Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Gotta 280AI and need a bullet

I picked up a Kimber Montana in 280ai and would like to use it for an upcoming Elk hunt.
I would like some advise from you vetern elk hunters on bullet selection.
I have hunted elk a couple times. The first with a 300 ultra mag with a 180 gr swift bullet at 200 yards on a 5x5 and the second 300wsm with a 180 gr Accubond at 40 yards on a 6x6.

I have always had good luck with Nosler bullets so would you choose 160 partition or accubond or the 140 accubond.

Powder on hand is H4350.

What do you think?

150 TTSX, 160 Partiton or Accubond would be my picks in a 280 AI. Use what the rifle shoots best.

Stay with the heavyweight bullets then. The local F&F had some 160 partitions for 36 a box. They did not have 160 accubonds

I've used a 175 partition and 154 interbond in a 7rm and 7stw with success. I'm dialing in 175 long range accubonds for both right now.

Something in a 140. Mine loves the TSX's and Berger VLD's. Game has been going down nicely with these.

My top pick would be a 150 TTSX, after that a partition or accubond, but your rifle may very well choose for you.

Nosler's 160 grains Partition bullet works just fine on elk in my .280 Remington. Ought to work well in your .280 AI, too.

L.W.

I would go with 150 grain Nosler B/T, This is a great bullet. It will work just fine in a 280-AI. I have used it in a 7MM Rem. Mag. with good results.
I know there are other bullets to use. Just make your self happy.

Any of the tougher 140s-160s will do. But if you can get a slower powder it will probably do better esp. with the 150 grain and above bullets. R22 and VV165 are stand outs in the 280AI.

These have worked so well I never got around to trying the less temperature sensitive powders, but H4831 is never a bad choice and I would look at Ramshot Magnum and H7828ssc too.

I have had good luck with the 160 Partition, in the 7mm's and the 180 Partitions in the 300's. I have 50 years of experience with the Partitions. I know that they work.

I used 150 Nbt's and 160 accubonds but have switched to 150 Barnes ttsx and they have been quite a bit more effective when bones are encountered and just as good on other shots. I'm lucky my 7 RM shoots them just like the ballistic tips. Still prefer the NBT for deer but I had one blow up on an elk rib and cause a 600 yard tracking job.

They had a couple boxes of the 150 ttsx about the same price as the NP. The Barnes loading manual does not list the 280ai.

Tracking is something I would rather avoid as I am color blind and have a very difficult time finding or following blood trails.
I think it makes you more aware of shot placement and stalking hunting skills.

168 TSX & H4831. Super easy load work-up and I've killed 4 elk with this combo now - none have made it more than 50 yds.

I picked up an 8 pound jug of H4350 I was hoping to use in this cal but it seems I should use a slower powder with a 160 grain bullet

go to shootersproshop and buy some of their loaded ammo with the 150 lr accubond 42.00 a box

or get some of their overrun 150 grain partitions 20.00 a box

Nosler Partition 160 gr with Hod 4831

I have the same gun - Kimber Montana 280ai. I use 160gr AB with VV165 powder.

I killed a spike elk this year at 336 yards with this load. His legs folded at the shot and he rolled down the hill (unfortunately) dead.

The load is 1.25 inch in my gun. I'm going to mess with the mag box to see if I can tighten the groups (per the thread in Hunting Rifles). If not, I might try the long range accubonds in 150 gr.

I haven't heard a bad choice yet. Let your rifle tell you (accuracy) what it wants and rock on.

Dave

I use 140g AccuBond and TTSX in my .280 Rem. If I was going wiht 160's I'd probably run the AccuBonds for the higher BC (.531 vs .474), assuming they shoot well. But any should work.

I'm using 160gr AB in my 280AI on a bull elk tag.