My long time 280 AI project is finally finished. I have been intrigued by the 280 AI for a long time. In my mind it is close to perfect for deer/antelope. After buying the donor rifle 3 years ago, my wife gave me a 26" stainless Shilen barrel for Christmas this past year. I bought the rest of the parts a few weeks later. It started as a Rem. 700 ADL 270. I turned it into a BDL, added a Bell and Carlson Medalist stock, trued the action and cleaned up the bolt. It has a 4-12 Leupold Vari XII with a matte finish. I used stainless rings and bases to offset the black scope. This is the first rifle I have done this on, but I really like it... something a little different. After the gunsmith work, the finished length of the barrel is 25 1/2". A friend of mine helped me with the gunsmith work. I did a lot of the work and he did the parts that were beyond my ability. It was a big learning process for me, as this is my first custom rifle. I haven't been able to shoot it much yet, but the early testing looks good. I have shot a few groups around 1" with very little effort. I have been getting about 3150ish with 140 ABs. I hope to get 3200... we'll see. I plan to shoot it a lot this summer.
280 AI is done!
- Thread starter BP736
- Start date
6mm Remington
Ammo Smith
- Feb 27, 2006
- 5,209
- 452
Very very nice! You should be proud. It looks fantastic and sounds like it's going to shoot like a house on fire! 280/280AI are about the perfect cartridges for most everything including moose and elk! I've killed several with the plain Jane 280 and 140 gr. Partitions. No moose, but a couple nice bulls! I think the AccuBond is superb in the 280.
David
David
- Nov 4, 2004
- 24,386
- 6,730
BP736
Very nice! Congratulations on your 280 AI.
With a 26" tube, you should have no trouble reaching 3200 fps with the 140 gr AB. I have done 3240 fps with the same bullet in my 24" barrel but backed it down to 3180 fps to extend case life. RL 22 is a great powder in the 280 AI. With the 140 gr AB, I am loading 63. grs and getting well under MOA accuracy.
JD338
Very nice! Congratulations on your 280 AI.
With a 26" tube, you should have no trouble reaching 3200 fps with the 140 gr AB. I have done 3240 fps with the same bullet in my 24" barrel but backed it down to 3180 fps to extend case life. RL 22 is a great powder in the 280 AI. With the 140 gr AB, I am loading 63. grs and getting well under MOA accuracy.
JD338
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 36,958
- 5,169
Skookum cartridge. Looking forward to your first range trip.
HeathSexton
Handloader
- May 12, 2006
- 1,205
- 33
Looks sharp!
Very cool..
I had A 700 years ago in 280 AI and it shot like a laser. Wish I'd never sold it.
I just finished up a Win 70 FW in 280 AI with the Shilen bbl. I have to finish inletting the stock then bed it in but I'm really looking forward to shooting it. I have an old Remington 1903 A3 that I just did the same with to give to my brother.
I had A 700 years ago in 280 AI and it shot like a laser. Wish I'd never sold it.
I just finished up a Win 70 FW in 280 AI with the Shilen bbl. I have to finish inletting the stock then bed it in but I'm really looking forward to shooting it. I have an old Remington 1903 A3 that I just did the same with to give to my brother.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,072
- 2,589
Great looking rifle dude!
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,072
- 2,589
Range report!
That is one fine looking rifle! I'm wishing I would have gone with an extra inch on mine as well. I built it on a savage action, and can't get the AOL that you will be able to so my max charges are about 1.5-2 gr under book max.
I have tried both RL 17, and 22 with the 140 BT. 3147 fps with RL-22 is max, and very accurate in my gun. Was able to get up to 3220 with RL-17 (57 gr max in my gun), but it shot better at 3135 fps. I have not tried 7828 or magpo yet with the 140 BT, but they both worked very well with the 160 AB.
I have tried both RL 17, and 22 with the 140 BT. 3147 fps with RL-22 is max, and very accurate in my gun. Was able to get up to 3220 with RL-17 (57 gr max in my gun), but it shot better at 3135 fps. I have not tried 7828 or magpo yet with the 140 BT, but they both worked very well with the 160 AB.
- Thread starter
- #17
Thanks guys. I really enjoyed building the rifle and learned a ton. I have been chomping at the bit shoot it more and work up a load, but spring time in northen Arizona can be a bit breezy (WINDY). Should be calming down soon and I'll get after it then. I plan to work on an RL22 load with 140 ABs. I've had great luck in other calibers with 22 and a lot of guys here rave about it too. I'll get a range report soon.
BP
BP
cloverleaf
Handloader
- Sep 10, 2006
- 4,341
- 945
Great looking rifle! What was finish on that barrel? Cool! CL
- Thread starter
- #20
