280 Ackley Improved loads for Idaho Elk

[TLD338]

Just booked an Idaho elk hunt for this fall, and was looking for some input on the 280 Ackley loads for the hunt. I will be taking the 338 planning to do a lot of glassing and hope for the opportunity at a 700+ yard shot, but want to take the 280 as a back up rifle.

This will be my first elk hunt and I know there is a wealth of knowledge on here. any tips on bullets, powder etc. for elk with the 280 would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cowboy]

Just booked an Idaho elk hunt for this fall, and was looking for some input on the 280 Ackley loads for the hunt. I will be taking the 338 planning to do a lot of glassing and hope for the opportunity at a 700+ yard shot, but want to take the 280 as a back up rifle.

This will be my first elk hunt and I know there is a wealth of knowledge on here. any tips on bullets, powder etc. for elk with the 280 would be greatly appreciated.

What is the twist of your barrel?

 

[TLD338]

It is a 26" 1:9.5 twist ER Shaw barrel on a Savage action.

 

[J E Custom]

your 280 AI will handle 160 to 180 grain bullets. I like and use the 160 Accubonds and the 180 grain Bergers.

In case there is a problem with the 338, the 280 AI will be a good back up. I would stay under 500
yards with it though.

J E CUSTOM

 

[TLD338]

Thanks for the info,
I like the accubonds and have had good success with them. Currently loading the 300 grainers for the 338 lapua and getting sub 1/2 moa groups with H1000 and Winchester primers.

Any powder recommendations for the 280 Ackley? I've been thinking about starting with 4831sc.

 

[cowboy]

Thanks for the info,

Any powder recommendations for the 280 Ackley? I've been thinking about starting with 4831sc.

H4831sc is a good start. From my experience if more velocity is desired you can go with RL22 but have run into temp. sensitivity and lot to lot consistency. Have had the best of both worlds with Retumbo on the 280AI.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Ain't nothing wrong with the 168 berger. Great BC and devastating results. You should be able to push it around 2900 without too much difficulty.

Randy

 

[John-Pure Precision]

I am using 150 grain long range Accubonds with I think 62 grains of 4831sc. It is built for hunting and with this load I use for 700 yards and under. If you are interested I can get the exact load data to you.

 

[blackdog]

I'm in nearly the same boat. I've got a .338 Edge shooting 300g Bergers but it weighs around 15lbs and simply isn't much fun to pack around in rough country (like the Wyoming elk hunt I should be going on this fall). So, I'm building a light-er weight .280AI (Rem 721, Manners EH1, Bartlein #3 1-9 barrel) that I plan to be able to shoot out to about 600 yards on elk and/or deer.

My plan is to try the 168g Berger VLD's and the 180g Berger Hybrids as well as the 168 and 175g Accubond Long Range if I can get my hands on them. I like the idea of shooting either the 180 or 175's if the accuracy is there and I can push them fast enough.

 

[TLD338]

My plan is to try the 168g Berger VLD's and the 180g Berger Hybrids as well as the 168 and 175g Accubond Long Range if I can get my hands on them. I like the idea of shooting either the 180 or 175's if the accuracy is there and I can push them fast enough.[/QUOTE]

So I found some 168 grain Berger vld hunting bullets at a decent price, and have a couple pounds of retumbo laying around from load development on the 338. Anyone have a good recipe for this bullet / powder combination? Also, I have never played with the bergers but read that they like to be loaded right to the lands or real close. Any recommendations on a starting point?

 

[John-Pure Precision]

I don't know about retumbo but start the Bergers .002 off the lands and jump it in .002 grain increments. I have had best luck with Bergers .004 to .006 jump.

 

[beandip96]

@ TrophyHunter_colorado: I have a custom 280 AI with a 1-9" twist 26" Pac-Nor barrel. I would like to get your load data for the 15ogr LRAB if you don't mind sharing. Thank you in advance!

 

[6.506ai]

Thanks for the info,
I like the accubonds and have had good success with them. Currently loading the 300 grainers for the 338 lapua and getting sub 1/2 moa groups with H1000 and Winchester primers.

Any powder recommendations for the 280 Ackley? I've been thinking about starting with 4831sc.

I use rl23 in mine with 180s and it loves it

 

[Troutslayer2]

Both Berger VLD and Long Range Accubond 168 shot great out of my 26" at 57.5 Gr RL22- around 2800FPS. My best Berger loads liked a lot of jump, like .020 off the lands.

58 Gr. H4831SC also did great with the 168s.

I went to a 22" barrel and now my old loads aren't producing as much velocity as I'd like and I'm at 60.8 Gr. Of RL26 for 2905FPS but I don't know if I'm ever going to find the stuff again so I'm in a bind. 60.8 is pretty spicy so don't start here, or anywhere someone tells you to on the internet for that matter.

If I still had a 26" barrel I don't think I'd consider anything other than 4831SC. That powder is clean and consistent.