Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 280 velocities

Just out of curiosity how well does the 280 remington push 140 grain ballistic tips? Thinking about buying one with 22 inch spout on it. I would want as much zip as I could get and still keep them under .75.

In my 24" Remington 700, I get 3025 fps with a 139 Hornady and RL-22. This load shoot under an inch in my rifle.

The only way to know that for sure is to load them up, shoot and chrony them out of that rifle, every rifle is an individual. A rough estimate would be 2800 to 2900 at the muzzle depending on the powder with max loads based off of Nosler's data with a 26" barrel, although, some powders might give you more velocity than that, that's just an average. If I were to reload the .280 using Nosler data, I'd try Reloder 19, IMR 4831, and Winchester 760, you might be able to get anywhere from 2,900 to 3,050 fps with one of these powders. Although, nothing is definite, and the only way to know for sure is to shoot and chrony it.

My 22" barrelled .280 shoots 140 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips, Accubonds, and Barnes TSX bullets, all with tremendous accuracy.
My best load, as far as both accuracy and velocity is concerned, is a 140 gr. Barnes TSX, pushed with IMR 4350, at a chrono velocity of 3050 fps. This doesn't appear to be a hot load in my rifle.

How far you lookin to shoot in general? Might be easy to go past 3k on a regular basis, but that will not guarantee accuracy. Would be better to work up with powder of choice and find the intersection of accuracy and velocity.

Besides, 2850 fps would work just as well....

What more could you ask for?

Certainly has for me since 2003 when I bought my first 280.

These velocities are a 5 shot average (chronographed) from my Ruger M77 .280 with 22"bbl

139gn Hornady

50.0gns H4350......2590fps
51.0gns H4350......2615fps
52.0gns H4350......2702fps
53.5gns H4350......2838fps

56.0gns H4831sc....2648fps
57.0gns H4831sc....2690fps
58.0gns H4831sc....2740fps

55.0gns RE19.......2715fps
56.0gns RE19.......2786fps
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140gn Nosler Accubond

57.0gns RE19.......2903fps
58.5gns RE22.......2935fps
56.0gns IMR4831....2940fps

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140gn Sierra Spitzer

53.5gns H4350......2838fps
53.5gns IMR4350....2768fps

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145gn Speer BT Spitzer

58.0gn RE22........2838fps

I got 3131 fps w/ 58 grs. of Ramshot Hunter and the 140 gr. TSX bullet out my 24 inch custom .280. Shot .67 MOA at 200 yds.
That's probably too hot, BTW. I now load 57 grs., or even less, if I load 140 gr. bullets at all.
3000 fps. or pretty close to that ought to be possible with a 140 gr. bullet.
The problem with the .280 is that the loading data for it is a little mild due to it's SAAMI pressure level of 60,000 psi. But that doesn't mean alot.
Speer's revised data for their 145 gr. bullets shows 2975 fps. with 56 grs. of IMR 4831 and 2973 fps. with 57 grs. of Re-19. They show their 130 gr. bullets at over 3100 fps as well. All of this in a 24 inch barreled Ruger. E

I have a 280 semi-custom with a 26" shaw barrel. My experience with it is shooting 150BTs. I think this is a better bullet due to the fact that it is a little tougher(heavier jacket) than the 140s. I have used H4350, H4831 and IMR4350. I have never shot a group over 1" at 100yds, except when I called the flyer. I use H4350, because I use it in my 7x57 and 30-06. It shoots .7-.8 inch groups. I do not weigh bullets brass or check for run out, and haven't tweeked charges for super accuracy. It's a hunting rifle and that's good enough for me. The only thing that I don't like about the 280, is that most book loads do not sho it's potential. captdavid

53.5gns of 4831 behind 139 horns give excellent accuracy @ 3125 in my 22" M-77.
45gns of imr4350 is an excellent milder load with the same bullet @ 2850.
Gun is a rechambered tang Ruger, 7mm mauser to .280
(best mod I've ever done to a gun)
You results & opinions may vary

I have loaded for several 280's....when loaded to 270 pressure levels you can expect :

140's - 3100
150's - 3000
160's - 2900

More than that you are pushing them too hard..more than likely 65k psi or higher.

I now shoot a 280ai,, and I can tack another 125+- on ea. of the above.

Tony

140 Partitions and Magpro do 2930fps outta' my 22" tube. It works really nicely.

I've loaded for several 22" barreled 280's with 140's....when I see 3050 or thereabouts,the brakes go on.

Getting 3025ish with 140 TTSXs out of my .280 Mountain Rifle and H4350.

Dave