280AI range results

[SSgt G Cody]

As to the comments about magnum primers, my good friend's brother is a guide for grizzly hunts in Alaska. They commonly hunt in sub-zero weather. He strongly recommends magnum primers, because he has seen normal primers fail several times in very cold weather! With a bear charging, you can't afford poor ignition! So I would say that hunting in very cold weather demands magnum primers, or maybe your life!

 

[Bob Wright]

I use magnum match with RE23 in my 280AI. It made all the difference in settling down velocity issues.

 

[CBH Australia]

I use magnum match with RE23 in my 280AI. It made all the difference in settling down velocity issues.

Interesting, I've had some velocity issues with my .280ai. Never had any issues before I bought a Chronograph.
The .289ai is my first build and I ended up with a chronograph so I found the ES to be nearing 90fps.
I partly blame neck tension.
I'm hoping aee FCD might help a consistent let off as the powder ingnites. That's the theory but it all happen s so fast.
Second time testing velocity spread closed a little and groups are OK.
I've read the velocity might increase a little with a hundred rounds wear on the tube.

I'm not sure about COAL as I shoot a bullet that likes a jump. But it's possible to achieve faster loads if you have a slower powder. H4831sc is a very good powder for the AI. In my Ackley, when my bullet weight nears 170gr, it seems slower powders have better all around results for me. I know that was not the subject you asked about, but when I see the .280 Ackley, I can't get enough talking about fellow .280 Ackley shooters and their feedback. Thanks

Is that because it's a sweet looking cartridge or because it's simply Sht Hot?

I'm not sure what the allure was but some fellas I met through forums who planted the idea of various 7mm cartridges.

I have a Tikka CTR 7mm-08 and it's proven itself as a truck gun. I used a 7mmRm in South Africa.

Speaking to a fella was an armourer who said he had been hunting with the .280ai for years.

He sent me a couple of cases and a dummy round , well I found myself fondly fondling the dummy round each time I sat down.

As many proud .280ai owners know it has pretty good performance for case capacity showing good ballistics results for its class.

And the case looks cool.

 

[Bob Wright]

Interesting, I've had some velocity issues with my .280ai. Never had any issues before I bought a Chronograph.
The .289ai is my first build and I ended up with a chronograph so I found the ES to be nearing 90fps.
I partly blame neck tension.
I'm hoping aee FCD might help a consistent let off as the powder ingnites. That's the theory but it all happen s so fast.
Second time testing velocity spread closed a little and groups are OK.
I've read the velocity might increase a little with a hundred rounds wear on the tube.

Is that because it's a sweet looking cartridge or because it's simply Sht Hot?

I'm not sure what the allure was but some fellas I met through forums who planted the idea of various 7mm cartridges.

I have a Tikka CTR 7mm-08 and it's proven itself as a truck gun. I used a 7mmRm in South Africa.

Speaking to a fella was an armourer who said he had been hunting with the .280ai for years.

He sent me a couple of cases and a dummy round , well I found myself fondly fondling the dummy round each time I sat down.

As many proud .280ai owners know it has pretty good performance for case capacity showing good ballistics results for its class.

And the case looks cool.

During load work-up with Nosler brass, I discovered I had a donut form at the internal neck shoulder junction. I wasted a lot of components until I figured that out. I had bullets going 5- 6 inches high at its worst.
Ackley and other wildcats are known to do that.
I had to order a K&M neck turner and reamer pilot kit. It now shoots low E/S. The mag primer really is necessary even though donuts were present. Turning necks was also necessary due to tight neck chamber on my rig as well.
I switched to Peterson brass and am shooting those this weekend to finish load development.

 

[john k]

During load work-up with Nosler brass, I discovered I had a donut form at the internal neck shoulder junction. I wasted a lot of components until I figured that out. I had bullets going 5- 6 inches high at its worst.
Ackley and other wildcats are known to do that.
I had to order a K&M neck turner and reamer pilot kit. It now shoots low E/S. The mag primer really is necessary even though donuts were present. Turning necks was also necessary due to tight neck chamber on my rig as well.
I switched to Peterson brass and am shooting those this weekend to finish load development.

Thanks for input. I've been trying to purchase Peterson brass for almost a year. Please let me know the results with load development using Peterson. I'm confident one of my issues is consistent neck tension. Thinking about expander mandrels. Any input on them appreciated. Thanks again

 

[Deputy819]

Thinking about expander mandrels. Any input on them appreciated. Thanks again

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Email or call Kevin at 21st Century shooting….he'll get you lined out on mandrels.

 

[Garyjt]

I shoot an Ackley 280 and have very good luck with the IMR4350 powder using a Nosler 150 E-Tip or shooting Nosler accubond bullet.
I have good luck also using the Hodgdon 4831SC powder. I usually do not reload any bullet larger than 160 grain in my 280AI because I use my 300 wm when loading the larger bullets.

 

[john k]

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www.xxicsi.com

Email or call Kevin at 21st Century shooting….he'll get you lined out on mandrels.

Thanks. Appreciate

 

[john k]

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21st Century Shooting, Reloading products, Reload, reloading ammo, 21st century, twenty first century shooting, shooting, gun reloading, tools for reloading, front rest, f class, bench rest, short handle, arbor press, powder measure, bullet, bullet comparators, die base, shell holders, powder...

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Email or call Kevin at 21st Century shooting….he'll get you lined out on mandrels.

Just got off phone with Kevin and order on way. Thanks again.

 

[Deputy819]

Cool, brother! Happy to help

 

[CBH Australia]

@Bob Wright
I have read a favourable report on Petersen Brass,
I wasn't shooting 5 high but I'm expecting better as the rifle was built/ assembled on a new Tikka for me.

 

[meatyrem]

Morning folks. I'm working on a hunting load for a .280 AI. Was hoping I could get a bit of direction,. It took me 50-60 rounds to realize that the 168 VLD wanted to be jammed a bit in this barrel, but now that I found it I went back and retested some charge weights. Found a reasonable weight at 58.6gr. Thus far my BTO changes have been fairly coarse, and I haven't tried jamming any deeper than the .012" here. Would you say that it's worth the time to try and fine tune the BTO at that 58.6 charge weight? Also, how deep have you guys jammed without issues? I realize it's barrel dependant, just curious what others have ran into. Testing has been done at 100yds so wondering if it might be worth it to try this load at 200 & 300 before tuning BTO any more.

Thanks,
Kevin.

You could try Vihtavuori N560/Norma MRP

 

[Bob Wright]

@Bob Wright
I have read a favourable report on Petersen Brass,
I wasn't shooting 5 high but I'm expecting better as the rifle was built/ assembled on a new Tikka for me.

The brass was very consistent on neck wall thickness. I had to turn because of a tight chamber. The nosler brass was problematic and although they are now corrected, they sit in my brass storage permanently I'm thinking.

 

[SSgt G Cody]

I have only encountered neck collars (donuts) when extreme forming/re-sizing, or once on many reloads of same few cases. Our solution was align-boring to .005 over bullet diameter. We now carefully re-size neck with collet dies!