RL26 vs H4831 for 280ai

[dnb86]

Looking for personal experiences. Got plenty of each and I'm gonna be running the 150gr badlands bulldozer 2s out of a Shaen rifles build 280ai 23" bbl and lapua brass

 

[Troutslayer2]

How do you get Lapua 280 AI brass?

 

[dnb86]

30-06 necked down and using a false shoulder to fire form

 

[Troutslayer2]

30-06 necked down and using a false shoulder to fire form

That's what I figured. I have a lot of experience with these 2 powders and 22" barrel with 168 grain bullets but no 150 grain experience. For me RL26 was a clear standout with much better velocity and accuracy.

 

[BEEMAN]

I used to run H4831 in my Cooper 280 AI with a 168 Berger. Shot good, but was kind of slow. In my new 280 AI I'm shooting 140 AH at over 3300 FPS with H100V. Also with a 23" barrel. I think I'd also try the R26 first with that bullet. Many guys also have good results with R23.

 

[MTbackwoods]

Just watch for pressure spikes with RL26 when temps get warm. I got rid of mine because it was too temperamental. But it is certainly rocket fuel

 

[dnb86]

That was kinda my concern with the 26 especially living commifornia with the late heat waves we can get here but the flip side is we gotta use copper so the extra FPS can be helpful

 

[wasskeet]

A good friend of mine tried a variety of combinations in a factory Christensen Ridgeline.280AI and found Berger168VLD+RL26 to be the ticket.

 

[blacktail 8541]

H4831 is my stand by powder for my 280AI, I now use RL23. It provides good velocity and great groups with the Barnes 145 LRX. With the heat here in CA a powder needs to temp tolerant for me to use it.

 

[dnb86]

H4831 is my stand by powder for my 280AI, I now use RL23. It provides good velocity and great groups with the Barnes 145 LRX. With the heat here in CA a powder needs to temp tolerant for me to use it.

Yup same boat as you gonna be raining in the 60s this weekend then mid 90s next weekend

 

[bassassassin104]

I load for 2 different 280AI's. I use 4831SC for everything at and under the 165 class. For the 175 and bigger, I use H1000. Disclaimer…. I am running a 26" barrel.

 

[MTbackwoods]

That was kinda my concern with the 26 especially living commifornia with the late heat waves we can get here but the flip side is we gotta use copper so the extra FPS can be helpful

Myself and others have found that 26 likes to run up at the ragged edge of pressure. So just do your due diligence and try to find a load you're happy with as far from early pressure signs as possible. Running .5 under ejector marks can lead to nasty pressure in high temps. You could also look into Badlands BD-II bullets with substantially higher bc's so you can back off the velocity a little and still be lethal at longer ranges

 

[BEEMAN]

That was kinda my concern with the 26 especially living commifornia with the late heat waves we can get here but the flip side is we gotta use copper so the extra FPS can be helpful

Depending how far you want to shoot, the Absolute Hammers will give the extra velocity. The BC suffers though. On game performance has been great. I'm in Canada so the last thing I'm worried about is heat during our seasons! More worried about freezing up in a tree stand.

 

[dougduey]

H4831 is the gold standard in the 280AI, but RL23 is magic for this cartridge. Many have found that RL26 gives fliers while you get the same speeds and better groups with RL23. If you don't have either powder, look for one in H4831 burn rate