280ai barrel length?

[nicholasjohn]

I have 22" on mine and pushing 168 grain 2905 FPS. I'd happily accept 2850 and a 20" barrel. For me it is all about how easy it is to carry in the woods while strapped on my backpack.

I think that in a hunting rifle, portability and handling characteristics are far more important than an extra 100 fps. That said, I have always liked the feel of a barrel running right around 24". Even a rifle with a 22" barrel feels to me like the weight is too far aft. A 26" barrel feels good when I shoulder it, but it is definitely too long for me to carry around. I have found my happy medium, at least for bolt-actions rifles.

It sounds like your tastes run in exactly the opposite direction as mine do, and I can certainly understand why. A rifle with a 26" barrel, whether strapped to a backpack or slung over the shoulder, is an abomination. I would be spending about half my time untangling myself from brush and overhead tree limbs. Even with my preferred 24" barrels, I have gone to putting the sling swivel on the barrel, rather than on the fore-end. This brings the muzzle several inches closer to ground when it's slung over my shoulder.

 

[Goring2358]

will be shooting a 22" and a 23" 280 AI today...we'll let you know how it goes... The 22" barrel was a 24" last year and it actually hit 3300 with a 140...we'll see how much speed we lose.

 

[nicholasjohn]

will be shooting a 22" and a 23" 280 AI today...we'll let you know how it goes... The 22" barrel was a 24" last year and it actually hit 3300 with a 140...we'll see how much speed we lose.

I'm interested in hearing how much velocity you lose when you shorten the barrel. I have found that it's more than we've all been told to expect.

 

[lancetkenyon]

26" .280AI, 175 Berger @ 2975fps. My lightweight carry elk rifle.