Posted by Les Fraser on
URL: http://oldforum.flyshooter.com.au/setting-up-loads-for-rifles-whats-your-story-tp5707370p5707374.html

Oh well looks like i will have to get the debate started.

I guess from the outset you are contemplating a neck size for your new barrel and potentially new rifle.

I recently shot a 280AI that used to belong to the late Ian Davis the rifle was in pieces without a trigger stock was an offset unit but needed some work.

I had the rifle bedded by Russel Lamaitre who did a great job and equally to the task the finnishing touches was a very very good paint job by the Gun Pimp Paul Deehan who also has done some reall head turning work on other rifles.

the chamber and neck was already done and a post it note gave the neck diameter etc.

The Neck was 312 and i could only get Nosler custom brass for the 280 after trying to get hold of some rws or lapua.

so i measured the bullet diameter and then set about case prep to match the chamber.

This process meant after i prepped the case by expanding the case neck then trimming to uniform size then tested concentricity.

The bushing i decided on was 308 that gave a nice ballance when the projectile was put in the case to finish at 310 two thou off the maximum of the chamber neck. Some folks like more room that this but i like to run the neck close as i don't have the projectiles into the lands i have the majority of my rifles 3-5 thou off.

There are threads for case prep if you want to go back and source it.

Now for the load.

Primer selection is also a choice , CCI, Federal etc etc i have had most success with the CCI primers they are reasonably hard in the cup and can take reasonable pressure loads.

As for powder i looked in the Recent ADI released book and check pressure readings in their test barrels  and 2217 showed good speed with reduced pressure when compared to others like 2213sc. So i looked at a nice custom action and thought well 9.5 twist barrel Nesika action should reasonably handle a reasonably stiff load at the bottom end of higher pressure so 58 1/2 grns was the choice.

Not having fired the rifle before i was a little hesitant to fire that first shot without hanging on for dear life but infact the rifle although weights only 16lbs it was ok to shoot. It certainly is not a free recoil rifle unless you would like a march or nightforce eyebrow.

The rifle produced about a 43 mm group to take the smallest group for the day and showed real potential as a shooter.

With Bullet prep pointing, measuring batching i am sure i can half this group MPI.

hope this gets things moving.