.280 AI

[Hinterlandr]

Is this a decent round for lr starting out?

 

[Pdvdh]

Yes. Out to ~ 900yd capable, depending on the bullet and barrel length.

 

[FEENIX]

Is this a decent round for lr starting out?

LR what? Target or hunting? At what range? What bullet do you intend to use and for what game? The more pertinent information you can provide, the better the yield.

 

[Hinterlandr]

I have a kimber hunter with a 24in barrell.
Up to elk and moose.
Bullets advised?

 

[JLDavid]

My cousin and son use 280AIs for deer and elk. We have killed elk out to 425 with ease. We have practiced out to 850 yards and it is not hard to ring steel at that range. This elk season 4 people scored 1st shot hits on steel at 850 yards. That was the 1st time they touched that rifle. Light recoil with 168s and H1000 at 2950 fps is a great combo.

 

[Husky user]

By reloading with the proper powder and bullets you can get very close to 7mm Mag performance!

 

[vvhoisjohngalt]

280ai with Berger 168 VLD hunting bullets pushed around 2950 is a pretty solid load. Works on elk very well out to longer ranges

 

[Pdvdh]

I have a kimber hunter with a 24in barrell.
Up to elk and moose.
Bullets advised?

I've never killed an elk. Quite a few Alaskan moose. On those large of animals, perhaps 750yds is a more reasonable maximum distance shot with a 280 AI.

 

[Gregt9146]

I bought one for my 13 year son for deer hunting and he loves it. I am going to buy a 2nd one and make it my Deer and Antelope gun, and use it as my backup to my 28 Nosler for elk.

 

[tigerwerkes]

280ai with Berger 168 VLD hunting bullets pushed around 2950 is a pretty solid load. Works on elk very well out to longer ranges

Same for me. Very consistent to 1000 at my range and mild recoil for hunting situations.

 

[SeboCreek]

H4831sc pushes 168 about the same 2950 and accurate load.

 

[Husky user]

I've never killed an elk. Quite a few Alaskan moose. On those large of animals, perhaps 750yds is a more reasonable maximum distance shot with a 280 AI.

I would think 750 yds is too far for Moose,also unlikely to get a 750 yd shoot in Alaska at a moose!

 

[Pdvdh]

Like most things, it all depends...

With respect to the potential for long range shots on Alaskan moose, it depends entirely on the terrain and vegetation where hunting the moose. Long shots are very possible if spotting from hillside to hillside, or even from mountainside to lower elevation.

And lung shot moose die pretty quickly, provided the bullet expands properly, in my experiences.

 

[Plinker147]

160-168 gr bullet weight should do you good. Accubonds, long range accubonds, Berger's, Edlx all will work fine. I use 175 gr Berger elite hunters in mine and have killed several elk close and far.