Pimped my Rifle!

[pip]

You'll not get one. It's not what you use, it's how you use them!

Explain?

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Explain?

I'll PM you!

 

[Paul 600]

You'll not get one. It's not what you use, it's how you use them!

youve even brainwashed Alison!

 

[Jager SA]

Cheers, It's not everyones 'cup of tea' but it is exactly what I needed.
I've been having some great results with it too!
View attachment 32952View attachment 32953View attachment 32954
I was slightly worried that it might be a bit 'too much gun' for the smaller stuff, but I've had several Roe and a Munty with it and had far less meat damage than I thought. I had a theory that the barnes bullets would punch a neat hole through the smaller stuff and they do. They are currently doing about 3000 fps according to the book and I don't think it would be of any benefit to drive them any faster. The bullets seem to expand nicely in proportion to size of deer. The chest photo is of a Roe where you can see it whacked a rib on entry and two on exit which is still quite neat. The Fallow Pricket ran a short distance but bled out extremely well for a lung shot.
I always used to think that my 25.06 with 115 grain CBT's was probably the ultimate 'one calibre' for all species, but I now think that the .280 AI might top it as it is also a bit more PC for Boar! It is extremely accurate already without much load development and seems to be very flat at longer range. I aimed slightly high on the above roe which was at 202 yards and hit pretty much exactly where I aimed. The Fallow was 80lb larder weight and remains the biggest deer that I've shot with it so far, but I'm sure it will cope with anything within our shores! Foxes 'don't like it up em' either!
If you want one rifle for everything and are happy to home-load, then the .280 AI is most definitely worth considering!
If you are considering it, Jager SA has the required tools!
MS

Getting some really good results there MS, I'm really impressed with the calibre, definitely a one does all!

Anyone fancy a 280 AI then? Or a threading job... £45 for threading plus postage.

 

[The deer man]

MS - looking good and have the paperwork on my desk ready to put in for . . . and I'm still undecided! 7x64 or 280 (Rem or AI)? The 280 doesn't seem that popular in S. Africa whereas the 7x64 is and that's where I'll most certainly use this rifle, as well as here in the UK.
I was looking for empty cases yesterday, in 280, AI and 7x64, and they seem to be about as common as rocking horse ****! However I did find two outlets who do them, McAvoy Guns Online and Midway UK but not much choice in AI (also very expensive). Any ideas?
ATB

 

[Monkey Spanker]

MS - looking good and have the paperwork on my desk ready to put in for . . . and I'm still undecided! 7x64 or 280 (Rem or AI)? The 280 doesn't seem that popular in S. Africa whereas the 7x64 is and that's where I'll most certainly use this rifle, as well as here in the UK.
I was looking for empty cases yesterday, in 280, AI and 7x64, and they seem to be about as common as rocking horse ****! However I did find two outlets who do them, McAvoy Guns Online and Midway UK but not much choice in AI (also very expensive). Any ideas?
ATB

Got my cases from Reloading Solutions mate. They stock Nosler brass in standard .280 Rem and .280 Rem AI. Not cheap though as you say, but when you do the maths as to how many times you use them it isn't too bad really. You could also consider necking out some fired .270 which will be almost there anyway but will obviously retain the .270 headstamp. You would need to chamber the Nosler/Remington SAAMI spec to do this though as the original Ackley spec was 14 thou longer. It would stretch but is considered dangerous as the case could seperate. I think my standard .280 cases were about £50 for 50 and seem to fire-form nicely whilst being extremely accurate! (see original target in my first post!). The .280 AI were about £80/50, but unless you develop a load which exceeds the volume of the standard case, there seems to be no benefit from buying the AI ones. You could also buy some standard factory .280 rounds and keep the brass? Plenty of options really. I did look at the 7 x 64, but the .280 came out as the much better option. You can have a go with it if you like?
MS

 

[interceptor]

Congrats on christening the 280 Ackley fella

 

[The deer man]

Got my cases from Reloading Solutions mate. They stock Nosler brass in standard .280 Rem and .280 Rem AI. Not cheap though as you say, but when you do the maths as to how many times you use them it isn't too bad really. You could also consider necking out some fired .270 which will be almost there anyway but will obviously retain the .270 headstamp. You would need to chamber the Nosler/Remington SAAMI spec to do this though as the original Ackley spec was 14 thou longer. It would stretch but is considered dangerous as the case could seperate. I think my standard .280 cases were about £50 for 50 and seem to fire-form nicely whilst being extremely accurate! (see original target in my first post!). The .280 AI were about £80/50, but unless you develop a load which exceeds the volume of the standard case, there seems to be no benefit from buying the AI ones. You could also buy some standard factory .280 rounds and keep the brass? Plenty of options really. I did look at the 7 x 64, but the .280 came out as the much better option. You can have a go with it if you like?
MS

Thanks MS, might take you up on that. Spoke to James again today and hopefully dropping in to see him later part of next week. By then Ill need to have decided whether it's going to be 280 Rem or AI or 7x64!

 

[Monkey Spanker]

I've been having some great results with this .280AI !

Took the bottoms of the hearts off both these this morning at almost 200m.
I'm now on the AI cases having fire-formed a load of standards into AI. I haven't bothered to develop the load any further as it is already shooting more accurate than I could ever wish for!
I guess I just got lucky, although I did do a fair bit of research to see what would likely be the best load. 54 grains of IMR 4350 and a Barnes TTSX/TSX 50 thou off the lands puts them through the same hole at 100m! It's also a cracking load for the deer. Minimal meat damage and good clean kills on large or small species.
I'll put it away for a few months now over the summer and give the 25.06 some exercise!
MS
Oh, forgot to mention - the Stag Calf weighed 46.5kg (102 lb) larder weight, head and legs off!

 

[berg]

I've been having some great results with this .280AI !
View attachment 41394
Took the bottoms of the hearts off both these this morning at almost 200m.
I'm now on the AI cases having fire-formed a load of standards into AI. I haven't bothered to develop the load any further as it is already shooting more accurate than I could ever wish for!
I guess I just got lucky, although I did do a fair bit of research to see what would likely be the best load. 54 grains of IMR 4350 and a Barnes TTSX/TSX 50 thou off the lands puts them through the same hole at 100m! It's also a cracking load for the deer. Minimal meat damage and good clean kills on large or small species.
I'll put it away for a few months now over the summer and give the 25.06 some exercise!
MS

nice to end the year on those two ,you did a good job on my loads as well maybe thers more than meets the eye with this monkey spanker

 

[Paul 600]

Having shot that rifle I can say its very accurate. Clover leafed at 200m.

 

[A1Decoy]

Nice rifle! Thanks for sharing.

 

[tjm160]

Simply stunning rifle and great results MS, hearty congrats on both