280 in a 16 inch barrel

[hshunter]

A friend of XPhunter and mine has a xp in a 280 JDJ (SSK custom barell) and it is a great long range shooter, Doug has taken several antelope with it in WY, I had the priviledge to shoot it a couple of years ago and with the brake it was a piece of cake to shoot. I believe any of the calibers you are looking at would suffice for the long range shoot at Sundance, besides all three calibers would use the same bolt face.
nmhunter

[Ernie]

Originally Posted by rtv900

The reason I ask is I am trying to setup a rig for the long range handgun shoot in WY in June. I just want to make sure I make the right choice. I ordered a barrel and then told them to put it on hold until I made up my mind. I am trying to make up my mind between a 6.5 284 and a 280 or 280AI. I have limited experience hand loading so I just want to make the best decision and go with it. That way I have a solid platform to build from.

Jon,
I have never chambered the 280 or the AI version in a SP, but I have had SP's in 284 Win, 7mmRem Mag Imp, and the 7mm Dakota (as well as 260 Rem, 6-284 & 6.5-284) and they have all shot great.

If you are going to have an 18" for unlimited and a 15 for production then I would go with the 6.5-284 for 15" and the 280 AI for unlimited.
FWIW--I will be shooting a 6.5-284 for production myself and I will be shooting a big 7mm for unlimited.

[diderr]

I have a 300wsm in a 16" barrel on a ruger frontier. It is really accurate, but it fouls up in like 5 shots w/ unburned pow.
diderr,

[Ernie]

I am assuming the frontier is a rifle?
my old XP 7.82 Patriot (more capacity than the 300WSM) barrel was in the 16" range and don't remember fouling issues. I used H-4350 with 150 and 180's.
Mine was a Shilen select match SS, I wonder if your fouling issue was the powder you used or possibly the condition of your barrel? Maybe both?

[gravedigger]

I have an 18 inch Encore in 280 AI, it is a very accurate barrel. I am sbooting 55.0grs of RE-19 with a 160 Sierra SPBT, with a Fed. 210M primer. I am using a Burris 3X-12X scope. I think it would be a very good caliber to have, mine is shooting a 1 inch group at 100 yards. It has a little recoil but I am getting a JP brake put on mine. Good Luck

[diderr]

Originally Posted by xphunter

I am assuming the frontier is a rifle?
my old XP 7.82 Patriot (more capacity than the 300WSM) barrel was in the 16" range and don't remember fouling issues. I used H-4350 with 150 and 180's.
Mine was a Shilen select match SS, I wonder if your fouling issue was the powder you used or possibly the condition of your barrel? Maybe both?

i was shooting factory's through it back then, my handloads w/ h4831sc burn a lot cleaner.

[rtv900]

Well there are no shortage of options thats for sure. Any other thoughts?