Savage 280AI

[rudysts]

I thought I would share my new build with you folks it is a 280 Ackley built off a Savage 110 300 win mag that I bought at a local pawn shop for 275.00. first thing I did when I got home with it was strip it all the only thing I needed was the action and firing pin assembly. I had everything else pre ordered 2 months prior.

Barrel manufacturer: Xcaliber out of Montana 280AI pre fit with muzzle brake Remington Sendero contour.
PTG: Bolt body
Extreme Hardcore: Bolt handle
NSS: Barrel nut, Recoil lug
HS precision stock for center feed long action, Skim bedded
Rifle Basix 2 trigger
Vortex Viper 6.5-20-50
EGW 20 MOA base, the rear was bedded to the action with JB weld


3 shot 200 yard zero 1/2" group

5 shots @ 550 yards under 2 inches the orange pasty is 1 1/2 inches

She shoots real nice

my load is
57.5 gr. H4831
180 Berger
55K off the rifling
Nosler brass
2830 FPS

[Fl0und3rz]

Sweet looking rifle.  How's she shoot?

[Timberstalker]

Curious on the weight of this rig?

[rudysts]

I never weighed her but I think its around ten pounds. really fun to shoot the farthest I shot her was 1370 yards and she hits everything I aim at provided I make the correct wind call got my ballistic app dialed in for her over the weekend

[Reidus]

Awesome build! I'm doing a similar build with a 6x47Lapua. I'm curious to how the x-caliber barrel shoots. They seem like a good barrel for the price. I got one for my build, but it hasn't been chambered yet. How do you like the rifle basix trigger? Looks like you went with the Vortex rings. I believe they are made by seekins precision. Top notch quality!

[rudysts]

The rings are actually Seekins as for the trigger I think it is the closest thing to a Jewell trigger for a Savage it can get down pretty low safely I have it set to 2 pounds.

[Reidus]

The rings are actually Seekins as for the trigger I think it is the closest thing to a Jewell trigger for a Savage it can get down pretty low safely I have it set to 2 pounds.

With the stamped parts savage uses, i've found it difficult to get a safe low pull weight on a savage. I've tried timney, but I'm looking forward to trying the rifle basix.

Did you order the barrel pre-chambered from X-caliber or have someone else chamber it?

Thanks!

[rudysts]

You wont regret the Rifle Basix 2 I wouldn't recommend the basix 1. I ordered it pre chambered from excaliber they are great people to deal with. I am extremely happy with how this barrel shoots I made a guy at my local range shoot it this morning at a 100 yards and he shot a 5 shot one hole group with it. the funny thing is I never shot it at a 100 yards I do all my load development at 200 and 550 yards.

[rudysts]

Forgot to mention that I changed the bolt head from a magnum to a 308 bolt head.

[CaNINE]

Did you use a PTG bolt head?

Great looking rifle in my favorite chambering.  One of my hunting partners and I have built up several rifles based on Savage actions and pre-fit barrels from Shilen, McGowen, Brux and Benchmark.  They all are all shooters.   

[rudysts]

A friend of mine had a stock bolt head that was fairly new that he gave me I thought about changing it but with the way its shooting I don't see the need to.

[crabcreekhunter]

Awesome caliber, shot a .270 win for 20 years (27 years old now and will always have one in the safe!, and last year turned one into a .280 Ackley and absolutely love it.. Stretched it out to 800 this weekend, don't plan on shooting past 600 on an animal but it is fun to see what it can do at 1000+!

[rudysts]

Nice shooting, share some pics of your Ackley. it has quickly become one of my favorite cartridges I am just a sucker for the 7mm high BC bullets.

[Taco280AI]

Curious what it weighs. Good shooting

[rudysts]

Thanks, She is right at 10 pounds with out the bipod. most of it is barrel being 28 inches + 2 inch brake.
Taco are you in Ft. Carson or are you in JBLM

[Taco280AI]

I'm at Carson

[crabcreekhunter]

I already posted it somewhere but it's a 25" carbon wrapped bartlein pipe with seekins timed break, bedded in manners EH1 stock with a timney trigger, topped with a viper pst 6-24 x 50.. Since the picture changed the rings. Don't know why the picture of the target is sideways but shots are horizontally level. Going to throw a PTG one piece fluted bolt in.. As is just about ten pounds I believe.

[CAMPMEAT]

Never owned a 280AI but I might one day.

That's a good looking gun and it's a Savage too....

[rudysts]

Never owned a 280AI but I might one day.

That's a good looking gun and it's a Savage too....

Thanks

[rudysts]

crabcreekhunter that is a good looking rig I love that stock I almost went that route for mine but didn't want to wait. maybe my next build I will get a manners.

[Taco280AI]

Looks like I'm alone with the lightweight of the three at 7.5 scoped 

[rudysts]

Looks like I'm alone with the lightweight of the three at 7.5 scoped 

There are times I wish I was lugging a lighter rifle around but I just cant get away from the varmint contours or sendero

[crabcreekhunter]

crabcreekhunter that is a good looking rig I love that stock I almost went that route for mine but didn't want to wait. maybe my next build I will get a manners.

Thanks and so far I like the stalk, works very well for prone shooting and pretty good for sitting but a sporting stock definitely throws up better.  Still fine tuning everything just machined my 20 moa rail and dropped a few ounces. I don't mind a ten pound rifle with the break I'm able spot my shots pretty decent.  One thing I might change is the scope to a leupy 6 to 18 CDS not satisfied with the vortex

[rudysts]

crabcreekhunter that is a good looking rig I love that stock I almost went that route for mine but didn't want to wait. maybe my next build I will get a manners.

Thanks and so far I like the stalk, works very well for prone shooting and pretty good for sitting but a sporting stock definitely throws up better.  Still fine tuning everything just machined my 20 moa rail and dropped a few ounces. I don't mind a ten pound rifle with the break I'm able spot my shots pretty decent.  One thing I might change is the scope to a leupy 6 to 18 CDS not satisfied with the vortex

I had a PST FFP but hated how thick the reticle was it would always cover the pasty out at 550 yards so I switched it out gonna save up for a NF with a MOAR-T reticle. I'm not a big fan of CDS but that's just me. what bullet are you shooting out of your rig.

[crabcreekhunter]

I don't like the shims in the vortex system.. And had quality control issues straight from the box, warranty fixed it but can't completely trust the quality yet.  I like night force but not really necessary for the ranges I'll be hunting to.  The loads I run are 140 and 168 Bergers but most accurate is the 162 amaxs.  Running a 1:8.5 twist, what is yours to stabilize those 180s?

[rudysts]

I have a 1:9 twist, my barrel shoots the 180s the best VLD or Hybrid. I have a straight 280 Rem that shoot the 140 vld and 162 amax I think I'm going to rechamber  that to a 280AI. i'm gonna order my own reamer I have a friend who can chamber barrels for me. that 280 use to shoot really good till I had a brake put on. the smith who did it really screwed me on that deal the barrel came back 1 inch shorter and had six burrs on the crown and instead of a 5/8x24 thread it came back with a 1/2x28 I was pissed. that barrel use to put 1"groups @ 500 consistently with the 140s.

[crabcreekhunter]

Ouch doesn't sound like a good deal there at all... Good smiths are hard to come by and usually aren't cheap... I'd like to get to where I can do all my own work.  Just started working at an industrial machine/metal shop so have all the resources to use on weekends just have to get around to it.. Next build for me will be a long sporter contour .280AI waiting to see how my dads .270 build turns out first

[rudysts]

That would be the way to go.