Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 280 AI what's working for you

I should be receiveing my 280 AI from Rangesports Unlimted very soon.
I've layed in a supply of Nosler brass, have lots of 7mm pills to try.

Custom gain twist suitable for 140 to 150gr RKS bbl, @ 25".

More interested in expected velocites and powder choices, specific loads not really required.

In order of preference,

N165, IMR4831, RL19, RL22, AA3100 with 140 pills.

If i still owned a 280AI N560 would be on my short list as well.

RL-22,but that's only because I can't get N165 around here! Monashee

I've gotten great accuracy with H4831, IMR 4831, RL-17 & 22, and N165.

What'd you go an do?

Building another one?

Looking for the Holy Grail, I moved on...........

Next was an improved 300 Win Mag necked to 7. Then a straight neck down from 300 Winchester to 7mm, and finally the idea hit me to use the 338 RUM and neck to 7mm.

I love the 7 bore and have had much fun shooting at game and at distance with such.

3650 fps and .485 BC is a lot of mistake proof shooting for a hillbilly like me.

My son witnessed a antelope kill at 530 yds. Seemed like the next county. It were nothing more than a top of the back hold and he was mine. I`d like to be challenged again with said rifle......

Tim,

Seeing how you like the 7mm's so much, you should try a 7mm/375 Ruger and report back. It's not going to keep up with your RUM, but I'd love to see what it would do. Gotta think it would be near STW performance in a more magazine friendly package. Still wishin' that Ruger would do something in a 7mm and/or 30cal. with that case.

Kevin

The new Winchester Supreme 780 works very well in the 280 Rem AI especially with bullets 150 grains and heavier.

Magazine friendly would get the highest preference point.

Hornady may be the only game for brass as well. Not knocking Hornadys brass mind you, but options are a goo9d thing.

H4831sc, Rem .280 fireformed brass and Fed 210 primers works great for me. Shooting Nosler Ballistic tip bullets, 3 shot group accuracy at 100 yards is 0.60" with the 120's; 0.50" with the 140's and 0.40" with the 150's. Best of all, shooting 3 shots of each bullet at the same target results in under a 1" group at 100 yards. Follow Nosler newest manual for loads. My gun is a Rem 700 with a Shilen 23.5" barrel

RL 22 and a Federal GM215M primer with 160 gr AB yields MV 3019 fps and the 140 gr AB MV3240 fps. Accuracy is superb.

JD338

Kevin:Me,too........But until that happens,you can have it today...it's called a 7mmDakota.Just punch out a M70 Classic in 7RM.I think you may need a slight bolt face alteration,but that's about it.Brass is on the expensiveside,but so what?About the same as Weatherby Norma brass.I'd like to see that7mm/375Ruger myself,but really no reason to wait...

The Dakota does 3375 with the 140AB from my 24" #2 Krieger 9twist;I suspect a 25-26" barrel will break 3400.This with a below max load of R22.120 TTSX does 3550 and great accuracy.It ain't Tim's wildcat,but it ain't dog doo-doo either

My own rifle likes imr4831 and r-22.With a 23" barrel,the velocity is around 3150fps for a 140gr bullet.

Man, I guess. That's awesome!

re-22 has worked great in mine. I may play with the hodgen extreme powders 4350 or 4831 sc. Dean