Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Load Data 280 Ackley

Wow! All the time I spend on here,and I just found this thread. Personally,I love my 280AI. It has a sweet spot with the 140 grain pills. It will group TTSX along side (in the same 1" sticker),Hornady 139 grain spire points. With RL19 or either of the 4831s. 160 grain Partitions and 7828 will drill one little tiny hole,but not what I want to run day in and day out for whitetail. Not pushing mine very hard. Only 60 grains of RL19 over a cci 200 primer in Nosler brass and a 140 TTSX. The rifle is a m700 / 24" Pac Nor barrel, Burris Signatures on Warne steel bases. Meopta Meostar #4 reticle. Been considering an elevation dial from Kenton. Need to get that ordered.

I use Quickload and a Labradar to develop loads. The QL program does indicate pressure , is this indication spot on......I doubt it, but it is not too far off either.

With accurate recorded velocities and correct inputs to the program you can find a node in as little as 5 shots (this is to establish burn rate of your particular lot of powder) then another 5 for a tiny group. Quick load needs to be studied and all inputs need to be accurate.

My 280ai runs on a node with a 162 ELD-X at around 2800ft/s, indicated pressure is around 60K, five shot groups at 100 yards are inside 1/2 inch.

Velocity is the result of the correct powder for application within excepted pressure and on a node.........velocity is of little concern but accuracy is.

R26 is showing promise with 140s - 160s don't hammer it and only expect 50-75 fps more than MRP and you should be fine pressure wise. I would have to look up the charge weights but mine matched Mule Deers so they are in good company.

280 AI - Borden Timberline, Lilja #1, McMillan Edge, Timney (Thank you KenaiKing)
63 gr N165 gives me +/- 3200 with 140 AB’s. Not much I can’t hunt with that.


280 Remington - Weatherby Mk V UL (Thank you ChipM)
150 CoreLokt’s @ 2850 fps (commercial ammo) have kept my freezer quite full season after season prior to the acquisition of the Ackley.


Did not need the Ackley by any reason, the rifle is actually what I wanted. It just happened to be chambered in 280 AI instead of 280 Remington. Would just as soon take one as the other.

I had really good luck with RL23 than 26 in 140's and 162's, couldn't get rid of a little bit of a flyer with 26.

Hornady is making 280 AI brass now or I just noticed. And on sale for half of Nosler brass.!

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/238192/hornady-reloading-brass-280-ackley-improved-box-of-50

This is good news, the primer pockets on my last batch of Nosler brass had to be cut deeper.

My one and only 280AI was a reamed out Mod 700 Mtn rifle .280. I only used the nickle plated ( I hate that stuff!) Winchester case at the time ( early 90's) I worked up to 61gr R22/Nolser 150BT and a 9 1/2 primer. It shot around .5 to 1" for 3 shots, then would walk off. I killed some stuff with it here in Uath/Wy but when I went to Texas in Feb ( about 75 deg) I got a real sticky bolt. I determined that I would only use it in colder weather. When I finally got a chance to clock it....2950fps. 50fps gain was all I got out of that 22" barrel. I traded the rifle off. I remember when the Hornady manual ( late 70's) showed 7mm Mag 3400fps with the 139sp. I could not get there in a 24" 7mm mag Mod 700. I could only get 2950/160 PT either, not the 3100fps in the maual! ( IMR 4350) I later found Joy in both the 7mm STW and the 7mm RUM...but bigger/heavier rifles, which I found out that do not work for me here in the mountains. Nothing is as sweet in my hands as a standard caliber in a Mod 70 FWT Classic or Mod 700 Classic. My new to me older Tanger Mod 77 338WM with a very customized slimmed/trimmed/recheckered stock is a good candidate too. I now just have it and a Mod 70 FWT in 7x57. I'll shoot the 7mm Mauser to "modern" pressures, but sure won't try to make it like a properly loaded .280. I say "properly" as when I started loading for a regular .280 the factory ammo pressures were set for the Model 740/742. Jim Carmichael's writings turned me on to two magnificent calibers...the properly loaded .280 and the 338WM. I tend to judge all other by those two, even more so than the 30-06! I guess I got "tainted"..:)
I never clocked it but 55gr/IMR 4831/139 Hornady shot 1" perfect triangle, 3 shot groups from my first Mod 77 .280/22" bbl. Any guess as to how fast that was? I don't know is why I'm asking? Shot my first "Long Range" ( for East, Tx) buck at 276 long steps...and was called a liar about that even! ha

tag

Old thread but what the heck, I enjoyed seeing Bob's posts again.

In mine, both I-7828 and R-26 get me to 3050 with 150 NBTs, with good accuracy out of a 24" barrel.

My first load today in new kreiger bbl on pre 64 action. H4831SC, 63.0 gr, 139 gr barnes LRX came in at 3/8" @100.. I quit!

This is my intent.

Yes, I realize it’s an old post.

I had a Ruger 77 tang safety rifle in 280 Remington "improved" to 280 A.I. back around 1990. The rifle is long gone, but I still have the barrel. Also gone are my load notes.

I recently acquired a new 280 A.I. rifle, a Savage 100 Hunter from a guy here at the 'fire. It has a 5R barrel. I haven't shot it a lot, but enough to see that it is quite accurate. I have been busy fire-forming brass and shooting moderate loads. I'm not looking for 7mm Remington Magnum velocities.

That said, has anyone tried RL-26 in his 280 A.I.? I recently loaded 61 grains of RL-26 under a 150 grain Nosler Partition. Velocity was only 2,860 fps, practically a starting load. The Lee loading manual velocities seem to match my velocities pretty closely. Nosler velocities are higher than mine with similar powder charge weights and the same Nosler bullets.

I now have plenty of RL-26 so I would also like to try it with some 140's. I've been trying IMR-4831 and RL-22 with ok accuracy but nothing stellar.
H4831 SC seems to be the powder for 120's. Just shot this group yesterday.

300 yd group with H4831/ 120 BT

I have plenty of H4831 and will try it next. I am out of IMR4831, which I used at first. I'm just thinking that RL-26 "wonder powder" might be about perfect for the 280 A.I.

One Book One Caliber Reloading manual for the 280 Remington Has data for the 280 AI, From Nosler, Sierra and Hodgon data.

Shot the LH Forbes 280 AI 24" 1-9 twist

Loads worked up in my rifle do not try them without working up.

Would like to see similar loads and velocities please.


280 AI (SAMMI) 24 "
RL 26 Peterson Brass, 160 NAB, CCI 200, 60.5 gr 2935 FPS, 61 GR 3003 FPS 60 GR 160 GR N partition 2982 FPS all under 1.5"

RL 26 RP brass, CCI 200 162 GR A max 61 GR 2952 FPS 61.5 GR 3001 FPS about 2" does not like the 162 Gr A Max

Mag Pro RP brass, CCI 200 162 Gr Amax 62 GR 2882 FPS 62.5 GR 2856 FPS 63 Gr 2880 about 2"

RL 19 RP brass, CCI 200 162 Gr A max 58 GR, 2859 FPS, 58.5 2885 FPS, 2895 FPS

H 4831 Peterson Brass, CCI 200, 160 GR Nosler ABond, 57.5 GR 2769FPS, 58 GR 2808 FPS, 58.5 GR 2865 too hot shows pressure. Around 1"

Peterson brass is quite a bit heavier than RP brass. Nosler load data shows about 3000 FPS tops with 160 GR bullets in there 26" so about 2950 is my
safe max in my 24".

Supply on my 160 GR Nosler Accubond is out more on order. My rifle does not like the 162 A max box states 1-8 twist but accurate in my 1-9 7 Rem Mag.

RL 26 has less felt recoil and more speed than the other powders, but it's tricky does not show pressure.

Any xtra 160 GR Nosler Accubond,s I am looking for around 200, seconds are fine.

Mark

Tag...I have been shooting a 7mm SAUM for some time and found this an interesting read. The saum is basically a short action 280 AI

I've been struggling hard with a 280 ai. Its a kimber mountain ascent sub alpine. Very light rifle. So far loads have been hornady brass, cci 250 primers. 150 gr swift sciroccos .050 off, tried h4831sc, imr 4350 and RL22. Best so far is about 2" groups. Poor ES and SD numbers. Good velocity with RL 22.
Next trip to range was going to switch to BR2 primers and try accubonds. I have 160s on hand, but seems like most prefer the 140s. I would have to find some 140s on a shelf. I also have RL 23 and 26 on hand. Thoughts?

I have tried the 145 LRX and 139 LRX. My barrel much prefers the 139 grain. And, it's not a twist rate issue. Granted, I didn't test variables in each load, so it could have been improved with some experimenting.

For RL22, I use a long drop tube on the powder funnel. Pour slowly and the powder will fill nicely on it's own. A few light taps will also help. I run 70.0 under a 110 TTSX for 3597 fps