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Anonymous
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I just acquired a Springfield M1903 and it needs a little work. I was thinking about rebarreling it as a 280 Ackley Improved or a 6.5-284 Norma. What do you guys think?
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,547
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I would think that either would be a skookum rifle with that action. This will be a great project.
Larry in SD
Handloader
- Nov 8, 2004
- 426
- 2
Sounds like a fun project. Personally I would opt for the .280 AI. Not really sure why except that I guess I always wanted to try one out ever since a gun dealer buddy of mine had one. In these ever changing times I may be easier to get .280 AI components also.
Good luck with the project.
Larry
Good luck with the project.
Larry
- Thread starter
- #5
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Anonymous
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jmad_81":1z6maf53 said:
All around rifle. I keep debating with myself because I would feel more comfortable using the 280 for elk, but the 6.5 would be a lot of fun as well. I had my mind made up until I actually got it, now I can't decide. :roll:
280AI or 6.5-06(AI maybe). That 6.5-284 is great for target shooting, but that 6.5-06 is very close to 264 win perfomance on a 30-06 case.
I`d say 280AI and develop a good 160 grn AB or Partition load OR 6.5-06 with 140 Partitions at 2900 FPS. Can`t go wrong on a 06 case, BC favors the 6.5 and availible bullet weights the 7mm.
Personally, I don`t think the 6.5-284 has enough case capacity to handle 140 grn bullets and use the mag without risking a jam, that is just my opinion tho.
of the two, the 280 AI.
JT.
I`d say 280AI and develop a good 160 grn AB or Partition load OR 6.5-06 with 140 Partitions at 2900 FPS. Can`t go wrong on a 06 case, BC favors the 6.5 and availible bullet weights the 7mm.
Personally, I don`t think the 6.5-284 has enough case capacity to handle 140 grn bullets and use the mag without risking a jam, that is just my opinion tho.
of the two, the 280 AI.
JT.
Powerstroke
Handloader
- Feb 24, 2006
- 1,800
- 71
Don't forget about the new 140gr AccuBond in 6.5mm. Just make sure if you go with the 6.5 that you choose a barrel twist capable of stabalizing the 140's
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,458
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280 AI.....one of my faves!
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,607
- 9,791
JusMo,
280 AI is a great round! The 160 gr AB at 3000 fps will kill elk as far as you dare to shoot. :wink:
JD338
280 AI is a great round! The 160 gr AB at 3000 fps will kill elk as far as you dare to shoot. :wink:
JD338
Greg Nolan
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2004
- 2,143
- 18
Great project rifle. You can go anywhere with it caliber wise. No matter what tickles your fancy it will have your brand on it and bring you great pleasure. (sorry if I sound like a fortune cookie)! How about, just for the heck of it, you create a new wildcat caliber? Hunningtons/RCBS in Oroville, Ca. can make the dies pretty cheap. Think about the 6.5 JusMo. You have a long enough action to use a long cartrige. Ruger 375 RCM? Necked down to 6.5mm. with an 140 gr. AccuBond at 3600fps. Hmmmmmm! :grin:
6.5mm-375 Ruger AI'd shoulder(just cuz it looks cool), hehehe, call Dave Kiff @ Pacific tool and gauge, number is 541-826-5808. Most times you can tell them what you want and have a blue print emailed to you for reveiw in short order. Lots of fun, but the prints are not to scale, just the measurements are in the same format as a load manual diagram. SO, a 243 20 degree shoulder looks like a 243 Ackley with different numbers :?
As was mentioned, if you want "your" own custom, it could be lots of fun. But there is not much taht hasn't been done wildcat wise. It is especially fun to look at old wildcat reference books at the 22/30-30 improveds and the 17-22 hornet. It's wild was/has been done with these old low pressure rounds.
JT.
As was mentioned, if you want "your" own custom, it could be lots of fun. But there is not much taht hasn't been done wildcat wise. It is especially fun to look at old wildcat reference books at the 22/30-30 improveds and the 17-22 hornet. It's wild was/has been done with these old low pressure rounds.
JT.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,458
- 3,534
Yearning for a classic?
Open up the bolt face and go for the 308 Norma Mag. That was like the #1 rechamber of the ole 3 groove Enfields. If brass is an issue then a 30-338 Win mag is close.
Open up the bolt face and go for the 308 Norma Mag. That was like the #1 rechamber of the ole 3 groove Enfields. If brass is an issue then a 30-338 Win mag is close.
- Thread starter
- #16
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Anonymous
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Thanks for all the recommendations. I like the idea of the 6.5 JusMo but I don't really have enough time (I'll revisit that idea when my son graduates or is old enough to think it would be a fun project). The rifle is in good condition but it has been changed by a previous owner so it is far from original. The original military stock has been sporterized so I'm kind of thinking about just working with the original wood stock to see what I can do with it. It's in really good condition with a fairly high serial number so I don't think 280 pressures should be a problem (not the poor metal quality that some of the earlier numbers exhibited). My family actually has three of these one of which is in really good condition, this is the only one with a sub-par stock (cosmetically).
So far I'm still leaning towards the 280 AI. :grin:
So far I'm still leaning towards the 280 AI. :grin:
