.280AI Build

[Jpistolero02]

Thanks for all the great replies. I am having it threaded because here in Texas I will have a suppressor. When I go to Colorado in the fall, I was planning on it being naked. My current suppressor is threaded 5/8-24, so the gunsmith is going to have to upsize the threads with some sort of bushing.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I have a 26" on my .280AI. I would not go shorter in mine. Unless I planned on a full time suppressor. Then, I might go 22". Buy a TBAC Ultra 5 for it.

Then again, I plan on running a TBAC Ultra 9 on my 26" .280AI if the need arises. Carry the rifle with it off, screw it on if I am on overwatch glassing duty.

I think the shorter barrels are probably fine with a faster powder and lighter bullets. But I run the 175 Berger Elite in mine with RL23 @ 2976fps. Almost keeps up with my 26" 7RM.

 

[Alibiiv]

I am having a .280AI built right now. This will be my primary rifle for western states hunting including elk, pronghorn and mule deer. I am waffling right now on barrel length. The barrel is a Brux #3 contour. I am torn between 24" or 26". Would I be limiting the caliber too much by going with a 24" barrel? I plan on loading 160gr Accubonds to start.


I'm shooting a .270 Ackley Improved, and have had great performance out of the 26 inch barrel. I believe that a longer barrel is required to get all the performance/efficiency one can get out of the small-bored/caliber cartridges. I did the build on a Ruger 77 with a 22 inch barrel. When I went to the 26 inch barrel I thought that I was going to notice a tremendous change in the feel of the rifle. The only difference that I have found is when I put the rifle in the safe, it takes up a lot more space due to the barrel length.

 

[mpayne]

You could check with your wife or girlfriend and see if she thinks an extra two inches will make a difference

 

[RYEWSKY25284]

make it a 26", hunt with it a while. If you don't like it have your smith take 2" off.
I did that to a 7-08AI. I was happier with it at 24".
my .02cents

 

[Jpistolero02]

You could check with your wife or girlfriend and see if she thinks an extra two inches will make a difference

Haha, that's great. I think she would still be disappointed. I would need to add a suppressor as well.

 

[Panhandle Pete]

I have two Remington 700's 280 AI that I had Shilen install 24" barrels on in the mid 80's, I have taken a lot of antelope, a few elk and mule deer with these guns. My current load is a 160 grain Nosler Accubond over 61 grains of H1000- perfect combo for anything from elk down.

 

[Jpistolero02]

make it a 26", hunt with it a while. If you don't like it have your smith take 2" off.
I did that to a 7-08AI. I was happier with it at 24".
my .02cents

This might be the best option. It would cost me a little money, but you can't add back.

 

[DRock]

I do a lot of Western hunting in some rough thick country and I find I prefer a shorter barrel. I have three .280AI's and my latest wears a 22" carbon-fiber wrapped barrel. I am shooting the 155grain Federal TLR bullet (.610bc) and getting 3000+fps with RL16. I love the compact feel and weight of this rifle- especially after the miles start adding up. I don't know that there is any advantage to having a barrel over 24" in this caliber unless you wanted to shoot some long heavy bullets with a slow burning powder. If you're sticking to 160's, I think 24" makes more sense for a hunting rifle.

 

[codym]

Ive had a few 280 AI's. My current has a 24' proof carbon barrel. I run the 175's at 2945 with RL23 like Lance. Pretty awesome performance. On my next 280 ai barrel it will be a 26' because I shoot it more often than I hunt with it anyway.

 

[kynjm82]

Not trying to hijack your post but I'm wanting to get started on my own 280 AI build , I want to keep it light , but balanced with 24" barrel. Anyone care to recommendations on barrel , stock etc. plz PM me , can't figure out how to start my own thread lol.

 

[Timnterra]

It's funny how passionate people get about the length of their tubes...
But in all seriousness it's not that big of a deal either way, you can expect to loose or gain about 30-50 FPS per inch of barrel so if a 26" barrel nets 3050 FPS you can expect 2950-2990 out of a 24" or 2900-2940 out of a 22" etc... what matters more to you? Do you plan on trying to get every possible ounce of performance out of that cartridge for really long shots? If so you should also be shooting the bullet to accomplish that. Is your goal to have a do-all hunting rifle with realistic shots of 600 or less? Then cut the barrel off and be happy you saved a few ounces and sacrificed little.

 

[Weatherby Fan]

For a hunting rifle that your walking/carrying daily or backpacking with 24" is fine,

With a 24" barrel I'm getting 3030fps with 60.5grs of R26/210M primers and 160gr AB, If I could squeeze and extra few feet per second out of it with a longer barrel I'm pretty sure a deer or elk wouldn't know the difference.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Personally, 2" shorter than I think I need is about right.
I tend to think bigger long range magnums should be 28".
I can see 24" on an 06 size cartridge, but 26" gives a bit more.
22" inch or shorter if I will go in the woods.
Well, I will be more happy with all of those 2" shorter.
My 6.5x55 is 22". Just about right.
My next open country rifle....300 Sherman or 06 AI @24"