Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Okay all you 280 guys.

My 280 is pre 64 fwt with Douglas XX 22" barrel in Mky stock w/Leo MX 6X42. Although I reload for twelve other rifles this particular rifle will put three shots into 1/2" all day long with the Hornady Lt. Mag. Factory fodder. I have stocked up on the BTSP and the SST's in this ammo. This is a go to deer/antelope rifle.

I'll take it!

I know there are ballistic tip haters out there, but federal 150's have done the job for me. DRT every kill for the most part of the last three years(have used innerbonds on a couple different occasions). Little bloodshot meat but nothing too bad. Very accurate out of my 280.

I have never owned a 280 Rem, but lately I seem to be running
into more 280AIs in the gunshops and pawnshops.

Try it, you'll like it !!!

145gr Speer Hot Core has been perfect for me for several decades.

140 gr. Accubonds or 140 gr. TSX, H4350 or H4831sc. All have worked well in my .280's.

Loads that have worked for me in my Rem 700.

59grs R-19, 139 Hornady Interlock SP. 3150fps. (Nothing more is needed for deer out to as far as they can be hit...bang flop almost all the time, and probably the lowest pressure load I'll list here...this has taken lots of deer for me)

60.5grs R-22 or 61grs N165, 140 Accubond, 3070-3090fps

57grs N160, 140 Solid Base, 3120fps, Scary Accurate.

59-60grs H4831, 154 Hornady IL, 2970-3000fps, Sub MOA (Also a dang fine bang flop load on deer if you like a bit heavier bullet...for deer, this is as heave as you'll ever need IMO.

60grs R-22, 160 Partition, 2990fps, very accurate, but never used on deer as I like the lighter bullets, and have a 7mmRM for 160s.


As always, these loads work for me in my gun and I worked them up using a chrony and working from about 4-6 grains under as start loads. Do not use these loads in your rifle without working up properly. Those velocities cannot be safely attained using faster powders.

I shoot 139 Hornady on top of 51.0 grains of IMR 4350, nothing but Bang Flops from this load in my .280's. Used the same bullet in my 7mm-08 with 45.0 grains of H380, same results.

I also like the 154 Hornady SST or Interlock under 55 gr H4831. Well under max for power, but dead accurate in my .280 and easy to shoot as well.

Here is a load that Bob Milek really liked in a 280 Rem.

57.5 gr. H-4831 with 154gr. Hornady Interlock.

This load works good for me in my 280.
Good luck
HD

The guys that are saying if he isn't happy with the Barnes bullet, he isn't going to be happy with anything are spot on. He damned sure isn't going to like a ballistic tip or other cup and core bullet better, because they are much more explosive.
Something sounds a little off here, I have shot a lot of deer through one or both shoulders with 270 and 7 Magnum rifles, and can't ever recall throwing away even one entire shoulder.
The only way he is going to get substantially less meat damage, I think, would be to go to something 35 caliber or bigger and us the heaviest, slowest bullet he can get for it. The drawback then is that in heart lung shots, he won't get as quick a kill as he will with something like the 280.

I've used the 280 extensively for the last 15 years or so. I have used and prefer the 140 Partitions but the Accubonds seem to be as just good. I have also used the 139 Hornady BTSP for several big bodied mulie bucks with good results out of a 280 Rem. RL19 is my go to powder with RL22 a close 2nd. You will love a 280 Rem. 163bc

I've used 139gr Hornady SSTs and 57gr of IMR 4831 for 3K fps out of my 280 for five deer. Shots were from 40-220 yards. Worked just fine. I will be using 139gr Hornadyf SP Interlock (flatbase) and H-4350 in the near future as the bullets are cheaper, I can get them locally vs ordering them, they run 1/2" MOA in my gun. I don't see them not working well on deer.

High Brass, I can guarantee you they will work very, very well on both deer and antelope.

My load is 139 grains Hornady Interlock in front of 56.0 grains IMR 4350, CCI LR primers. It is a bomb on deer and antelope!

Good luck.

L.W.

I'll reiterate my affinity for the 139 SP Interlock. L.W. that load of yours looks like a very good load, should be 3000fps+, and I concur...that is a nasty pill for deer. I've lost count of the number I've killed with it from 20 to 300 yards. Off the top of my head I can't recall one that wasn't a bang flop.

Sounds like a winner to me, thanks for the info guys!