First build, some questions 280AI

[Bama73]

I just bought a Criterion prefit for a Savage 116 in 280 ai. I am going to buy a maple stock from Richards Microfit and bed the rifle in it. I have about 500 pieces of Winchester 270 brass that I would prefer to use as I am on a tight budget. I got a set of Lee dies so I could start fire forming. I am necking them up with a 30-06 die then back down to 280Ai and fire forming with 10 grains of Titegroup and corn meal. I did 50 pieces and have nice sharp shoulders. I annealed before sizing and after fire forming.

I have been reloading shotgun, pistol, and rifle for about 10 years using standard dies and was able to get consistent .6" 3 shot groups with a Savage Axis 270, and .8" after I screwed a used 30-06 barrel on the same rifle, but for this one I want to take the next step. I'm hoping to be under .5" for 5 shots at least.

The questions I have is what should be my next purchase. I was wondering if I should get a neck trimmer and uniform the necks or just go to a Redding type S bushing die. I am looking to get all the accuracy I can out of it for targets and hunting. If I don't need to trim necks I can use that money elsewhere. I'll be able to check concentricity as my brother is a Millwright and has dial indicators. I plan to buy a base for it.

I plan to shoot the 160 class bullets with RL 26. I know I will eventually get the bushing die, and better seating die, but if I should uniform the necks I'll do that first and save for the die. I am disabled and on a fixed income so money is tight.

 

[Bronsin]

Honestly, I would just try to see if the equipment you have will shoot decent to start with. Neck turning works well, and I always do it, but the gun needs to be capable before I set down that path on a new cartridge. Since your brother is a millwright, you could always get a Wilson Case trimmer Case holder, put it in a lathe, and then true up the necks without spending much. You could also just get Reddings standard FL die, and spend the bucks on a competition seater.

 

[L.Sherm]

I know some say RL26 is good but I had way better luck with RL23 in 3-280AI

 

[Bill Norris]

If you are not seeing over .015 variances in neck wall thickness I'd say spend the $$$ on a good F/L bushing die and micrometer seater.

 

[tclaunch]

N165 also needs to be near the top of the list on powders to try.

 

[Bama73]

As far as powder RL 26 is what I have the most of. I found 10 lbs 2 years ago and always used it in my 270. I have an amazon gift card for 50.00 and was thinking of using it on the iGaging mic so that may be my next purchase.. How do I determine which bushings for a F/L bushing die ? Mic a loaded round and subtract .002 ?

 

[tclaunch]

I would get 2 sizes so a comparison can be made. .002" for sure, but would include a .003"

 

[nmkid]

Tell you what...I have a manual Redding case trimmer I haven't used in years. Of course, the pilot you would need for the 280 is missing! LOL. However, I checked on the Midway site and they are in stock for less than $7.00. PM me your address and I'll send it to you.

 

[Bama73]

Wow ! I really appreciate that.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

What is the neck OD of a fired round, a loaded round and a sized round sized with the expander removed?

Frank

 

[DumpHollow]

You may be confusing terminology of trimming vs turning. Trimming is for overall case length. Turning is for neck wall thickness. You need to determine your fired neck OD and the loaded round neck OD for safe clearance. The 30-06 cases would be the ones of concern to me.

Neck turning for accuracy is a step that is advanced for your experience level. A Redding bushing die with the floating expander ball will allow you to minimize neck cycling and if you decide to go down the neck turning path later [a substantial tooling investment] will be a good sizer to have.

Make sure that your neck clearances are safe in loaded OD and case length.

 

[SKWERLZ]

R26, N165 and H4831sc are fantastic for that case capacity and bore.
A good seating die and good full length die is what I’d use unless I can get a Lee collet and body die combination.

 

[nmkid]

OK. Headed to the P.O. in a few minutes.

 

[Bama73]

Yes I worded that wrong. I am interested in neck turning not trimming. I have looked at the RCBS trim pro neck turner that mounts on a standard neck trimmer as that would be the cheapest route at about 70.00 for it and a pilot, but I also don't want to waste money on something that will need to be upgraded later. I am down to that one or the K&M neck turner which is about 130.00 for everything I would need.

The Redding Type S bushing die is 80.00 plus whatever bushings I would need. As far as current dimensions of loaded rounds I haven't even gotten bullets yet. I just got the barrel a few weeks ago and started fire forming brass. So one of those would likely be my next purchase. I did order the iGaging Mic so I guess I'll see how bad the neck walls are now and go from there. I am more thinking of uniforming the neck wall thickness than turning to fit my chamber. I am assuming after necking the Winchester 270 brass up to 30 then back down to 280 there might be variations ?

 

[AckleymanII]

280 AI is a darn good case to work with.

I use IMR 7828 with Fed 210's, 56g with brass formed from PMC and Lapua 30/06 brass, 175g Nosler long range accubond, shoots with all the bullets in the same bullet hole. I fire formed the 30/06 brass with 14.6g of Bullseye, filled the case with cream of wheat, tuft of paper towel. Some have suggested that No Cream of Wheat is needed, and I will try that approach on the next batch of cases. I did not neck turn my cases.

With the 160-168g bullets, IMR 7828 worked extremely well also, federal 210 primers with the 7828 seals the deal on accuracy.

R#23 and N165 are like pixy dust around here, hard to find.

 

[L.Sherm]

I have looked at the RCBS trim pro neck turner that mounts on a standard neck trimmer as that would be the cheapest route at about 70.00 for it and a pilot,

In my opinion dont waste your money unless all your after is turn for neck clearance. I went that route my first time out big mistake, necks were thinner but horrible inconsistent.
Spend your money wisely first time out or don't turn at all.

 

[WVRJ]

I built my 280 AI two years ago,and it's a great cartridge to work with.I use either a Redding FL bushing die or a Lee Collet die for sizing and a Wilson seating die.I use a neck micrometer to check the necks and pick the best ones out for target work and use the culls for hunting.I just take 4 readings around the neck and go off that.Turning necks is a very precise art,and I get what I want my measuring them for consistent thickness.
I fire form all my brass by loading cheap bullets to a .010 or .015 jam and using a minimum load of a relatively quick powder for the 280AI.I want the case to be tight against the bolt face so the datum length doesn't end up being too short.I would suggest doing it like that if forming from 270 brass because the 280 datum length is about .050 longer than the 270.Remington did that to keep someone from shooting a 280 round in a 270.
I'm using IMR 7828SSC in mine with very good results.The only drawback I've had with it is it needs to be compressed for the most velocity and my Wilson die will leave a ring on the bullet if the powder is compressed too much.IMR 7977,H4831SC,Rl 22 and 23 all work well.I can squeeze 3,000 FPS out of 160 grain bullets in mine,and that load is a great target load for 1,000 yard shooting.I hunt with 168 grain Berger Classic Hunting bullets at around 2850 FPS.I want to try some 150 grain Swift Sirocco bullets this coming hunting season.
Simple,basic reloading tools and dies will work very well for the 280AI,and don't let anyone tell you that a long action cartridge can't be accurate,because the AI is very accurate.

 

[DumpHollow]

For the cost of a good neck turning tool and accessories, you could have a couple boxes of Peterson 280 AI cases, and be done with it. I happen to live 1/2 hour from their factory and just got a box of 280 AI brass from them, at the factory. They are tough to find online. I bought a box of Nosler 280 AI to get started and will do a QA comparison on the two manufacturers.

 

[L.Sherm]

For the cost of a good neck turning tool and accessories, you could have a couple boxes of Peterson 280 AI cases

I never got into neck turning for one cartridge, ive got alot of wildcat cartridges i have to so thats why I do it.
Not for everbody but if you ever see yourself doing any wildcats or custom chambers you will eventually.

 

[Bama73]

I'd love some Peterson brass, but i haven't been able to find any online anywhere. Plus I do have 500 pieces of 270 brass and no 270 now.