Christmas came early!
 

Called Clay on Thursday and Santa showed up today!

Got my first Christensen Arms rifle today

https://i.imgur.com/ux8UOSd.jpg

Ridgeline 280ai with a 26" barrel and a 1-9 twist, and dual sling studs at the forend to mount a bipod.

https://i.imgur.com/oOVP0W3.jpg

Remington action with a 2 position safety

https://i.imgur.com/wHcAnSZ.jpg

Fluted bolt, bolt handle, and bolt shroud with an adjustable Timney trigger set to 2.5lbs (haven't weighed it but I'm told it's 2.5#) at the factory, and an oversized trigger guard to allow for gloves.

https://i.imgur.com/QTWZISs.jpg

Narrow stock and grip with a nice hinge plate.

https://i.imgur.com/mToupSJ.jpg

Limbsaver recoil pad

https://i.imgur.com/IOBcXLM.jpg

Titanium muzzle break

https://i.imgur.com/3RaQPxN.jpg

Fairly light at a hair over 8lbs with a scope

https://i.imgur.com/6OZ9yLR.png

First impressions so far, fit and finish are great with a very nice paint job. It's not shiny or slippery and they did a great job on the webbing. Bolt is nice and tight. Balances great, I think it will make for a nice freehand shooter.

Hopefully I have some time before Christmas to take it out and break in the barrel, from what I've read they are supposed to be a fairly accurate rifle. It comes with a thread protector but I think I'm going to leave the muzzle break on when I'm on the bench. (I shoot on my own land so I won't be blasting anyone's ear drums out).

Cant wait!!!

Looks good kurt. With a 1-9 twist i would try some 180gr Berger match hybrid target or Lapua scenar L 180's for long range target work.

Oh la la, mon cheri! That is sexy looking Kurt! Look forward to the range report. I'm not really a fan of muzzle breaks as they cost me an eardrum in my foolsih youth, but it sure looks good on there. Carbon fibre barrel...??

Congrats
 

That is a real beauty. Great looking rifle.

Ya, carbon fiber barrel.

It came with both a muzzle break and a thread protector. I alway use ear protection on the bench, and I make sure everyone around me has it on as well. Come hunting season, if I'm using this rifle it won't be wearing a muzzle break.

I have a pile of 162gr ELDX's to go through, I bought a bunch of them but my other 280 likes the 150gr LRAB's better. Barrel break in on this rifle is 50 rounds so I think I'm going to grab some cheap Speer's for break in.

A 280 with a muzzle break should be like shooting a 243 I imagine. I'm hoping I can turn this into a 1000yd pinker in the pit.

Kurt

Nice looking rifle. I was looking at the Christensen Mesa a while ago. Never seen one in person. Your pics are good, show lots of details.

Just curious why another 280ai? How will you use this differently then your 280 ai Nula ?

Why another 280ai???? Because it's the best cartridge ever developed that's why!!!

I got another 280ai for a few reasons. One reason is because of reloading costs, this way I already have brass, dies, and bullets. I can set one up with light bullets and one up with heavies if I want. If I'm sitting on a field where I'd be having potential long shots I'll use the Christensen, if I'm still hunting the woods I'll use the Nula.


I'd like to set this Christensen up as a long range plinker, maybe put a bipod on it. I've never had a rifle with a bipod before.

Good choice on the rifle! I had a Carbon Classic in 7mm Rem mag. It would print cloverleaf groups at 200 yards all day long. Regret selling it...

Beautiful gun, nice Christmas present.

Usually not a fan of the seagull poop design but this one looks different.....very nice!

Ya, if nothing else it sure is a looker! I did a lot of reading on the new Christensen rifles and by all accounts they seem to be capable of 1/2" moa. I do think it is one of the nicest looking synthetic rifles on the market too.

It's got some "hunter friendly" features I like, like the oversized trigger guard, double sling studs on the forend and thread protector that make it seem like it'll make a good hunting rig as well as a novice bench gun.

Very nice rifle in an excellent caliber and cartridge.It's not hard on the eyes that's for darn sure,very good choice.

MAERY XMAS

Sexy rig for sure...hope it is a shooter!
ps-wrong hand though:)

Nice. Let us know how it shoots. I’ve always wondered about the carbon wrapped barrels.

Rifle
 

Very nice rifle. I would like to find a Mesa in 6.5 Creedmore.

Ain’t cheap I bet but it’s a beautiful piece of equipment.. What’s the cost in US funds?

Whatever $3k Canadian works out to, sans scope.

Very nice gun. I am actually considering selling my model 52 Cooper 280AI to try a Ridgeline. Please let us know how it shoots with load info.

Stellar looking rig Kurt!! :sHa_shakeshout:

Rifle
 

Please let us know how it shoots. Did you have to custom order it, or does Clay stock these now. I think it is one of the better looking rifles out there now.

Nothing beats "new gun" day, that's for sure! :) Congrats! Not a make, or a caliber I know much about..but it's a fine looking specimen! I guess you were in Santa's good books!

Nice rifles i was looking for one but hate the look of stainless action and black barrel couldn’t find one all black

Thanks Mark.


I had a hard time selling my model 52 280 but they are a bit on the heavy side. I had a couple Weatherby Accumarks I sold to buy my Cooper. I sold my Cooper to buy a Sako Finnlite 260. Then I bought a Kimber Montana. I sold my Sako(s) to buy my first Nula. Then I sold my Kimber to put the down payment on my second Nula. Oh ya, and I had a Forbes model 24b I sold because I have 2 Nula's.

There's a definite pattern there. I really like the accuracy of the Weatherby's and the Cooper, but I do a lot of walking while I'm hunting so I wanted something light and accurate. Ideally I like something that will shoot 1/2" moa or better. The Kimber and Sako's were about 1 moa and the Kimber was about 3/4 moa, the Forbes was a 1/2" moa shooter.

I'll definitely keep you posted on the progress of this Ridgeline, I'm hoping it'll be a keeper.

This was the last one Clay had but he has more on order from what I understand. He said that the guys who've bought them have been happy.

I’ve had one for about 8 years now. It’s one of the only rifles I will never part with. Congrats hopefully yours shoots as good mine does.

Nice looking rig. Be interesting to see if it will shoot as well as your NULAs. The extra weight and the muzzle break will be nice for shooting off a pack or prone. Have to update us once you do some shooting with it.

I will keep the updates on this rifle coming.

One thing I noticed when I took it apart is that it has an adjustable triggertech trigger, not a Timney as I originally thought.

I called Christensen to get the correct torque on the action screws, 65 in/lbs both front and back.

https://i.imgur.com/LBSUK2s.jpg

If this was the one they had in stock then they made a typo. On prophet rivers website they listed it at 24” barrel which I thought was weird. Looking forward to your load development to see if I should sell my Cooper. What bullet powder combo are you planning to use?

It might be, I was just going off of the spec I read online on another site when I was researching the rifles, I also thought it had a Timney trigger. I haven't measured it but I can tell it's longer than my other rifles, could be the muzzle break.

Be interesting to know. Was the one reason I didn’t call about it. I want a 26” on my next 280AI. Christensen site says they are 26”. I wouldn’t think that would include the brake.

Sweet set up you have there!