Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 280 bullet?

I have loaded for years, but only in the last few years have used a chrony. This is new/odd to me. I have been working up loads for my new 26" barrel 280. I am using H4350 and H4831. Because they shoot so well in my 7x57, I chose the 150 Partition, although they are a little tough for my application. According to what I've read here and using various other sources, I expected to get around 2950fps. I was working my way up, but about 2900fps seemed max using 'hot,' but not excessive loads. I decided to push it a little, by going up 1/2gn more, but ran out of bullets. I ordered some, but in the mean time decided to try 150 Sierra GKs. I backed off a little and voila! Every load seemed to be about 75-100fps faster using the same powder and bullet weight. The difference is the bullet! It 's not the chrony as my friends 257 shot the same as last time we shot. I know that every bullet/load/gun is an inity unto itself, but does this seem odd? What do you think will happen if I try 150BTs? Any help would be appreciated. thanks, capt david <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

Cap'n David,

Try the 150 grain Hornady spire bullet. Their shape gives the shortest bearing surface, and they usually turn in good velocity for me.

I usually use them for initial work up regardless of whatever else I plan to shoot.

jim

I found the same thing in one of my .280s. I could barely get over 2800 with 150 and 2700 with 160 Partitions, but Sierra BTs were about 100 fps faster (22").

-Lou

I think Sierra bullets have harder jackets and therefore more resistance and pressure. Hunter Jim, Hornady does not make a 150gr 7mm only a 154gr which works great in my 284 Win which has about the same case capacity as the 280 Rem.
-Doc-

I've found that either Ramshot Hunter or Re-19, shoot a little flatter with that range of bullets. You might try that.
I suspect that BT's would also raise pressures/ not shoot quite as fast as say the Sierra bullets.
I don't know what you mean by the NP being "a little tough for your application". The NP's I've used, the 140 gr and 160 gr., all opened very well at impact speeds as low as 1800 fps. on game. Tests show they open at lower impact velocities than the usual GK's. They hold together far better. E

This gun is really for shooting the gong at 200-?yds and game, maybe one animal every couple of years. There are a couple of places that I hunt that might offer a 250-400 yard or so shot. I love the 150PT in my 7x57 on lots of pigs and a deer or two each year. It'll go with me when I take the 280 and be used for the closer shots. The heavier longer barrel 280 is more for stability than for the few,50-60fps, I will gain. I was thinking that the gain at longer distances of the better BC of the BTs would help. Also I feel the BTs are better pure deer bullets at 2000-2600 than the PTs. I would still prefer to shoot the PT, but it is slower and not quite as accurate, so far, in my gun. capt david

captdavid...

I dont' know what your application is. But, some load I use are the following:

59-60grs of H4831, 154 Hornady Interlocks, WLR primers, Rem Brass.

60-61grs of R-22, (rest the same)

60-61grs of VV-N165 (rest the same)

Each of those loads produced 2990-3030fps in a 24" bbl Rem 700. And have duplicated near same velocity with Nosler Solid Bases and same loads.

Id ditch the 4350 for bullets over 140grs in the .280 if velocity is a concern.