280 ai Bullet Selection

[Boonecounty]

I am in the process of building 280 ai, so i am gathering information as far as load development. I wanted to ask the 280 ai shooters here, if anyone was running either the Berger 168 VLD Hunting or the 175 Elite Hunter? Or the Hornady 162 ELD-X? if so what velocities are you getting?Powder and charge weight? Thanks.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I run a 168 VLD-H in my 7mm RemMag for hunting. Excellent bullets with proper shot placement. I wouldn't recommend shoulder-shots...Only behind the shoulder in the vitals where there is no heavy bone to pass through.

 

[cowboy]

What is your barrel lenght and twist on this build?

 

[Boonecounty]

26 inch, either 1:8.5 or 1:9 twist

 

[benchracer]

My load work has been with 7x57, so I can't comment on powder charges. I believe the 160 to 175 class bullets are the way to go in the non-mags. My rifle doesn't like secant ogives, so the Hornadys are out for me. I am getting ready to try RL-26 and the new Berger 175 EH's. For the 280 AI, RL-26 and the 175 Berger, 175 ELD-X, or the 162 ELD-X are the components I would be looking at.

 

[cowboy]

26 inch, either 1:8.5 or 1:9 twist

If you want to hot rod it, you can get right at 3000 fps with the 168 Berger VLD hunting bullet at 4200 ft elevation from our experience. I run my 25" barrel at 2870 fps.

 

[TOM H]

My 280AI has 27" 1/9 twist Lilja barrel. It's long throated so OAL is appr 3.500" depending on what bullet off the lands. I've hunted with 160gr AB @ 3046fps using 56gr/R-17 also same bullet but 60.5gr/IMR-7828ssc @ 3094fps,Fed 215 primer.

I've shot Berger 168gr/180gr VLD using H-4831sc but never chronograph those loads. I also shot 162gr ELD-X bullet and plan on trying 175gr ELD-X.

The new Hornady manual has loading data for 280AI using Nosler brass and they recommend 1/8.5 twist for 175gr but I live 7760 ft here in Co and range is appr 6000ft and I hunt around 9/10k ft so I'm good for that bullet.

About another month and I'll start shooting the 175gr ELD-X using IMR-7828ssc. I haven't found too much that rifle doesn't like so easy to load for and I have other rifles so don't hunt with it every year.

 

[Michael Eichele]

Running 162 ELDXs and 168 ABLRs in mine. Both over H4831SC. Getting 2981'sec out of the 162s.

Barrel is 28" 9x.

 

[Hornhunter32]

280 AI
26" Brux 9 twist
168 Berger Classic Hunter
62.6 grs Retumbo
Fed 215M
Rem brass
3K fps
Group shot at 550 yards

 

[stx]

I am in the process of building 280 ai, so i am gathering information as far as load development. I wanted to ask the 280 ai shooters here, if anyone was running either the Berger 168 VLD Hunting or the 175 Elite Hunter? Or the Hornady 162 ELD-X? if so what velocities are you getting?Powder and charge weight? Thanks.

168 Hunting VLD in 280 AI with 10 twist, 24" bbl....2975fps with 59 grains MRP, F210 Primers, and Nosler brass, .040 off lands. This load is max in my rifle!

 

[BEEMAN]

I run the Berger 168 Classic Hunter. Using 58.5 gr H4831SC gets me 2885 fps out of a 24" barrel. Rifle is a Cooper.

 

[orch]

Currently running Berger 180gr hybrids with 56.5gr retumbo @ about 2700fps in my 280ai...Was previously shooting 175gr nosler ABLR with the same powder charge @2770 fps
Sorry, not the exact bullets you were asking about but they both shoot very well with no signs of pressure could probably get more speed out of it but didn't really feel the need....


Orch