Mountain Rifle - Win M70 - 280AI - Proof Research

Status
Not open for further replies.
Yeah, $1,900 is more than I've ever spent on a rifle. The most before that was my M1 Garand at $1,000. But I'm of the mind quality over quantity. I don't want a bunch of guns just sitting there in my safe, I would rather spend the money on a few great rifles or pistols than have 20 Walmart Black Friday rifles. Nothing against those either, I was at that point in my life when I wasn't making much money and I have always been content with rifles that match what my disposable income allows for.
That’s where I’m at. Having fifty rifles just to have fifty rifles seemed pointless. Personally, I’d rather have a few that shoot sub .5’s and have really, really nice scopes. After all, what can you do with another mid size rifle that you can’t do with the one your building?

FWIW....my equivalent to what you are building is my X-Bolt in 7 Mag. Shoots flat, hits hard. CRF. Three round groups of sub .5’s. There won’t be a lick of difference between yours and mine performance wise. Mine has a VX-6 2-12 with Firedot. You might consider their 3-18.
 
Last edited:
That’s where I’m at. Having fifty rifles just to have fifty rifles seemed pointless. Personally, I’d rather have a few that shoot sub .5’s and have really, really nice scopes. After all, what can you do with another mid size rifle that you can’t do with the one your building?

FWIW....my equivalent to what you are building is my X-Bolt in 7 Mag. Shoots flat, hits hard. CRF. Three round groups of sub .5’s. There won’t be a lick of difference between yours and mine performance wise. Mine has a VX-6 2-12 with Firedot. You might consider their 3-18.

Can't go wrong with 7RM, it will serve you well no doubt and Browning makes great rifles from what I've seen.

Funny you mention your scope, I was just looking at the VX6 3-18. That hits on all my desires for the scope, the price of admission is high, but it definitely fits what I'm looking for. What did you pay for yours if you don't mind me asking? It looks like they are around $1,500 -1,800 depending on store and model. Also, what reticle did you go with?
 
Mine is the 2-12 so price would be less. IIRC mine was about $800. I asked Mr Google about prices over about a month timeframe and stumbled across some obscure place in maybe Georgia, Alabama maybe. I have no idea now. You obviously have to be concerned about Chinese knock offs.

They were about $200 cheaper than anyplace else. It’s absolutely excellent.

FWIW....back years before that I had gotten a scope for my then deer rifle. I compared the VX-3 to an equivalent Swarovski. I had fully expected the Swaro to be better, but the Leupold was absolutely equal in clarity. Dunno if it’s still true, but if at all possible I’d look thru them side by side.
 
Might have been a 51/49 split... either way, had Winchester chambered the EW/SS in .280 Rem.


The .270 WCF/ 150 gr., for me, is an elegant compromise.

.308 Win/ 150 gr. recoil, .300 H&H/ 180 gr. MV, SD, BC, and trajectory.

And 18 lb-ft of recoil, with a pad, is about at the upper limit of my unaffected shoot-all-day envelope.


Would have probably gone w/ the .280 Rem/ 160 gr., and then opened it up to AI at some point down the road.

...or not.

51/49 split either way.




GR
 
Last edited:
Of the AIs, or standard 06 based rounds in general, I THINK the .280 ends up with the most capacity. Its not a huge advantage, but its there.
I also really like the balance the heavier 7mm bullets deliver in terms of recoil, bc, and penetration. I really should start a .284 collection, Ive already got the .280AI and 7mmRM, just need the smaller ones and to build another STW or something similar (if no ones noticed, i dont like the ultramag cases).
 
When I was playing around with the 6.5 PRC I figured that the ballistics are very similar to the .280 AI, so much so that if you have one, it's not worth getting the other. I think the .280 AI was slightly better in my comparison but it was very close. I was converting a 300 WSM to 6.5 PRC and telling myself that I didn't need the .280 AI anymore. I was doing that because I much prefer the Kimber 8400 actions over the 84s. :D It seems that I can convince myself of almost anything.
 
When I was playing around with the 6.5 PRC I figured that the ballistics are very similar to the .280 AI, so much so that if you have one, it's not worth getting the other. I think the .280 AI was slightly better in my comparison but it was very close. I was converting a 300 WSM to 6.5 PRC and telling myself that I didn't need the .280 AI anymore. I was doing that because I much prefer the Kimber 8400 actions over the 84s. :D I can convince myself of almost anything.
Picking the rifle type you want is a GREAT justification for a new cartridge. I get hung up on needing short actions to use short action cartridges, even if it means going to magnum bolt heads or single stack mags. I also can't stand the idea of a short cartridge like 221 fireball in anything but a mini action or a single shot. Life is too short to not get what you want in a rifle if you can afford it.
 
Picking the rifle type you want is a GREAT justification for a new cartridge.
<*
Yep. I have two bolts, five barrels and two stocks for that particular 8400 WSM action. Now that the .308 Win project is moving ahead, basically a short action version of the rifle @<*(((>< is building, I think I've ruled out one of the possibilities.

@<*(((>< , I spoke with Proof today and my barrel will be ready in a few weeks. I'll be selling off a new Kimber barrel, Hunter stock, magazine, action screws and trigger since I don't need any of those parts. That'll offset some of the cost incurred.
 
Of the AIs, or standard 06 based rounds in general, I THINK the .280 ends up with the most capacity. Its not a huge advantage, but its there.
I also really like the balance the heavier 7mm bullets deliver in terms of recoil, bc, and penetration. I really should start a .284 collection, Ive already got the .280AI and 7mmRM, just need the smaller ones and to build another STW or something similar (if no ones noticed, i dont like the ultramag cases).
Ya think your right on the 280ai holding more. I definitely does it you measure from the bottom of the neck. I would like to expand my 7mm collection. 7x57 7x57Ai 7wsm dad has the 280ai. Plus the 280ai and 7stw reamers. I have considered rebarreling my marlin to 7-30 waters.
 
<*
Yep. I have two bolts, five barrels and two stocks for that particular 8400 WSM action. Now that the .308 Win project is moving ahead, basically a short action version of the rifle @<*(((>< is building, I think I've ruled out one of the possibilities.

@<*(((>< , I spoke with Proof today and my barrel will be ready in a few weeks. I'll be selling off a new Kimber barrel, Hunter stock, magazine, action screws and trigger since I don't need any of those parts. That'll offset some of the cost incurred.
What cal was the hunter.
 
When I was playing around with the 6.5 PRC I figured that the ballistics are very similar to the .280 AI, so much so that if you have one, it's not worth getting the other. I think the .280 AI was slightly better in my comparison but it was very close. I was converting a 300 WSM to 6.5 PRC and telling myself that I didn't need the .280 AI anymore. I was doing that because I much prefer the Kimber 8400 actions over the 84s. :D It seems that I can convince myself of almost anything.
SO again from my experience with both the .280AI and the 6.5PRC, I was getting nearly identical exterior ballistics, with nearly identical powder charges between the two. Only real difference is the .280AI was launching a 20gr or so heavier bullet. My 6.5-284 burns a few grains less powder to get to just a little less than the 6.5PRC maxed out at.
The Christensen and the M18 ended up weighing about 1/2lb different, and the recoil from the slightly heavier .280 didnt seem any worse than the 6.5prc.
My 6.5-284s about 1/2 lb heavier than the Christensen, but has a different stock design, and seems to kick more than both....go figure.
 
The action on the m18 is surprisingly beefy for a tube type action. The rear bridge is about 1 inch longer then it needs to be, and the steel is quite think. I think with the Burris it weighs about 8.5 but that's with a old junk spring type fish scale.

My marlin is a 35 so I'd have to get a bolt, think that's why I sold the 3030 to keep my self from spending money lol.
 
It IS a bit of a tank, tho it still weights surprisingly little....also carries 5 magnum rounds with one in the chamber without being overly chubby......I may still get one in 7mm mag.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top