280 Ackley improved or not.

[one crazy kid]

Okay so I have bin planning a future build but I have hit a wall. Should I go with a 280 AI or 280 rem? It is the opinion of Parker O. Ackley(based on my reading of his handbook for shooters and reloaders) that you can fire 280 rem shells in a 280 AI chamber and you will then have 280 AI cases is this true and or safe? thanks in advance Andrew.gun)

 

[MudRunner2005]

A little bit of "AI-spice" makes everything nice...

If I was building a .280, there's only 1 way to go.....Ackley Improved 40* shoulder SAAMI spec chamber, so you can load and shoot the Nosler 280 AI brass. gun)

Yes, and no...On the fire-forming question. There are 2 different chambers. There is the original Parker Otto "PO" Ackley chamber...In which you CAN shoot regualr .280 Rem ammo in and it will properly fire-form.

And there's the newer Nosler/SAAMI spec chamber, in which case it is .014" shorter than the orginal Ackley chamber. So you will either have to put your .280 brass through a new die-set that is cut to SAAMI spec to match your chamber, or you can just buy the Nosler .280 AI brass, and load your own from scratch (which is what I would do, because it's better brass than Rem UMC brass is).

So, if I were building a .280 AI (which I have one in the works, just waiting on cash to order my barrel blank), I would go with a new PTG reamer: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/55...-remington-ackley-improved-40-degree-shoulder and a new set of RCBS dies: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/55...-remington-ackley-improved-40-degree-shoulder and some new Nosler .280 AI brass: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/12...-ackley-improved-40-degree-shoulder-box-of-50 and pick your bullets, powder, and primers of choice, and have some fun.

 

[Stanm70]

yea, since you can buy factory 280 ai brass , you do not have to deal with fire-forming. Nothing but gain over a normal 280

 

[Seymour]

I kinda asked these guys a similar question a couple weeks ago about a 7mm build in general. I was given a lot of great info on the subject. I had decided on the 7mm RM, so i started looking around to gather parts to start the build, I ran across a 280 AI so i bought it. I was told that i could fire 280REM ammo in it, and it has worked great to form the brass, but these guys know a great deal more about this than i do.

 

[Booney]

There is a reason why the 280 AI is the most popular out of all the AI.

 

[Derek M.]

I debated that choice on my last build. I went with a 280 and I think the thing that pushed me in that direction was 2 prong. 1. you can easily convert a 280 to a 280AI if for whatever reason you are dissatisfied with the 280, same goes for the brass. 2. I've got no personal experience with it but have heard from enough 280AI owners that feeding can be an issue. I bought 100 pieces of Norma brass and love my 280. It's a great hunting rifle.

 

[DZelenka]

When it was time to re barrel my .280, I went with another .280. One thing that I did, however, was to have PTG grind a reamer to my specification. A 140 gr accubond at 3.415" OAL doesn't go below the neck/shoulder junction. 60.0 gr of RL 19 gives 3120 fps with the 140 in a 24" Bartlein barrel. The 168 Berger boat tail is the only thing below the neck/shoulder junction. I haven't worked up a load with those.

Dan

 

[one crazy kid]

Thanks again for all the info. What about barrel length? is a 24in tube to short or is it not long enough? and how many times should I be able to reload the nosler brass? also what do you guys think of accutriggers are they good or should I replace it with higher end trigger(I am building off of a savage action)?

 

[varmintH8R]

I personally would go AI, but I don't think you can go wrong with either. I have had no feeding issues with my 280AI.

If you are a reloader, AI is a minor inconvenience that IMO is worth the little extra velocity (especially with heavier pills). If you intend to shoot factory ammo, my opinion changes and 280 is going to give you more options (and more affordable options as well)

 

[Derek M.]

My 280 has a 24" Shilen. If I had done a 280AI, I would have gone 25.5 or 26" I don't know anything about the accutrigger. I'm spoiled with Jewels.

 

[TimeOnTarget]

I personally would go AI, but I don't think you can go wrong with either. I have had no feeding issues with my 280AI.

If you are a reloader, AI is a minor inconvenience that IMO is worth the little extra velocity (especially with heavier pills). If you intend to shoot factory ammo, my opinion changes and 280 is going to give you more options (and more affordable options as well)

I mostly echo this.

Although my main reason for wanting an AI was thats its not something you see everyone carrying.

 

[varmintH8R]

I mostly echo this.

Although my main reason for wanting an AI was thats its not something you see everyone carrying.

I'd be lying if I said that wasn't a consideration with my 280AI. I get a weird kick out of telling my casual hunting buddies I'm shooting 280 Ackley at camp and then watching their reactions. 280 what? There is tangible value there!

 

[MudRunner2005]

Thanks again for all the info. What about barrel length? is a 24in tube to short or is it not long enough? and how many times should I be able to reload the nosler brass? also what do you guys think of accutriggers are they good or should I replace it with higher end trigger(I am building off of a savage action)?

I'd go with a 26" 1:9 twist barrel for a .280 AI.

You should be able to reload the Nosler brass 10+ times, provided you're not loading them to max loads everytime, in which case, brass-life will suffer.