280 AI help

[Derek-307]

I need some help or suggestions. I have a 280 rem AI that I built this fall.

20” carbon6 barrel 1:8 twist. Aero precision Solus lt action.

I’ve just started the loading process for it. I want to shoot 168 ABLR but my velocities are anemic. I’ve tried H4350, H4831sc, and IMR 4350 and MagPro. H4350 gave me the fastest load at 2728 fps. I’m looking to get into the 2800 range.

I saw no pressure signs with any loads.

Is my shorter barrel on a 280AI the guilty party or do I need to try hotter loads? I have access to RL23, h1000, and rl17, in addition to the powder listed above. I’m not sure why 2800 is my goal. But I’d sure like some pointers.

Nosler brass. cCI large rifle primers.

 

[MtsPSU]

I need some help or suggestions. I have a 280 rem AI that I built this fall.

20” carbon6 barrel 1:8 twist. Aero precision Solus lt action.

I’ve just started the loading process for it. I want to shoot 168 ABLR but my velocities are anemic. I’ve tried H4350, H4831sc, and IMR 4350 and MagPro. H4350 gave me the fastest load at 2728 fps. I’m looking to get into the 2800 range.

I saw no pressure signs with any loads.

Is my shorter barrel on a 280AI the guilty party or do I need to try hotter loads? I have access to RL23, h1000, and

Are you totally committed to the 168 gr bullets?

Not sure I have the answer, but I’ve been shooting a .280 since 1985. That said, I handload for it and mine (Remington 700 mountain rifle) has always preferred 140 grain Sierras. I use IMR4350 w/CCI LR primers and it just does what I want it to do. I’ve pushed 150’s but the accuracy just wasn’t what I thought it needed to be. That said, unless you are totally committed to 168s you might try 150s or 140s—both should scream out of your rifle.

Mark

 

[brymoore]

Is my shorter barrel on a 280AI the guilty party

Yes, for the most part with the 168gr. You’d hit your goal with 140s.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

I’m not a reloader but my understanding is barrels speed up after 1-300ish rounds? Not saying you’ll gain 100fps, but AI says it’s reasonable.

I would defer to others on here that have more experience with this though but just wanted to mention.

 

[JCW]

I need some help or suggestions. I have a 280 rem AI that I built this fall.

20” carbon6 barrel 1:8 twist. Aero precision Solus lt action.

I’ve just started the loading process for it. I want to shoot 168 ABLR but my velocities are anemic. I’ve tried H4350, H4831sc, and IMR 4350 and MagPro. H4350 gave me the fastest load at 2728 fps. I’m looking to get into the 2800 range.

I saw no pressure signs with any loads.

Is my shorter barrel on a 280AI the guilty party or do I need to try hotter loads? I have access to RL23, h1000, and rl17, in addition to the powder listed above. I’m not sure why 2800 is my goal. But I’d sure like some pointers.

Nosler brass. cCI large rifle primers.

No experience with 280 AI so take this all with a grain of salt. I would look at reloading manuals/published loads that will produce 2900+ fps (should be in the 2800 range after subtracting ~100 for 4" shorter barrel), pick a powder out of those, work up to pressure, then back off. See Nosler data attached for reference. Based on load data your current velocities look on par.

 

[BuzzH]

If it were me...I would try some standard 140 accubonds and if they shoot, never look back.

I'm not impressed with ABLR.

 

[Salmonchaser]

With Rl 17 I get 2920 out of a 20 inch 7x57;150gr accubond. that puts it in the 61k pressure range. I’m willing to bet you can safely get quite a bit more out of the 280s case capacity. Find some one with quick load program the information gained should give you the information to work up near 2900.
I gave up on the ABLR. The accubond however is a great bullet. Had them work well from 30 to 500 yards in three different cartridges/calibers on deer, elk, antelope, bears and a wide range of african plains game. The 375HH is the only regularly hunted rifle that still gets partitions.
I agree with Buzz, in the 280 a 140 or 150 accubond at about 3k will do all you all you need on this continent.

 

[Addicting]

I’m shooting 160 accubonds at 3000 with RL23 in two different 24” rifles. It’s your huckleberry…

 

[chevyman181]

I don't have all our info on me but @Twobyfour is shooting a 280ai with a 20inch proof barrel. With approximately 58.5 of 4831sc(if I recall correctly) and 162eldms we are seeing just over 2800fps. We have about 300 rounds down the barrel. (We have not noticed an increase in spee) I think there is still some room to go if we want. I am going to try and do some playing around h4350 with the 162s as well. I played with some 180eldms and had no issues getting to 2720ish fps with h4831sc as well.. I'll play with those more in the near future. I've got over 2900 with our set up, 162 class bullets and stabal 6.5... It pressured up quick though and we didn't have the accuracy we wanted...

If you're a Facebook person, there is a pretty good 280ai page... They have a lot of load date in their files section... They do like long barrels though.

 

[williaada]

I got the following using my .280AI’s

Barnes TTSX150gr H4831SC 60gr
Average 2875fps

Nosler 160gr H4831SC 60gr
Average 2840fps

Nosler 140gr H4831SC 61.5gr
Average 3177fps

Nosler 140gr H4831SC 62gr
Average 3280

23” and 24” barrels

 

[6mm Remington]

If it were me...I would try some standard 140 accubonds and if they shoot, never look back.

I'm not impressed with ABLR.

My thoughts as well. I only shoot the 140 gr. Accubond or the 140 gr. Partition in my 280AI. They both work great. I'm using IMR7828SSC in my loads.

 

[Salmonchaser]

My thoughts as well. I only shoot the 140 gr. Accubond or the 140 gr. Partition in my 280AI. They both work great. I'm using IMR7828SSC in my loads.

Isn’t that what you used for your Grizz a couple years ago?

 

[bluegrassdan]

You are like me, chose a short barrel when I probably should have gone an inch or two longer. I have tried every bullet/powder combo I can get my hands on and right now the 160 Accubonds with either Reloader 26 or N560 are shooting just under 3000fps (N560 gets 2942fps, SD of 9, RE 26 gets 2953 with an SD 6.3) out of my 22" barrel. I use Nosler brass and (gasp) Hornady brass, CCI Br2 primers. Groups are averaging .5 MOA or less, which is acceptable for a light hunting rifle to me, at 100 yds and give me the terminal velocity out to 400yds (my self imposed limit) that is suggested for that bullet. I am more of a heavy for caliber type hunter, but the 175gr bullets were just not giving me a warm fuzzy out to 400-500 yards on the range velocity wise. I have built rifles for other customers in 280AI, but they always had 26" or longer barrels and the 175gr bullets were great.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I'd expect RL17 and RL23 to get you better velocities than H4350. RL26 (good luck finding it) and N560 would be good velocity powders too. 75 FPS doesn't mean much in the big scheme of things though.

Your barrel may speed up some yet. If you are still on first firing of brass, i wouldn't be surprised if you get a little bump in velocity on the second firing as well, not 75 FPS but maybe approaching half that?

 

[Sheltowee]

Buy some Hammers, load a fast-ish powder, go forth and prosper. You aren't going to get the same BC as the 168ABLR but the 162HHT is a respectable G7 BC of .273 and you should be well past 2800 without breaking a sweat.

 

[Addicting]

I'd expect RL17 and RL23 to get you better velocities than H4350. RL26 (good luck finding it) and N560 would be good velocity powders too. 75 FPS doesn't mean much in the big scheme of things though.

I tried a ton of powders testing our 2 rifles. RL22 or 23 outperforms RL26 with 160g bullets. They were 25 fps faster with less powder. Heavies in the 170-80 class may be where RL26 comes in.

Also, N555 works very well with 140 grain and under.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I tried a ton of powders testing our 2 rifles. RL22 or 23 outperforms RL26 with 160g bullets. They were 25 fps faster with less powder. Heavies in the 170-80 class may be where RL26 comes in.

Also, N555 works very well with 140 grain and under.

That surprises me a bit that 23 was faster than 26. You worked up to pressure signs in both?

Good info though. I haven't dabbled in either for a while but i'm getting an itch to shoot my mothballed 7 SAUM again and am thinking RL23 might be a good one for that as well.

 

[Addicting]

That surprises me a bit that 23 was faster than 26. You worked up to pressure signs in both?

Good info though. I haven't dabbled in either for a while but i'm getting an itch to shoot my mothballed 7 SAUM again and am thinking RL23 might be a good one for that as well.

26 peaked out and it was like I was just making the fireball bigger. I don’t think 160 was heavy enough to get a complete burn. 23 filled the case nice and beat it by a small amount. I will have to go dig out the data for exact numbers.

 

[Derek-307]

I’m not committed to the 168’s. Just was hoping to get a heavier bullet with a higher bc through the 280. I have 140 and 160 Accubonds. I also have 145 lrx. I will likely try a few of the powder combos listed above and see what happens. Likely will end up in the 140/145 bullet weight though.

I love the 7mm caliber choices. I have 2 280 AI and a 7-08 that I shoot a lot. My 7 rem mag sits in the safe. It’s not a bad gun to shoot. Just like the 280 AI or 7-08 so much better.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

 

[Addicting]

I’m not committed to the 168’s. Just was hoping to get a heavier bullet with a higher bc through the 280. I have 140 and 160 Accubonds. I also have 145 lrx. I will likely try a few of the powder combos listed above and see what happens. Likely will end up in the 140/145 bullet weight though.

I love the 7mm caliber choices. I have 2 280 AI and a 7-08 that I shoot a lot. My 7 rem mag sits in the safe. It’s not a bad gun to shoot. Just like the 280 AI or 7-08 so much better.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

I would ditch the ABLR, there are as many bad stories as good ones with the temperament of how that bullet behaves.

The LRX is a solid choice and so is the 160 Accubond. I run them both and have zero complaints.

I will say that 160 at 3k is very a good elk load, we have taken several with it.

My rule of thumb is 150+ gets RL23, 140-150 gets N555. It is the magical speed equivalent of RL26 with unicorn dust and pixie farts.