Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Load Data 280 Ackley

I shoot a Kimber Hunter .280 AI, and tried a number of different combinations. I settled on 64.5 H4831SC with a 120 Nosler BT for one load and 62.0 RL26 with 150 Partitions for the other.

The 120 BT load hovers right at 1" for 5 rds at 100 and averaged 3192 over the 25 rds I put over my Magnetospeed over several different days. 64.0 gave the same group size, 65.0 saw groups open slightly. I got more velocity out of 120 TTSX's, about 45-50 fps at each charge weight, but the group size was slightly larger, so I stuck with the BT.

The 150 Partition load is a little better; closer to .75" and averaged 3094 through 25 rds. 62.5 opened up more than .25", so I stuck with 62.0. That kind of accuracy from Partitions hasn't been the norm for me with other rifles, but I'll take it.

I tried H4831SC, RL22, and H4350 with the 120 BT's and TTSX's. I tried RL26, RL22, H4350, and IMR7828SSC with the Partitions.

Among the other bullets I tried were 140 Nosler BT's and AB's, and while RL26 was the best there, as well, it wasn't as good as the Partition, so I dropped the BT's and AB's and went with the 150 Partition.

Like CRoy, I have a friend who loves Scirocco's and he also likes more jump than you tried for the rifles he shoots them in. I'd say maybe try the jump and some R26.

A big factor for my Kimber has been JB's often pointed out suggestion of making sure the forward sling stud is not on/touching the front rest/bag. I tested it purposely with those two known loads and it made a visible difference in group size. I don't know if you've paid attention to that, but I'll point out, just in case.