Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .280 Ackley, R-26, 160s and 175s

What min/max are you using? Kind of hard to find data for these combos, thanks.

No one loading these?

Haven't tried R-26, but I've tried R-22 and H4831sc in my 280AI. R-22 gives MOA accuracy, but H4831sc was better pushing 162gr ELD-x.

Here you go...

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11861892/1

I've used RL26 under 150 ELD-X in my 280AI. Good accuracy and 3100 fps. I plan to try 162's but haven't yet.

I ran Re 26 up to 61.5 under a 160 in my 280 AI. That said I had better luck with Re 23 under a 160 NAB - shoots sub-moa at a tad slower but can still get right handy to 3000 ft/sec. 59-59.5 grains of '23 works best in my rifle.

I run 162 ELDX’s (moly coated) with mine. I ran QL with RL26 @ 3.340” COAL 24”barrel. 64 grains gave a 64,160 psi. and magnum primers. About as hot as I’d care to go running 3,055 FPS. 63.0 gave me very good accuracy at 60,401 psi at 3,006 FPS.according to QL. I’ve found QL to be pretty much right on the button with my rifle. I had no traditional signs of pressure even at 64 grains. No stiff bolt or flat primers,extracor marks, so on. Not that those are the best measures. At 3,006 FPS it has a muzzle energy of 3300 ft lbs and holds 1500+ ft lbs out to 700 yards and 1075 ft lbs out to 1K yds. according to Hornady’s ballistic app. Pretty good medicine for all that roams on cloven hooves in NA and a bear or two in a pinch.

Also 59.0 gr of RL 22 was accurate, 59.2 book max
59.1gr of RL 19 one hole 5 shot group at 100 yds. Current favorite load.
64.2gr of RL 25 most accurate. QL puts at 2975 FPS at 57k psi.

All within book loads or safe QL loads. Of coarse all rifles are different. Use with caution.

Thanks ny, and thanks brinky, it's good to see a quickoad run as another data point, not a lot out there to go on.

I would've guessed a few grains less than your top-end load of 64 grains R-26 and the 162's, based on everthing else I've read.

I've got a box sitting on the bench, waiting. Have you shot any game with the 162s yet?

That is a top load and it’s Moly coated and the bore is also coated so do work up carefully. If you are working with non Moly’d bullets and a non coated bore you will get pressure much sooner. just moved to the ELDX’s from AMaxes. Same load with the exception of the bullet. The AMaxes hammered deer and they either dropped right there or within a step or two.
I like QL for powders not traditionally listed for certain cartridges. RL 26 is one of them. The 280 AI isn’t enough engine for 26 in most people’s minds but it seems work.

Not using any Reloader powders, just IMR 7828 but I did kill 2 deer last year with the 162 ELD-X out of my .280 Ackley.

Very good performance ( like I was expecting anything else ) , one bang flop, one ran about 50 yards.

I am a fan based on a sample of 2........must procure additional data to form a more educated opinion.

Burt2506

Watching this one closely as Im just starting to load for my rifle.

No one using 175's for anything? Especially the Nosler variety?

My 22 inch barrel recorded the following....
160gn Partition over 62gn of Rel 26 for 2846fps
175gn Partition over 61gn of Rel 26 for 2796fps accuracy was around the inch.

Reloder 17 was faster and more accurate with the 175 grainer...
a charge of 56gn yielded 2782fps and half inch groups.

John

Not yet. I was thinking about the 175 ELDX until the 1:8.5 min twist reccommendation. I have some 175’s partitions that do well. 56.5 grains of RL22 WLRM primer. Book load. It’s my Black Bear over hounds load and it’s accurate. Not that it matters too much because I go irons when I run bear with hounds? My AI is 1:9.5 twist so I can’t run bullets that are too long.

I’ve been looking at 7828 as well as MagPro.

MY Kimber likes 62 grains behind the 160 NP for 2975 fps. Shoots 3/4" groups regularly.

Recommended only, I think because a number of so called 1-9 barrels are actually 1-9.25 or 9.5. A true 1-9 stabilized the 175 X bullets which are long even for a flat base, I wonder how they compare in length?

I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try although I’m pretty happy with the 162’s. And, not much will shrug off a hit from a 160 class 7mm running 2950-3000 FPS I do like the job a 175 partition does on Black Bear up close though. Watched my buddy thump one with the 175 in a moderate 7 Rem Mag load about 2750 FPS. DRT.