I have I 30-06 bdl custom hunting rifle that I'm thinking about re barreling. Looking for a caliber that's not a barrel burner has easy to find brass but is accurate and good to 1000 on game. So do I stick with the old 30-06 or 06 AI, go 280 AI or is the better option. I've looked 6.5x55 swede and it wasnt appealing. Already own bolt action 308, 223, 243, 300 wsm and ARs in 6.5 Creedmoore 300 bo and 223. This when be a Remington varmint profile rifle for mostly hunting purposes. Recoil is a big deal for me but the 300 wsm isn't a problem with a break and a have a 30 cal suppresor. I'm thinking about going the remage route on this but might have it done my smith
280 ai
- Thread starter bschneiderheinze
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This is like a flashback for me. I literally went through what you're going through now 1.5 years ago. I had a Rem 700 BDL chambered in 30-06. Shot the piss out of that thing and when it came time for a new barrel I wanted to try a different cartridge. After all the research it came down to the 280 AI or 6.5x284. The reason I chose the 280 AI over the 6.5x284 is the 6.5x284 is a real barrel burner. If all I planned to do was shoot a handful of times a year that may have swayed my decision. However, I love to shoot and the average barrel life of 6.5x284 is such that I would be looking at re-barreling sometime this summer (given I keep shooting like I have been). I have been very pleased with my decision to go with 280AI. There are tons of 7mm bullets to choose from. Nosler 280 AI brass is available, but not cheap. If fire forming brass is something you like to do there is always that option. All in all I think the 280 AI is a great cartridge.
Like you said though, a lot of options to consider.
Like you said though, a lot of options to consider.
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I have built a couple of 280AI's over the last couple of years for friends of mine and have a Cooper in 280AI myself. I love the cartridge. There are so many good bullets available. I shoot 140 AB's in mine and both of my friends shoot 140 BT's in theirs, all over H4831SC. Great velocity and not near the muzzle blast of a 7 mag. The Nosler brass isnt cheap, and it can be hard to find. It seems like everyone has it, or no one has it. But once you get some, it lasts quite a while. I have 6 or 7 loads on mine and the pockets are still nice and tight. You will be happy with it. But, I have a 6.5-284 too....
I'm running a 280AI and it's a great option. I shoot the Berger 180 Hybrids and it hammers well out beyond 1200 yards. Mine has a muzzle brake and recoil is tame enough that my 10 year old son was able to shoot it with no complaints. As far as brass goes, my approach has been to source new or once fired Remington headstamp brass from sources like Armslist. I was able to get brass at an average of $0.30 per case and without too much effort got enough for my current barrel and a couple hundred set aside for my next rebarreling job. I fireform with Hornady 162 Amax and they are accurate and good to shoot as well. Brass life has been fine, 10+ reloadings on my current cases. Barrel life seems decent. I'm running H1000 and have about 1700 rounds on the barrel and it's still shooting accurately.
Compare the 6.5-284 vs the 280AI both shooting heavy for caliber bullets (140 vs 180gr) and the wind drift numbers are identical at 1000 yards, but the energy on target is better with the 280AI. You'll likely have better barrel life with the 280AI also, as noted above.
Compare the 6.5-284 vs the 280AI both shooting heavy for caliber bullets (140 vs 180gr) and the wind drift numbers are identical at 1000 yards, but the energy on target is better with the 280AI. You'll likely have better barrel life with the 280AI also, as noted above.
I forgot to mention in my above post, but I am also running the berger 180 grain bullets with H1000 and it's my setup of choice. I also run a brake and recoil is very, very mild.
Hey guys, what velocities are you guys getting with your 280AI's? Please include barrel length.
25.5" barrel, H1000 180gr Berger Hybrid 2810 fps. Forgiving load, maybe 55k PSI per quickload, primer pockets have been lasting a dozen firings before getting too loose. With the 162 Amax I was getting right at 3000 fps with H1000.
Right at 2900 fps with 180 grain berger VLD out of a 28 inch barrel. There is more speed to had, but the shot to shot consistency, accuracy, etc. favored the load I'm running. I can't remember the exact weight of H1000.....I'll have to check my notes.
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You won't be unhappy with it. I ended up getting a second barrel to shoot the 180s. Just get the fast barrel to begin with.
I fireform Norma 280.
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I fireform Norma 280.
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Damn that's close to the same velocities as my 300 wsm and not paying $1.00 a piece for used brass. I will definitely be looking into a 280 AI remage and I'm also thinking about using Boyd's new stock for the build.
280AI is a great cartridge, particularly for hunting. Don't over look the 160 Accubonds, they're one of the best hunting bullets there is in my opinion. They don't have the best BC available in 7mm , but they absolutely get it done with boring regularity .
I hate to revive an old thread here but am considering a 280 AI for my next rifle. I have a question. What twist rate are you guys running? I’m looking at the factory rifles available in that caliber and I’m mostly seeing a 1:9 twist. Is that sufficient for most bullet weights or is a 1:8 required? Thanks very much.
1:9 is sufficient. I can run all the lighter stuff up to the Berger 180 vld. The hornady 175 eld-x states 1-8.5 but in my experience 1:9 works just fine. The only bullet I can't run is the Berger 195 eol. In my opinion that bullet is better suited for a big magnum like 28 nosler and not 280ai.
I think 280AI is going to get even more popular now that Hornady has their 180gr ELDM out. The G1 BC is .812 using a 1:7.5 twist, and supposedly they terminally perform down to about 1300fps. At 2900fps, that means it is terminally effective out past 1400m and beats the wind better than anything remotely close in price and/or recoil.
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