280Ackley down loaded like 7mm-08 for younger hunters

[SamuelBerryhill308]

Hello all I've been wanting to get into the .284 calibers here lately and I've always like the 280 ackley improved but my two boys hunt with me and my wife and my wife and oldest son shoots my 308s with a break on them just fine with 150s and below but the rifle is heavy for them and the stock doesn't really fit them as well so I've been looking at a 7mm-08 for them to hut with and I've been looking for a 280 ackley for my self and I was wondering can a 280 ackley be down loaded to recoil like a 7mm-08 or 308 and still be accurate? And if anyone has done so would you mind sharing some load info? If this can't be done how well does a 7mm-08 handle the heavier bullet? I've never owned either caliber but would like to.i would really like to build or buy a 7mm Saw but havnt ran across one yet so this is another option? Thanks ahead of time and God bless

 

[Jud96]

If you load 280 Ackley with minimum loads it will be really close to 7mm-08 recoil and performance. I think for kids it would be plenty accurate enough. I have found accuracy with a lot of loads anywhere from mild to wild in performance. A properly setup 7mm-08 would handle 150-168gr bullets just fine, and the 7mm SAW is another option, but it requires custom dies.

 

[26Reload]

Shoot the 280ai with lighter bullets....that alone will knock out some of the recoil..I used to shoot blacktail(and other stuff) with 100gr hollow points..not super fast loads..just nice handloads....did really nice job on deer...

 

[just_jon]

^THIS^

I am shooting 90 grain hammer hunters in my 7 STW a bit over 4000 fps and recoil is substantially reduced. It's such a pleasure to shoot, I took it groundhog hunting a couple of times last summer. Pretty cool to see a 10 pound hog get serious air time. I would expect you can easily run well over 3600 in the 280AI with less recoil than 7-08.

 

[LVJ76]

There are several powders you can do light loads with, I would recommend using the 120gr Ballistic Tip, it's one tough little bullet that won't fragment on impact when pushed at 3,200 fps, or even less depending on the load.

IMR-4064, H4895, H4831sc, and others. Look at the Nosler load data online and it will have their load data there.

My wife currently uses this bullet in her 7mm-08, I have used it in the past also in the 7mm-08, and in the 280 Rem. Great on deer and javelinas, it hits them hard.

 

[NW NM hunter]

I have a 280ai browning speed long range with a lower charge and a break there isn't much recoil at all. My 14 year old shot an antelope with it without the break shooting 162 eldx running 2930 just fine, he just practiced with the break. I think a good stock helps a lot.

 

[Tiny Tim]

It's amazing what lighter bullet weights can do in regard to recoil. Going from a 140 to 160 class bullet in a 7mm will be noticeable. Another vote here for monos. Light, fast, reduced recoil, what's not to like? Have a 9.5 lb 300 RUM with a brake and almost feels like its pulling away from me with 124 gr Hammer Hunters until i get into the 37-3800 fps range.Even starting loads for the 280 AI would be in the 7-08 range. Loaded right they can be astonishingly accurate.

 

[Hunterjones]

If you are only hunting deer and other thin skinned stuff, I would also give my vote to the 120 Grain Nosler Ballistic Tip.
Recoil will be light and it will strike like lightning

 

[jimbires]

I've never loaded for a 280AI . you could call hodgdon and ask about H4895 in the 280AI for reduced youth loads .


I have done a bunch of reduced loads using H4895 , and light bullets . these loads can be surprisingly accurate .

here is a seating depth test target for my grandsons 260 with a very reduced load .



one day I thought ; I've added some powder to his ammo , I wonder if it's still shooting ok .



here is a 7mm-08 using a 120 ballistic tip , with a reduced load of H4895

 

[AZShooter]

You could make a light recoiling load using H4895 and a 120 nosler ballistic tip.

Hodgdon has a link for reduced load with this powder: you can use 60% of max load data

https://hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads.pdf

load data here:

Hodgdon Reloading Data Center – The Brand Thats True

www.hodgdonreloading.com

They list H4895 for a 120 gr bullet in a 280AI. Max load is 47.5 grains with 120. You could use 28.5grains and up.

FYI the 120 gr ballistic is stout. Don't take my word for it, read Steve Timm's (retired gunwriter) comments on this bullet's performancethanks Steve!)

"To summarize: I started using the Nosler .284" 120-grain Ballistic Tip several years ago. A friend of mine who worked at Nosler at the time told me that the bullet was a total flop with varmint hunters (duhhhhh ), but that the rifle metal silhouette shooters used a zillion of them. Nosler got complaints from the rifle silhouette shooters because the bullet was too frangible to consistently tip over the 500 meter ram. Because the rifle silhouette use was seemingly the only market for the 7-120, Nosler made the jacket considerably heavier than the original design. This change was intended to satisfy the silhouette shooters complaints, but an unintended consequence was that they unwittingly made one heck of a big game bullet. The first I heard of it was my friend at Nosler was shooting California wild boars through both shoulders (both gristle plates) with the 120 in a 7-08. Full penetration and very dead pigs!!! Please bear in mind that the silhouette story above is purely legend, but if you will split a 7-120, you will find the jacket is waaaay heavy. Actually, it resembles the .338 BTs, which are heavy and are sure killers on larger critters. Down to your question, "What has Dogzapper shot with the 120s?" Answer: A bit of stuff. I've killed a couple of 6X6 bull elk. Not big ones, but around 290 B&C and decent bodies for five year olds. One was shot from above, looking away at 375 yards, the bullet entered the spine behind the shoulder and was found under the hide of the chest. Expanded to .75" or so and the recovered bullet weighs about 100 grains (it's around here someplace and it's a big lead and copper ball. Second bull was 400ish. Not to be fancy, I shot the bull through the center of the shoulder. The bullet broke both shouders and was recovered under the far hide. The bullet is identical to the first bull's bullet. Both of these were killed with the 7-08 Ackley. Other kills with the gun and bullet were a large Montana mule buck at way too close, peeking though a juniper tree at first light. Horns were big and so was he and I had to hit the only open thing I could see ... an eyeball. And I did. Bullet went clear through the head and didn't break the skull. Exited leaving a one-inch hole. Another Montana mulie was probably the largest-bodied mule I've ever shot in Montana. He was aged at 9 1/2 years in Great Falls game stop (by a PhD professor of big game). I knew the buck intimately and had not been able to kill him the three previous years. I caught him in a herd of over 100 does, with head low and his dick hanging out. Saw him at over 400 yards in the dusk and made a running open field stalk ... closed to 205 yards and shot him a little too high behind the shoulder. Spined him, dead right there, bullet fully penetrated leaving a 2" exit. There's a few more deer with the 7-08 and some antelope, but the tale is always the same. I've also used the 120 in the .280 Ackley @ 3,370 fps. Shot a moose one morning with it. Range was 91 yards and the three year old dumbly stood in the middle of a farm two-track. I shot him under the chin, slightly to my right, trying to break the spine upon exit. One or both carotids were broken, C-2 vertabrae was totally missing and the bullet exited leaving a two-inch hole. For all I know, it may still be in low orbit of the earth. Mickey Moose died right there. I've shot many antelope with the bullet in the .280 Ackley. Ranges from 100 to over 500 yards. Never missed a shot with it and never shot twice. Total penetration from most any angle, except for one old and large buck that I shot fully in the chest and recovered the bullet (deadliest mushroom in the woods) right next to his bunghole. I guess you'd call it full-penetration of a goat, minus one-eighth inch. Lots of mule deer and whitetails. Normally full penetration. Don't remember ever recovering a bullet from a deer. Exits usually rin one to two inches. You ask about maximum recommended impact velocity on deer and elk. Heck I don't know, I just go out there and kill stuff. I don't know that I'd recommend it on elk of moose. I have a habit of hunting deer with the tags for big critters also in my pocket. I carry 120s and sometimes magic happens. If I was purposely hunting elk or mooses only, I'd probably up-bullet to a 139 Hornady Interlocked in both the 7SGLC and the .280 Ackely. Or for really big stuff, like the Asian water buffalo I killed a couple of years ago, I used the 154 Hornady Interlocked in my .280. I severed both carotids and created a buffalo blood fountain that was quite beautiful. Anyway, I've written way too much. Use it or don't, it's not a matter of honor or pride. I use the 120 and am not prejudiced and find it kills the heck out of stuff without ruining a lot of meat. In truth, the 120 Ballistic is considerably "harder" and in my experience will out-penetrate the 140 Ballistic Tip. I also find the 139 Hornady Interlocked (plain, cheap cup-n-core) to be one heck of a great bullet. Those of us who love medium sized 7mm cartridges are truly blessed with a plethora of excellent big game bullets." Steve

 

[del2les]

Almost every cartridge can be downloaded with proper powders and bullets. We have downloaded numerous cartridges to the level of shooting small game and squirrels up to youth or small stature females for reduced recoil and performance on deer and similar.

Usually for the latter, we go to a "light for caliber" bullet at an impact velocity that still lets it mushroom. I.E. a 308 loaded with 125BT or AB or the 120-130 Barnes with velocity and recoil similar to a 30-30 with said bullet or even below. The range of reduced recoil loads can go from subsonic loads, lead cast bullets with pistol powders (See Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook or Lyman 48th Edition) all the way up to full power with a light bullet.

Potential powders for 120-130 class 280 bullets reduced vel -
SR4759
AA1680
RX7
IMR-3031
4895
748
Higher vel but still reduced -
4064
Varget
380
H414

 

[VinceMule]

The 120g Ballistic tips were created to be tougher, way back when the 7/08's first came out. Metallic Silhouette shooters were using these bullets on heavy steel plate. The bullet needed to have more "time on target" so more energy was transferred to the steel, thus knocking it over. So, Nosler made the jackets thicker to accomplish, "more time on target".

We have used the 120g Nosler ballistic tips on deer for a long time in the 7 mags running 3500 fps, and they never splash on heavy ribs or shoulder blades. It is typical for the bullet not to go through the animal, but if they travel 40 yards, that is not unusual, not further.

Like a lot of bullets made by Nosler, they are rare to find.

Bullets that are more plentiful are the Speer 130g BTSP, and this is one heck of a bullet for deer as they fold up on the spot most often. Our full power load in the Rem 700s is 42g of IMR 4895, Rem case, with Rem 9 1/2 primer. With a Gentry muzzle break, my 13-year-old nephew hammered deer in the lower part of SC, he killed three on one stand...it is legal in this area.

H4895 with the 120-130 class bullets will really deliver for the youngsters. I would urge you to play strict attention to the length of pull for the youngsters and cut the stocks as necessary. We bought a plastic rem stock for my nephew, cut it to fit, and added a recoil pad. He killed a lot of deer with that short weird-looking stock, and the nice wood BDL stock was saved, which he uses at this time.

The Sierra 120g Sierra would be another excellent choice,, but Sierra is another company that is AWOL.

 

[del2les]

The 120g Ballistic tips were created to be tougher, way back when the 7/08's first came out. Metallic Silhouette shooters were using these bullets on heavy steel plate. The bullet needed to have more "time on target" so more energy was transferred to the steel, thus knocking it over. So, Nosler made the jackets thicker to accomplish, "more time on target".

We have used the 120g Nosler ballistic tips on deer for a long time in the 7 mags running 3500 fps, and they never splash on heavy ribs or shoulder blades. It is typical for the bullet not to go through the animal, but if they travel 40 yards, that is not unusual, not further.

Like a lot of bullets made by Nosler, they are rare to find.

Bullets that are more plentiful are the Speer 130g BTSP, and this is one heck of a bullet for deer as they fold up on the spot most often. Our full power load in the Rem 700s is 42g of IMR 4895, Rem case, with Rem 9 1/2 primer. With a Gentry muzzle break, my 13-year-old nephew hammered deer in the lower part of SC, he killed three on one stand...it is legal in this area.

H4895 with the 120-130 class bullets will really deliver for the youngsters. I would urge you to play strict attention to the length of pull for the youngsters and cut the stocks as necessary. We bought a plastic rem stock for my nephew, cut it to fit, and added a recoil pad. He killed a lot of deer with that short weird-looking stock, and the nice wood BDL stock was saved, which he uses at this time.

The Sierra 120g Sierra would be another excellent choice,, but Sierra is another company that is AWOL.

The Sierra 120 SP is the goto bullet I have used in my 7TCU's for last 30 years.

 

[birddog 68]

Did anyone mention shooting the 120 BT out of the 280 AI?
Shooting these would be pretty close to shooting 160 class bullets from the 7-08.(recoil wise)
As mentioned above the 130 Speer hot cor is a in stock option.