280 Ackley

[todbartell]

Defiance Rebel action
Benchmark 3 contour 1:8 twist @ 22.5", cerakoted Burnt Bronze
McMillan Hunters Edge, black w/ grey speckle. 1/2" Pachmayr Decelerator pad
Pacific Tool floorplate
Timney Calvin Elite trigger set at 2.5lbs

Bare rifle is 6lbs 10oz, with the Leupold Vx3i 4.5-14x40 LR in Talleys, 7lbs 13oz

Barrel install, cerakote and bedding done by Terry at Black Art Rifle Co

I have lots of Berger 168gr Classic Hunters with the hybrid ogive, will try some over RL26, Magpro, RL22, RL19, RL23 and H4831sc and see what happens. Will post my results

 

[Buckmastr]

Nice build!
24" was too long?

 

[todbartell]

I already have a 26" 7saum so wanted something a bit more compact on this one. Most of my rifles have 23" barrels because I could never make my mind up between 22 and 24

I suspect 22.5" won't disappoint, I had a 22.5" 280 Rem a couple years ago and it was fast

 

[mikeelliot]

TB you have quite a fine collection of hunting rifles

Fine looking build!

 

[Suther]

That's a nice looking rifle!

I've always liked the 280, gotta add one to my locker one of these days...

 

[Rembo]

That's really nice. Great build. Nice weight and barrel length. Look forward to the results.

On barrel length, I put a 24" 280AI together for my oldest son a few years ago.
After the first season we cut it to 22" and only lost about 30-40 fps from his 145 LRX/Rel 22 load.
My own 280AI is 23".

We aren't fans of long tubes on carrying rifles.

'bartell's looks just right...except for the location of the crank that is.....

 

[hoytcanon]

Well thought out build... I like the barrel length for the .280 AI... and the stock is a sweet one... but, not sold on that bronze finish... it's a little grating... that won't affect the function... and it will be VERY functional.

 

[chuck nelson]

Keep me in mind when you sell.

 

[todbartell]

Keep me in mind when you sell.

hah! This, and its clone in 338-06, are my keepers

 

[savagelh]

That rifle and it's brother would be very well cared for by me if you were to ever fall ill. Seriously though 2 very nice builds in 2 calibers that I think would be all you need in a hunting arsenal in Canada. I've been considering a 338 06 build myself.

 

[beeman2]

Very nice gun. I shoot the 168 classic hunters out of my Cooper 280AI. Only tried H4831SC. Runs ok out of a 24” barrel at 2880 fps. Might gain a little more speed with R26 but mine shoots good so why change. Keep us posted as to how it shoots.

 

[RangerPark]

Beautiful build. Terry is an awesome gunsmith, will get him to put together my next project.

 

[Suther]

That rifle and it's brother would be very well cared for by me if you were to ever fall ill. Seriously though 2 very nice builds in 2 calibers that I think would be all you need in a hunting arsenal in Canada. I've been considering a 338 06 build myself.

The 284cal and 338cal, both built on the 3006 case seem like the prefect two-gun hunting combo. I know I want one of each. Might need to ditch the 270 if I get a 280 though...

 

[kman300]

Terry built me a straight 280 rem almost identical to that. I run the 162 eldx at 2920fps with Norma brass and IMR 7977.

 

[mudgunner49]

Goodness but that's nice...

 

[shortaction]

Nice rig, looking forward to the range report!

 

[pete dobinson]

Very nice build TB. If the bolt was on the other side I would be happy to do all my hunting with it. I like the bronze finish, it goes nicely with the leupold scope.

 

[todbartell]

Got to put the first rounds through it today. Started out with some factory 140gr Accubonds, got it on paper and roughly sighted in at 102y. Fired a 3 shot group 0.82moa, avg speed was 3004 fps with an extreme spread on six shots of 120 fps! Eeek

On to handloads. I have a good pile of Berger 168gr Classic Hunters and no real desire to hunt big game with them, so I thought I'd start with this bullet to find a good shooting load that will do the job nicely on a coyote or wolf this winter. I seated them .015" off the lands (3.288" OAL) and loaded up five rounds of each type of powder. Nothing too hot just some mid range loads to get on paper with and warm the barrel up

102 yards, -1C

H4831sc 56.8grs ~ 2641 fps, 1.13moa 5 shot group, 4/5 shots in 0.62moa
Accurate Magpro 60.5grs ~ 2632 fps, 0.99moa 5 shot, 4/5 shots in 0.62moa
RL19 55.5grs ~ 2706 fps, 1.12 moa 5 shot group, 4.5 in 0.8moa
RL22 57.6grs ~ 2749 fps, 1.11moa 5 shot, 4/5 in 0.87moa
RL23 57.1grs ~ 2825 fps, 1.17moa 5 shot, 4/5 shots in 0.85moa
RL26 59.0grs ~ 2808 fps, 1.13moa 5 shot, 4/5 in 0.69moa

Going to tweak the RL loads and retest. Nice shooting rifle!

 

[beeman2]

That's a good start. Shouldn't take to much tweaking to tighten up those groups. Speeds are not to bad either. 58.5 gr of H4831SC and a 168 Berger Classic Hunter out of my 24" Copper gives 2880 fps. You say that you are not going to hunt with the 168 Berger. What bullet do you plan to use?

 

[big cal]

hi boys me my baby is a 35 whelen (35-06) caliber