Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 280 Rem elk load

A few weeks ago I worked up loads with the .284”, 155g Federal Terminal Ascent bullet for my .280 Rem and 7mm RM. Now I can’t get more of them and using them for the elk hunt this fall looks less and less likely. Yesterday I worked up a load for the.280 Rem using Nosler 150g AB Long Range. II turned out to be a 5-shot development effort.

Based on my Terminal Ascent data, I started with a 51.0g charge of H100V and built up to .53.5g in 0.5g increments. The load for the Federal TA is 53.0g H100V and I stopped there with a velocity of 2898fps. The last three shots printed just under an inch and the last two at .292”. Didn’t bother firing the last (53.5g powder charge) load.

Based on 7000 feet altitude and a 6” diameter target, this load gives me a Point Blank Range of 298 yards with a 252 yard zero. Based on my admittedly arbitrary rule-of-thumb 2000fps and 1500fpe for elk, this load is good to 630 yards with 2125fps and 1504fpe. Since the max range for my practice is 600 yards, the ballistics beyond that are moot.

Had been planning on taking the 7mm RM (155g Federal Terminal Ascent @ 3085fps) this year (along with a second rifle) but think the .280 Rem will take its place. The other rifle will be my .300WM (175g LRX @ 3036fps) or .338WM (225g AB @ 2788fps).

Sounds like you’re set. How does H100V compare to RL26 as far as velocity? I’m using 26 as my go to for my 280 loads and it gets good velocity with 150’s out of a 22” tube. Although squeezing another 50+ FPS doesn’t matter and any game animal will never know. I have ran a 280 and 280AI and love them. My dad ran a 280 Remington since they first brought out the Mountain Rifle. It’s a much under appreciated caliber and will pretty much cover all bases if loaded properly. I stoke mine with 150’s a top of RL26 and go. My other two are a 270/RL22/150’s and a 35WhelenRL15/250’s combo. The 270 was my uncles, 280 my dads and the Whelen is my freshly built bear thumper. Pretty well set and have things covered. I’ll have to check out the terminal ascent bullet and see about trying them. Keep us posted on your results.

Can't say how it compares to RL26 as I don't have any data for it. Was at the range yesterday with the load and smacking the steel at 500 and 600. Recorded velocities were very consistent and averaged right around 2900fps.