Any input about using the shorter 30-06 Lapua cases for 280 AI ?

[VaniB]

I'm seeking .5 MOA accuracy or better for target shooting with the 280AI SAAMI chambering and figure I'd use Lapua 30-06 no-turn cases.

The downside is that the 30-06 case is shorter in length then a 280AI. So I figured I'd have Dave Kiff make the 280AI reemer the same length as the 30-06 Lapua brass. Then I'd proceed with the usual fire forming the Lapua brass in the 280AI rifle chamber. I should be able to use regular production Redding 280AI SAAMI neck bushing dies and seater without a hitch regardless of the slightly shorter case length.

I know Nosler 280AI brass is available, but I'd rather use superior Lapua brass. Will my plan get er done good, or am I overlooking something?

 

[Dave L Kiff]

I have a couple of ideas that will help you with this project. Give me a call in the morn. after 6 PST. 541-826-5808. Thank you Dave

 

[spitfire_er]

I pondered this quite a while before settling on 280 Norma brass for my .280 improved. I didn't want to have a 7mm-06 imp. JMO. Tuff choice though!

My last batch of Norma .280 brass was very consistent.

 

[dan06]

I blow them out and use them in my 280ack with a standard chamber. I get groups right at the .5moa range. Rifle is a M98 Mauser with a Adams and barnett barrel....I didn't even expect it to shoot that good. You will need to shoot bullets on the medium to heavy side to get them to seat right and get close to the lands. I am using 168 Berger vld and they are fine.

 

[VaniB]

I blow them out and use them in my 280ack with a standard chamber. I get groups right at the .5moa range. Rifle is a M98 Mauser with a Adams and barnett barrel....I didn't even expect it to shoot that good. You will need to shoot bullets on the medium to heavy side to get them to seat right and get close to the lands. I am using 168 Berger vld and they are fine.

I'm going to start with a custom reamer & new barrel for the smith to build into a Remington 700 rig which gives me flexibility to choose the chamber, bullet weight, twist, and freebore that works best. I'm eyeing the 162 AMax with a 26" 1-9 barrel.

Choosing the reamer dimensons is the first task, and I want to be sure that basing it on Lapua 30-06 brass is my best option for accuracy. I figure that deviating the 280AI specs to accomodate a 30-06 length case (and reamer) that is about 3/32" shorter shouldn't be a concern. (??)

Dave's a swell guy, and I hate to bend his ear until I'm sure this cartridge is what I want.

 

[6pt-sika]

A friend about 3 years ago did something similar to what you're asking . He however used the Lapua 06 brass for a 6.5-06 AI . And it seems to have worked very well for him .

 

[6pt-sika]

I know Nosler 280AI brass is available, but I'd rather use superior Lapua brass. Will my plan get er done good, or am I overlooking something?

While what you say may very well be correct you can't prove it by me !

I've used Nosler brass in the last couple years several times for myself and a couple friends and I gotta say I saw no problems or lack of quality . The first of it I ever used was for the 300 SAUM and that stuff was leaps and bounds ahead of the Remington stuff .

 

[jonbearman]

He will grind a reamer for the express usage of lapua brass and the case isnt shorter,just the neck I believe. The .280AI is a great cartridge.

 

[VaniB]

I know Nosler 280AI brass is available, but I'd rather use superior Lapua brass. Will my plan get er done good, or am I overlooking something?

While what you say may very well be correct you can't prove it by me !

I've used Nosler brass in the last couple years several times for myself and a couple friends and I gotta say I saw no problems or lack of quality . The first of it I ever used was for the 300 SAUM and that stuff was leaps and bounds ahead of the Remington stuff .

That Nosler stuff is costing a good dime more then Lapua brass. I didn't know such a thing was possible unless the brass comes gold plated.

Anyway, I think the ready-made 280AI Nosler stuff is a matter of convenience. It also obviously still comes out cheaper to buy the Nosler 280AI instead of buying Lapua brass with the added expense of having to fire rounds into the dirt down range in order to blow the case shoulders out.

Perhaps, Nosler knows this and therfore thinks that they can name their price being the only 280AI show in town. However, my attitude is that the real possibility of loose primer pockets in 2 or 3 loadings are worth about as much to me as what a Remington brass case is worth to me. At these prices I stick with Lapua, being I've heard mixed reviews on the Nosler primer pockets.

 

[nhm16]

I know Nosler 280AI brass is available, but I'd rather use superior Lapua brass. Will my plan get er done good, or am I overlooking something?

While what you say may very well be correct you can't prove it by me !

I've used Nosler brass in the last couple years several times for myself and a couple friends and I gotta say I saw no problems or lack of quality . The first of it I ever used was for the 300 SAUM and that stuff was leaps and bounds ahead of the Remington stuff .

That Nosler stuff is costing a good dime more then Lapua brass. I didn't know such a thing was possible unless the brass comes gold plated.

Anyway, I think the ready-made 280AI Nosler stuff is a matter of convenience. It also obviously still comes out cheaper to buy the Nosler 280AI instead of buying Lapua brass with the added expense of having to fire rounds into the dirt down range in order to blow the case shoulders out.

Perhaps, Nosler knows this and therfore thinks that they can name their price being the only 280AI show in town. However, my attitude is that the real possibility of loose primer pockets in 2 or 3 loadings are worth about as much to me as what a Remington brass case is worth to me. At these prices I stick with Lapua, being I've heard mixed reviews on the Nosler primer pockets.

Nosler/SAAMI 280AI is not the same as "traditional" 280AI. The headspace is 0.014" shorter. Thus Nosler's brass is probably not safe to use in a traditional chamber, or it may only last a couple of firings before case head separation.

http://gunsmithtalk.wordpress.com/2010/01/13/280-ackley-improved-alert/

 

[TC260]

it may only last a couple of firings before case head separation.

That was the problem I had with Nosler brass in a traditional chamber. I bought some shortly after it came out for a new gun I aquired before I knew anything about the different chambers. Accuracy was poor and cases were stretched after a couple firings. Disappointed with "the gun", it sat in the safe for awhile until I picked up some 280 Rem brass on sale and decided to try again. Needless to say I was shocked when my first fireforming group was probably a quarter of the size of the best group I could manage after a couple hundred rounds of effort previously.

I still have a few Nosler cases that are ok and was thinking about necking them up to 30 cal and making a false shoulder to see how they fireform that way.

 

[Heman]

I use .30-06 LC Match cases for my .280 Rem. When you move the shoulder 0.050" farther you loose some neck I would think with blowing them out to AI you're going to be shorter yet. If/when I ever run out of LC Match I'm thinking of trying Norma just going to be awhile as the LC brass shoots well.