280 AI load data.

[FOGGER]

Anyone have any good starting points for this? I would like to shoot in the 160s grains. Leaning towards the 168 vld if I can find them.

[muledeerarea33?]

Lance is your guy!! He will come along shortly.

[azcouesandelk]

I run 60.5 grains RL22 with 160 grain accubonds and get well under MOA out to 800. That is a max load and am getting 3080 god at the muzzle.

[lancetkenyon]

I am running the 175 Berger Elite Hunters for my final hunting load. It darn near matches my 7RM. They are a max load, so you will need to start probably 4 grains lower and work up.

 

Rifle info: (built by AxisWorks)

R700 LA BDL trued, fluted bolt w. CF knob & alloy bolt shroud

26" 1:9" Proof Research "Light Sendero" w. Hawkins 3 port brake

Manners EH-1 bedded

Seekins 20MOA Picatinny Rail

Seekins 30mm low rings

Premier Heritage Light Tactical 3-15×50 w. Gen 2XR

Weight of scoped rifle: 8lbs 15oz

Recoil is mild, less than my 10.5# unbraked.260 pushing a 140 @ 2850.

I thought the scope might be a little under-powered for really long shots, but the 15x is plenty for medium sized game out to 1300+. Also allows enough for refined holds out to 1000 easily.

 

Nosler .280AI brass

Fed GM210M

58.0 RL23

175 Berger Elite Hunter

2.690" CBTO (.0100" jump)

2976fps MV (verified w. Drops @ 545/763/926/1191/1268/1365)

Shoots .213" @ 100, 2.9" @ 926.

250 yard zero gives me 2.4" high (max rise) at 165 yards, 2.4" low @ 300 yards. In was really hoping to have some on-game reviews after this late elk season, but that didn't pan out. I will have to try and smoke a coyote or two this winter with them.

 

 

I also had a couple good loads with 168 Berger HVLD. They were much more finicky than the 175s. Two loads showed excellent accuracy once I tuned them up.

 

Nosler .280AI brass

Fed GM210M

60.5 H1000

168 Berger HVLD

2.700" CBTO (touching lands)

2850fps MV

Shot .3 @ 100, 2.2" @ 565

 

Nosler .280AI brass

Fed GM210M

63.5C H1000 (max load-start lower)

168 Berger HVLD

2.690" CBTO (.0100" jump)

2987fps MV

Shot in the high .1s @ 100, 2" @ 602

 

H4831 gave some pretty good speeds and accuracy during development too.

 

I have some 160 Sierra TMKs I am going to play around with for more of a varmint/paper/steel round @ slightly lower pressures/speeds to extend brass and barrel life. I am expecting good things from them.

 

I will also be working up a load with the 145 Barnes LRX in anticipation of drawing a Kaibab tag in the next few years. No use waiting until I draw that tag to start load development.

 

Do not discount a 175-180 HVLD/Elite Hunter/Classic Hunter/Hybrid, 160-183 SMK/SGK/TMK, 168-175 ELD-X, 160 NAB, etc.

 

H4831, H1000, RL23, RL26 would be my powder choices for the heavier bullets from 160 and up. Some are more temp stable, some are more accurate, some give better speeds. All a choice you will have to make.

[ofdscooby]

I live in CA and I recently had a .280 AI put together knowing that it would never see lead. The 140 TSX gave me the best accuracy using IMR 4831 but its temp sensitive the LRX and GMX I couldnt get to fly. Good luck.

[Big or Bust]

I'd highly suggest the Nosler Etip then....

 

I'd take it's terminal performance over the TSX or TTSX all day long. Plus better BC's....

[duckhunter175]

following this-- just picked up a Kimber 84l 280ai...

 

Anyone use or have data on 150gr Swift Scirocco?

[duckhunter175]

I killed two bucks this year with the factory Barnes LRX 7RUM-- 145gr @3350, 26" Proof Sendero Lite.

 

127 yards bang flop

411 yards bang flop

 

Neither bullet recovered, exit wounds were slightly larger than a fully expanded bullet.

 

 

I am running the 175 Berger Elite Hunters for my final hunting load. It darn near matches my 7RM. They are a max load, so you will need to start probably 4 grains lower and work up.

Rifle info: (built by AxisWorks)
R700 LA BDL trued, fluted bolt w. CF knob & alloy bolt shroud
26" 1:9" Proof Research "Light Sendero" w. Hawkins 3 port brake
Manners EH-1 bedded
Seekins 20MOA Picatinny Rail
Seekins 30mm low rings
Premier Heritage Light Tactical 3-15×50 w. Gen 2XR
Weight of scoped rifle: 8lbs 15oz
Recoil is mild, less than my 10.5# unbraked.260 pushing a 140 @ 2850.
I thought the scope might be a little under-powered for really long shots, but the 15x is plenty for medium sized game out to 1300+. Also allows enough for refined holds out to 1000 easily.

Nosler .280AI brass
Fed GM210M
58.0 RL23
175 Berger Elite Hunter
2.690" CBTO (.0100" jump)
2976fps MV (verified w. Drops @ 545/763/926/1191/1268/1365)
Shoots .213" @ 100, 2.9" @ 926.
250 yard zero gives me 2.4" high (max rise) at 165 yards, 2.4" low @ 300 yards. In was really hoping to have some on-game reviews after this late elk season, but that didn't pan out. I will have to try and smoke a coyote or two this winter with them.


I also had a couple good loads with 168 Berger HVLD. They were much more finicky than the 175s. Two loads showed excellent accuracy once I tuned them up.

Nosler .280AI brass
Fed GM210M
60.5 H1000
168 Berger HVLD
2.700" CBTO (touching lands)
2850fps MV
Shot .3 @ 100, 2.2" @ 565

Nosler .280AI brass
Fed GM210M
63.5C H1000 (max load-start lower)
168 Berger HVLD
2.690" CBTO (.0100" jump)
2987fps MV
Shot in the high .1s @ 100, 2" @ 602

H4831 gave some pretty good speeds and accuracy during development too.

I have some 160 Sierra TMKs I am going to play around with for more of a varmint/paper/steel round @ slightly lower pressures/speeds to extend brass and barrel life. I am expecting good things from them.

I will also be working up a load with the 145 Barnes LRX in anticipation of drawing a Kaibab tag in the next few years. No use waiting until I draw that tag to start load development.

Do not discount a 175-180 HVLD/Elite Hunter/Classic Hunter/Hybrid, 160-183 SMK/SGK/TMK, 168-175 ELD-X, 160 NAB, etc.

H4831, H1000, RL23, RL26 would be my powder choices for the heavier bullets from 160 and up. Some are more temp stable, some are more accurate, some give better speeds. All a choice you will have to make.

[ofdscooby]

I'd highly suggest the Nosler Etip then....

 

I'd take it's terminal performance over the TSX or TTSX all day long. Plus better BC's....

I have a box of E-tips but the accuracy I was getting with the TSXsis so good I just havent tried them. I have only taken one deer with it though it was a through and through at 200 yards and he only went 20yards.

[STOMP442]

I am running the 168 Berger at mag length in an old 98 Mauser with a Benchmark 9 twist #4 barrel. I am getting 2897fps and excellent accuracy.

 

Nosler brass

59.5gr H4831sc

CCI LR #200 primers

[Big or Bust]

That is about my load too Stomp in a 22" tube. Think I'm at 59.0 even in a 22" tube and am about at 2,825.

[Mr. Natural]

I will also be working up a load with the 145 Barnes LRX in anticipation of drawing a Kaibab tag in the next few years. No use waiting until I draw that tag to start load development.

 

Did you get a load worked up for that bullet?

 

Thanks!

[lancetkenyon]

I did indeed. I don't have my load book with me, but I am pretty close in saying 3120fps, into .4s. Need to play with seating depth a touch to see if they tighten up any, but pretty happy with the results so far. If someone draws a tag, I will get on it.

[Mr. Natural]

Do you recall what powder? I'm working with IMR 4350, with mediocre results so far.

[lancetkenyon]

H4831