Preparing Brass for AIs

[andrews1958]

I recently purchased an older 280AI. This is my first AI so these are beginner questions that I hope someone can help me with.

Can I make AI brass by just taking Remington or Norma 280 brass and resize it with 280AI dies or do you have to fire form them by shooting them through your rifle first?

Would 280AI improved brass shot through someone else’s rifle, reloaded and then shot by mine work?

I have heard Nosler 280AI brass will not work well or not at all with regular/older 280AI as the chambering is different? Is this true?

Can you resize Nosler 280AI brass to work in older model AIs?

Do Norma still make 280AI brass? Everywhere I have looked the supplier has it on backorder or they do not sell it.

Thanks for looking and thanks for your help.

 

[bheadboy]

I have had 2 280AI - as will always be the situation the chamber will depend on the reamer the smith used. thus any 280Ai brass will be questionable.

The safe and simple way to get good brass for your rifle is to take std 280 ammo, factory or reloaded by you near max, and shoot it. Redding has very good AI dies and they should then be used with your brass from your chamber. if you start with new unfired 280 brass, check if it will chamber, if it does the AI dies can be used to seat the bullets for fireforming.

this has worked for me.
Bob

 

[gotcha]

Andrews, Welcome to the AI world! Graf & sons has 280 rem brass as of this evening (5:15PM) Don't have a 280 but have other AI's. I'd suggest F/L resizing new brass just to straighten out the necks for ease of bullet seating. Particularly if using Rem. brass. I don't trim to length until after the 2nd firing w/ parent case brass. Your cases will shrink a bit on fireforming but not evenly, at least w/ Rem brass. No need to jam lands as the AI chamber should provide a slight (.003") crush fit @ nk/shoulder junction. Back off max load a safe amount & work up in 1/2 gr increments....... Just a personal thing, but I don't like to mess w/ anyone elses fired brass. The potential liabilities far out weigh the benefits. Sinclair makes comparators for hd space that that bear on the entire shoulder. My last AI shot in the .1's while F/Fing & working powder charges upwards. Your gonna love it 8)