280AI brass from 30-06

[bingo1010]

i am rebarreling my 280 ai and am looking at using 30-06 lapua brass, has anyone out there did this and if so how did it work for you. on the last barrel i used nosler brass and it worked good but the primer pockets did loosen up prematurely, or so i thought. hard to beat lapua brass. my only concern is that when the 06 brass is reformed the neck is quite short (compared to a normal 280 ai case) and i don't want to go through all the work to find out that the short neck is not good for accuracy. as well will the fact that the neck on the new brass is shorter than the chamber cause the throat to wear prematurely? thank guys. by the way how is the weather down south? it has been brutal up here in alberta, can't even get out to do any shooting for over a month now, been -20 to -40 F up here. thanks again

 

[KaiserNorton]

Well, you are starting out with a case that is shorter than the .280 to begin with, and AI'ing it isn't going to improve that (no pun intended). Perhaps you could go into a box with a buddy, use ten or so to experiment with, giving him the rest. Or sell the remainder if the project doesn't pan out. Or (slim chance) find some 1x or 2x fired somewhere.

Kaiser Norton

 

[280man]

Have you considered using Norma 280 Brass? I had some a few years back but I'm not sure they are still making it

 

[bingo1010]

i thought about the norma brass and am aware that it is very consistent but does it stand up as good as the lapua to repeated high power loads?

 

[280man]

Thats a good question I was shooting mine out of a hunting rifle that I didnt care to push that hard

 

[Johnboy]

doesn't Nosler make it in a 280 Ackley.Iam not that sure of myself but think they do.

 

[bheadboy]

bingo1010,
i built 2 280ai, hart barrel etc. i use Rem 280 brass, fired junk bullets with 50 grains 4350 - no loss cases, all formed well, this lapped the barrel for 50 cases

they are consistant, and i have had no case loss after 4-5 loadings, excellent deer, elk etc. round -140 sierra sbt and 140 nosler bt at 3150 out of 26" barrel --very very accurate<.400

Bob

 

[bingo1010]

it is true that nosler does make 280 ai brass and that is what i was using on my last barrel, but between that and the rem brass the primer pockets did get loose rather fast. this is a 1000 + yard rifle and it is loaded quite hot so no doubt that doesn't help. for those that use the norma brass what is your opinion compared to the lapua brass so far as case life?

 

[therifler]

i used norma brass in my standard 280 rem. I loaded about 6 times same brass . no trouble . I since went to different cartridge . but the norma is on the self if i ever go back to the 280.

 

[gbp]

i use lapua brass in my 280, i just run them through the 280 sizing die then load them to where i have to jam them into the lands, fireform them that way and then i'm good to go. jamming into the lands is the key otherwise there is a good possibility of head space failure, see right

 

[bboswell]

30-06 head spaces shorter than 280AI which makes fire forming tricky. I have the equipment to hydro-form Lapua 30-06 brass to 280AI thus saving the extra shots through a new barrel.

 

[Willie]

I'm on my 6th firing on Norma 280 rem parent case necked down to 6.5 on a 40* shouldered wildcat running 140s @ 3150 fps. Primer pockets are holding up well, so far. I had hoped to use the Lapua 30-06 brass, but as mentioned above, it is too short and would cause premature erosion on end of chamber and throat. I believe you would be better off using the Norma 280 brass.

For what it's worth, I prefer necking up with a 30 cal expander, then using a bushing die to neck down to .284. This will give you a false shoulder on the neck. Adjust bushing die down neck until cases will just chamber in your rifle, will make sure you're not stretching the case head area. I seem to get better forming on first firing vs bullet jam. Anneal prior to fire forming, if you're set up for it.

You could also consider just using Nosler 280 AI brass and save the extra work. Great caliber - Good Luck

 

[boltfluter]

7 yr old post.

 

[benchracer]

I like Norma and PRVI brass, though neither is anywhere near as tough as Lapua. For brass comparable to Lapua in toughness, go with RWS. It will cost you some case capacity, but it handles hot loads very well.

 

[benchracer]

7 yr old post.

You've got me there. I didn't even think to look at the dates...

 

[Willie]

It's bboswell's fault and dates are too small. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[swd]

7 yr old post.

And the OP hasn't even been on the board in 2 years....

 

[spife7980]

And the OP hasn't even been on the board in 2 years....

And hes 117 years old from Alberta.