Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles kimber montana and ascents 280AI what load

I just bought a new 280AI and will start reloading for it, but need a starting point????
What grain do these guns like best with their 9.5 twist rate? I am hoping to use the 150 ls Acubond??? Thought??

Nosler 140 Accubond
63 gr VV N165
3200 fps

For a 150, Id go Hornady Interlock or Nosler Ballistic Tip

Berger 168gr Classic Hunter
IMR 7828ssc
CCI BR2
Nosler brass

I have read that the 9.5 doesn't stabilize the 168 berger very well, and that it key holes...

My M70 280 AI does well with:
62g Rl22 & 150 barnes TTSx's @3050

My rifle does great with IMR 4350, 150TTSX or 145LRX.

My M70 280 AI does well with:
62g Rl22 & 150 barnes TTSx's @3050

Thanks guys!!!! Keep um coming

I was wondering if the 280AI was dead. Hope this thread keeps up awhile.

So the Montana's 1:9.5 twist spins a 145 LRX just fine, I take it?

Anyone shoot 150 ABLR's out of their Montana?

Well, if you read it then it must be true.

162 Hornady A-max
Try 59-62gr Rl-22
Nosler 280 AI brass
CCI 200
3.450" kissing lands

59gr shot best for me.

Good luck.

160 NPt.

Nosler cases

WLRM primer

65 grs-Magpro-max worked up

Sub MOA

Have yet chrono'd

Nice to shoot in this light rifle


I cannot recall, out of about 150 big game rifles, excepting my two Dakota 76-.338Wm. pieces, ever buying a factory rifle-chambering that I like as well as this.

If I were younger, I would buy a matching one in .280AI and dump all of my other rifles, except the two Dakotas and my
original P-64 .338 plus a custom pair of "truck guns", Classic 70 STS in Mickys in .308/.338 WM.

I wish I had the willpower to do this.........

Didn't know Nosler made a 150gr Accubond in 7mm.? My go to load uses the 160gr Nosler Partition, 60grs. of IMR7828, Nosler cases and Federal LR primers. There may be better powders, but IMR7828 has been excellent and is almost always available. For just deer the 139gr Hornady and H4831 have been awesome.

That.

150 accubond long range

and I agree, IMR7828 has been an old reliable.

140 nosler bt or accubond
59 grains imr 4831

150 Barnes TTSX with IMR 4831 160 Accubond with IMR 4831 140 Accubond with N165

My 280 AI really likes a 140 grain Berger VLD over 53.5 grains of RL 15. Another proven accurate load in my rifle is 61 grains of RL 19 with a 140 grain Nosler BT or Accubond. These are not max loads. I get 3120 fps and 3150 fps with these loads with a 23" barrel, respectively.