Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .280Rem + H4831SC = optimal load?

.280,
I have a couple of 7x57's and thought I would reserve the 140's for them - hence the 160g pursuit. I'll still stick with it and maybe see what a 150gr. will do. I wish powder companies would put out a 4 ounce can of powder so no real committment is made unless the results show promise. I'm sure it is cost prohibitive.
My 30-06 is my "magnum" - with 180 Partitions. Just seeing if I could elevate the .280 to that status. The research will continue.
What does: JME, YMMV, IOW and OTH mean?
Thanks again.

JME just my experience
JMO just my opinion
YMMV your mileage may vary
IMHO in my humble opinion
OTOH on the other hand
IIRC if I recall correctly

bigwhoop,

Understand about the 7x57 and .280 thing. I keep thinking I'll get a 7x57 and shoot 140s in it, 150s the .280 and 160s in the 7mmRM. Let us know what you come up with.

Sorry to be using the net lingo.

Thanks Mathman, just modern day "Morse Code".

I re-read some articles on the .280 and discovered that Boddington likes either 4350 powder and same for Barsness.
So I rustled up 6 loads of 160gr Accubonds with 51gr. H4350 as published max. Oh, oh, the velocity was 2646fps but two consecutive three shot groups were very much less than an inch.
I will creep up to a 2800fps type threshold and see what the paper looks like.

I just ordered dies for my 280.I'll be mostly looking for a good 140gr load.Lots of good info in this thread,thanks guys.

I'm running 53 and 53.5gr. of H4350 and 139gr. Hornady SPs for around 1/2" at 100 yards. Both are about equally accurate but when I go to 54gr., groups open up noticebly. I'll chrony these loads and report back. I don't think they're hauling ace but we'll see what they're doing. Like I said though, very accurate. This is out of a 22" Ruger barrel.

HB,

Let us know, but you ought to be right at 2900fps give or take.

Well, here it is:these loads are with 139gr. Hornady SP flatbase

53gr H-4350: 2864fps, ES=38, SD=5.4
53.5gr. H-4350: 2891fps, ES=44, SD=9.8

Old load that I've used for 4 years using 139gr. Hornady SST

57gr IMR 4831:2982fps, ES=39, SD=7.8

Brass was R-P cases that were once fired for the H-4350 loads and 4X fired on the IMR 4831 loads. WLR primers use in all loads. Rifle is a Ruger M77 Mk II stainless/laminated. Chronograph was 15' from the muzzle and temperature was 70 degrees.

I'll retest these loads again as this was the first time that I've used a chronograph. I let the barrel get a bit warm so that may have had an effect on the ES/SD. Not too mention I had to figure out how high/low to hold. I marked the rods with tap and was a bit too high I think. Vels seemed more consistant when the barrel wasn't overly hot.

HB, I have the same rifle. Mine is the later model stock. I just love those things for the money.

Looks like my Hornady 4th edition was off about 90fps on your H4350 loads. 280Rem was almost dead on!

Your gun may not be able to take the max of 55.1gr, if it does you could try 54.5 and 55 to see if your groups tightened back up.

Scrolling down to IMR4350 Hornady has 57gr as max, sounds really warm to me. Nosler is at 52.5gr for a 140. That is a huge spread. Anybody loaded IMR4350 that hot?

Just some data from the past session.
As said above, the 51gr H4350 load with a 160 Acc = 2646fps.
Today was a bump to 52gr of the above combo (WLR) = 2738fps.
The 53gr. H4350, 160Acc combo went up to 2826fps.
The 54.gr load was looked at but not assembled.
Seems like fairly large increases for one grain. Not used to that.

Say, does anyone know how Hornady came up with 139gr and 154gr bullets? They seem to be unique that way.

not to mention 162gr....

I have wondered the same.

Ruger280,

In my Hornady manual (I can't remember what edition) it listed 52.7gr of H4350 as max with 139gr. SPs and 55.1gr max with IMR 4831 same bullets. In both cases, I'm over book max already according to this manual! I feel that 2900ish with H4350 is about right (again, well stated 280Rem) and the upper 2900s/near 3K is tops for IMR 4831/RL 19. I've went to 54gr. with this powder but the accuracy goes to sheet. Will tinker with the 53.5gr and probably call it good. I can't see being handicapped using a 139gr Hornady at 2900fps on any deer that I'll encounter.

IIRC it is based on metric weights of original euro boolits... 139 grains = 9 grams, 154 grains = 10 grams, etc.

Would make sense that at 7 mm boolit would weigh 9 or 10 grams ...

Bigwhoop,

What's your barrel length? If 22", I'd say that 2750-2775fps would be about right for H4350 (but this is just a guess). As long as it's accurate then I'd be happy but that's just me. If I remember correctly, you have a Remington 700? I understand them to be a bit long throated. My Ruger has a short throat apparently as I cannot seet 139gr. SP flatbases as long as the manual states before I'm contacting rifling! I don't know what effect this has on velocity but this is just an observation.

HB,

If you're happy with that and its accurate, the like is commonly stated, no animal will be able to tell the difference in 100-150fps.

H4350 is a fine powder. You just wont maximize the .280Rem with it in bullet wts heavier than 120. You can come dang close with 140s, but still not IME. 150s and up IME require slower powders to get full potential. In this case with 160s and 162s, Id say 2800 from a 22" bbl will absolutely be max with 4350.

Thanks 280Rem, I believe you are 100% correct and definately have more experience than I do. I was thinking that since 139gr Hornady SPs are short, that I'd be able to get a satisfactory load with H4350. In reality I have. The goal was to use one powder (obviously H4350) in my 30-06/165gr. loads and 243/100gr. loads. I'm thinking I'll be good, at least for the time being. I might be going "slow" at 2900fps but them 1/2" groups are hard to walk away from! That's about as good as I can do with sporter 280 Rem and 6X scope. The best part is so far, it seems consistant. Thanks for the info.

Interesting, I wonder if your manual is newer or older then mine. Let me know what edition yours is if you don't mind.
That IMR4350 load of 57gr and 139gr is what blows me away. If that isn't pushing 65K in ANY gun I would be surprised.

I'll have to look when I get back in town Sunday. I'm leaving from here ("work")this afternoon so I won't be able to find out until then. I'm curious as well on which edition it is. It lists around 53 or 53.5gr as max with IMR 4350 and 139gr bullets.

IF its "pushing 65Kpsi" then its a safe load if you consider .270Win pressure safe in a .280Rem...which it is. My thought is its over that! 57grs is upper end for R-19 and H4831.