I have always had a facination with the .280 Ross but have never managed to acquire one and as really nice ones are scarce and expensive I finally decided that I would have to build a modern version and after some reading decided that the .280 Remington Ackley Improved would be just the ticket. So after some thought and more reading it was decided that a new 7x64 barrel could be re-chambered to the .280 AI and as I had a mid 1960's BSA 1st Pattern Monarch on hand in 270 win that had a fairly worn barrel that had cost me the princely sum of Ł25 about 7 years ago this would be the basis for the new project.

The BSA CF2 barrels had a heavier profile at the breech more in keeping with that found on the Ross M-10 sporting rifle so one was obtained new in the white from John Knibbs and the tenon altered to match the profile of the Monarchs barrels tenon. Until that point I didn't realise that the actions and tenons of the barrels were different........................ whoops. It was not a major problem but it was a surprise none the less.

After some trials and tribulations in getting the tools and bits and bobs required together in one palce at the same time, the post office lost the Go Gauge and the Remington importers took 3 months to send a box of 20 rounds of .280 remington tot eh local gunshop and then it was found that thsi box of ammo was over 12 years old the replacement box is only 6 years old!, the barrel was duely re-chambered to 0.004" short on the Go gauge so that factory ammunition is a slight crush fit in the chamber ready to be fire formed to the improved case. This is how she looked before go to proof:-

And the first case out of the new chamber:-

It will probably be after Christmas now before I get it back all proofed and blued then we need to decide on whether to replace that sadly heavily sanded stock with a new one again from John Knibbs or carry on with this one

. The rifle will have a Lyman 57 SME receiver sight fitted and a Willaims matted ramp fore sight off a Parker-Hale will be up front. Optics will probably be a 6x42 scope and I am awaiting the arrival of a 6x42 Lisenfeld scope to see what it's like and if it's all good then that will be used. 100 pieces of new RP .280 brass will be arriving in the new year and initial work ups will be with the Hornady 139 GR BTSP, Sierra 150 Gr HP match and Remington 175 Gr Semi Spitzers. 4350, 4831 and Vhit N165 are suggested as good powders so we shall see what is available locally.

I doubt I'll ever get to hunt Africa but the rifle should be suitable for plains game with the right bullets...................... don't you think?

So wish me luck