.280 Ackley Improved

[Greg Duerr]

Anyone with experiance with this Cartridge? It on my list as a long range Deer and Elk Rifle.....................My next and last ........

What barrel length? Contour ? I would use the 168gr Berger VLD Im leaning towards the Cooper Jackson Hunter, for my pocket book thats a heck of a deal for what others have said about the coopers

 

[fj40mojo]

Mid process of build right now.

FN Mauser 98 action
Kreiger #3 sporter .284 1:9
.280 Ackley Improved chambered with PT&G bushing type reamer (the real deal, not the SAAMI Nosler/Rem spec'd cartridge that is .014" shorter than the original)
Timney Featherweight
Tubbs Speedloc
Cerakote
B&C Medalist Varmint stock in green w/black spiderweb


Just finished up the barrelled action yesterday. Gonna start bedding it in the stock as soon as I have some more time off. Planning on Redding Full Length bushing dies and Norma fireformed brass, but haven't quite got that far yet.

 

[Greg Duerr]

Sounds like I have a lot to learn.........................Are you a Gunsmith.....?? Some of what you said was like Greek.......................

 

[fj40mojo]

Sounds like I have a lot to learn.........................Are you a Gunsmith.....?? Some of what you said was like Greek.......................

FN Mauser 98 action (an antique by mosts standards but a good action and the best 98 Mauser IMHO)

Kreiger #3 sporter .284 1:9 (premium barrel maker, #3 sporter describes the contour or outside dimentions, caliber .284, twist 1:9 I chose this twist cuz I plan on shooting heavy for claiber bullets)

.280 Ackley Improved chambered with PT&G bushing type reamer (the real deal, not the SAAMI Nosler/Rem spec'd cartridge that is .014" shorter than the original) The original .280 Ackley Improved and the .280 AI as spec'd by Nosler when the cartridge was standardized by SAAMI is .014" shorter than the original P.O. Ackley cartridge. Why, I don't know, but .014 is that much more powder I can squeeze in there.

Timney Featherweight (aftermarket adjustable trigger)

Tubbs Speedloc (aftermarket firing pin and spring combo that decreases lock time or the time between when the trigger breaks and when the round is detonated)

Cerakote (a ceramic bake on finish that is corosion and abrasion resistant)

B&C Medalist Varmint stock in green w/black spiderweb (aftermarket carbon fiber stock with integral aluminum bedding block)

I am not a gunsmith but I do as much for myself as I'm capable of. I had a smith do the machine work on the barrel-threading, crowning, and headspace. I installed the trigger, firing pin/spring, and wiht help from a friend applied the cerakote.

 

[bamadawg2009]

I shot my cousins 280 ackley and it impressed me so much I have one being built rite now:

Remmy 700 action (Blueprinted) with old style trigger
Shilen #6 contour 1 in 9 twist
Boyds Featherweight laminated thumbhole

140 grain Berger VLDs over RL 22
Leupold VXIII 4.5-14x40 or 6.5-20x40 havent made up my mind yet on the scope just depends on my wallet at the time my smith calls and says shes ready.

 

[Greg Duerr]

Im enveious ...............sounds Great. Ive heard that the .280 Ackley with a 168gr Berger VLD out performs the 300 WM with the 180.................


Greg

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I think the guy who owns that company supported Obama so alot of guys dont have kind words for the rifles.

 

[midnightmalloy]

Sako 75,left hand, mcmillan sako hunter stock, benchmark #5 contoured 25" barrel 1-9 twist, zeiss 4.5-14x44 mildot.
I shoot the 168 berger at mag length as follows:
168gr berger hunting vld
54.8gr rl 17
nosler 280ai brass
Cci br primers
Getting 2870 fps. Shoots 2/3 -1/2 moa.
I like it but if I were to do this all over again I would get a 7 saum or a 7 wsm. You jusy have to push the 280ai hard to get the better velocities. 7saum is more efficient and if you use a long action you can have your bullets seated wherever you want!

 

[FEENIX]

I think the guy who owns that company supported Obama so alot of guys dont have kind words for the rifles.

Yes he did! "Montana gunsmith Dan Cooper (founder and part owner of Cooper Firearms,) has been ousted as chief executive of the rifle company that bears his name after pressure from gun owners who are angry that he is supporting Democrat Barack Obama. " - Rifle maker bounces boss who supports Obama - USATODAY.com

 

[Greg Duerr]

That was true .................The CEO for Cooper was an Obama supporter. Story goes that he did not want Hillary in so he gave $$$ to obama. He was fired by the board so he is not there..


Cooper is a great rifle and hard to beat the price for all you get.

 

[Limbic]

Ive got one based on GAP Templar action. With 168vld and 55g560 it is a 1/4 MOA gun. MV is only 2700fps but neck tension is low and it has plenty of killing power out to 600.

I think they are the best with 140-160 bullets. A wsm on a long action would be hard to beat. 280ai wins on coolness though

 

[strombeckj]

That was true .................The CEO for Cooper was an Obama supporter. Story goes that he did not want Hillary in so he gave $$$ to obama. He was fired by the board so he is not there..


Cooper is a great rifle and hard to beat the price for all you get.

Greg you are correct! You could also build a rifle that would be close to that in price minus the fancy wood stock. Many ways to build rifles on a budget.


Jon

 

[Greg Duerr]

I have a Rifle Project at Carloina Prcision right now. I sent in a Remington 700 action and a McMillian Remington Sporter that I had ordered for the project. This is my first custom rifle. Im having a Pac Nor Super Match installled for the .243 Ackley. 24" #4 1x9. Its also getting a Sako Extractor as I was told that that would be a good idea, plus Its getting a Jewell Trigger. Matt Poly Kote ...................$$ 1850 Pretty much the same price I would have paid for a Cooper without the six month wait.....................However Pac Nor like so many other barrel companys are way back ordered and what was suppose to be 12 weeks is now 20
I talked with John Lewis last week about getting a barrel make for it in the 7mm-08 Ackley...................I know that one day soon Im going to wish I had something a little bit bigger as my wifes parents live in Carmen, Idaho right on the Montana, Idaho boarder. They ask me if Im coming up to hunt Elk this year ....................??? I dont have my rifle back yet and if I do ...........I will buy a deer tag..................instead

That's why I have an interest in the .280 Ackley Im sure that the 7mm-08 Ackley will do the job.......................But then I would like to have a Cooper just to see if they are everything people say they are.

Greg

 

[Weaselthis]

I love this caliber and my gun makes me look good! First custom. I shoot competition w/ it & hunt with it.

Rem 700 LH w/ factory bottom metal & factory trigger,tuned & trued. $500
Bartlien 5R 1:9 twist #5 contour SS finished at 25.5" $315
HS Precision stock $365
Timney trigger factory set at 1.5# $75 (Sold factory trigger for $50.net cost)
Vias muzzle brake $90
6x24x50 MD Sightron III $740
Burris Signature Z high rings $40
TAB sling $65
Smith work to true action, chamber, install bbl. & brake, bed action, free float bbl. & reamer rental: $630
Total : $2840
Don't know what I could have done to shave $$ off this as everything was at retail and I wanted it good, and I wanted it NOW! LOL

168g Berger VLD at 2900 fps w/ Retumbo: .4 - .5MOA
140g Berger VLD at 3225 fps w/ H-4831sc: .3-.4MOA
160 g Accubond at 3015 fps w/ Retumbo: .4-.5 MOA
Nosler .280AI brass annealed every other firing No other prep done.
Fed. 210M primers.
All bullets .40 thou off the lands

You'll love the round. Get what ya want in a rifle. Buy once, cry once and don't look back. The sting of the money is forgotten now as everytime I shoot it, the grin gets bigger. Good luck!

Anyone with experiance with this Cartridge? It on my list as a long range Deer and Elk Rifle.....................My next and last ........

What barrel length? Contour ? I would use the 168gr Berger VLD Im leaning towards the Cooper Jackson Hunter, for my pocket book thats a heck of a deal for what others have said about the coopers