280AI & 160gr Partitions issues

[Nhoro]

@shootist~
More than welcome.
Some don't believe it works but it can work wonders.
A person I knew bought a factory rifle with slight upward pressure in the forend and removed it. The rifle then went from a good shooter to a shotgun pattern. He had to replace the pressure pad.
Bob

I bought a cheap 22 THAT shot group around 1" with open sights. I refinished the stock and free floated the barrel and with a scope, I had2 or 3" groups. I have bedded the action and now have got back to around 1" groups with a scope. I have been thinking about foreend pressure- this has decided me. Maybe I will need to bed the barrel full length and stiffen up the forend- it is a bit flexible right now.

 

[txtrout75218]

My daughter with 7-08 with a Barnes 140 grain TSX. Punched through a shoulder, bone, heart, lung rib and dropped him with one shot. So not a nice side behind the shoulder shot for whitetail.

While only 100 yards , a zebra is not a small critter that is known for being tough to bring down.

The TSX or TTSX would be my choice for the 280ai if wanting a one and done bullet. With the addition velocity, I wouldn't hesitate to go 400 yards on a bull elk, or a large antelope.

 

[txtrout75218]

Forgot to mention that in the 284 Cal, the 156 grain Norma Oryx is a great bullet, is normally accurate and not too hard to find.
.

 

[DTW]

I would say swift sirocco or accubond and of course never rule out the A-frame. I like bonded bullets over all coppers but both are Africa ready. I have had several guns over the years that did not like partitions, I still do not know why but some don't.
If it matters, I am a 280AI guy planning a trip to africa and it is all that is needed for plains game. Swift A-Frame would be my first choice in 175gn if you can get what your looking for if not the 160 A-frame and or sirocco and accubond. Just my humble thoughts.

 

[sgt_zim]

Forgot to mention that in the 284 Cal, the 156 grain Norma Oryx is a great bullet, is normally accurate and not too hard to find.
.

Oryx is a great bullet, but you have to really lean into them to get much range out of them. Their 156 and 170 gr .284 bullets have a BC around .33 or .34

I'm getting about 2950 fps out of 156 gr Oryx in my 280 AI.

2900 fps will get you to around 400 yards and still be >2k fps and >1500 fpe. A long shot in the bushveld for sure, but might be a little lacking in the Karoo.

 

[dchum]

Oryx is a great bullet, but you have to really lean into them to get much range out of them. Their 156 and 170 gr .284 bullets have a BC around .33 or .34

I'm getting about 2950 fps out of 156 gr Oryx in my 280 AI.

2900 fps will get you to around 400 yards and still be >2k fps and >1500 fpe. A long shot in the bushveld for sure, but might be a little lacking in the Karoo.

In my opinion I would not recommend the oryx bullet for Nilgai, I guess it would be good in a .375 or 9.3 but too soft from what I have seen. Most guides really want an exit wound on a Nilgai. Oryx just aren’t doing that in a 280AI


BC does not really matter to me when shooting inside 400 yards. And that’s plenty far! The BC is not what worries me about the oryx to say the least.

Your results might be different than what I have seen.

 

[sgt_zim]

In my opinion I would not recommend the oryx bullet for Nilgai, I guess it would be good in a .375 or 9.3 but too soft from what I have seen. Most guides really want an exit wound on a Nilgai. Oryx just aren’t doing that in a 280AI


BC does not really matter to me when shooting inside 400 yards. And that’s plenty far! The BC is not what worries me about the oryx to say the least.

Your results might be different than what I have seen.

As I said earlier in this thread, I wouldn't bring my 280AI for Nilgai. If S texas had trackers of the caliber common in Africa, no probs.

 

[Twraska]

As I said earlier in this thread, I wouldn't bring my 280AI for Nilgai. If S texas had trackers of the caliber common in Africa, no probs.

My daughter is 5’ tall standing in really thick socks! The Weatherby Camilla in 280AI is the biggest, baddest, meanest cartridge we could get in a light (on the front) and small, (short) gun for her to shoot comfortably. Otherwise, we would have done like we did for my daughter in law. She was able to handle a lightweight 300WBY with a custom 12 1/2”stock. She’s a little taller, her main concern was the forearm stock needed to be thinner for her fingers to grip comfortably.

 

[sgt_zim]

My daughter is 5’ tall standing in really thick socks! The Weatherby Camilla in 280AI is the biggest, baddest, meanest cartridge we could get in a light (on the front) and small, (short) gun for her to shoot comfortably. Otherwise, we would have done like we did for my daughter in law. She was able to handle a lightweight 300WBY with a custom 12 1/2”stock. She’s a little taller, her main concern was the forearm stock needed to be thinner for her fingers to grip comfortably.

I love my 280ai.

If my wife wanted to hunt nilgai in S Texas, a 270 gr pill out of her 375h&h at 2300 fps is what I'd have her bring.

A mild 33, 9.3mm, or 375 is better than a 7mm of any stripe given the circumstances. Ymmv

I'd bring a 338 federal before I'd bring my 280

 

[dchum]

I love my 280ai.

If my wife wanted to hunt nilgai in S Texas, a 270 gr pill out of her 375h&h at 2300 fps is what I'd have her bring.

A mild 33, 9.3mm, or 375 is better than a 7mm of any stripe given the circumstances. Ymmv

I'd bring a 338 federal before I'd bring my 280

Have you been on a Nilgai hunt? They are not a buffalo.

A 7mm is fine for his young daughter.

 

[Twraska]

Have you been on a Nilgai hunt? They are not a buffalo.

A 7mm is fine for his young daughter.

Actually,,,,, she’s not that young,, she’s 35,,,,,, Just took after her petite mother!! LOL

 

[cash_tx]

I never knew that Weatherby made the Camilla in 280AI, was that factory or a rechamber? I almost bought a Camilla for my daughter in 6.5 Creedmoor a few years back, but then found a deal on an M98-based sporter. The Camilla seemed like a great rifle.

 

[Twraska]

I never knew that Weatherby made the Camilla in 280AI, was that factory or a rechamber? I almost bought a Camilla for my daughter in 6.5 Creedmoor a few years back, but then found a deal on an M98-based sporter. The Camilla seemed like a great rifle.

Factory offer currently.

 

[sgt_zim]

Have you been on a Nilgai hunt? They are not a buffalo.

A 7mm is fine for his young daughter.

I'd agree with you except for 1 thing: this is south Texas, not Africa. Nilgai is no tougher than BWB. But in Africa, we have trackers that I'd swear are voodoo witch doctors. We don't have that luxury in Texas.