Creedmore
Beginner
- Oct 12, 2011
- 110
- 0
I don't post alot over here, but many of you probably know HTDUCK. He is a good friend, hunting buddy and, in general a bad infulence. You know that little devil that sits on you shoulder and keeps the RADD stirred up? well, mine bears a striking resemblance to Howard. :lol:
After he built his .264 Win Mag last year, the gears had been turning. So, this summer I started putting together plans to build a 280AI. I picked up a Remington .30-06 on the cheap and sent it away to McGowen for a new barrel. Remington long action, Holland's recoil lug, 26" stainless fluted McGowen #4 contour barrel 1:9 twist. My barreled action arrived a month earlier than I expected, so I didn't have time to finish a wood stock, so I went with a Bell & Carlson M40. Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50 glass.
I had just enough time on the calendar to fire-form and do barrel break-in. The fireforming loads were fairly accurate to my surprise. Then I ran some abbreviated load development with 140gr Accubonds and found a load good enough to go hunting, about an inch average at 3330fps. :grin: The groups are still shrinking, so I can't wait to see how she will shoot when the barrel is good and conditioned.
Then it was off to Missouri with Howard. I took 2 yearlings on Friday. Then on the last morning of the last day, ready to hang it up for another year . . . this nice 8 point comes running across the CRP like a scalded dog. Only enough time for positive ID that he was legal and managed a shot just before he disappeared into some timber. Running shot at 175 yards knocked him down. I shot again for insurance as he wobbled into the timber. The whole episode took about 15 seconds and it was over.
Couldn't be happier. This thing will be a tack driver. The post-season will really get into some scientific load development.
After he built his .264 Win Mag last year, the gears had been turning. So, this summer I started putting together plans to build a 280AI. I picked up a Remington .30-06 on the cheap and sent it away to McGowen for a new barrel. Remington long action, Holland's recoil lug, 26" stainless fluted McGowen #4 contour barrel 1:9 twist. My barreled action arrived a month earlier than I expected, so I didn't have time to finish a wood stock, so I went with a Bell & Carlson M40. Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50 glass.
I had just enough time on the calendar to fire-form and do barrel break-in. The fireforming loads were fairly accurate to my surprise. Then I ran some abbreviated load development with 140gr Accubonds and found a load good enough to go hunting, about an inch average at 3330fps. :grin: The groups are still shrinking, so I can't wait to see how she will shoot when the barrel is good and conditioned.
Then it was off to Missouri with Howard. I took 2 yearlings on Friday. Then on the last morning of the last day, ready to hang it up for another year . . . this nice 8 point comes running across the CRP like a scalded dog. Only enough time for positive ID that he was legal and managed a shot just before he disappeared into some timber. Running shot at 175 yards knocked him down. I shot again for insurance as he wobbled into the timber. The whole episode took about 15 seconds and it was over.
Couldn't be happier. This thing will be a tack driver. The post-season will really get into some scientific load development.
