Ok guys Im getting ready to purchase my one and done do it all big game rifle in 280AI. Unfortunately I live in Bismarck ND and we don't have either rifle locally for me to play with so i will be ordering from a friend of mine. He stocks both rifles, but tells me he can't decide which one he would rather have if it was him.
SO I know that 280AI is the caliber, but would you chose the Nosler or the Montana Rifle Co gun to chamber it in. Pleasd tell me which you would chose and why.
BTY my buddy has both in stock so waiting will not be an issue with either.
Thanks for the help

9.5 twist on the MRC would be a deal killer for me. I like shooting 168-180 grain bullets in my 7mms.

I've used the .280 Ackley to kill many hundreds of head of American big game. Frankly, I've never personally seen any use for bullets that weigh over 150-grains. Mostly, I've used 140-grain bullets and have found them quite deadly up to and including moose.

Guess it just comes down to what you like and what you experience while afield.

Steve

was planning on shooting 150's. SO whats the word on the two rifle companies? Which company would you chose?

billiam,

Personally, I would buy the Nosler M48 Patriot in .280 Ackley Improved and never look back.

Then, just go HUNT!!!

You need no more rifle, you need no more cartridge ... for all American big game, with the exception of really big bears.

Please keep us in the loop on your choice.

Blessings,

Steve

I owned and hunted with a Nolser Outfitter which is basically just a Patriot with a 22" barrel and open sights. I felt that it was a great rifle. Fit and finish was excellent, the action was smooth, and it was accurate shooting almost all loads under a inch for three shots.

MRC come with a 3 shot 1 moa or better guarantee

My Patriot is very accurate with a variety of loads and bullets.

I would find it very difficult to choose either rifle as a one and done without actually handling them.

With that being said, I would personally lean towards a MRC.

Rifles are like shoes, fit trumps all.

Are you friendly with a local FFL? Perhaps your buddy can send both examples to your FFL so that you can choose the one you want. The local FFL could then complete the transfer on the rifle you choose and send the other one back to your buddy. I don't know if that poses any complications for either FFL, but wanted to toss the idea out there.

I went to Fargo last night, and was able to handle the Nosler and it felt a little square to me. The barrel weight was perfect, but the lines on the stock were a little square to suite.... Felt kinda clunky

Clunky my *SS. The Nosler patriot is a very accurate, well made rifle.

I didn't get the feeling he was knocking the quality of the rifle. I just don't think he cared for the feel of the stock's forend.

Exactly!
I even stated that I "loved everything else about it....WTH?
The lines where just a little hard on the bottom side in the grip area in "my opinion". The bolt was smooth, and I thought the barrel contour was perfect!

Check out Cooper?

I did, and I liked what I saw. However, I have a smith that could build me a custom for the same money. Thanks

Well, at least you're settled on the 280 AI. That's good. No way I'd buy a rifle without handling it first.

I have a feeling of confidence with 140's, especially AB's. And, I would with 150's if Nosler would produce a normal 150 Accubond. It does not make sense to me. They make a .284 150 BT & PT, but no Accubond.

'Loder,

No need for a 150 AB when the 150 BT does it all.....

Reloder 28,

When Nosler started making AccuBonds, they began by bonding Ballistic Tips and running penetration/expansion tests. If the bonded version didn't result in any significant difference in performance, they didn't bother producing an AccuBond version. Among the Ballistic Tips that showed no advantage was the 150 7mm, Which is why it has so many fans. Have you ever tried it?

In case anybody's interested, another was the 100-grain .25 caliber BT.

There is a 7 mm 150-gr Accubond Long Range with a BC of .611. Perhaps that's not the "normal" AB you speak of?

I have not to date. But, this recent reassurance from several of my CF friends has encouraged me to do so. It is next on my bullet test agenda. Thank you for the prompt.

No sir. I wanted a plain Jane 150 AB in .284, not a long range bullet.

Thanks for that info Mule Deer, even if off the OP! I have many rounds of 25.06 loaded. 100 gr TSX for hunting and 100 gr BT for plinking or coyotes. Good to know, I can feel comfortable flinging the BT in the direction of bigger game.

NoCAL

The 100 BT isn't a TSX or Partition, but it's not soft, by any means. The last deer I killed with one was a mature Montana whitetail doe, quartering toward me at about 50 yards, the rifle a .257 Roberts with the 100 loaded to 3050 fps. The bullet hit the shoulder joint and ended up under the hide at the rear of ribcage on the opposite side.