Finished my New .280 Ackley

[Dan in Alaska]

Here she is....all finished except for a new firing pin assy and final coating:

Trued Remington 700 action and bolt face
Stainless Fluted #4 Hart (.650 at the muzzle) finished at 25-1/2"
Bedded McMillian Remington Sporter stock
Williams bottom metal
Leupold VX-III 3.5-10x B&C in Talley Lightweight mounts
Tuned factory trigger set to 3 lbs
I don't know the final weight, but I'd be willing to bet it's close to 8.5#

In a factory wood stock (not bedded) there were three different bullets (120 & 140 NBT's, 160 TSX's) I could get to shoot one-hole groups at 100 yards. I am hoping to stretch it's legs in the next few weeks and see what it does at longe ranges.

Thanks to those of you on the this forum that have offered pointers and advice concerning this project. I appreciate your input.

[Hunt'nFish]

Cool! .280's RULE!!! I like it,..... lets see some groups.
Kinda curious what vel you get out of the AI improvements.
Hunt'nFish

[oregonmuley]

Nice - Really like the look of that stock, McMilan does nice work. Hope to put one of those on my model 700 7mm 08 as soon as I have enough coin saved.

[pythonwill]

Very nice, my dad is also having a 280 AI built right now, this will get his blood pumpin for sure. One of these days I will have the extra $$ to do my dream gun

[alaskan]

Looks good. Love to see some #'s after you get it settled in.

[strictlyRUM]

Who did the smith work?

Jason

[traks44]

very sharp looking gun!

[Shark Bait]

Very nice. I love the color/finish combinations and I really like the fact that you didn't put some enormous monstrosity of a scope on it.

[scottishsetter]

WOW!! I like the 25 and 1/2"; Williams Bottom Metal; and 3lbs.(ideal hunting lb. let off).Nice rifle! way to go.Way to go I love this country!Good Luck

[alaskan]

Originally Posted by striclyRUM

Who did the smith work?

Jason

Local smith. Stan Jackson. He's very good, and if you getthere at the right time you might get to meet his daughter.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

Why the .280AI over something like a 7mmRM or 7WSM?

Is it just the coolness factor?

Not doubt its a very nice rifle,I just wonder about the AI thing when there are other great chamberings to be had.

[Dan in Alaska]

Thanks, guys. Yes, Stan Jackson did the work. He's a local guy here in Anchorage, and he sure knows what he's doing with a lathe. I haven't met the daughter though.

I stayed away from the 7mm Mag, because I wanted a non-belted case. Just a personal preference. I found a good deal on a long action donor, so I went with the .280AI instead of a short mag. If I ever run across a smokin' deal on a short action, I would still like to build a super-lightweight 7mm of some sort. The fact that it's a bit different also steered me towards the .280AI. The fire-formed cases look like baby ultra mags.

The 25-1/2" barrel was a bit of an accident. It started life as a 26" on another rifle with a Tubb recoil lug, which is a bit thicker. The original owner of the barrel had a switch-barrel rifle and several barrels with different chamberings fit to it. This particular barrel wasn't fired. I got a smokin' deal, and I didn't have to wait several months to get a barrel. By the time the threads were turned down to fit the factory recoil lug, and it was re-crowned, it ended up at 25-1/2".

I still want to get the rifle coated, so the mis-match color scheme won't be around forever. Sorry, Shark Bait.

[cwh]

Very nice Dan! Looks sharp, and it sounds like it shoots even better. What did it end up weighing?

[Just Fish]

Nice! the 280 AI is a fine wildcat 140 gr barnes ts should be a great killer.