Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 280AI Elk Bullets & Powder

I'm curious what the campfire is using for bullet and powder combinations for elk out of their 280AI.
150 & 160 partitions seem to get good reviews, as do the 160 Accubonds. I have also read good things about the high BC bullets from Berger.

For powders, the 4350s and RL22 seem to be popular.

So, what is your pet load for elk.
Thanks

Don't overlook H4831, and I have had good luck with Ramshot Magnum also..

With what you have on hand, I'd start with the 160gr AB's, RL22, and just work up. My preference would be for H4831, but with component availability today, I'd start with the RL22.

for 2014 it's looking like 150g Nosler LRAB & MRP

With a new 280 AI and 7 elk preference points I will be following this thread

Vn165 and 140TTSX

Rl22 and 140 ttsx. Have not used it on elk but would not hesitate to after using it on several deer

Nosler 160 Partitions and RL22. Start with 57 grains and work up. My 280 AI liked 58.5 grains for accuracy but Nosler's #7 reloading guide lists loads up to 60.5 grains max.

140 grain Sierra bt game kings over h-4350

The 140 ttsx is a nasty one at speed. Killed a deer at about 40 yards or so and the bullet went full-length through. Instant drop, but that was via one of my 7 WSM's. I can't imagine there would be any difference with a 280 AI.

There are many good choices. I can get 2910 fps with the 160 accubond and h4831.

My favorite load is the Nosler 150 BT with 4831. I would not hesitate to hunt Elk with this combo.

That 150 BT is a good one. Damn accurate, too.

For what it's worth, I would not use RL 22 for an elk hunting load. I have shot some RL22 and it's velocity changes when temperature drops. The loss of velocity in itself is not a big concern, but the resultant change in point of impact could be.
I have actually shot RL 22 over a chrono in cold weather and compared the velocities to warm weather and there was a significant difference.
H4831 will push any decent bullet fast enough to kill any elk that walks to over 500 yards, and probably a lot farther than that.

I use Re22 and the 140 grain TTSX as my warm weather antelope load. H4831 and the same bullet as my cold weather elk load. Very close in velocity and POI.

While I only have just the standard .280 rem, I have used the 160 gr. partition with 56 gr. of IMR 4831 to kill multiple elk from ranges of 30 feet to 300 yards, all angles. The combo just flat works real good.

The spike in my avatar fell to a single 160 partition from my .280 rem as he tried to sneak out of the head end of a draw around 100 yards away I was headed up. Heading almost directly away from me the Bullet broke his right front leg, exited leg to enter lower neck severing the jugular and wind pipe then to also exit opposite side of neck. Elk made it maybe 40 yards spraying like a hydrant and tipped over.

My chrono'd velocity is only in the mid 2800 fps range, I could only imagine what a cool 2900 fps would be like from the AI....

Mine is a 150 TTSX, 62g RL22 @ 3050 fps.

Great advice so far. Keep it coming.

150 gr. Swift Scirocco, H4831.

I've used just one load in my .280AI to kill six bull elk in the 300"-350" class, 160gr.NPT, 60grs of IMR7828 Winchester primers and Winchester cases or lately Nosler cases. The last one taken was Sept. 16th in Utah. He took a single bullet through the chest and was literally DRT. The bullet in this case did not exit and I did not find it because he was not gutted. My load gets about 2950fps and three shot groups will be an inch or less at !00yds. There may be better combos, but I'm not wasting any time looking for them.

Mine likes 60-61 grains of I7828ssc behind the 150 Ballistic Tip.