Thread: 280AI - pros & cons?

So, Tikka and you had the barrel fluted or ultralight?
Stug stock?
24" barrel?

Originally Posted by Danny

So, Tikka and you had the barrel fluted or ultralight?
Stug stock?
24" barrel?

Senator stock
24' No3 Vulcan barrel

Originally it was a std Tikka 270 but not much left now.

Cost a lot more than I told the Mrs

I like that mate. Very nice.

Originally Posted by Hayden C

Senator stock
24' No3 Vulcan barrel

Originally it was a std Tikka 270 but not much left now.

Cost a lot more than I told the Mrs

Bet she does the same with shoes...��
It's a fools game to tell the Mrs what something cost.

Two .280AIs have been in the safe for 15 years here, currently 27" and 24". Having accumulated all the expensive necessaries including competition dies I probably won't change next time barrels need to be replaced... but if I could start again I would stick with a standard 280, or better still go with a 30-06. The rounds look good, very good - but other than that IMO there are cases in every direction with better capabilities that require less fuss and/or less cost. That said, I did enjoy scratching that itch for a while there.

For either flavour of .280 do watch the magazine length as KG mentions; ideally you would want up to 89mm to play with the Bergers & Amax hard into the lands. Anything less and you may not have the length for full experimentation, depending on the cut of the throat.

Originally Posted by Hayden C

Here’s mine.



I had it built for an open country rifle as I’ve just moved to Christchurch. Shoots 162 AMAX and 160 Accubonds really well although I haven’t had a chance to stretch its legs yet. Performance wise it’s on par with a friend’s 7mmSAUM but lagging behind the 7mm Rem Mag by a few 100 fps.

The only con I’ve found so far with the 280AI is the Nosler Custom brass is so expensive that while looking for an ejected shell a few weeks ago I missed an opportunity at a second Stag. It was a long walk so I guess it may have been a blessing in disguise.

That looks familiar Hayden, must be the one that Abe built you on my old action?
:-)

Originally Posted by Hayden C

Senator stock
24' No3 Vulcan barrel

Originally it was a std Tikka 270 but not much left now.

Cost a lot more than I told the Mrs

Not heard much about Vulcan barrels, assume its doing you well?
They much cheaper than Trueflight?

I love mine, great all round rifle for bush to longer ranges. 18.5inch barrel shots Amax at 2750 easily. One reason I went with it is it's one of the larger calibers you can use a standard suppressor on, and when going light that saves a bit of weight and length to your setup

Originally Posted by Puffin

Two .280AIs have been in the safe for 15 years here, currently 27" and 24". Having accumulated all the expensive necessaries including competition dies I probably won't change next time barrels need to be replaced... but if I could start again I would stick with a standard 280, or better still go with a 30-06. The rounds look good, very good - but other than that IMO there are cases in every direction with better capabilities that require less fuss and/or less cost. That said, I did enjoy scratching that itch for a while there.

For either flavour of .280 do watch the magazine length as KG mentions; ideally you would want up to 89mm to play with the Bergers & Amax hard into the lands. Anything less and you may not have the length for full experimentation, depending on the cut of the throat.

Thanks for that - good write up

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

Kimber Mountain Ascent, having the muzzle rethreaded at the moment.

Let me know when you're selling it!!

Originally Posted by Matt2308

That looks familiar Hayden, must be the one that Abe built you on my old action?
:-)

Yip that's the one although I'm not sure how you recognize it. Originally I was just going to re barrel it and well.......

Abe did a good job!

Originally Posted by Beetroot

Not heard much about Vulcan barrels, assume its doing you well?
They much cheaper than Trueflight?

It seems to be going alright. It shot two Tahr over the weekend at 384 and 454 yards.

I went with the Vulcan as a friend of mine has had a few Trueflight barrels that just wouldn't shoot. Not sure what the price difference is.

Originally Posted by Hayden C

It seems to be going alright. It shot two Tahr over the weekend at 384 and 454 yards.

I went with the Vulcan as a friend of mine has had a few Trueflight barrels that just wouldn't shoot. Not sure what the price difference is.

Nothing wrong with them Vulcans.

I had 2 trueflite 6.5 barrels that didn't shoot and was told to keep firing them till they did shoot.
Left in the lurch as well with no refunds or anything.
Had a Vulcan that shot mint.
They are cheaper but I don't know by how much.
Abe will know.

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Recently built a custom 280AI on a REM700 action, TF UM barrel No3 prifle fluted on a Browns Precision "pounder" stock, Gunworks did the bolt fluting & installed a Timney CE trigger - bare rifle 6lbs.
Shoots 162 AMAX into 0.28 moa groups at 2850 fps .... mild load, can get the speed up to 2950 fps but groups open up. I'll take the 0.28 moa group any day.
I have a few other rifles in my safe but really rate this one and the calibre.
Nosler brass is expensive but you can easily neck up 270 & fire form, or fireform 280 brass.

,

Geeze for many years I thought my 280ai was pretty good, now I find out its a cavemans walking stick with a mag that's to short for the 1000s of amax Iv been shooting, needing overpriced dies and is a poor choice with better options in every direction

Originally Posted by R93

I am waiting for sneeze to offer me his Cooper in .280 Ack for cheap of course

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Dave your best bet would be to invest in a cryogenics plant......no guarantees though.