280 ~AI

[farmer44]

Anyone have any imput on a 280 AI 1.250 barrel 31" 8.7 twist for 800 yard br shooting or would you suggest something else. I have a 6BR and 300 WSM and a 6.5-287.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

Run the 6.5x284(7).

 

[6xcshooter]

i'd go with the 280 ai with 175 gr bullets. I have 1 in a cooper rifle. best hunting cal. ever. Been wanting to build a heavy barrel long range rifle myself. you can't go wrong with the 280ai your talking about

 

[DaveTooley]

Got my butt beat by one many times at Hawks Ridge in the 90's. Executed properly it's a great round.

 

[farmer44]

very interesting thanks for the input

 

[Willow]

I run one in F-Open and like it. Rifle is built off a Barnard action, 32" Bartlein 1:8.5 twist barrel. I shoot Berger 180gr VLDs, I just jam them and it shoots. I'm running ADI 2217 powder (similar burning rate to H1000 and N170) at 58.8gr but it also seems to shoot quite similar at 59, 59.2 and 59.4gr, there's a reasonable tuning window with this powder. Velocity is around 2840fps. H4350, H4831, Reloder 19 and 22 will all probably have a good node somewhere in them. I've run ADI2213SC (H4831) and had it up to 2960fps but I wasn't convinced it was any more accurate than the slower burning 2217. I'm using factory Norma 280AI brass which has proven to be quite decent so far. I've run a mixture of CCI and Federal Gold match primers, it doesn't mind either. Haven't checked for velocity differences but I will eventually once I've got the coin for a LabRadar. My current batch of cases are up around 10 reloadings and I should be good for 12. I'll probably neck turn my next batch of Norma brass to see if that makes much of a difference to SD and group size.

I had a 284 previously and I prefer the 280AI, but that's just me. Recoil is marginally higher than the 284, but with a truck axle barrel, it's manageable and doesn't bother me.