Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 280 AI

Alright guys, someone school me on the AI. I just bought a 280 AI Kimber off of a member here on the 'fire. Now, where do I go from here?
Should I buy 280AI ammo, or buy 280 Rem ammo and fireform, or??
I do reload several centerfire cartridges, so I will be loading for this as well, at some time. What's the best route to take?

Buy some nosler brass and a set of dies and you're off and running...it's a great chambering...enjoy!

I just got one too. If you buy .280 ammo to fireform in it, make sure you get it all from the same lot otherwise the brass might vary.

I bought some Nosler AI brass and some .280 brass, both work well. Nosler's expensive but really consistent and straight, and you don't have to fireform.

The Nosler 140gr Accubond factory stuff is pretty good in my Montana, around an inch for the couple groups I have fired..

If you don't want to reload right away, you don't have to.

Regardless, I would use correct headstamp.

I got a Kimber Montana last spring.

I thought I'd use some new WW '06 brass I had on hand but it didn't work out. I've done some fire forming like making 7mm STW cases from WW .300 H&H. Used the same process ... false shoulder, bullet into the rifling, tight enough to be a bit of a crush fit, but for some reason I never figured out all of my new "AI" cases exited the chamber on the hairy edge of case head separation.

Rather than fight it I picked up some Nosler .280 AI brass and never looked back.

I've been loading using Nosler, not Hodgdon, data. My best accuracy has been ... 120 VMAX / max load of H4831, 140 Accubond / max load of RL22, and a half grain under max with IMR 7828 behind a 160 grain partition.

Tom

captbutch,

As others have already hinted, Nosler brass is very good, and these days usually more consistent than Remington .280 brass.

Hello friend, congratulations on your new rifle. At one time, I had a 280 AI. I had to FF the brass to reload the ammo. I would make a load that shot well, used it for fun stuff like yotes and rocks. I really liked the round, it's great. I'm sure you will like it too.
If I were you, I would buy Nosler AI brass.

Take care.

OK, I think I got the hint;-) Nosler brass++ I just ordered some (Wow!! they're proud of it) also set of dies and a couple boxes of Green box Rem 280's (for fun ya know) to play with. What's the bullet of choice? Any pet loads? Thanks for all the help!

Cap,
My bullet of choice is Barnes 150 ttsx as an all-a rounder. 62g of RL22 gets me 3050 fps out of my 24" barrel and great accuracy.

Lapua 150 and h1000

I used Norma 280 REM brass , nosler was just to much money for something I can make with the wonderful joy of shooting.

My Montana loves Remington fire-formed and Nosler brass, Fed 210M, max load of Re22 for warm weather, max H4350 for cold weather behind 140 TTSX.

Load development over!

I also have been trying to use up 6 pounds of IMR4831 behind 140 grain Nosler BTs. They shoot almost as well and make for excellent practice and antelope loads.

Ramshot Magnum and H4831sc have been very consistent in my 280 AI..

captbutch,

The Nosler brass is pricey, but one advantage of their .280 AI cases is unless you abuse them, by trying to turn your rifle into a 7mm magnum or resizing them too short, they'll last a long, long time, since any sharp-shouldered round doesn't stretch much at all.

Thanks Mule Deer,I'm not a hotrodder so they'll probably last a long time for me. Ordered some Remington factory ammo also just to see how that works out. Kinda retired now and have some time to play.
fredIII, i would be real happy with that kind of results with anything I would put together! Some good trigger work too!

I would say to buy the Nosler brass also. I use H4831 and 140 VLD Bergers. I have 2 of them and use the same combo as mentioned above with slightly different loads. Both shoot lights out. Love that caliber!!

Besides super accuracy the VLDs are devastating on game

My primer pockets are holding up well and the Nosler brass is very uniform, both neck thickness wise, and weight wise. Pricey but will last a long time IMO

Good luck with your rifle. You won't have any regrets

89,
How far are you jumping the 140 VLD Hunters in your 280 Ackley?
I use the same powder and the same bullet and they do very well.

Thanks,
Dave

in 34 degree weather using factory Nosler ammo

...............Claimed.....Actual.........spread..... diff
140 ABs........3150........2983............49.........-167
150 LRABs......2930........2904............10.........-26
160 NPs........2950........2736............31.........-214


IMR 4350 and 145 LRX



IMR 4350 and 150 TTSX is also sub half inch too

Taco,
Where you at on the IMR 4350 (grains) with the 145LRX's?? Using what primer??

Thanks,
Dave

55.5 and fed 210

For what ever reason my 280AI really likes the slower burning powders mag pro, h1000, imr7828 and IMR 7977. I tryed RL 17 and h4350 with OK results but the .4 and .3 are with the slow burns.
I also really enjoy a 160 Accubond at .75 for 5 shots with 59 grns of IMR 7828 and CCI 250 in Norma brass.
Another good one was 150grn seirra GK with 57grns of mag pro shoots in the .3 for five shots. I will try to find pics of the targets.