168 gr, Berger VLD in 280 Remington? Load suggestions?

[meatyrem]

H4831 too fast? Absolutely false. I push 180's with 4831 and so does everyone else I know except one guy uses 4350.

Do you think barrel length plays into this equation? Say for slower powder burn are there barrels too short for these slower powders? Just wanting to hear some thoughts about slow/fast powder compared to short/long barrels vs heavy/light bullets.

 

[barefooter56]

Do you think barrel length plays into this equation? Say for slower powder burn are there barrels too short for these slower powders? Just wanting to hear some thoughts about slow/fast powder compared to short/long barrels vs heavy/light bullets.

meatyrem,
Barrel length definitely does play a role. Faster powders in short barrels (22-23 in) Medium to slow in 24-26 in) and slow in 26-30 inch is the formula I use. You want the longest burn time in the barrel you can get to get the most velocity out of the barrel you can. However , velocity must be tempered with accuracy.

 

[meatyrem]

I have only used H-4831 with 140's so far. I most likely won't go above 150's with my 280. I have a 7mag for the heavier bullets so I don't need to use heavier bullets. My 280's have 24" tubes. I was wondering about this because I just want to know if I'm wasting my time with slower powders like RL-25 or retumbo. I feel I can go a little slower and a little faster for my barrel length but nothing drastic.

 

[bkondeff]

I use 168 HVLD, w/ 56.0 gr 7828, F210.

Killed my Mt Goat last Oct with this in my .280MR(22"). Biggest complaint of this gun is the barrel whip make accuracy difficult. On a 30deg loose rock hill I managed to put 3 shots in a baseball sized group from 350 yds, so it worked fine. I was suprised I had the exit wounds as well.

 

[McWhorterSTW]

Guys i know this post is old but i just bought some new .280 rifles an im looking for some advice on reloading the .280. Which bullets the 140 or the 168 VLD bergers are you getting the best accuracy with? need to know the amount an what powder you are using so i will have a good starting point. new to the .280 so any advice from a 280 man would be greatly appreciated

 

[BEEMAN]

168 Berger CH and 4831SC shoots good out of my Cooper 280AI. Not super fast, but not bad at 2880 fps out of a 24" barrel.

 

[L.Sherm]

I could be wrong but I think he wants info for a 280 Rem.

 

[McWhorterSTW]

i need info for a .280 rem.

 

[L.Sherm]

When I had a 280 Rem I had good luck with RL19. I know others have had good luck with 4350. Mine all I used was 140's if yours was reamed with a saami spec reamer the freebore may be short.

 

[trebark]

Like most answers..."it depends."
What is your intended use for the rifle? My 280rem is my 'carry-rifle' where the intended use is to shoot 200yards or closer but 500yard capable, just in case. As a result, I shoot the 140grain bullets. For longrange work I have a a 7saum that shoots the 180grain berger hybrids.

My nephew, he has just one rifle (280rem), so he needs it to do everything (shoot up close and longrange), so he shoots the 168berger hybrid.

For 140/150grain bullets consider powders like H4350, H4831 and Superformance
For 168grain bullets consider H1000, Retumbo and RL26

 

[venatic]

The two powders for maximum velocity with the 160 and heavier bullets would be n560 or Reloder 26.
I have loaded both the 168 Gr Berger Classic and the 175 ELD-x in my 280 as it has a 8.25 twist barrel. 168's run 2875 and the 175's 2820fps from my 23.25 inch barrel.
Shot 4 Elk with the 168 gr Classic and none have traveled more than 2-3 steps.

 

[okie man]

I really liked imr4831 and 140-150 grain bullets in my model 70 featherweight

 

[CHAD517]

N 560 and n160 Seem to work well with my 280Ai 168 berger

 

[270 JDM]

I really liked imr4831 and 140-150 grain bullets in my model 70 featherweight

I had a couple of .280 mountain rifles years ago and I did the best with 150s and Imr
4831 but now with the new powders like reloader 26 and new bullets like the Hornady
150 eldx with a bc in the mid 570s I would think that around 2900 fps should be possible and may out perform a 168 vld at 2700 fps.
Just some food for thought.