The Oregonian
Well-Known Member
Backgrouhd...I wasn't real crazy about a 280 AI that I had...just doesn't seem to balance right. It is a 7lb McMillan graphite stock and 25" sportier fluted barrel, like a 2 or so, plus brake and I had a 4-16x50 ATACR on it which took it to 9.25ish lbs. My favorite rifles are fiberglass stocks and a larger barrel profile, so heavier by a pound or so and likely balances differently.
Since my 280 is my primary all around rifle, I wanted it to feel like my favorite guns, so I got Dallas Lane to build a new one with the same stock, weight, slightly larger barrel profile, etc as the rifle that I can shoot the best and that balances the best for me.
I had been thinking about getting the old 280, which shoots well but had the issues above, rebarreled to something in a 6.5, most likely a 6.5-284.
There is no reason not to try out some 140's in this as a 280AI before I rebarrel it. it has plenty of barrel life left and is a shooter. I can shoot a lighter load and still probably have higher MV than a 6.5-284, although I would be giving up BC at the same time. I am thinking about a much lighter weight scope to see if it balances better for me, maybe something like a Z5 or VX6. If I like the feel of it then I can keep it as is or rebarrel, but at least I will know if I like it or not before paying for a rebarrel.
This would be a deer and under rifle and would fill the lighter weight role in my collection, so i hope it fee good in the hand. I probably wouldn't plan to shoot more than 400-500 yds so the higher BC of the 6.5 becomes less important.
So, the question...What kind of speeds are you getting with 140's out of a 280AI? And what powders are you using? I got 3000 fps with a 168 VLD out of this rifle and would plan to shoot 140's out of it now. I have a 30N that shoots the 215's, and 30-06 that shoots a 185 VLD, and the new 280 will shoot the 168 VLD, so this would fill a lighter grain bullet as well. It would either be a Nosler BT or AB, or the Berger 140 VLDs.
Thanks.
Since my 280 is my primary all around rifle, I wanted it to feel like my favorite guns, so I got Dallas Lane to build a new one with the same stock, weight, slightly larger barrel profile, etc as the rifle that I can shoot the best and that balances the best for me.
I had been thinking about getting the old 280, which shoots well but had the issues above, rebarreled to something in a 6.5, most likely a 6.5-284.
There is no reason not to try out some 140's in this as a 280AI before I rebarrel it. it has plenty of barrel life left and is a shooter. I can shoot a lighter load and still probably have higher MV than a 6.5-284, although I would be giving up BC at the same time. I am thinking about a much lighter weight scope to see if it balances better for me, maybe something like a Z5 or VX6. If I like the feel of it then I can keep it as is or rebarrel, but at least I will know if I like it or not before paying for a rebarrel.
This would be a deer and under rifle and would fill the lighter weight role in my collection, so i hope it fee good in the hand. I probably wouldn't plan to shoot more than 400-500 yds so the higher BC of the 6.5 becomes less important.
So, the question...What kind of speeds are you getting with 140's out of a 280AI? And what powders are you using? I got 3000 fps with a 168 VLD out of this rifle and would plan to shoot 140's out of it now. I have a 30N that shoots the 215's, and 30-06 that shoots a 185 VLD, and the new 280 will shoot the 168 VLD, so this would fill a lighter grain bullet as well. It would either be a Nosler BT or AB, or the Berger 140 VLDs.
Thanks.
