anyone shoot the 280 ackley improved?

[opticspecialist]

hey fells, i've got a chance to buy one at a great price. if you shoot one, what can you tell me about it from your experience. it looks like an impressive round, but there isn't a wealth of information out there.

what do you use yours for? effective range? i'm thinking of using mine for whitetail deer and elk, i also think that 168 grain berger is going to be my magic bullet. lets hear what you guys have to say about this interesting round.

 

[Pdvdh]

280 AI will shoot ~ 125-150 fps slower MV than a 7mm RM with the 168 Berger VLDs. I'm shooting 168 VLDs at 2900 - 3000 fps out of a 28" Brux barrel. Maximum range is limited based on loss of bullet expansion velocity to ~ 850-900 yds (about 100 yd less than a 7mm RM), due to the slightly reduced MV.

If you have any experience with a 280 Rem and a 7mm RM, the 280 AI falls about in the middle of those two - performance wise. I use Lapua 30-06 brass, necked down and fire-formed to fit the 280 AI chamber.

 

[eddybo]

I usually have one or two around, love em. Phorwath gave you the skinny. The last two that I have played with actually liked the 162 SST with vv560 over the 168 berger.

 

[woods]

My 280AI is my pivot gun. I always take 2 guns hunting just in case. If I am going deer hunting I will take the 280AI and my 6.5 Rem Mag and if I am going Elk hunting I will take my 280AI and my 338 RUM.

I shoot 160 Accubonds at just over 3000 fps and get multiple loadings on the cases. Some I have are over 10 loadings

Every gun is an individual, START LOWER AND WORK UP!

 

[opticspecialist]

any good pet loads i can work from?

 

[Forrest Ebert]

168 grain Berger Hunting VLD 63 grains of Retumbo Nosler brass WLR primers
.186" groups . I really don't see much difference from a 7Rm as I have seen very few 7RM.'s that shoot max. loads accurately but the 280 AI is very accurate! I'm also working on some 180 Grain Berger Hunting VLD loads right now. Hope this will help you.

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[opticspecialist]

thanks it helps a lot. i can't wait to start working up loads for this thing. is that powder temp sensitive? i live in louisiana, but i hunt in la mississippi, alabama, colorado, and anywhere else i can, so temp, hummidity and pressure vary, what powder is least sensitive to temp.

 

[Forrest Ebert]

To my knowledge it is not but I do know that the Reloader powders are so I might stick to the Hodgen line of powders especially the areas you are talking about . The reason I gave you that Berger load info is that I have used that load on game and it's lights out on big Whitetails and I wouldn't hesitate on using it for Elk or Bear either !