Taking the 280 AI up a notch

I have had great success with my LAW 280 AI this fall as it droped two nice muleys for me, handles and feeds like a dream, and made it easy on my as it loved Nosler factory ammo - 140 accubonds which chronograph at 3120-25FPS average. (Box says 3150)

However the tinkerer in me wants to squeeze all the performance I can out of this rifle. I am sold on the 140 accubond - especially for the game and purpose I want out of it....(deer, elk and a flat trajectory that will minimize dialing out to 400) but I am thinking I should at least be able to get up to the 3250-3300 FPS range? Maybe playing with Reloader 26? Thoughts? Obliviously it won't mean anything if the accuracy isn't there, but I will have all winter to play with as many combos as it will take.

Originally Posted by alpinecrick

RL26 seems to be directed towards overbore, higher pressure cartridges and heavy for caliber bullets. Alliant probably published cartridges and loads that they thought would benefit the most from RL26. In some of the published loads, the increase in velocity is small, in other cartridges a fair amount of increase. I see RL26 as almost a "speciality" powder for a relatively small number of cartridges.

I would think Alliant will be offering more load data in the future.

Of course, that doesn't stop loonies from pouring RL26 into everything that shoots.............

My comfort zone is around 3300 fps. More may be possible but with no tested data that is good enough for me. Work slowly up towards 65 grains watching for velocity spikes. 65 may be too hot I have no way of testing. My rule of thumb is about 1-1.5 grains more than max for MRP in medium cases.

I think 3250-3300 fps is too optimistic for the AI. It’s the right range for a 7 Wby.

My 280 AI runs right at 3200 fps with 140 AB’s using 63 gr N165. That’s as far as I feel pushing it. While that may not be pushing it for the capability of the cartridge, it’s plenty for me. I think a 140 at 3200 is formidable. It’s less than MOA in my gun.

Must add, the 280 AI is great as is. If you want more go with a larger case.

Originally Posted by Hiaring8

Maybe playing with Reloader 26?

That, and I-7977.

3300fps with a 140 is 7WSM territory. I'd not want to go there with the .280AI, personally.

Alliant Reloder-26 : 66.7 gr, 3250 fps, 100.0% powder burn, 63000 PSI - 140 AB, 3.200 AOL, 24 inch barrel.

Safe in Mine as I don't like pushing to max limits of 65K PSI. You many want to work up from about 65 gr which is around 57K PSI and 3160 fps.

Next up, RL26 in the 222Rem.........I can't wait to read about the extraordinary velocities.............

60 grn of Rl 17 will put you in at 3359 fps with a 140 nosler

Have the graph pics to prove it

If I hit 3300 in my 280ai with 140’s, I’d back off a bit.

Originally Posted by pety221

60 grn of Rl 17 will put you in at 3359 fps with a 140 nosler

I believe this is the exception and not the rule. Pushing 3250 is more the norm and a good accuracy node with the 280AI I have done with RL23 and 140's

That’s fast

Yes considering I have had 2 7MM RM's that wouldn't reach those velocities and give good accuracy.

My wifes late cow elk hunt ends this Thursday and that will basically end Big Game season for my for the year - at least with the 280 AI, so it will be time to start some load work.

I picked up dies and Nosler brass today, 140 accbonds on order, and an unopend cannister of Re 26 ready to roll. Plan on using CCI 250 Primers with a revised goal of finding safe and consistent accuracy in the 3250 FPS range...

At 5000 feet elevation, with a 200 yard zero, that's translates to only 14.9" of drop and close to 2100 FPE at 400 yards and 29.5" of drop and 1900 FPE at 500 yards....While numbers don't matter much in a hunting scenario, that still pretty awesome performance in a non magnum.