Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Not digging my 280AI so far...

Custom tube, competent smith, lacklustre performance thus far.

I have tried Berger VLD 140's, 120 Ballistic tips, and 139sst's. Haven't broken an inch group yet at 100.

-Win case.
-CCI200 primers.
-H4831sc powder.
-9 twist Pacnor.

I have tried tight into the lands, and as far as .050" off on the Bergers. Had to go .030" off on the 120 bt's, because they are so short if they were any closer there wouldn't be much neck contact. Tried .010" off on the SST's.

Guessing a powder change is in order? I know I am being picky, but most all of my guns go sub-1" at 100. Best I have gotten is probably 1.25" or so with the Ballistic tips, and averaging about 1.75" with everything else. Certainly good enough for big game, but the donor was an honest 1/2" gun back in its day.

thanks.

Not that it much matters as it's a different rifle, but my 9 twist 280AI absolutely loves H4831 S/C. 3050 with 150's and 3165 with 140's. Both TSX loads, both seated to touch the lands. The 140 load will go 5/8", the 150 less than that.

You sure the scope is ok?

Don't be afraid of more jump.

Dogcatcher, My 280 AI produced only mediocre accuracy until I tried VV165. Now with 63.5 gr of VV165 under a 140 Accubond lit by a CCI BR2 my average of 6-3 shot groups is a little less than .5".

RL 22 also produced decent accuracy with the 140's.

Scope was fine, had it on a 22-250 and did a swap a week ago. Got some 150 Ballistic tips on the way, hoping to try them.

Might have to try more jump, haven't given up on the VLD's yet. Bergers shoot great in my 204, 22-250AI, and 6.5x55. The 204 and 6.5 are jumping pretty far, and the 22-250AI is .005" off.

Bluedot, thanks for the info.

Try H4350 with the 120's. Both of my 280AI's liked that powder.

I'd say the same...try seating them a little deeper. Or a lot.

The odd part is, I usually start all my big game guns .010-.020" from the lands, with good results. Not so far though...

I don't like to load hunting rifles with bullets touching the lands, because I don't want the freak longer bullet of the batch to keep my gun from chambering when I am shooting at game. I go much deeper, I might run into the ogive though.

What kind of brass?

Are they already fireformed fully?

Try a primer swap?

Mike

i have a pacnor 26" 1-9" 7mm rem mag. try 175gr sierra btsp gamekings re22 or 7828 at 2800fps or so. mine also shoots 175gr partitions to the same point of impact out to 300yds at 2900fps

All good bullets;it should shoot at least one of them...powder?

You gotta assume the rifle is OK....

+1 on this one and try some Fed. 215 primers with the H-4350 120BT combination.

I shoot the same recipies except for primers and brass. Try Fed 210 or 210M and see if that makes a difference. Also as others have said try different jumps. Groups in mine got tighter as I moved from starting to max Nosler manual powder charges.

With several 7mm rifles, Nosler Partitions shoot very well; 140's in 7x57 and 7-08, and 150's and 160's in the 7mm Mag.

my 24" pac-nor featherweight rig loves RL22 and either 140 or 150 barnes TTSX, both will do 1/2"-1". Did just about as well with 150 etips and RL22. for 140's I'm loading 64g and 150's it's 62g.

.050 isn't much in my world. Tight into the lands??? I would never do that!!! could be some bad mojo waiting for you there. (wear glasses) I'll take a WAG & say your runout is probably horrendous. Load up three of the BT's & seat them deep enough to get at least a full grab from the neck & quit worrying about how far off the lands they are. I've got half a box of 120 gr. TSX's & if the BT's don't shoot better seated deeper, PM me with your addy & I'll send them to you.

IMR-4831 with 140 gr. Accubonds or Partitions, Federal 215 Mag Primers

Thanks for all the good feedback guys.

I ordered a new Redding seater die last night. My Lee seemed to give inconsistent results.

You're running Lee?

I'll guess that things are about to start looking up for you.