.280AI - talk me out of it

[bbaley]

Hi all,
let me preface this post with the fact I have never shot an Elk.
The 'E' Word.

I live in Oregon and hunt Mule deer, and also one day want to hunt antelope, but expect that I will draw an Elk tag, way before I ever draw an antelope tag.

All that being said, I am looking at building a new custom rifle, for hunting, that I am hoping can be an "all around" rig. I also want to travel to shoot hogs.

I reload for .308 and .223, shooting out to 800yds, and for whatever reasons the .280 (and .280 AI) really appeal to me.

My initial gut reaction/choice for an Elk gun, based on my multiple friends inputs was .338 Win Mag and .300 Win Mag. and they are interesting.

But, I am finding it likely and interesting I could have a long range deer gun that would be also suitable for Elk.

I live near both the coastal range (brush, < 100yd shots) as well as the high desert (>= 400yd shot)

Anyway, I know this is a hotly contested and discussed topic, so I will ask it like this:

why would you NOT go with a .338/.300 Win Mag ?
the idea is ONE rifle for both.

I think the .280 AI will do both fine inside of 500 yards

 

[Hornhunter32]

I love my 280 AI! I built it for deer and elk. Shooting 168's or 180's, you can kill an elk way past 500 yards.

 

[elkthumper]

Given your objectives I would do the 280ai in a heartbeat. I'm a loyal 300win shooter but my next build is going to be the 280ai.

 

[7magcreedmoor]

I just put together my first 280AI, and am seeing just over 3000fps with Berger 168VLDs. I planned this rifle as my "one that does everything" rifle, and the 280AI was my first choice. I sold a 7rem mag that only beat this gun by 35fps with the same bullet. Have I talked you out of it yet?

 

[Jluck]

I don't think you should build one. I don't want the competition for brass....

I have one being built right now for the wife! It is a fantastic cartridge.

 

[Greyfox]

Hi all,

I live in Oregon and hunt Mule deer, and also one day want to hunt antelope, but expect that I will draw an Elk tag....

All that being said, I am looking at building a new custom rifle, for hunting, that I am hoping can be an "all around" rig.

" ....the .280 (and .280 AI) really appeal to me."

.... I could have a long range deer gun that would be also suitable for Elk.

....the idea is ONE rifle for both.

I think the .280 AI will do both fine inside of 500 yards

Go with your instincts.......they are sound......The 280AI will be effective on elk further than 500 yards with good placement and the right bullet.IMO

 

[slewis12]

Just a thought but why not go with a 270-338 win mag wild cat you can get brass from midway it's quality cartridge brand 130 grn bullets can scream to 3600 fps and 150 grn bullets around 3350fps. 150s accubond long range in 277 have a .625 bc and are very effective on elk with good shot placement to 800. Plus is every body will ask what is that caliber then look cross eyed at you when you tell them most have never heard of it.

 

[bbaley]

Thanks everyone for the feedback, much appreciated !

 

[bbaley]

Just a thought but why not go with a 270-338 win mag wild cat you can get brass from midway it's quality cartridge brand 130 grn bullets can scream to 3600 fps and 150 grn bullets around 3350fps. 150s accubond long range in 277 have a .625 bc and are very effective on elk with good shot placement to 800. Plus is every body will ask what is that caliber then look cross eyed at you when you tell them most have never heard of it.

Because it sounds like it would burn out the throat/barrel in about 50 rounds ???

 

[bbaley]

I just put together my first 280AI, and am seeing just over 3000fps with Berger 168VLDs. I planned this rifle as my "one that does everything" rifle, and the 280AI was my first choice. I sold a 7rem mag that only beat this gun by 35fps with the same bullet. Have I talked you out of it yet?

Wow - 3k with 168's ?
How long is your barrel ?
How hot is your load? close to max?
What powder are you using with that bullet ?

 

[7magcreedmoor]

My PacNor 9 twist 3 groove barrel is 26 inches long, the COAL or I should say BTO for base-to-ogive, is 2.791" which amounts to SAAMI plus 0.200" (that is a 0.010" jump to the lands, and fits the magazine box), the fired cases show headspace +.008" over virgin, and the load is 63.5 (the maximum listed charge in the manual is 63.0) grains of Retumbo lit by CCI BR2 primers. From break in to now I've gained some velocity. I had set aside some rounds of 63.0 gr in virgin cases for comparison, and the before/after averages are 2960/2973 after some 200 rounds, a modest but definite gain as the barrel seasoned. The 63.0 grain load in once-fired and partially resized cases ran 2992fps, the 63.5 grain load in partially resized case chrono's 3024fps. My chrono has always been a little optimistic, when I get to the long range again for trajectory validation I expect the corrected value to drop to near or just a hair over 3000. I have no ejector marks or primer indicators on the brass, but as always, this is my load in my rifle and anyone trying this should start low and work up- just like I did. My starting load was 59.5grains, and I advanced in half-grain increments, checking each case as it came out of the chamber. I should add that I am as surprised (and delighted) with this outcome as the rest of you. I built this 280AI expecting to run about 100 to 125 fps LESS than my old 7 Rem Mag which was 3040fps (and had the same spec barrel from the same maker). Sometimes you get lucky.

 

[bbaley]

Thanks for the details !
appreciate it.
This gives me hope I can back off of max a bit and still be over 2900 !

 

[7magcreedmoor]

During my load development, the faster loads grouped better. Of course your mileage may vary, as the saying goes...

 

[WildRose]

Hi all,
let me preface this post with the fact I have never shot an Elk.
The 'E' Word.

I live in Oregon and hunt Mule deer, and also one day want to hunt antelope, but expect that I will draw an Elk tag, way before I ever draw an antelope tag.

All that being said, I am looking at building a new custom rifle, for hunting, that I am hoping can be an "all around" rig. I also want to travel to shoot hogs.

I reload for .308 and .223, shooting out to 800yds, and for whatever reasons the .280 (and .280 AI) really appeal to me.

My initial gut reaction/choice for an Elk gun, based on my multiple friends inputs was .338 Win Mag and .300 Win Mag. and they are interesting.

But, I am finding it likely and interesting I could have a long range deer gun that would be also suitable for Elk.

I live near both the coastal range (brush, < 100yd shots) as well as the high desert (>= 400yd shot)

Anyway, I know this is a hotly contested and discussed topic, so I will ask it like this:

why would you NOT go with a .338/.300 Win Mag ?
the idea is ONE rifle for both.

I think the .280 AI will do both fine inside of 500 yards

Inside of 500 it will do the job fine.

If it were me though it's not the route I'd go. The 300wm is much better suited to the task and gives you more room for the future to move beyond 500yds.