280AI

[Koda_]

Wonder if the Petersen brass and H100V is making the difference for me? I was totally shocked at the velocity I got out of a 23" barrel. Defiance Deviant and good brass I'm sure also help.

I think so.
My guess is its mostly the powder choice but I cant find H100V and am too invested in H4350. Cant just go out and buy a lb to try anymore we have to buy a whole supply to last...

Out of curiosity I have some IMR powder to try i might run a pressure ladder to see what velocities I get but suspect the IMRs burn rate is even less efficient for the Absoluts...

 

[cabelasken]

I think so.
My guess is its mostly the powder choice but I cant find H100V and am too invested in H4350. Cant just go out and buy a lb to try anymore we have to buy a whole supply to last...

Out of curiosity I have some IMR powder to try i might run a pressure ladder to see what velocities I get but suspect the IMRs burn rate is even less efficient for the Absoluts...

I have various forms of IMR in the cabinet but found they do not maintain their velocity as temps get below 10 F. Hogdon equivilent seems to be more consistent. I don't know if others have found that. I use a lot of reloader 19 and it seems to produce good velocity in my medium capacity cases. I haven't been able to find any 23 or 26 to try out.

 

[Tandin93]

Has anyone here tried Berger 140 VLDH in their rifles? I picked up a couple of boxes the other day, and was wanting to try them.

 

[john k]

I have various forms of IMR in the cabinet but found they do not maintain their velocity as temps get below 10 F. Hogdon equivilent seems to be more consistent. I don't know if others have found that. I use a lot of reloader 19 and it seems to produce good velocity in my medium capacity cases. I haven't been able to find any 23 or 26 to try out.

IMR4350 is very accurate in my .280AI. Unfortunately, the fps is not too impressive even tho whitetail hunting in SE USA rarely requires shots over 300 yards where I hunt. Still, there is that need for speed!

 

[Mark37082]

I have too many pills to try and keep buying more. I have issues. Some people don't like load testing. Obviously I am not one of them.

 

[Tandin93]

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I have too many pills to try and keep buying more. I have issues. Some people don't like load testing. Obviously I am not one of them.

I would love to try the 168's but I can't find any anywhere. (like everyone else) I would trade one of these boxes of 140's for a box of 168's though.

 

[cabelasken]

Has anyone here tried Berger 140 VLDH in their rifles? I picked up a couple of boxes the other day, and was wanting to try them.

I have tried them in one of my Brownings and it prints nice groups. I have not taken any game animals with them as I believe in the barnes lrx and the hammer absolutes. the bergers were over 3100 FPS in my guns

 

[CCAguns]

H4831 is a great powder but if you want speed in a 280 AI Reloader 17, 23, 26.

I concur. I found H4831 some 120fps slower than R-19, and R-19 was also 90fps slower than IMR 4831. I like the IMR 4831, but sacrifice the 90fps as my groups go from 0.6" to 0.83". This is with the 160gr Nosler AB. Very tempted to try R-23 or R-26. Been shooting/testing the 280AI since 1990. Great cartridge. Taken several nilgai with it - about as big an animal as I've used it on. Still like my 340 Wby for elk and/or Alaska!

 

[VinceMule]

CCAguns, you should try the 160s with IMR 7828 with a FEDERAL 210 for some bug-hole accuracy. Find out what is Max in your gun, not what the book says. If you fire form brass from Lapua 30/06 brass, 50 pieces of brass will last for the entire barrel's life. You should consider doing a clean-up neck turn if you go this route, and I turn the necks at 30 cal, then the neck down.

I am also running the 175g Nosler long-range accubond, sorted by ogive length and seated very close to the lands, shooting clover leaf groups with no paper in between the holes or tighter. I run fire formed PMC 30/06 brass with the 175g Nosler LRAB.

 

[Ldigio21]

Can't wait for the weather to break so I can resume load development for my 280AI. I am loading 160 grain Accubonds and H4831SC.

This is my current load for my 280 AI. No pressure signs, 3014 FPS. Did overshoot in load development using 62 gr RE 26 and 215 primers. 3200 FPS but way over , primers falling out. Looked safe on quick load but no go in my rifle.

 

[ncfireman83]

Finally narrowing down some loads for my 280ai. The thrown bullet in the 59.9g IMR4831 was def me, I felt it when I squeezed the trigger. Have some 160 accubonds coming to try as well

 

[CCAguns]

CCAguns, you should try the 160s with IMR 7828 with a FEDERAL 210 for some bug-hole accuracy. Find out what is Max in your gun, not what the book says. If you fire form brass from Lapua 30/06 brass, 50 pieces of brass will last for the entire barrel's life. You should consider doing a clean-up neck turn if you go this route, and I turn the necks at 30 cal, then the neck down.

I am also running the 175g Nosler long-range accubond, sorted by ogive length and seated very close to the lands, shooting clover leaf groups with no paper in between the holes or tighter. I run fire formed PMC 30/06 brass with the 175g Nosler LRAB.

I'll have to do that. Max with H4831 was 60gr, but that was with fire-formed RP brass. Kinda gotten lazy in my older age - bought a bunch of new Peterson AI brass. Trim & load the east way.

Just about out of R19 and definitely interested in bug-hole groups - if these 70yo eyes can do that anymore. Pretty happy with 5 shot 0.6" groups with R19 though. Regards!

 

[VinceMule]

Critical that you use the Federal 210 with the IMR 7828, the hotter primers just open the groups in the 280 and AI.

If you have an older Nosler manual numbers 3 and 4, look at their accuracy node for the 160g bullet in the 280, I use that load in mine with the same velocity!

Best of luck to you!

 

[Palix-Dog]

My 280AI seems to love 4831 and R-19. 59 gr of either shoots almost identical groups - right at 0.6". Got a little hot at 59.7gr so I backed off but it was still getting a velocity increase.

Mine likes 59gn of RL19 also 2915 fps. 56gn of RL 17 is its favorite load but I don't have much of that on hand and seems like the quit making it. Luckily I still have a couple of pounds of 19 left.