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Nosler AB LR 168gr bullets in a 280AI

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Mar 3, 2024
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I picked up a box today. I haven't went looking for any IMR 7828sc. Powders i have on hand.
IMR 4350 4831
H4831 H4350
RL 19 22
Does anyone use these powders loading the 168gr AB LR? Loading for my 280AI.
 
I have used h4831 historically and dabble with stabal 6.5. I'd have to check my data when I get home. I think my most accurate with the h4831 was at about 2780fps. It was slow. I had a load with stabal 6.5 and 168 Bergers that was about 3030fps with a 26 in barrel. There is a new barrel on it now that I haven't started load development on.
 
I bought up RL 19. Because i had worked 2 loads up for my 280 rem. And 2 loads with it for my 7mm mag also. Now wish i had bought up more than 2 cans of 22. I am going to town and look around Friday. See if i can find some imr 7828sc. Or more imr 4831 and H4831. I have several cans. But if i can find it. I am going to buy it. Before prices goes up again.
 
I bought up RL 19. Because i had worked 2 loads up for my 280 rem. And 2 loads with it for my 7mm mag also. Now wish i had bought up more than 2 cans of 22. I am going to town and look around Friday. See if i can find some imr 7828sc. Or more imr 4831 and H4831. I have several cans. But if i can find it. I am going to buy it. Before prices goes up again.
I’ve tested all of those in a 280ai with 160 class bullets. Your plan is a waste of money. 22 or 23 is what you need. It offers the best velocity and accuracy combo.

H4831 does excellent but is slow. IMR 4831 wasn’t worth the difference of a few feet per second.

7828 is too slow of a powder.

22 or 23 will get you to just over 3000 and be as accurate as your gun can be.
 
If I was using a 280 AI I think I'd go with H4831sc and or RL-22. problem is I can't find much of any powder I want anywhere!
 
I’ve tested all of those in a 280ai with 160 class bullets. Your plan is a waste of money. 22 or 23 is what you need. It offers the best velocity and accuracy combo.

H4831 does excellent but is slow. IMR 4831 wasn’t worth the difference of a few feet per second.

7828 is too slow of a powder.

22 or 23 will get you to just over 3000 and be as accurate as your gun can be.
7828 is the most accurate powder I have ever tried in the 280ai and 280 Rem. I have four of them and they all love 7828. The ONLY reason I quit using 7828 is the fact that I hunt in an environment with massive temp swings at times.

7828 gives me almost identical velocities and SD/ES as Re23.
My velocities from 7828 to Re23 are within 5fps of each other.

This is with 160 Accubonds, 162 ELDX, 168 NAB LR and 168 Bergers.

4831: Accuracy is okay but bullet fps suffers.
 
7828 is the most accurate powder I have ever tried in the 280ai and 280 Rem. I have four of them and they all love 7828. The ONLY reason I quit using 7828 is the fact that I hunt in an environment with massive temp swings at times.

7828 gives me almost identical velocities and SD/ES as Re23.
My velocities from 7828 to Re23 are within 5fps of each other.

This is with 160 Accubonds, 162 ELDX, 168 NAB LR and 168 Bergers.

4831: Accuracy is okay but bullet fps suffers.
I must have a slow lot or you have a fast one. Best I got was just north of 2900 with a 160 Accubond and 26” barrel. That stuff just collects dust on my shelf now.

I run 22 or 23 for 160 or above and N555 for 140’s and below.
 
My wife picked me up some IMR 7828sc. And 2 boxes of hornady eld m 7 mm 162gr bullets. I am going to go back and get 2 more cans. I have 2 other rifles i can use it in.
 
I must have a slow lot or you have a fast one. Best I got was just north of 2900 with a 160 Accubond and 26” barrel. That stuff just collects dust on my shelf now.

I run 22 or 23 for 160 or above and N555 for 140’s and below.
Yeah I get 2950 fps in my custom with a 25" barrel, 1:8.7 twist... 168 gr berger VLD. This is with 7828 and is verified via shooting distance and actual drops.
RE 23 gets me to 2945 fps in same rifle, primer, and brass.

I get 2925 fps with 7828 and 160 gr NABs out of two identical standard 280 Rems... 26" barrels. Both are consistent 1/2" shooters with that load.
 
I was using the 150gr ABLR in my 7mm Rem Mag.
Hit a buck the other year with it at about 35 yards.
I was surprised at the lack of damage it did!

For supposedly opening up at 1,300fps, this left a surpringly small hole the whole way through.

115gr Berger VLD and Nosler Ballistic Tips did way more internal damage from my 257 Roberts.

The ABLR shoots great groups, especially at distance, but I won't be using them for hunting anymore.

I was going to use the 175gr ABLR in the 7mm WBY Mag.
But i think I'll sell the 2 boxes i have.
 
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I was using the 150gr ABLR in my 7mm Rem Mag.
Hit a buck the other year with it at about 35 yards.
I was surprised at the lack of damage it did!

For supposedly opening up at 1,300fps, this left a surpringly small hole the whole way through.

115gr Berger VLD and Nosler Ballistic Tips did way more internal damage from my 257 Roberts.

The ABLR shoots great groups, especially at distance, but I won't be using them for hunting anymore.

I was going to use the 175gr ABLR in the 7mm WBY Mag.
But i think I'll sell the 2 boxes i have.
Did u have an issues on an animal? With the accubond? Our deer isnt big deer. I am going to try bergers in
150 gr classic hunter
175 gr elite hunter
Hornady eld 162 gr m 175 gr x and 180 gr m.
I have berger in 140 gr and 168 gr vld to.
 
Did u have an issues on an animal? With the accubond? Our deer isnt big deer. I am going to try bergers in
150 gr classic hunter
175 gr elite hunter
Hornady eld 162 gr m 175 gr x and 180 gr m.
I have berger in 140 gr and 168 gr vld to.
Yes.
Though it did kill the buck, at 35 yards with a 7mm Rem Mag it should have done way more damage.
Almost looked like it penciled through.

Any of the Berger VLD do much more internal damage than what I experienced with the ABLR.
Even the 25 caliber, 115gr VLD.

I've got some of the 150gr Berger Classic Hunter I'm going to try.

I only use Hornady for range use.
Inexpensive trigger time.
 
I got a box of the berger 7mm 150gr classic hunter bullets also. I have always used vld bullets.
 
I was using the 150gr ABLR in my 7mm Rem Mag.
Hit a buck the other year with it at about 35 yards.
I was surprised at the lack of damage it did!

For supposedly opening up at 1,300fps, this left a surpringly small hole the whole way through.

115gr Berger VLD and Nosler Ballistic Tips did way more internal damage from my 257 Roberts.

The ABLR shoots great groups, especially at distance, but I won't be using them for hunting anymore.

I was going to use the 175gr ABLR in the 7mm WBY Mag.
But i think I'll sell the 2 boxes i have.
It’s a bonded bullets it’s meant to stay together.
Mushroom, double in diameter,
And keep on trucking.

Sounds like it worked perfectly
 
It’s a bonded bullets it’s meant to stay together.
Mushroom, double in diameter,
And keep on trucking.

Sounds like it worked perfectly
That's the problem.
It didn't mushroom.
Bullet sized hole going in, bullet sized hole going out.
Luckily, shock & hole in vital area brought it down.

The ABLR are supposed to mushroom starting at 1,300fps.
So a hit at 3,000fps should have opened up nicely.
But no.
 
We have a ton of whitetail and hogs. I did apply for our elk permit today. Cost 5.00 to apply and if u get drawn. 5.00 dollars is cheap price for a elk tag. Got alot of bullets to try now.
 

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