280AI Powder Choices

[Hugnot]

Hodgdon has Staball HD load data for the ..280 AI. The .280 AI has about 80% of case capacity as the 7mm Rem mag.

Hodgdon .280AI data shows velocities greater than 2,800 fps with pressures of 61 K psi. using 64.0 grains of Staball HD & 168 grain bullets.

I can get up to 57.5 grains of SBHD into a 6.5-06 case with 140's with comparable velocities as 51.5 grains of RL23 - about 2,800 fps. Exceeding 57.5 grains makes for sticky bolt lifts, cratered primers, and bolt face ejector marks on brass.

SBHD due to its availability & good performance, has replaced RL23, H1000, and others for 6.5-06 loads with 140's.

The Hodgdon Staball HD/.280 AI data gives some indication of worth.

VN 165 would be another powder for the .280 AI. VN 165 is available, and my use has shown it to be somewhat slower than H4831.

 

[Mark37082]

I have found there is really no short cut in load development for the 280AI. The suggestions above are informative, but as Feenix states, every rifle is different. If you have a large supply of H1000, you are going to have to start low and find the pressure point. I don't shoot heavies in the 280AI other than 168's. I just could not get the velocity I was looking for without pressure signs showing up. RL23 was the closest to giving me what I was looking for, but decided to go with pills in the 140's as this was the sweet spot for my rifle.

 

[L.Sherm]

Do what you can to get ahold of some RL23 you will not regret it.
3 different riffles and bullets made me a believer. A 215 primer was the best in all 3.

 

[VinceMule]

175g Nosler long-range accubond, sorted by ogive length, seat .003 off the lands
56g of IMR 7828
Fed 210 is a must for tiny bug hole groups, same for std 280 Rem with 160's with IMR 7828
Groups are very, very tiny sub 3/8" for repeatable three-shot groups

 

[bengineer]

Not really answering the original question, but Imr4831 makes my carbon barreled 280ai shoot quite well with 162 ssts. Chrono says 2860 fps. It hits hard and shoots well. Maybe you can go faster with slower powder but i doubt mine could shoot better or more consistently from summer temps to winter.

 

[polymerpete]

Not your bullet but just for reference:

55g H4350
Fed 210 Match
175grain Berger Elite Hunter seated .015-.020 off
Peterson and/or Nosler Brass
Velocity 2850 from a 24" barrel. My most accurate custom rifle, shoots into a ragged hole. Originally got this load from two reputable gun builders/gunsmiths when I was struggling to find a load.

 

[Trappernewt]

Not your bullet but just for reference:

55g H4350
Fed 210 Match
175grain Berger Elite Hunter seated .015-.020 off
Peterson and/or Nosler Brass
Velocity 2850 from a 24" barrel. My most accurate custom rifle, shoots into a ragged hole. Originally got this load from two reputable gun builders/gunsmiths when I was struggling to find a load.

thank you. I have a bunch of 175 EH's for my 7 SAUM.

 

[Roughrice]

Not really answering the original question, but Imr4831 makes my carbon barreled 280ai shoot quite well with 162 ssts. Chrono says 2860 fps. It hits hard and shoots well. Maybe you can go faster with slower powder but i doubt mine could shoot better or more consistently from summer temps to winter.

I had this exact load at that exact speed and it shot very well.

I have since switched to RL 23 and N560 with 160 class and shoots great with 100 fps more speed.

 

[Roughrice]

thank you. I have a bunch of 175 EH's for my 7 SAUM.

Load it like your 7SAUM. Mine are almost identical in my load data.

 

[manitou]

Hodgdon has Staball HD load data for the ..280 AI. The .280 AI has about 80% of case capacity as the 7mm Rem mag.

Hodgdon .280AI data shows velocities greater than 2,800 fps with pressures of 61 K psi. using 64.0 grains of Staball HD & 168 grain bullets.

I can get up to 57.5 grains of SBHD into a 6.5-06 case with 140's with comparable velocities as 51.5 grains of RL23 - about 2,800 fps. Exceeding 57.5 grains makes for sticky bolt lifts, cratered primers, and bolt face ejector marks on brass.

SBHD due to its availability & good performance, has replaced RL23, H1000, and others for 6.5-06 loads with 140's.

The Hodgdon Staball HD/.280 AI data gives some indication of worth.

VN 165 would be another powder for the .280 AI. VN 165 is available, and my use has shown it to be somewhat slower than H4831.

I am shooting 2945 fps with the 168 Berger VLDS in my 280ai. 7828 and Re 23 shoot identical speed and poi for me, RE 23 being more temp stable. This is out of a custom with a Bartlein 1-8.7 25" barrel.
Different powder weights though.

 

[lachoneus]

I use Ramshot Hunter with the Barnes 168 grain LRX bullet out of my 8-twist 280AI barrel at a velocity of 2830 fps. The load shoots well under 1 MOA consistently and gave complete passthroughs and one-shot kills on kudu, bushbuck and springbok last month. I have not tried the 168 grain Bergers in this barrel but the XXL-reloading website lists loads of Ramshot Hunter for this bullet as well.

 

[Montana'eer]

RL powders are mostly "not available". H1000 is difficult to buy & pricy.
Try Staball HD. It works very well in my 6.5-06 loads with 140 grain bullets. Hodgdon data for Staball HD is available for .243 Win and others. I started my 6.5-06 loads with Staball HD using similar loads as H1000. Use a magnum primer. Should get fill amounts of 95% & more.

I've got a new .280AI barrel and been tinkering with Federal 155gr terminal ascents and 6.5 StaBall and it actually performs very well. Very consistent and low SD/ES numbers and 1" or less with several loads. I'm going to tinker with it more.

 

[bergara0256]

In my 280AI, I shoot 168VLD with 55.2gr of H4831. I use BR-2 primers and Peterson brass. I'm getting 2,825FPS. I could go higher but the accuracy is not there.

I haven't tried other powders because that one shoots so well. Good luck with the rifle!

 

[CJ Reichelt]

In my 280AI I am using 55.5 grains of Staball 6.5 with a Hornady 160 gr CX seated around .030 off the lands. Getting 2950fps out of my 22 inch barrel and around .5 moa. Shot an antelope at 450 and blew right through her shoulders like nothing and no meat loss.