Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting 280 ackley improved

HillBilly,
Just got home after an evening at the range trying the 120TTSX with your recommended powder charge. Started @ 59g of H4350 and shot 4 on a clean barrel. Grouped about an inch. No pressure signs so I moved up to 60g and shot 3 that grouped 1 1/2". Again no pressure so I moved up to 60.5 and fired 2 in the same hole and again no pressure. Moved up to the last lot I prepped @ 61g of H4350 (your load) and fired 3 more that impacted in and around the previous 2. No pressure signs and the 5 shot string measured .383".
I did not set up the Chrony but will have that data the next time. Really won't make any difference cause when I stumble onto one that is as accurate as this load is horsepower is no longer much of a factor. Thanks for the recommendation!!

Dave

That's Great News. 120 grain bullets and H4350 are just a magic blend in the .280AI. Your velocity should be running between about 3,325 and 3,400 fps depending on your barrel length.

With the TSX you should be set for most any critter smaller than a cape buffalo.

Dunno how that combo will work in an ancient 99 in 284, but I'm fixin' to find out. If it's a dog all I'm out is my pride and a few bucks, but if it shoots in an inch at warp speed (for a 99) I'm in business.

Wayne

If your .284 doesn't like the TSX try some 120 Nosler BT with the H4350.

HillBilly,
You are right about the magic of the H4350 and the 120's. I cannot wait to get out again and run a few over the Chrony. The Douglas on my ULA is 24" long. I am hoping for mid 33's and from the sounds of your experiences with the same load it ought to be right in there somewhere.
The recoil with the 120 is noticeably less than with a 140 which is nice. Got 3 boxes of Nosler BT on the way as well. When I get the load chronied I'll work on shooting it at 300 and 400 yards. I'm thinking a guy might set it about 1 3/4" high @ 100 and be pretty close to hold on to 250 with just a slight allowance for distance @ 300 and just keep in on hair at 400.
Your recommendation is appreciated as it short circuited load developement quit a bit. Things normally don't come together as quick as this one.

Dave

I am zeroed at 1.5 inches high @100 and this puts me about 3.5 inches low @ 300 yards. The 120 will outrun the ballistics chart.

My rifle will drop the 120BT into 1-1.25 inch groups at 300yards. Your NULA should do better than that.

HillBilly,
Good to know. I have seen several that defy the ballistic charts. As for shooting under 1.5" @ 300 the NULA will probably do it with your recommended load and the 120's but ole Dave may have trouble.
I'm real confident I can keep one of those 120's in a 6" bull @ 300 and 400 off of either a SnipePod or a Harris BiPod either prone or laying. I'll get plenty of practice this summer and haul the 280AI out to WY and see if I have some luck finding and tagging a pronghorn or two.

Dave

If I can shoot 1.5 inches at 300 yards anybody can.

Last fall just before deer season I was out looking for an unsuspecting coyote (Old Wile E was a no show)and decided to see how the .280AI was shooting. I folded my jacket up and laid across a big rock and had no trouble hitting softball size rocks out to near 500 yards(range finder said 486).

Methinks, the WY pronghorns are going to be in for it when you and the NULA show up.

It's a great load. 61 grains of H4350 gives results virtually identical to Timm's, 3370 fps and makes tiny little groups on paper.

Guys, what type of velocities are you seeing w/140's, I've been shooting 140 TTSX-62g of RL22 and seeing 3040fps avg with groups around 3/4" today I pushed it to 64g which stretched groups to 7/8"-1 1/8" but velocity avg was 3111 fps.

My Cooper with a 23" barrel produces 3070fps with the 140gr TTSX ahead of 59gr of IMR 4831.

3150 with H4831, 3200 with RL22. Both with book loads.

Rick: What barrel make and length are you running?

My rifle with a 23 inch barrel will run around 3100 fps with the 139 Hornady and RL-22.

Hillbilly: Thanks!

After playing with my 7mm RM and running both 120g and 140g TTSX's over the chrono, I settled on the 140g for better long range ballistics even though it starts out slower.

Might want to give it a try in your .280 and run the numbers. Although with accuracy like that, I'd be loath to look at other loads...

Bob, it's a 24" 9 twist made by Ted Gaillard in Sask. It's not "quite" as accurate as some other barrels I have had, but it is a M700 mountain rifle contour. It will average around 0.6" with 140 TSX's or accubonds, and will do an honest half-inch with 150TSX's at 3050. Amazing accuracy from such a light little barrel!

P.S. It's full length neutral bedded in a compact EDGE stock, same bedding as a NULA.

Great looking rifle. I'm not a fan of the AIs but this one clearly shoots. I have a 7mm RM project in the works.

Rick, HillBilly, Bob, Coyote,

Got out this evening after supper. Didn't get started until about 7:15PM, The guy that tends the range was running a weedeater when I got there and said he would be about 20 minutes which gave me time to set up the Chrony. Had some Nosler 120 BT and some TTSX's both with 61g H4350 behind them.
Chrony (after I put the skyscreens on) said 3358 to 3375 with the BTips. It started raining so I out the Chrony up. Groups with the Noslers were not as tight as with the TTSX's but gotta give the BTips another chance or two at different depths. They'll probably dial in.
24" Douglas contour 2. NULA Model 24

Dave