280 AI information Blog

[GSells]

[Bigtravoz]

Silly question but why not just buy 280 Ai brass and be done with it?

[GSells]

[Bigtravoz]

Lol both are probably equally hard to find in oz. necking up from 25-06 might have been a better option than down from 30-06 as the necks would have naturally grown longer as they were expanded, or perhaps 270 brass as it has a bit longer neck than 30-06 to start with. Was just wondering as I am tossing up building a 280 or 280ai myself.

[GSells]

[KHGS]

[GSells]

Ok , been a while and I'm also having a break at the moment! But last time I had misfires with my brass !

Well I've fixed that by just squaring up the primer pockets with a Sinclair primer tool . I've found what looks like a cracker slow load at around 2860 fps with 57.6 2213sc .
Also I have a faster load at around 2940 fps and 59.0 2213sc .
I'm only club shooting at the moment, so one can only lament of what could have been ! But the cartridge really shows some promise .
Extremely easy to tune ! Happy to shoot at 2860 fps or at 3000 fps if you can find the brass to handle it ! Although, speed kills barrels !

At the low node , the barrel will last a long time . I've learnt a long time ago that speed isn't everything , and my former AU Rosedale team mate and his saum at sub 2800 fps load proved that!

Ok back to jobs around the house and back to partial retirement !

[GSells]

Been a while , but I’ve come back from my family break from shooting which was good for me . During that time off , I kept developing this cartridge. I have now successfully used 30/60 brass by using my 338 neck die to form a false shoulder . I did up a whole write up on my Personal FB page of how to fireform 30/06 brass and I felt guilty for not contributing to freedom of knowledge. The same knowledge that has been shared freely on this forum that has made me where I’m at now . Yes it’s easy to let the barrel do the talking but my conscience got the better of me .

So here I am back contributing again !! I’ll try and find time to post fireforming with pistol powder sometime for newer shooters that want to go down the MARVELLOUS ACKLEY road !

So I’ve been mucking around with my 338 edge with 2225 or retumbo powder . And getting great results with Berger hybrids 300 gr at about 2750 FPS .
And I had a light bulb moment!

How would 2225 and mag fed primers go in the 280 ai ?? In May this yr I went to find out ? All my close friends that I confide in about tuning said “ 2225 too slow , “ .
So my first load was 63.5 gr , fed mag primers in a 30” barrel netted me 3050fps !! I load the same case 10 times and reduced the load to a known node at around 3000 FPS for 63.1 2225 !!
Of corse I can’t shoot that at Belmont and I have nowhere to test it up here in Qld .
Extreme spread over 10 shots was 11 FPS .

So I reduced the load to 62.3 of 2225 and fed 215’s and have found a nice little node right on the Belmont limit of 2950 FPS , in which it’s really just idling along . I tested back in September in the paddock at 1000 yds on static shotgun clays at a reduced load of 62.1 at 2930 FPS which tested quite well!
First shoot ever at 1000 yds on ETs at Belmont just recently with the 2950 FPS load was quite positive!
I remember with the lil 7/08 ai how people used to say it was rubbish , no good ! Don’t waste your time etc ! I love proving people wrong . Arrogant maybe , competitive absolutely!
So I’ll say that this 280 ai is as good or if not better than a Saum , orings and all !! And I’ll let her do the talking !
Regards Sellsy!!

[Tim N]

Good to hear you are having success with your 280
Dose it burn clean with that powder or do you get heavy fouling?
Best test will be a Queen’s comp.
Good luck with it

[GSells]

[GSells]

Sorry , but I guess my strategy for a Queens will be shoot my .284 up to 800 yds or 900 yds then switch barrels to the 280 ai for 1000 yds . Switching barrels during a comp is something I’ve been practicing.
And I still need more practicing . It did cost me a opm just recently. But you will never grow just playing it safely. So I may never when a Queens lol!
Seriously, I’ll keep practicing switching barrels , I will get it down pat !

[KHGS]

[GSells]

[bad_primer]

Graham

I am about to jump in the .280AI journey and finding your thread/blog has been tremendously valueable and heartening to see it come together for you with solid results.
Thanks for taking the time to put all of this down for our reference and enjoyment!

Simmo

[KHGS]