I just picked up a 700 Mountain Rifle in .280. I am only interested in shooting two bullets out of this rifle, the 120 ballistic tip and the 140 accubond. If it won't shoot those it is going down the road. I have never played with .280s before and looking for some "tried and true" loads for a place to start, hopefully with what I have on hand.

I have on hand the following powders:

Alliant- RL 15, 17, 22, 23, 26
Hodgdon- 380, 414, 4895, 4831sc, Superformance, Hybrid 100V
IMR- 4350

Thanks in advance.

60.5 grains RL22 under a 140 grain. Might need a long drop tube, but it will fit.

Don't worry about the hype of temp sensitivity. It isn't an issue, and it is accurate.

That load was for an original Barnes X, but should work fine for the Accubond.

Thanks Ken! I shoot RL22 in my .300 win mag. Never worried about the temp issue as that is strictly a Fall/Winter rifle. When I started shooting my 6mm-06 I planned to shoot it year round so went to RL 23 as I got similar performance with (supposedly) better temp sensitivity.

140 grr federal fusion has always been a pet load for mine.

I have a 700 with a 22” magnum contour pacnor barrel. It loves the 140 grn accubonds with 57.0 grains of H4831SC. I think this in around a grain over max in some books but never noticed any pressure signs. I believe I am just off the lands as well. This load has always produced 1/2” groups in this rifle for me.

Thanks Motown!

No problem. I also shoot the 140 ballistic tips with the same load. The accubonds seem to group just a tad better, but on deer I seem to get better blood trails with ballistic tip. I go for the lungs and have had no issues with ballistic tips blowing up either.

Do you do your load development and sight in at hunting weather temperature?

If your 700 Mountain doesn't end up grouping for you, I have a mid-80s Remington 700 KS Mountain in 280 w/ Brown Precision stock and beautiful bluing I'm probably going to list in classifieds. It dead nuts with 140 ABs and BTs and 55.0gr of H4831SC.

My 280 loves the 140 Accubond with 55 grains of Reloader 19. A few buddies shoot the same load in their 280's.

Great loads listed here. Might need to give few of them a shot in my 280...

55 gr H4831SC & 140 AB’s are 1/4 moa in mine

I have done both. That particular rifle had the load worked up years ago in the summer and early fall and then I regularly check the zero throughout the year. I know it is safe in warm temps and any velocity variation between fall work up and late season cow elk temps won’t make any difference at the ranges I kill elk.

I worked up an accurate and fast load for my kids .243 that was no problem at Montana fall temps. Took him to CA on a pig hunt and he shot a coyote at 100 degrees and almost locked up the bolt. Lesson learned going from cool to hot.

57 gr of IMR 4831 , 140 BT, RP brass, LRM primers has been my load for 10 years.

Great input everyone. Much appreciated.

Lower velocity doesn't necessarily mean purely a little more drop. That's what I was thinking about.

in 2018 I built two 280AI rifles and bought one. I shot 3 antelope and two mule deer with them. I just used two for hunting; 2018 Kimber 84 factory and 1949 Win M70 with Bartlein 7mm/.284 5R 1:9 Twist, #3 Fluted Barrel and Mcmillan stock.

For all three rifles I used 140 gr Nos Accubond moly coated 56.2 gr IMR-4166 3.34" OAL.
I was getting about 3100 fps.

57gns of RL19 with a 140gn Nosler Accubond worked well in my Ruger M77 Mk1 .280Rem 22" bbl. Velocity averaged 2880fps

My Sako AV .280 likes this bullet with 56.0g of R-19

61 grains of RL26, 145 grain LRX, CCI Mag. primer, 3.380" COL. 3080 FPS in 24" Rem. factory barrel. Works on deer, hogs and elk.

I’ve been shooting 120 ttsx’s 56.0 grains of r17 3.315 OAL out of my 77 mk II spotter for about five years they shoot half inch.

Great input guys. Thanks