J E Custom
Well-Known Member
I am in the process of building two matching 280 AIs and after reading everything that
I could find I though I knew the way I wanted to go.
The desire was to simply place a 280 Rem in the 280 AI Chamber and fire form it.
And with all the rhetoric about Nosler changing the SAAMI dimensions I decided to
go with caution and use both head space gauges because I kept coming up with a
difference in the two as far as head space.
Wanting the fireforming process to also be accurate with the 280 Rem for hunting, I checked
head space often while chambering with both the 280 and the 280 AI go gauges and kept
coming up with the same difference.
Once the head space reached .000 with the AI gauge I checked it with the 280 Rem gauge
and had .0065 + , then I tried a loaded round and it was .006.(The bolt would not close on
the 280 Rem gauge).
So I chambered .006 deeper to allow the 280 Rem to head space, then I rechecked the
head space with the 280 AI gauge and had .006 thousandths(Two much).
This means that it would be possible to fire Nosler 280 AI in it but not advisable because
of the near Maximum head space.
All of the other AIs work great and are very accurate while fire forming, And why(I think I
know) they would make it this way Instead of just loading ammo with the AI head stamp
is beyond me. There is only one choice of ammo if you want the AI on the case head, but
there are dozens of choices for the 280 Rem.
My point of this post is to warn people about firing Nosler 280 AI in there 280 Ackley or
trying to get 280 Rem in one of the "New" AI chambers. (The only way you can find out
what you have is to have two head space gauges).
I buy lots of Nosler products but this will not be one of them.
Just my 2 cents.
J E CUSTOM
I could find I though I knew the way I wanted to go.
The desire was to simply place a 280 Rem in the 280 AI Chamber and fire form it.
And with all the rhetoric about Nosler changing the SAAMI dimensions I decided to
go with caution and use both head space gauges because I kept coming up with a
difference in the two as far as head space.
Wanting the fireforming process to also be accurate with the 280 Rem for hunting, I checked
head space often while chambering with both the 280 and the 280 AI go gauges and kept
coming up with the same difference.
Once the head space reached .000 with the AI gauge I checked it with the 280 Rem gauge
and had .0065 + , then I tried a loaded round and it was .006.(The bolt would not close on
the 280 Rem gauge).
So I chambered .006 deeper to allow the 280 Rem to head space, then I rechecked the
head space with the 280 AI gauge and had .006 thousandths(Two much).
This means that it would be possible to fire Nosler 280 AI in it but not advisable because
of the near Maximum head space.
All of the other AIs work great and are very accurate while fire forming, And why(I think I
know) they would make it this way Instead of just loading ammo with the AI head stamp
is beyond me. There is only one choice of ammo if you want the AI on the case head, but
there are dozens of choices for the 280 Rem.
My point of this post is to warn people about firing Nosler 280 AI in there 280 Ackley or
trying to get 280 Rem in one of the "New" AI chambers. (The only way you can find out
what you have is to have two head space gauges).
I buy lots of Nosler products but this will not be one of them.
Just my 2 cents.
J E CUSTOM
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