Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting .280 ai with 1-9 twist.

What would be the ideal bullet weight for this twist? I have run some weights through some formulas and was wondering what other people got.

For long range shooting heavier is better. In the weight range I want to shoot, I select the bullet with best BC that shoots well in my rifle.

A 9" twist should stabilize any of the 175's out there, and will even stabilize Berger's 180 VLD.

this year I am running 154's in mine because max range won't be much more than 200 yds. Next year I will work up some loads with heavier bullets.

That's what I figured. I want to target shoot with 175gr Accubond LR's, Hunt deer and varmints with 120gr BT, elk with 140gr Berger VLD or 150gr Accubond LR.

Or you could just shoot everything with one bullet like the 175 or 150 ABLR. Or 168 Berger.

My favorite bullet in my 280 AI is the Speer Hot Core 160 gr , which has the 1&9 twist

I have the 168gr VLD, I have no doubt it would accomplish everything I want it too, but I don't want to shoot deer with a 168gr bullet.

Thanks for all the replies.

I have a 9 twist and truthfully it likes em all

Long ago Dober recommended; 150 gr. NBT and it has worked for everything.

the 175's would be nice play fodder, but the 150 BT's kill chit.

Randy

Thanks Randy, I'm just trying to decide between 140gr Bergers, 150gr Accubond LR.

My 280AI with 1:9 loves the 168 Berger VLD amazing accuracy and hard on mule deer

Did the Berger perform as advertised? Meaning did it drop on contact?

My 1/9" twist shoots superb with everything I've tried from 120gr through 175 with definite love for the 162 AMax and 140 TTSX.

Theoretically it should shoot the heavier bullets better but you won't know until you shoot them, other factors come into play and it might show a marked preference for one bullet over others. I'd pick a bullet that had the performance I wanted and if it shot "good enough" then I'd use it. Accuracy is great, but none of that matters if the bullet won't perform the way it needs to. You read on these forums about guys shooting matchking or Amax target bullets over a real hunting bullet at game because they give them a .2 MOA tighter group, that's just stupid in my opinion. There are enough well constructed hunting bullets out there that you can always find one that will shoot good enough if the rifle's up to the task. There's no reason to go flinging target bullets at live animals.

Many things drop on contact with those Bergers in my experience and a 168 Hybrid would be the first thing I would try in your rig.

I had a couple of .280s made for me by Delta Gunshop and Clearwater Re-boring (Cliff LaBounty's old outfit) and specified 1-9" twists for both. I've never regretted it.

My 280AI loves both the 140gr TTSX and the 168 Berger VLD's and it is 1 in 9 twist.

There you go. That's how I would do it..

Just my 2 cents

The 168LRAB and some H4831SC might be a good match for your rifle !

I appreciate all the replies gentleman. I have 6 ladder tests I will be doing this weekend, included are IMR 4831 with Fed210, and CCI LRM Primers, both have 168gr Berger VLD. IMR 7828 ssc with Fed210 and CCI LRM Primers, both have 168gr Berger VLD. Varget with Fed210 and CCI LRM primers, both have 120 BT.


Will also include H414 with CCI LRM Primers and 120gr BT.

I like the look of the 150 ABLR on paper. All the BC I need and extra velocity over similar BC bullets that are heavier. Will load some up for mine once pronghorn season is done.

I haven't hunted antelope in a long time, I would like to go sometime next season. If I do I'll use 120gr BT.

My 280 AI does it best with H4831

I have some H4831sc, but I don't think I'll try it out. I only have a pound left, not enough to do extensive testing. It's also hard to come by around here.

Jcub, I have not shot the NABLR yet but I have shot a bunch of the 140 Berger's! IMR4831 has been my go too fuel. RL 22 was good also but I really liked the 4831.

Good Luck Enjoy

Randy

Thanks RTA48. That's the powder I'm hoping works best, that or IMR 7828 ssc. Only because my local store has both of those powders in kegs.

The 120 Nosler BT is a tough bullet originally made for silhouette shooting it now has the hunting BT jacket and should out penetrate the Bergers. Great for deer and predators but won't have the red mist effect on smaller varmints.

R22, VV 165 are other almost standard choices in the 280AI. Retumbo, Hunter Magnum and R25 are also contenders.

I've been thinking about trying some Magnum in mine just can't find any load data.

I have some magnum and have not found load data either. It's been sitting on the shelf for about 3 months.

The 2 whitetails and one mule deer were all DRT with 168 Berger and healthy dose of 4831SC the 6x6 bull elk I shot at 267 on the finder made a 60 yard death run and collapsed Berger is most all I shoot on game anymore been very impressed with everything from energy penetration accuracy and a big one for me meat loss has seemed to do well in all categories

That's good to hear because my Old Man and I have pretty much decided to go with Berger for the foreseeable future.

If you need help with powders just let me know what powder, bullet combo you want to run. I am running 168 Bergers over Norma MRP, which is in stock at both powder valley and Midsouth. I am running them a touch over 3000fps and they are hammers!

How about ramshot magnum with the 168 LRAB and the 160 AB...26 inch barrel nosler brass..Thank's

My 9 twist likes everything from the 150s and up,
I havent tried any lighter than that. My go to hunting set up is 168 VLD over RL 22. Shoots way better than I do most of the time. I hunt everything from coyotes to elk with that load.

I shoot only 140 gr ttsx's over imr4350 in mine.
2 elk and an oryx didn't like that combo.
The oryx was a shoulder pass thru at 693 yards!

Mine is twisted just a hair faster and.does well with 120's through 168's. Haven't tried anything heavier.

Thanks again gentleman. I'll let you know how mine shoots this weekend.

Try the 7828ssc my 7mmWSM loves it with 168VLD's 9 twist. Powders are hard to find, if you can get the 7828ssc grab a couple pounds

I've had good luck with H4350 and 120's and use R22 with the 160 class bullets.

One of the things I like about the 280 is it seems to do well with a wide variety of powders and bullet weights.

I did my ladder test this weekend, sorry no pics. I ended up going with IMR 4831 with 55.6 gr. It shot just under 3/4", whereas 54.7 gr of IMR 7828ssc shot just over 3/4".

Did you get to Chrony those loads?

I just got back from RSA and Namibia. Used the LRX 145's at 3150. Better than the TTSX. Opened more violently than the 140 TTSX but just as deep penetration.