbon wrapped if you want to get fancy. Then send it to a smith to have it chambered and cut to length and crowned. Or plenty of pre-fits out there these days but not sure any chambered in .280.

If you go the rebarrel route I would give Shaen @ Shaen Rifles a call, he has worked on Tikka's and his work is fantastic. He also has some unique ideas on all things 7MM and they work:)
Plus he will have it back to you pretty fast.

All Tikka actions are 30-06 length. The rifles chambered for short-action cartridges use a different bolt stop and magazine, both of which are widely available and not very expensive. Rechambering a Tikka in 7-08 to 280 might be the way to go, but you might have to have the barrel set back a bit. Their barrels are 23.6" so there's a bit of running room there. Then swap out the mags and the bolt stop and you should be good to go.


Okie John

That certainly could work but not sure the twist would be ideal for that change?? Plus I'm pretty sure the 7MM-08's only come with the shorter 22" barrels.

What's wrong with a 22" .280? I'd just make it a .280 AI as it would probably clean up the 7-08 chamber. If it's a stainless .280 you want I'd look for a Remington M700 Mountain Rifle.

If you want a Tikka in .280, just buy a .270 and pretend you got what you wanted!

Never said anything was wrong with it, just thought I'd mention that it is 22.4" and not 23"+ like the previous poster said. Not that Pharm doesn't already know that.

Assuming you have a Tikka T3 in 7mm-08.

You have to buy a long action magazine and cartridge stop and then have it rechambered. I am pretty sure you have to set the barrel back. You can buy a barrel from montana tactical.

I’d look for a used T3x in -06 based of some type whether its 25-06, 270, 30-06. At least this way, you don’t need a new bolt stop or anything. Rebarrel and restock in a mcmillan edge. My personal preference is also to switch to High Desert bottom metal.

That’s what’d I’d do as well.

I have a stainless T3 in .30-06 I haven’t shot in a coon’s age, I might just sacrifice her.

Thanks for the replies, I’ll look at Shaen.



P

I'm going to do this same thing with one of my stainless Tikkas in 270 or 30-06. I'm going to get a McGowen prefit barrel, maybe a Proof barrel, in 280 Ackley. I'm not with the group suggesting the McMillan; but, to each their own. There are a lot of companies now making pre-fit barrels for the Tikka action.

Definitely give Shaen a call. He did my 338 06 tikka, which was a 308 win. I went with a mountain tactical bolt stop,long magazine, new stainless douglas and a custom mcmillan and was in business in no time. I think the only hang up was my mcmillan order took 5 weeks instead of 4, but I can't bitch about Shaen's communication or turn around time. Dude is awesome to deal with, gun is shooting lights out, just waiting to kill , so myself or Shaen can share pics. As a side note, I believe dye7barrel has my 280ackley tikka if you have any questions

280’s & especially 280 AI’s are as perfect a hunting rifle there is. I have several of each.

Seems the quick and economic way is to try and make it work with with a 7mm-08 and the existing barrel. I suppose any 30-06 style could also use a 7mm Rem Mag barrel, set back and rechambered to the .280. Its going to be much more expensive (and much nicer) to get a new custom barrel and stock etc.

Pharm

IMO the 280 is NOT that diff from the 270 W.
Ammo ( I know you are a handloader ) is much more available for the 270. That also makes brass easily obtained.

I have a T 3X Lite SS in 7mm RM, it's only 3 or 6 oz heavier than my T 3 Lite SS 270. >> I'd go that route instead of a 280 AI. Lots of plusses for the 7 RM.
I think you have a 7 or had one (?)

OTOH lots of guy go the custom or semi custom route so that might be your cup o tea.

Good Luck

Jerry

Yeah, but when you want a 280, the 270 is not good enough. We all KNOW it works just as well but rifle loonyism takes many forms

The 270 is gay.

Everyone knows that.




P

Yeah, but your the one who is going to bend over and take it near the wallet to get what you want, monetarily anyway. That's pretty gay anyway just to keep smiling. MB

There would be zero chance I would change a thing about my T3x SS 30-06 .