Help finalizing a couple of projects

C

chuck nelson

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I'm having a hard time deciding what to do with the finishing touches on a couple of projects. I have a pair of left handed stainless steel Model 70's one a customized .280 AI barreled action with Williams bottom metal and the other a stock factory .270. These actions are pretty rare so I've decided on a similar pare as my main hunting rifles because if something happens to one it is virtually irreplaceable so a backup makes me feel a bit better.

I have two McMillan Legend Edges coming in the next couple of weeks to plunk them in and the original intent was to just stock them as is and put the .270 in the back of the safe as merely a functional useable at any time backup. However I also have an unfired Model 70 30-06 takeoff barrel that I thought of replacing the fwt AI barrel with and having a pair of almost identical rifles in 30-06 built around 180 gr bullets and .270 built around 130 gr bullets. They would weigh and balance virtually the same.

What to do?

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I would do a .30-06 and leave the 280AI. If you want light bullets, shoot 120gr in the 280, and you have the '06 for 180 - 220gr for bigger bruins...

Or sell the 06 and the 270 barrels and do the 338-06 or 9.3 like you were thinking and never need another rifle again...338-06 and a 280 AI pretty hard combo to beat
 
My first rifle of choice would always be a 30-06; load a 180gr bullet, and it's good for almost anything. I've always thought that the 270win was a good cartridge to compliment the 30-06, as the bore size is significantly smaller, you can shoot much lighter bullets that still have a good sectional density, and you can get those light bullets as fast and flat as most magnums. That being said, your 280AI has probably had the action worked on to feed the AI properly, that being the case, I would be concerned that you would no longer be able to make it feed the standard cartridges properly.
Mike
 
mike shickele said:
My first rifle of choice would always be a 30-06; load a 180gr bullet, and it's good for almost anything. I've always thought that the 270win was a good cartridge to compliment the 30-06, as the bore size is significantly smaller, you can shoot much lighter bullets that still have a good sectional density, and you can get those light bullets as fast and flat as most magnums. That being said, your 280AI has probably had the action worked on to feed the AI properly, that being the case, I would be concerned that you would no longer be able to make it feed the standard cartridges properly.
Mike
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It will feed properly if going back to an 06. It was originally a 30-06 and I did the only work to the action to get it to feed 100%. That work was done to a separate extractor.
 
Nice set I have a lh270 wsm and wish it was a regular cartrige action so much more versatilaty ! I would stay with your 280ai and go with a 35 cal or 375 cal and you would have the ultimate set for hunting North America
 
I agree with those who said to keep the .280AI and make the other one at .338-06, .35Whelen or 9.3x62. The .30-06 and .270Win are just too boring.
 
SuperCub said:
I think the 270/30-06 combo makes more sense for flexibility.



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Good plan.

I'd likely go .25-06 instead of .270 though. Mostly to widen the gap between calibers and personal preference. 75 Vmaxs and 100TSXs in the 25 and 168-180TSXs in the 30, would cover most everything.
 
Don't you know that you HAVE to have a 280 AI. :eek: This is in the unwritten code of hunter ethics. Who cares what you do with the other action if you have a 280? :D It will do everything the 270 and 30-06 will. My vote would be to keep the 280 as is and turn the other into a 338-06 or 35 Whelen. Good luck whatever you decide!
 
You're going to unscrew a custom 280AI barrel and also discard an Edge compact stock?
Chuck, walk around the block until the insanity passes!

270, 280AI, 30-06...it doesn't make any tangible difference. If you are very, very lucky all you will be out is a bunch of money to end up with something ever so slightly different, and no better than, what you already have. And then you will miss the 280AI you have now.

Regardless of what you do, you will change your mind again 20 times in the next month. Leave the 280AI alone! ;)
 
Rick,

As you know I have been begging D'Arcy for a LH Legend McMillan for an awful long time. I visited him in his shop in 2003 and at that time was able to handle and shoot RH Legend stocked rifles as well as a LH copy in Obeche laminate. I also got to handle the LH wood blank being prepared for the McMillan mould. When I first put that AI together it was a 30-06 with the same barrel contour and when it was time to stock it I called D'Arcy to enquire about the status of his LH Legend's. He told me to order something else as he wasn't sure if the lefties would become a reality. That is when I ordered the compact from Rick Bin.

D'Arcy's stock is what I originally wanted for this rifle. It fits me like a glove. I am the first one to admit that it's forend is not what a fwt barrel should go into. So is D'Arcy. But I can live with that. I hope. The 280 barreled action is going to stay together and I think the .270 will as well. My dilemma with is whether to go graphite or fiberglass for the .270. I have the option of both.

Chuck
 
Makes sense Chuck. What would I do then? Set up the first rifle exactly as you want, then I suspect the recipe for the second will become more clear. Luckily with all the parts in hand you don't need to finalize both right now.
 
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