My 280 - Updated!

[Jzeblaz]

Hi Trebark,

Just saw your post on the 280. I'm waiting for mine to be completed, but am curious about your pet load. Why did you go to Winchester primers for the 168 load? Did you experiment with Federals and find the Winchesters worked better? What are you using for brass. Much thanks and great build!

Jze

[trebark]

Originally Posted by Jzeblaz

Hi Trebark,

Just saw your post on the 280. I'm waiting for mine to be completed, but am curious about your pet load. Why did you go to Winchester primers for the 168 load? Did you experiment with Federals and find the Winchesters worked better? What are you using for brass. Much thanks and great build!

Jze

The decision to go with Winchester primers was based on what was available at the time. You will notce the rifle was completed in 2008 (just before the election) and the 'great primer shortage of 2008' was in full swing. But a buddy of mine had several hundred Winchester primers and said I could have them. Then as load development went on and although I did test Federal and CCI, the Winchesters worked just fine (low ES) and I did not use them in any other rifle. This meant a box of 1000 Winchester primers would be used only for this rifle.

In the next several months I will update this thread again as the look and optics of the rifle are about to change. Stay tuned....

[trebark]

Now that deer season has been over for a short time, my old faithful 280 has undergone some changes.

Most conspicuous is the the brown paint has been stripped off and everything returned to its original stainless steel or black finish:





Because I rarely dialed the turrets on this rifle, the optic has been changed from the VX3 with M1 turrets to a Leupold VX2 with CDS elevation turret. I have not and will not have a custom turret put on this scope. I'm going to stick with the original .25moa per click turret. The turret is much more low profile than the M1 turrets and will still allow me to dial for a 300+ shot should the need arise.

Also, the bolt knob has been changed from the Badger Ordinance tactical knob to a much lower profile round knob. For a carry-rifle, found that the tactical knob got too much in the way. Lower profile knob will be better.



Removing the paint also makes the barrel makers mark much more clear:



whaddya think?

[Jzeblaz]

I love it Trebark. Something about that stainless look that does it for me. How's it shooting? And what brass are you using? The low profile VX-2 looks nice on there as well. Duplex reticle? Nice work!

-Jze

[trebark]

Originally Posted by Jzeblaz

I love it Trebark. Something about that stainless look that does it for me. How's it shooting? And what brass are you using? The low profile VX-2 looks nice on there as well. Duplex reticle? Nice work!

-Jze

Glad you like it. Last time I had it out, it shot .5moa with an occassional flier that would expand the group to .75moa. Because this is my carry-rifle with an intended use of shooting 200yards and closer, my level of concern for pin-point accuracy is low. As a result, I use cheap unsorted Remington brass that I do a minimum of prep work on.

New scope is a regular duplex reticle. It will work fine for the intended use.

[wnyhunter]

Great to see a custom gun's history. Very nice.
My compliments on filling in all the details.
I've been bouncing between a 300 WM or 280 for the next build, and your posts and history were a great help.

Keep it going and I will follow closely!

[trebark]

Originally Posted by wnyhunter

Great to see a custom gun's history. Very nice.
My compliments on filling in all the details.
I've been bouncing between a 300 WM or 280 for the next build, and your posts and history were a great help.

Keep it going and I will follow closely!

Glad this provides some helpful information for you. Next step in this process will be to get this new scope sighted-in and run some tests with the CDS dial.

If you like the history of this rifle, check-out my others:

My 308 1k Rifle - The Evolution Continues!

Read the 308 thread all the way to the end where you will see it transform into a full-custom 260:

My 260 by MCR

Then after lessons learned on the 260, built a big cannon:

My 260 by MCR

PM me if you have any questions. Glad to help.