Just bought a 280 AI and I am looking for any good reloading recipes that anyone may have that are constantly shooting under 1 inch at 100 yards

My load that I used for a very long time on deer.
Was 64g of H4831 with a 140g Nosler Ballistic tip and a CCI br primer.
I used Rem cases,bought quite a few and sorted by weight.
Rifle was built by Nelson Berger..Walts brother, and had a Douglas no.4 barrel.
It would typically shoot sub MOA at 400 yards.I shot 3 to 3.5 inch groups at 400 yards.
At 500 it would do MOA if you took your time and watched what you were doing.
Hope this helps.
dave

My two main loads have been:

54g RL 17 Barnes 145 LRX CCI LR primer

62g RL 22 Barnes 150 TTSX Fed. LR primer

Try Re 23 under a 160. Re 26 was pretty good, had more velocity, but Re 23 had better groups.

Currently shooting 55gr of R17 and a 168 Berger hunting but plan to swap it to 162 ELd’s and R26 this spring

Kimber Montana, Reloader 26, new Nosler brass, Federal 210 match primers and the 160 Accubond.

Velocity measured by LabRadar.

60.0 gr averaged 2935fps, .6 MOA
60.5 gr averaged 2982fps, .74 MOA
61.0 gr averaged 2997fps, .68 MOA
61.5 gr averaged 3046 fps, .3 MOA

Temperature was 12 degrees, all groups were three shots.

I settled on the 61.5 load, which was repeatable. I've shot around 20 groups with that load, all have been sub MOA.

Currently working on another Kimber (Select Grade) which is showing promise with the 150 Ballistic Tip and 62.0-63.0 gr 7828SSC. This one needs more range time to dial in. Velocity is a shade under 3100 FPS.

H4831sc and 150 BT has been my go to.

Heavier and I like r22

H4350 was great with 120’s.

My Kimber shoots the 150 ballistic tip well using Nosler brass, Fed 210s, and 62 grains R-26. Around 3,050 mv.

Also the 160 Accubond with R-26.

My little brother is just starting to work with his Kimber and shot one round with 60 grains of H4831 and a 150 Swift and got 2957, hopefully he has some test targets soon, but I'd be happy as heck to have that load shoot well for him. Nothing much better in my opinion than that sorta speed with a great bullet in a rifle that goes 7.5lbs all up..

If it doesn't perk with 4831, I am pushing him to try 26. You guys seem to be hammering with it and about any bullet.

beretz - 150 Aframe or Scirroccoo II?

I’m running 162 eld at 2940 with 58 grains of imr7828 cci 250 and Norma brass. Shoots in the .3” if I do my part.

Scirocco..

I like them alot for hunting. I know they aren't the sleekest but man do they expand widely and penetrate real well.

Thanks! Been chewing on that bullet for my 280 AI.

If you can get it shooting, I like it alot for it's terminal performance. I wished Swift made a 175-180 Scirocco for my Mashburn. Probably could sell of the stockpile of Bitterroots I have.

168 Berger VLD, 57.0 H4831, Nosler cases. 2,820 from a 22" 9 twist. Stacks them out there...

My main killing rifle...

Do a search there are some lengthy threads on 280AI loads. I am using R26, R22. VV165 and MRP currently. Will try R23 and 16 eventually but no need to now.

Thanks for all the info guys I will probably try all these loads to get a good idea of what this rifle likes. Some really interesting loads were given that I hadn't even thought of. Never even thought of the Swift bullets.

Thanks Greg. Passing that onto my buddy using the 168 ABLR in his Kimber.

Never really shot the 280AI much but I got a good deal on a Savage rifle in this caliber I just hope I get my money's worth out of it.

Donnie
I actually have two.
My second rifle likes 120g Nosler Ballistic tip over 58.5g of Norma N204.
Norma case.
CCI-BR primer.
At 500 yards you need a outright bench gun to better it.
just sayen...

dave

My .280 AI likes the 120 grain Nosler Ballistic tip over 61.0 grains of H4350 and a Federal 215 primer. 3325 fps from a 23 inch 9 twist Shilen barrel and will shoot 1 inch groups at 300 yards.

HB, just curious, have you shot anything up close with that load, and if so, how did the bullet perform, as far as bloodshot meat?

Not HB but..
I was acctracted to it,the 120g BT, because of the accuracy.
They are supposed to have a very heavy jacket and not explode like the BTs of old.
I got a bad feeling about them as I made what I feel was a very good shot,A lung shot and never recovered the deer,
Acted like ball ammo.
dave

I have heard some people say that the Savage rifles are pretty accurate and then I have heard people say that they don't shoot nowhere near as good as other gun manufacturers

Is that out of a Savage rifle

63 gr VV N165, 140 Accubond @ 3200 fps in my 23” Lilja barrel. That load shoots one ragged hole in my gun.

I think you may a few of those.... I was hoping for a free report when you load'em

Be Safe,

Killed deer as close as 15 yards and so far (32 deer with this rifle) all of the 120's have exited. No excessive bloodshot or mangled meat.

in a 26", 9T, X Caliber barrel, 175g Nosler accubond is really a great shooting bullet with IMR 7828 with 215's. I am shooting 30/06 Lapua brass, neck turned. This bullet really creates a lot of damage on deer 300 and under for a bonded core bullet at 3000 fps.

My Savage has a 1:9 twist 22 inch barrel on it the short barrel is what concerns me with it

62.0 h4831, 140ab, f215

Way sub moa in 3 different rifles.

Not a screaming load but hovers around .5" in my Law 280ai

Tag for future reference, but my LAW in 280ai shoots the factory 162 ELD-X very well.
donsm70

Does anyone have the 280AI in a 22 inch barrel

Mines 23”. 22” wouldn’t bother me a bit.

Good that makes me feel better about this barrel

Read this thread a bit more closely.....

I see now where you said your rifle had a 22 inch barrel

I have the short action equivalent a 7mm SAUM and it has a 22.5" bbl

I have 3, 280AIs.

Without a doubt IMR7828 (or 7828SSC) has proven to be the go to powder behind the 160 class bullets. Tried for a long time to get the Reloader XX (insert number here) loads to perform. Ultimately, I the temp sensitivity of Reloader pushed me to 7828. Haven't looked back since.

From reading everyone's imput on accuracy I am getting really excited about my choice to give this caliber a try. I have seen a lot of you posting about excellent groups. I just hope I can achieve these results

Lots of options with the 280AI. Mine likes the 140 BT over RL22 & RL23 at a scoche over 3200 fps. Also had great results with a 150 ELDX & RL26 @ 3120ish.

If you use RL23 in this cartridge, get a drop tube if you don't have one. The density makes it a tough to get enough powder in the case.

My old kimber Montana liked 7828 with 150 partitions or NBTs. I never could get that rifle to like the 162 amax or other high BC bullets. Maybe that's why I don't have it anymore. I picked up a CA ridgeline this winter but haven't shot it yet. I plan to try 180 elds first in it.

My Montana 7wsm loves 162 amaxes with 7828. I'm going to try the 180s in it this summer too. The 180s work well in my 28 bowler so I hope some of my other rifles like it too.

Bb

Wish I had one. I love my Ackley & it is so very accurate. But, I would more love a 7 RSAUM.

My Pac Nor barreled Remington loves 59 grains of Imr 4831 and a cci 250. Yields just over 3,000 fps and 1/2" groups.

The 120 ttsx over 58.5 grains of RL17 and a cci 200 turns in an average velocity of 3,290 fps. Again 1/2" groups.

This^^^^^^^^^^^

I would be very pleased with one ragged hole

When you get that, it kinda makes you feel good.

I got that out of my new 300WSM

Yep, mine is a 22" using an XTR Model 70 featherweight with the 8.75" twist and rechambered.

Sounds like a nice one