Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Has Anybody Tried Retumbo in 280 Rem?

I'm looking for a slow powder to give top velocity with 175 grain bullets in my Ruger 280. I have Retumbo on the shelf for my 300 RUM. Has anybody tried it in the 280 Rem? Appreciate all replies.

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I haven't tried it but it might be worth a go.

It isn't listed in the .280 Hodgdon data, but in the .280 AI (which really doesn't have all that much more case capacity, despite what many believe) they list Retumbo as giving more velocity than any other powder, even H1000. The problem would be cramming enough into the standard .280 case to do the same thing.

The max load listed in the .280 AI is 60.3 grains of Retumbo with the 175 Swift A-Frame. Based on the data I would guess that 2-3 grains less would be max in the standard .280.

IMR7828ssc works good for your application. I know it's not RETUMBO, but it works well with 160-175grn bullets in the .280. Make sure if you do go with 7828 that you get the ssc version, for the standard cut fills the case before you get to a maximum charge.

If you try RETUMBO, let us know how it works. I am curious.

I used 7828 (in the pre SC days) as an ideal powder in one 280 I worked with. We were shooting 160s out of that as I recall, but 7828 gave us a surprise both in the speeds it provided and the accuracy it offered. (It was also no worse than anything else in the 7mm-08 with 175s for a combination of speed -2400 fps- and accuracy - 1.5-2 moa.) I like what 7828 offers in a what would often be considered mismatched cartridges.

I'd like to see more data available for this powder. It works great in my 7mm Remington magnum. Data is pretty hit or miss (no pun intended) so far for most other cartridges. They've data for the .2506, but none for the .257 Wby. MuleDeer's example with the .280 remington. This powder has been available for some time now, it is no longer "new". Data should be coming out faster than this trickle.......especially when the stuff fricken works!

Kaiser Norton

That was the point I was alluding to in my post as well. Some of the "too slow" stuff sometimes works a whole lot better in various applications than what logic would suggest that it should. (The nice part is that one can usually just use loads published for the slightly faster powders as long as they don't leave significant space in the case with the "too slow" powders. And compressed loads can often work very well - at least with stick powders.)

Yeah, I have never gotten into real trouble compressing stick powders, even when shooting the loads several years later.

About the only semi-problem that can turn up is the bullets getting pushed forward slightly by the powder. This can jam the bullet into the lands and increase pressures.

Have also bulged a few cases when compressing powders too much while seating the bullet. Those aren't dangerous, though, because they don't fit in the chamber!

Familiar on both counts. (I only use bullets I can crimp easily and well with heavily compressed loads that may tend to bulge cases.)

I know its not a 280 or even 175's but might still be relevant.
I tried Retumbo in my 7 rem mag with 160gr. accubonds. Too slow, way too slow. A extremely compressed load only reached 2700 FPS.

One more vote for 7828SSC. 58.5 gr gets me 3000fps+ under a 150 Ballistic Tip. Rifle is a Stainless M-70 with 22" bbl. Accuracy is sub MOA with some groups coming close to .5MOA.

Thanks for the replies and ideas. The reply from Mule Deer will get me started. I will try to get a few rounds over a chronograph and report back. I'm thinking I shouldn't get into much trouble if I start at about 50 grains and work up, as long as there isn't too much free space in the case. The base of the 175 grain Hornady spire point extends down to the body/shoulder junction. This puts the case mouth right at the upper edge of the crimp groove. Anything longer crams into the rifling and will not chamber easily in my Ruger M77 (tang safe). I have tried up to 46 grains of H4350 with OK acuracy. Book max is 47. That load leaves a LOT of space in the case.

The only calibers I had that really needed powder slower than 4350 are the 264 Win mag, 7mm Rem mag, 30-378 Weatherby, and the 300 RUM. I don't have much of anything on the shelf with a burn rate between 4350 and Retumbo. I used to really like Winchester 785 but that was many years ago, and 785 powder is long since discontinued. Also tried Winchester WMR (IIRC) and 4831 powders a long time ago. WMR left a lot of crap in my guns, and 4831 wasn't much different than 4350.

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This is an old thread but any updates on how the 280 does with slow powders like Retumbo, Magnum and IMR 7828ssc with heavier bullets.

It surprised me to see this old thread title on the list. I don't have any of my 280s any more. But I will say that when I load H4350, I get high pressure way before I run out of powder space in the case.

I've always had excellent luck with H4831 in the .280, whether standard or short-cut, with any bullet weight from 140-175.

Ramshot's shows Magnum with various bullets in the .280. They hvae three 175-grain bullets listed at valocities up to 2676, and pressures running 56.8 to 59.6 psi, due to the standard wimpy SAAMI rating. The powder charges could no doubt be increased a little, since they're not totally filling the case.

Never loaded for the .280, but am loading now for my brother's .280AI. Started with RL22 and the 160gr Sierra Gameking. 58gr gives consistent small groups with all holes touching, whether 3 or 5 shots. Haven't chronoed it yet, but he's happy. Might 7828 or Retumbo be a better bet, or should I wait for the velocity results?

I would't chronograph it! Nosler lists a maximum of 60.5 grains of RL-22 for 160's in the .280 AI, and 58.5 is listed at 2961 fps--from a 26" barrel.

Nosler usually tests pressures with the bullets that create the highest pressures, to make sure their other bullets will work safely. I doubt the Sierra GK will produce as much pressure or velocity. If your brother's rifle has a 24" barrel, I'd guess the muzzle velocity is 2800-2850. That will certainly kill stuff, but isn't what the .280 AI is all about.

So don't chronograph it. Just let him go kill stuff.

I have used Retumbo with 115gr bulllets in a 25-06AI with excellent results.

Yeah, Retumbo works really well with 115-120 grain bullets in the .25-06. Coincidentally, I'm working right now on a .25-06 article, shooting a couple of rifles. It turns out my Ruger No. 1 (a Lipsey's special with light 24" barre, AH forend and nice European walnut) really likes 120-grain Nosler Partitions and Retumbo, shooting them well under an inch at right around 3150 fps!

I am using Retumbo with the 115 Berger VLD at 3200fps. Not awesome velocity wise, but I have lost the urge to tinker as this load is superbly and consistently accurate.
I also tried Magnum and it worked well also, but not quit as good as Retumbo.

Where and when will this article be published? It sounds like a good read.