Christensen Arms Ridgeline .280 AI

[ECVMatt]

I have hunted mule deer in the mountains for the last 30 years with my Winchester Model 70 in .30/06 and love the rifle. It shoots great and I am 100% with it having always gotten a deer and always with the first round.

However I am thinking about a getting a new rifle for mountain hunting and I actually feel like I am cheating on my wife.

I have been looking at the Christensen Arms Ridgeline in .280 AI. I am also looking at the 6.5 Creedmore, kind of maybe....

Playing with a new cartridge gives me the exigence to purchase the new rifle as I don't currently have a 280 Rem in the stable to convert. I only like accurate rifles and this one seems to have some nice features for mountain hunting and accuracy.

I was just wondering if anyone here has some experience with either the rifle or the cartridge? I am not sure if I can cheat on my Winchester, but might be tempted with this rifle/cartridge.

Thanks for any info in advance,

Matt

 

[troy fairweather]

all i can say is the 280ai old or new is a fantastic cartridge for hunting and mid to long range. id take it over the 6.5 cm hype any day . good rifle to.

 

[Bushpilot]

I'd pick the 280AI.... twice...

 

[LoonWulf]

A friend of mine has the Ridgeline in .300WM. The rifle itself is fantastically well put together, I looked that gun over pretty closely and couldnt find a flaw.
He said he has issues with walking if he fires more than a 3 shot group, but those three shots are right around 1/2" at 100yds. I shot a group under 1" with the first three shots i took from his gun. The 4th and final still hit a shotgun shell on the berm at 100 and change.
The radial muzzle brake is very effective. His .300 (with the heavy nightforce scope) felt about the same as my braked 11lb 7mm in terms of pressure, but the gun did move more. It also blasted everything up off the ground around the muzzle so be aware of that. It comes with a thread protector tho i didnt put it on to see how close the poi was....oh and you REALLY dont want to be next to that thing when it goes off. We both shot at a sheep standing about 5ft apart, and the concussion from his rifle reminded me to back the heck up. The sheep escaped with a flesh wound from his first shot.
You can also get a side/top venting brake which id honestly suggest, just to keep from blowing crap into the air.

The one thing i didnt like is the stock, its very slim So much so that i basically didnt bother to hold it with my shooting hand. I just held the back bag, put the 2 fingers of my right hand against the bottom of the pistol grip (after the first shot which i felt the gun torque on, even with the bipod) and pinched the trigger and trigger guard.
This is personal preference and do to the sizing of my hands. MOST rifles feel a little small, ruger 77s especially.

cartridge wise, I third the .280AI.

The 6.5CMs a good round no doubt, but it lacks the panache of the .280AI. The Ridgeline long action is a full length action, so youve got plenty of room to load out the long and pointys, tho the 1-9 twist may not make best use of the 175+ VLDs.
Also even without the brake installed, I dont think recoil from the .280 would be punishing. The Ridgeline isnt a horribly light rifle, otd weight should be in the 7.5-8lb range. My buddies weights 9ish lbs with the scope, heavy rings, and bipod hes using.

 

[Coal Dragger]

No experience with the rifle, but I own a Cooper M52 in .280 AI and have found it to be an easy cartridge to get along with for reloading. The Nosler factory loaded ammo is also very good through my rifle, the 140gr Accubond will usually give a three shot group of .5-.75” at 100 yards from the bench. My hand loads have done a bit better, but not so much that I wouldn’t be comfortable running factory ammo.

My favorite is the Barnes 140gr TTSX over IMR 4831, good accuracy and excellent performance on game. Even gave good expansion on an antelope, as well as complete penetration.

Loads with the 160gr Accubond have given me the best accuracy I’ve ever achieved with a centerfire rifle. Will need to try those out soon on game.

 

[sage5907]

I'm a mule deer hunter and I share your experience with a 30-06. I also share your enthusiasm about trying a 280 AI. On the other hand, I have always been a little skeptical about improved cartridges. I once owned a 25-06 improved and I found that a standard 25-06 was just as good. I once owned a 270 Weatherby and I found that a 270 Winchester was just as good. I did some checking by looking at the Nosler Accubond balistics and with a 140 grain bullet in a standard 280 and I found that 55 grains of Reloader 19 gave a velocity of about 3000 fps. It took 6 more grains of Reloader 19 in a 280 AI to increase the velocity by 100 fps. My loading experience says that the extra 100 fps will really be hard on cases. On the other hand, if you pay that kind of money for a rifle you're not going to care about case life!

That long range shooting will really get into your blood. I was at a friends house this past week and he was experimenting with a 300 Norma case necked down to 27 caliber and using a 170 grain bullet with a very high BC. He had just got back from New Zealand and taken a red stag at over 650 yards with a 6.5 SAUM and now wants something a little more powerful. It went down on the first shot but then got up to walk away and he had to shoot it again. I like the idea of the 280 AI better than either of these choices.

 

[ECVMatt]

Thanks for all the replies. I think it is time to slow down and sip my coffee a bit...I really love my current mule deer rifle and see no urgent need to change it up right now. I am really interested in the 280 AI and should probable spend more time looking a the different platforms to launch it from. I would like to end up with a rifle that is about 9-10 pounds in total weight. I am used to this weight and shoot well from field positions with it. I am not so good at the super light weights when hunting. Time for some more lucubration on the subject.

 

[sage5907]

I have one more point about that Christensen rifle. I noticed that it has a 1:9 twist with a 26 inch barrel. According to my Berger manual the 1:9 twist is best for bullets that weigh 160 grains and more. They recommend a 1:10 twist for a 140 grain bullet. Also, I once had a long range rifle with a 26 inch barrel and it was like carrying around a broom handle. I have a pre 64 Model 70 Winchester with a 24 inch featherweight contour barrel and the rifle with 3 to 9 variable scope and sling weighs 8 pounds ten ounces. I'm beginning to wish it was a 280 AI. Keep us posted on your progress and if your wife is like mine she won't care if you buy another rifle.

 

[troy fairweather]

Thanks for all the replies. I think it is time to slow down and sip my coffee a bit...I really love my current mule deer rifle and see no urgent need to change it up right now. I am really interested in the 280 AI and should probable spend more time looking a the different platforms to launch it from. I like to end up with a rifle that is about 9-10 pounds in total weight. I am used to this weight and shoot well from field positions with it. I am not so good at the super light weights when hunting. Time for some more lucubration on the subject.

the kimber is high on my list they are very nice and made down the road from me.

 

[LoonWulf]

I have one more point about that Christensen rifle. I noticed that it has a 1:9 twist with a 26 inch barrel. According to my Berger manual the 1:9 twist is best for bullets that weigh 160 grains and more. They recommend a 1:10 twist for a 140 grain bullet. Also, I once had a long range rifle with a 26 inch barrel and it was like carrying around a broom handle. I have a pre 64 Model 70 Winchester with a 24 inch featherweight contour barrel and the rifle with 3 to 9 variable scope and sling weighs 8 pounds ten ounces. I'm beginning to wish it was a 280 AI. Keep us posted on your progress and if your wife is like mine she won't care if you buy another rifle.

The 1-10 is probably "ideal" for the 140s, but won't properly stabilize a long pointy 160. If all your gonna shoot are the 140s or lighter the 1-10s probably a good option. The 1-9 will be more versatile, but still won't properly stabilize the really long, pointy.
I'd still take the 1-9 just for the extra weight option.

I believe the 26" also includes the brake. Removed it's around 24.

the kimber is high on my list they are very nice and made down the road from me.

Kimber is way up my list as well, tho I'm seriously considering having a .280AI barrel made for my b-14.

 

[troy fairweather]

The 1-10 is probably "ideal" for the 140s, but won't properly stabilize a long pointy 160. If all your gonna shoot are the 140s or lighter the 1-10s probably a good option. The 1-9 will be more versatile, but still won't properly stabilize the really long, pointy.
I'd still take the 1-9 just for the extra weight option.

I believe the 26" also includes the brake. Removed it's around 24.


Kimber is way up my list as well, tho I'm seriously considering having a .280AI barrel made for my b-14.

if i ever rebarre my 1909 arge it maybe a 280ai but may have t do mag work. but normal 280 and 7x57 are very hard to beet. same with my ruger 77 in 7x57. tho all the 7s are good lol. that would be cool a b14 in 280ai

 

[ECVMatt]

And then I find this:

https://bergarausa.com/bergara_b-14_series_ridge_rifle.php

I am tempted to go with a 270 and just call it good...If it was in 280AI my money would already be spent. I have not played with the Bergaras yet, but hear good things about them.

And yes Sage....I married a Kansas girl so she understands my gun problem....

 

[LoonWulf]

And then I find this:

https://bergarausa.com/bergara_b-14_series_ridge_rifle.php

I am tempted to go with a 270 and just call it good...If it was in 280AI my money would already be spent. I have not played with the Bergaras yet, but hear good things about them.

And yes Sage....I married a Kansas girl so she understands my gun problem....

I looked at that variant of the B-14, and if you want a threaded barrel it's a good choice. Otherwise the standard Hunter is cheaper and offers pretty much the same options.
I have a b-14 in a B&C stock with a Magpul dm. It's been a favorite "loaner" so much so it's killed a bunch of stuff and I've never carried it.

 

[LoonWulf]

https://bergarausa.com/bergara_premier_series_stalker_rifle.php

Looks like premier series (their custom line) can be had in .280AI

Not cheap tho....ya know I might start saving for the Mountain in .280AI rather than spending money rebarreling my current rifle.