Here's the new resident of my gunsafe

[STW]

Great looking rifle , looking forward to the range report.

 

[RiverRider]

Here's an image for BruceMc...

We have been discussing scope mounts. I seem to be unable to put an image in a PM.

 

[gerry]

Very nice looking gun in a great cartridge. Must feel real good

I prefer the Burris Zee rings over almost anything else, my 35 Whelen is always bang on which is saying something since it gets all the tough jobs around here.

 

[RiverRider]

Thanks Gerry. It still seems like it hasn't happened "all the way" yet, but soon I'll have what I need to mount the scope and I can hit the range.

I agree on the rings. The Zee rings seem to be very dependable and not half bad looking either. I really think Leupold's Dual Dovetail is a little better looking (unless you have to use a clunky extended mount) but the Zee may be a tougher ring (guessing). They are both excellent systems.

My Whelen wears Zees also.

 

[RiverRider]

Scope mounted and ready for sight-in!

I used medium rings, but I probably could have gotten by with lows. I'm not going to fuss and fiddle with it anymore, though. The less I'm waving a screwdriver or any other tool around this rifle, the better. Oh, but I almost forgot---I have an Ernie the Gunsmith trigger spring coming for it. That is by far the best seven dollar addition you can make to any rifle, IMO, and where I've used them in MOA triggers before they are worth ten times the dough. So I guess the rifle will be at risk at least one more time.

 

[gerry]

Looks like you are ready maybe I missed it but what are you planning for loads?

 

[RiverRider]

Gerry, my current .280 is an econo-custom VZ-24 with a 24-inch ER Shaw barrel. The load I've used for several years is a 150-grain Partition over 58.5 grains Of H4831SC, loaded in R-P cases with Federal 210s, and the bullet about 0.025" off the lands. It has been a very accurate load and turns in about 2925 fps. I presently have 55 rounds of this loaded up.

I've checked the Model 70 out and its throat is only about 0.016" shorter. What's worked out really nice is that my fired cases from the 98 fit the Model 70 chamber with the perfect amount of snugness (based on feel).

I'm not sure whether I'll fire three- or five-shot groups, but I intend to take a number of these rounds and seat bullets a little deeper, probably trying a range from 0.020" to 0.035" off the lands. If this does not pan out, I'll go back to the drawing board. I have a little IMR4451 waiting in the wings in case H4831 doesn't want to perform in this rifle. I really want to stick with the 150-grain Partition, but I'll try other bullets if necessary.

I kinda hate to start over on another .280, but then again, maybe something spectacular will happen (but the possibilities of depressingly mediocre results are always present). Maybe I should sacrifice an armadillo in my backyard before I shoot the rifle.

:wink:

 

[Bruce Mc]

River, some of the newer model 70s are bedded under the recoil lug and the tang, and they're pretty darn tight. You might need to tap the action out.

 

[RiverRider]

Thanks Bruce. This one is pretty new, I think they were offered in 2014 for the Midway promotion. I can see that it has an MOA trigger without disassembly, so it likely is bedded like all the newer 70s. I do have both a .25-06 and a .30-06 of more recent production (with MOA triggers), but I've slept a number of times since fiddling with them and I don't recall a thing other than the fact that I managed to get them out of their stocks!

 

[gerry]

Poor little armadillo :lol: If the same loads work that would be a bonus. My friend has taken mountain goat and moose with the Federal 150 gr Partition factory load from his 280 Rem so it is a great bullet. For handloads we used H 4350 and the 160 gr Partition Gold but since they are gone the regular Partitions work pretty much the same. We will be watching with interest to see how it all comes together for you.