280 Ackley Improved..hmmm

[urcayuse]

was wondering if any one could educate me a bit on the .280 Ackley Improved. Want to do a custom build and am thinking it may be the way to go. I've shot a 280 rem for about the last twenty years as a hunting rifle, and now own a 308 as a long range gong dinger. I'd now like to pack a little morepunch out there.and figured the 280 ai would fit the bill. As i am not interested in shooting 338 LM or 7mm rum or the like.Any thoughts?

[Monashee]

The .280AI won't give you a lot more "punch" than your .280 Rem and I own and shoot both calibres as well as a 7SAUM which is ballistically the same as the .280AI in a short action.That being said I shoot my .280AI a lot,and of course there is very little case trimming involved with AI cases.There will be a slight velocity gain because of the increase of powder capacity in the AIed case,but it won't knock down anything that your .280Rem can't already handle. Cheers,Monashee

[elkhunter11]

I have owned two 280AI rifles, and I do like the cartridge. However, other than a gain of 50fps to 70fps, there isn't a lot of advantage over the 280rem.

[MattSako]

im surprised you mentionned the .338 Lapua mag, Did you ever had the chance to shoot 1 of these... by far the best caliber i ever shot... and recoil is not as bad as peoples think...

If you didnt, try to find someone that can let you shoot 1.. you will never go back.

[urcayuse]

yes i have shot one and no not bad recoil with a brake,but not my bag is all

[shirtr]

280 AI is a great way to go, depending on the rifle (barrel) some can be loaded to 7Mag velocities. They pack a punch and with so many high bc bullet choices they are definitely the way to go in a custom. Mine is built on a Rem Ti action but know many that use them as long range snipers. Carries .5 MOA, built by Corlane. 140g Nosler Accubonds average 3312fps (24"bbl).

[Monashee]

Originally Posted by shirtr

280 AI is a great way to go, depending on the rifle (barrel) some can be loaded to 7Mag velocities. They pack a punch and with so many high bc bullet choices they are definitely the way to go in a custom. Mine is built on a Rem Ti action but know many that use them as long range snipers. Carries .5 MOA, built by Corlane. 140g Nosler Accubonds average 3312fps (24"bbl).

Care to share you're powder charge?Nosler #6 lists it's top load with the 140 Accubond at 3266fps with a 105% compressed load of AA3100 in a 26" barrel.Not everyone realises that AI chamberings may not show standard pressure signs even when well over max loads.I shoot a book max load of RL-22 and the 140AB at around 3200fps in a 24"bbl.Another thing to remember is that with the .280AI you can approach the velocity of FACTORY 7mmRM loads.A handloaded 7Mag will outperform the .280AI every time.Nothing trumps case capacity and the 7 Mag will take more powder.... Monashee

[ACKLEY ABE]

Originally Posted by urcayuse

was wondering if any one could educate me a bit on the .280 Ackley Improved. Want to do a custom build and am thinking it may be the way to go. I've shot a 280 rem for about the last twenty years as a hunting rifle, and now own a 308 as a long range gong dinger. I'd now like to pack a little morepunch out there.and figured the 280 ai would fit the bill. As i am not interested in shooting 338 LM or 7mm rum or the like.Any thoughts?

Do it, you'll like it. I think it's one of the best "Imps" around. In fact it is getting close to being a standard factory chambring. I did mine on a Remington Mtn Rifle. It does buck a bit on such a light rifle, but it does the job quite nicely. I have shot 139's and 154's (my favorite 7mm bullet). You may loose 5-15 yards pt blank on a 10" target compared to a 7 Rem.

[Pioneer2]

Just like a 7mm Rem mag almost..........Harold

[GWN]

Originally Posted by ACKLEY ABE

Do it, you'll like it. I think it's one of the best "Imps" around. In fact it is getting close to being a standard factory chambring. I did mine on a Remington Mtn Rifle. It does buck a bit on such a light rifle, but it does the job quite nicely. I have shot 139's and 154's (my favorite 7mm bullet). You may loose 5-15 yards pt blank on a 10" target compared to a 7 Rem.

I had Corlanes rechamber a Weatherby Ultralight from 280 Remington to the 280 AI and am getting 3,240 FPS with the Nosler 140 Accubond, Remington cases and 64.5 gr of IMR 7828, 100 yd groups are ranging between 3/4 and 1 inch depending on how I do.

I haven't been experimenting with 150s and 160s yet.

From the different posts I researched before going with the AI there does seem to be a fair variance in terms of resulting velocity. I will be swapping out my current barrel in another year or so and will probably get different figures at that time. But even still so what?

I like it, I also went in knowing I was limiting myself even further than when it was a 280 in terms of having to reload, form cases and so on. But at the the same time I love the rifle and the cartridge gives me 7 mag performance at this time and probably pretty close when I swap the barrel out. Recoil is more than the 280 but not as much as the 7mag.

If its what you want to do then do it, its all about having fun and shooting the rifle/cartridge combination you want to shoot.

[urcayuse]

thanks for the feed back, it's done, I'm just patiently waiting for the gun to be built. hopefully by august.

[303carbine]

Originally Posted by Monashee

The .280AI won't give you a lot more "punch" than your .280 Rem and I own and shoot both calibres as well as a 7SAUM which is ballistically the same as the .280AI in a short action.That being said I shoot my .280AI a lot,and of course there is very little case trimming involved with AI cases.There will be a slight velocity gain because of the increase of powder capacity in the AIed case,but it won't knock down anything that your .280Rem can't already handle. Cheers,Monashee

I have to ditto that statement for sure, I have had many 280 Rem's and never did they lack any power or accuracy. The small gain in velocity with the AI version may not be worth the extra big $$$ missing in your gun funds..........

[double gun]

280 AI - great cartridge, almost as good as the standard 280 or the 7rem mag.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by double gun

280 AI - great cartridge, almost as good as the standard 280 or the 7rem mag.

and it doesn't feed as well.

[GWN]

Originally Posted by 303carbine

I have to ditto that statement for sure, I have had many 280 Rem's and never did they lack any power or accuracy. The small gain in velocity with the AI version may not be worth the extra big $$$ missing in your gun funds..........

I'll agree with you there, pretty much the only reason I went the AI route was that with a 280 I have to hand load anyway as no one around here carries 280 ammunition and the prospect of having a little more gun was interesting to say the least.

Mine is built on the Weatherby ultralight and for me at least it is one sweet shooting system. Nice and light so I can carry it all day long, while giving me 7 mm Remington power without a whole lot more recoil. Being a hand loader I can load it down or up as I want to. Excellent package overall.

At the same time though, while it was still a 280 it was a great performer and practically speaking if I could only have one gun it would be a 280. I knocked down a few elk and lots of deer with the 280 and it worked just fine.

More than a few years ago I took a large mulie with a 7 mm Remington cheap Winchester 150 grain ammo from about 410-425 yards (paced off over an open field), the bullet took ribs on both sides as it passed through. I had chronographed both that load (3,050 fps) as well as my standard 150 grain 280 load (2,830 fps) and I have full confidence the 280 load would've done the same, it just would have hit about 2 inches lower.