There are a few more 280AI factory rifles on the market now with faster twists: https://www.browning.com/products/f...ndDesc=X-Bolt&caliberDesc=280 ACKLEY IMPROVED - hopefully more will come over time.
I definitely see your point regarding cost, especially if you prefer a 3 position safety. It's unfortunate that the older cartridges aren't seeing improvements over time to twist on factory rifles, based on bullet modernization. Weatherby and Savage seem to just love to settle on a twist rate and ride it into the dust. I can't remember if it's Kimber or Savage, but one of them is running a 1:9.5" twist - wtf.
I just browsed some old threads here at the hide, and in 2012, people were suggesting 1:9" for 280AI, with a few discussing 1:8.5". Times change, I just wish the major manufacturers would keep up with them. It's clear the market has shifted to heavy-for-caliber bullets, and for whatever reason the manufacturers are just burying their heads in the sand. It shouldn't take a new cartridge to influence changes in twist rates, as we've all seen, faster twists (shy of blowing up bullets) are relatively fine with the lighter bullets.
You wouldn't want a 1:7" on a 28 Nosler shooting 120gr bullets, but a 1:8.5 or even 1:8 would be pretty safe on a factory 280AI for just about any ammunition you'd ever buy on the shelf (assuming there was ammo on shelves).
