New Custom - 280AI

[xebadir]

Wanted to share a little excitement, it has been a while coming due to parts sourcing issues - ended up taking 6 months (stock took forever), but with a WY elk hunt this fall, I've been looking forward to a new rifle I've had built. Goal for this one is to be my largest caliber rifle (at least for the moment), handle anything I'm probably going to try and take in North America (up to moose if I decide to go there).

Rifle is chambered in 280AI, and set up for those of us of the southpaw variety, as nice guns can be hard to find if your of that persuasion. My wife also happens to hunt and be a southpaw, so the adjustable stock gives a little latitude for her usage, which is part the reason for the caliber choice as a nice all around option.



Build Details:
Rem 700 action
AG Composites Adjustable Hunter Stock
22 inch xcaliber stainless heavy sporter fluted in 1:9 twist 6 grove, with 5/8x24 threading
Triggertech trigger
Hawkins DBM bottom metal
Area 419 20moa pic rail
Warne rings
Leupold VX5HD 3-15 windplex reticle
Hatch Outwest V2 bipod
Deadair Nomad Ti XC

Very happy with how it turned out, taking it for a first trip to the range tomorrow morning to go through the break in process, then its on to load development and practice with the new rifle so I can make the most of what opportunities might arise this fall.

 

[Jbotto]

Looks like a pretty sweet rifle! What did the weight come out as? What bullet are you hoping to use?

 

[noharleyyet]

Nice...

 

[xebadir]

Just got back from the range and break in. Extremely happy with how it shoots, very soft and comfortable with suppressor - actually feels like less recoil than my 6.5x55SE shooting the same weight, after the break in rounds was able to get decent grouping from a ground sitting position off bipod for a few tests. Will do a check on overall weight.

Bullet I'm looking at is a 160 gr Nosler Accubond, going to start working on a ladder test set this afternoon in a new set of Peterson brass.

 

[bluegrassdan]

I just built mine this last Spring, well, re-barreled an action I use as a switch barrel, but basically the same. You will struggle to get muzzle velocity with the required impact velocity past 400 yards for bonded and solid copper bullets in that 22 inch barrel. Mine is a 22 inch 1-7.5 twist and so far, I have tried H4350, H4831SC, IMR 7828ssc, Reloader 26, Staball 6.5, Ramshot Hunter and the only one that seems to group well over 2900FPS is the Reloader 26. I tried 175 Grand Slams, Partitions, Game Kings, 168 Barnes LRX, 175 TSX, 160gr Hornady CX and 160 Accubonds. The Partitions, Accubonds and the CX show promise with about 300 rounds down the barrel so far. Accuracy was great with my suppressor, but I can't take it to Canada for the moose hunt I have planned, so everything now is shot with just a brake. I have a bunch of CCI BR2 primers left over from my 284 Fclass days, so thats pretty much all I use. Start your Accubonds off the lands at about .040-.050" and see how it groups. Let me know how yours shoots. Its hard to find decent load information with that barrel length, twist rate and bullet weight combo, so I am curious how your data will compare to what I have gathered up in my rifle.

 

[rjthehunter]

Nothing better than a good looking rifle with the bolt on the correct side!!!

 

[Caseknife]

If you are wanting to shoot copper, i would try the Barnes 139 or 145LRX or the 140 Absolute Hammers.

 

[Alpine01]

I've had really good performance with the 150 gr CX in my 7mm RM. Used that to take my moose last fall. If you are working loads and switching between bonded and all copper, be aware that some (many) have experienced poor accuracy with all copper bullets after running a bonded bullet through the tube. You should do your best to strip any copper fouling first before running the all copper bullet. Typically not an issue if going to bonded after all copper. My $0.02.

 

[xebadir]

I just built mine this last Spring, well, re-barreled an action I use as a switch barrel, but basically the same. You will struggle to get muzzle velocity with the required impact velocity past 400 yards for bonded and solid copper bullets in that 22 inch barrel. Mine is a 22 inch 1-7.5 twist and so far, I have tried H4350, H4831SC, IMR 7828ssc, Reloader 26, Staball 6.5, Ramshot Hunter and the only one that seems to group well over 2900FPS is the Reloader 26. I tried 175 Grand Slams, Partitions, Game Kings, 168 Barnes LRX, 175 TSX, 160gr Hornady CX and 160 Accubonds. The Partitions, Accubonds and the CX show promise with about 300 rounds down the barrel so far. Accuracy was great with my suppressor, but I can't take it to Canada for the moose hunt I have planned, so everything now is shot with just a brake. I have a bunch of CCI BR2 primers left over from my 284 Fclass days, so thats pretty much all I use. Start your Accubonds off the lands at about .040-.050" and see how it groups. Let me know how yours shoots. Its hard to find decent load information with that barrel length, twist rate and bullet weight combo, so I am curious how your data will compare to what I have gathered up in my rifle.

Thanks for the suggestions, very helpful to know what has been tried before. I don't really have much intention of stretching much beyond 400 yards unless its a follow up shot on a wounded animal (and I wouldn't trust myself to take a shot beyond 400 in most conditions I hunt anyway, wind is such a factor, especially if it isnt steady). I'll make sure to share the data, going to run a stepwise from 53-57 at half grains to find pressure tomorrow (Peterson brass, so of course load data is even harder to find), had a slight health hiccup this week.

For the break in rounds, I was shooting some 140 gr Nosler E-Tips factory that I picked up on deep discount, as a way to get a little more info on the velocity. Velocities were average 3176 FPS, with a min at 3154 and a max at 3201. Box notional is 3200 fps, and they use a 24" barrel 1:9.5 twist. So seems like its at least playing similar to a 24" with the suppressor, and not yet broken in fully.

 

[squirrel_hunter]

I am doing load development starting next Sunday. Using VV N550 and N560 in my 280AI. With Berger 150gr Classic Hunter bullet. 1@8 26-inch barrel.

 

[bluegrassdan]

Based on the 4 trips my brother has made to this same camp, he said know where your hitting and be prepared for shots out to 500. But, most of the time it will be inside 150 yards. Just to make sure I don't have any issues to at least 400, I am trying to ensure my impact velocity at 400 is at the 2000fps most solid bullet mfg suggest. I don't typically shoot copper solids here in Kentucky, its just not needed, cup and core work just fine for our mid size Whitetails. I don't typically have shots out past 200 yards just because of the terrain, so I have never worried about MV in a hunting rifle, just accuracy. This 22 inch barrel is very accurate with ELD-M, Berger Hybrids match bullets and the Hornady Copper CX is sub one inch, but the challenge is my starting velocity is almost always under 3000fps. I want to stay in the 160 and up weight bullets with the 280, or I would just take one of my 300WSM and not worry about it- but I built this one for this moose hunt, so I am determined to find a combo that will comfortably get me the performance I want.

 

[Alpine01]

Based on the 4 trips my brother has made to this same camp, he said know where your hitting and be prepared for shots out to 500. But, most of the time it will be inside 150 yards. Just to make sure I don't have any issues to at least 400, I am trying to ensure my impact velocity at 400 is at the 2000fps most solid bullet mfg suggest. I don't typically shoot copper solids here in Kentucky, its just not needed, cup and core work just fine for our mid size Whitetails. I don't typically have shots out past 200 yards just because of the terrain, so I have never worried about MV in a hunting rifle, just accuracy. This 22 inch barrel is very accurate with ELD-M, Berger Hybrids match bullets and the Hornady Copper CX is sub one inch, but the challenge is my starting velocity is almost always under 3000fps. I want to stay in the 160 and up weight bullets with the 280, or I would just take one of my 300WSM and not worry about it- but I built this one for this moose hunt, so I am determined to find a combo that will comfortably get me the performance I want.

With my 7mm RM, my muzzle velocity with the 150-gr CX is 3170 fps. Based on ballistics, I maintain >2000 fps out to 725 yds. I took my BC moose at 375 yds. First shot was double lung, second shot was high shoulder. Both were clean pass throughs with very large exit wounds. He went all of 1 step after the first shot. Tipped over after the second. If you are shooting all copper, I think you could drop to a 150-gr bullet and be just fine. Just my own experience. My 7mm was my "moose" rifle and it didn't disappoint.

 

[brymoore]

Based on the 4 trips my brother has made to this same camp, he said know where your hitting and be prepared for shots out to 500. But, most of the time it will be inside 150 yards. Just to make sure I don't have any issues to at least 400, I am trying to ensure my impact velocity at 400 is at the 2000fps most solid bullet mfg suggest. I don't typically shoot copper solids here in Kentucky, its just not needed, cup and core work just fine for our mid size Whitetails. I don't typically have shots out past 200 yards just because of the terrain, so I have never worried about MV in a hunting rifle, just accuracy. This 22 inch barrel is very accurate with ELD-M, Berger Hybrids match bullets and the Hornady Copper CX is sub one inch, but the challenge is my starting velocity is almost always under 3000fps. I want to stay in the 160 and up weight bullets with the 280, or I would just take one of my 300WSM and not worry about it- but I built this one for this moose hunt, so I am determined to find a combo that will comfortably get me the performance I want.

You’re overthinking it a little. My family and I have shot elk from 50 yards to 690 yards with 280ai, 160 gr Accubonds. 690 yards was a one shot kill.

A 280ai can kill an elk way farther than you, or I, can accurately shoot it.

 

[Jbotto]

I remember a Backcountry Hunting Podcast episode where they were talking with someone from Barnes and specifically talking about their 152gr .280AI LRX. If I remember correctly they make sure any of the LRX ammo line is still able to perform, expansion-wise, at 700 yards. Personally I’m really waiting for the 152gr LRX to me available for component sales!

 

[bluegrassdan]

You’re overthinking it a little. My family and I have shot elk from 50 yards to 690 yards with 280ai, 160 gr Accubonds. 690 yards was a one shot kill.

A 280ai can kill an elk way farther than you, or I, can accurately shoot it.

I have asked this question in other forums and of course I get a million different "personal experiences" on how the accubonds perform. Since I don't shoot bonded bullets for 99% of my big game hunting, I really have no yardstick to measure by. I am a meat hunter first and foremost, so not damaging a lot of meat is my number one priority. I have shot a lot of ballistic tipped Noslers in the past and it was like a grenade went off most of the time, so now I tend to steer clear of those type of bullets. My local hunting is done with the old standby Remington Corelokt bullets, they work and tend not to explode. Moose size game will be a new critter for me, so I am all ears as far as what advice I can get. The 160 Accubonds seem to be shooting about an inch or so out of this barrel, with velocity in the mid 2900's, so that looks like one of the loads I will be working on. I really did not want to go much lighter than 160 grains, but then I am a heavy for caliber type shooter and have found those to be the more accurate bullets out of most of my rifles. I am a custom rifle builder (now retired for the most part) so I am not new to the reloading and rifle building game, but hunting game larger than a 250lb Michigan White tail is totally new to me.

 

[WVmike]

Nice rifle!

 

[brymoore]

I have asked this question in other forums and of course I get a million different "personal experiences" on how the accubonds perform. Since I don't shoot bonded bullets for 99% of my big game hunting, I really have no yardstick to measure by. I am a meat hunter first and foremost, so not damaging a lot of meat is my number one priority. I have shot a lot of ballistic tipped Noslers in the past and it was like a grenade went off most of the time, so now I tend to steer clear of those type of bullets. My local hunting is done with the old standby Remington Corelokt bullets, they work and tend not to explode. Moose size game will be a new critter for me, so I am all ears as far as what advice I can get. The 160 Accubonds seem to be shooting about an inch or so out of this barrel, with velocity in the mid 2900's, so that looks like one of the loads I will be working on. I really did not want to go much lighter than 160 grains, but then I am a heavy for caliber type shooter and have found those to be the more accurate bullets out of most of my rifles. I am a custom rifle builder (now retired for the most part) so I am not new to the reloading and rifle building game, but hunting game larger than a 250lb Michigan White tail is totally new to me.

I’ve elk killed with 110gr to 200gr bullets. Obviously the bigger the better but the 110 ABs killed elk easily too.

I like the 160gr ABs on elk because they work. Shoot the lungs and the elk is dead within 50 yards. I’m a meat hunter first on elk. We don’t have a lot of wasted meat from the bullet wound unless we break a shoulder.



2024 spike. 129 yards. Unfortunately I broke the off shoulder. Bull spun and dropped.

 

[Jnasa]

I remember a Backcountry Hunting Podcast episode where they were talking with someone from Barnes and specifically talking about their 152gr .280AI LRX. If I remember correctly they make sure any of the LRX ammo line is still able to perform, expansion-wise, at 700 yards. Personally I’m really waiting for the 152gr LRX to me available for component sales!

I asked Barnes about the component bullets. They said they don’t plan to make it available as a component bullet. It doesn’t make sense to me. Maybe enough requests and they’ll make it available.

 

[Jbotto]

I asked Barnes about the component bullets. They said they don’t plan to make it available as a component bullet. It doesn’t make sense to me. Maybe enough requests and they’ll make it available.

I promise I’m not trying to hijack this thread. I’ve heard they are pretty responsive when they start hearing from people.

 

[xebadir]

I have asked this question in other forums and of course I get a million different "personal experiences" on how the accubonds perform. Since I don't shoot bonded bullets for 99% of my big game hunting, I really have no yardstick to measure by. I am a meat hunter first and foremost, so not damaging a lot of meat is my number one priority. I have shot a lot of ballistic tipped Noslers in the past and it was like a grenade went off most of the time, so now I tend to steer clear of those type of bullets. My local hunting is done with the old standby Remington Corelokt bullets, they work and tend not to explode. Moose size game will be a new critter for me, so I am all ears as far as what advice I can get. The 160 Accubonds seem to be shooting about an inch or so out of this barrel, with velocity in the mid 2900's, so that looks like one of the loads I will be working on. I really did not want to go much lighter than 160 grains, but then I am a heavy for caliber type shooter and have found those to be the more accurate bullets out of most of my rifles. I am a custom rifle builder (now retired for the most part) so I am not new to the reloading and rifle building game, but hunting game larger than a 250lb Michigan White tail is totally new to me.

I've heard alot of negatives about the ballistic tips, many guides do not like their clients shooting them for the same reason you point out - they lack penetration and seem to explode on contact, whereas other bonded bullets don't do that. Accubonds don't seem to have the same problem, but I'll be interested to see how they perform on the real article. Definitely don't need this much to take out a whitetail with a rifle.