Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 280 Rem. 160 grain with RL-26

Anybody done any playing with the vanilla 280, 160 grain bullets and RL-26??

With all the talk about how RL-26 works in a 270 with the 150 grain bullets there should be no reason it wouldn't work with 160s in the 280.

What's the verdict??

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt.../11469712/Testing_RL_26_in_the_280_Remin


I worked up to 60.0 grns with the 160 Trophy Bonded Tip that grouped well, averaging about 2980 fps with five shots out of a M700 Mountain.

Thanks M1. Just what I was looking for.

Be careful you are getting close to what I get in a &RM albet with a 23 inch barrel. Quickload data is based on R26 being almost the same as R25 which it has only matched a R25 load in the 270 WSM for me. R26 doesn't show pressures due to the progressive burn rate until you are almost in proof load territory or over 70,000 psi. R26 is great but only in a few cases (both meanings) does it get much more than 50-75 fps over MRP or VV560 with the same pressure. Ditto for an AI case the combo won't show any pressure signs until your bolt jambs.

M1's load looks like a good safe one, thanks.

Couple good reasons--the 280 Rem isn't particualarly overbored and doesn't run at highish pressures--which is why RL-26 is more of a specialty powder..........

For my .280 Remington I relied on extrapolating published 270 data using Mule Deer's formulas from "The Book of Gun Gack" as well as information from the thread linked in M1Garand's post above.

I settled on:
160 grain Nosler Partition
Seated 3.290"
60.5 grains RL26
Hornady brass
Fed 210 primer

I get about 2940 fps 15' from the muzzle from a 24" barreled M700 CDL SF. Accuracy is about MOA out to 320 yards which is far as I've shot it. I plan to drop down and work back up with a magnum primer just to see if the accuracy holds up. I haven't had any troubles with the standard primer, but haven't shot it in the cold enough to be certain.

Here are some velocities as I worked up. 15' from muzzle. (35 degrees outside, but coming directly from the house):
55.0 = 2594fps
56.0 = 2650fps
57.0 = 2715fps
58.0 = 2766fps
59.0 = 2818fps
60.0 = 2892fps
60.5 = 2938fps
61.0 = 2989, 2949fps