What are you guys running with RL23? I have some to try.
What bullet?
Shred
Shred
160 Accubond
Im running 57.5-58gr with a 168 nosler custom comp.
2850ish from a 26in barrel.
No pressure signs unless ive got a carbon ring.
Ive pushed them quite a bit faster but 58gr was where it liked to be.
Shred
2850ish from a 26in barrel.
No pressure signs unless ive got a carbon ring.
Ive pushed them quite a bit faster but 58gr was where it liked to be.
Shred
I had a chance to run some tests this weekend. I was a little rushed and my darn chronograph died on me. 57 looks promising. That group was around .23”. The other groups in the 57-58 range were hovering around .55”. I will take another look at the 57 group and see what kind of speeds I am getting. H4831SC is shooting really well for me, but I was hoping to get a bit more speed.
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I bought some shortly after it came out. It’s nice brass. I’m not shooting as much these days because I don’t want to run out of powder or primers so I have no real meaningful performance data at this point.
Ive started OCW testing with 180g Berger VLD Hunting. Powder nodes look promising at 56.7g and 57.6g so now need to do seating depth testing to see how tight I can get the groups. Velocities in my 1/8.7 twist 24" Bartlein were 2850fps at 56.7g, 2900 at 57.6g.
I had stepped powder charges in 0.3g increments up to 59.5g but pressure signs were concerning (started seeing VERY faint ejector marks at 58.0g and become more noticeable from there on up). Wouldn't feel comfortable above 58.5g as a MAX based on what I was seeing.
Have loads ready to test now for 168g Berger VLD Hunting as well from 57.3g --> 60.0g (0.3g increments) and will report back.
Kevin
latest load development. I think I found the sweet spots. All done at temps of ~30F
- 1st pic is 168g Berger VLD, 58.7g RL23, 2969fps. 5shot, 100yd, 0.435"
- 2nd pic is 180g Berger VLD, 56.8g RL23, 2842fps. 5 shot, 100yd, 0.598"
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Here is my newest data from the Savage High country 22" .280 Ackley Improved
3 shot strings
168 Nosler Accubond LR
H4831 SC 59.2 Grains
2765
2719
2720
Win. Staball 56.0 Grains
2883
2890
2908
the Staball loads are starting to show some pressure. The primers are starting to flow into the primer hole ever so slightly. That said. the primers are not completely flat as they still have some radius around them.
The H4831 SC is not showing any signs yet and I think I could go another .5 up without any issue.
3 shot strings
168 Nosler Accubond LR
H4831 SC 59.2 Grains
2765
2719
2720
Win. Staball 56.0 Grains
2883
2890
2908
the Staball loads are starting to show some pressure. The primers are starting to flow into the primer hole ever so slightly. That said. the primers are not completely flat as they still have some radius around them.
The H4831 SC is not showing any signs yet and I think I could go another .5 up without any issue.
Has anyone ran the 151 cayugas in a 280ai? If so what powders were your using? How much different did they build pressure?
Did you ever get any intel on this?
Alliant has some loads using that powder online for standard 280. You could back off of their max loads by about 5% and slowly work your way up.
What projectile?
Ive used it some in a ladder test with 150gr and 168gr and got results about the same as anything else.
H4831sc was better though.
I never pushed the 4000 for pressure signs.
Can look when i get home if i wrote it down.
I cant seem to find my complete notes(or targets), but as i recall it acted like a slower powder than listed and never gave great velocity.
About the same as rl25.
I was running it with a 185gr bullet in a nickel winchester case that has less than optimal case capacity. Started at 54gr.
Sorry, not much help here.
About the same as rl25.
I was running it with a 185gr bullet in a nickel winchester case that has less than optimal case capacity. Started at 54gr.
Sorry, not much help here.
I'm also pretty curious. That being said if you say "RL26" I swear I'm going to SCREAM like a 13 year old girl.
I have been looking for quite awhile, it is obviously magic dust.
I’m a bit surprised at tye speed you got and that you’re using magnum primers.
Seems really mild.
I just re-barreled my Savage High Country. I went with a 24" 1-8 Proof CF.
57.0 Gr of Staball under a 162 ELD-X gave me 3043 FPS and 1/2 MOA
59 Grains of H4831 Under a 168 Accubond LR gave me 2840 and 5/8 moa.
I will be doing some more testing in the near future. This round really seems to do better with a 24" barrel.
57.0 Gr of Staball under a 162 ELD-X gave me 3043 FPS and 1/2 MOA
59 Grains of H4831 Under a 168 Accubond LR gave me 2840 and 5/8 moa.
I will be doing some more testing in the near future. This round really seems to do better with a 24" barrel.
What is the consensus on Nosler 280 ai brass? From what I've read online recent brass has been problematic https://forum.nosler.com/threads/nosler-280-ackley-improved-brass-out-of-stock-no-back-order.40408/
I don't have any reloading gear yet, but want to start collecting components since ammo is so hard to find or is very expensive. Would it be prudent to pass on this and wait for Peterson? Nosler is available at Brownell's now for $109 per 50.
I don't have any reloading gear yet, but want to start collecting components since ammo is so hard to find or is very expensive. Would it be prudent to pass on this and wait for Peterson? Nosler is available at Brownell's now for $109 per 50.
I didnt buy nosler brass when it was $1/pc... $2/pc is absurd.
Nosler brass has been fine from my experience(1 box of factory ammo that was on sale).
They all die if you push the pressure.
Winchester brass lost the primer pockets the fastest.
Most of the confusion stems from the differences in interpretation of datum lines on the cartridge drawings.
Theyre the same physically.
You can also use 30/06 brass, it just ends up with a short neck.
If youre using 168gr or longer bullets the 06 brass is fine, unless you want to run a shorter oal.
Shred
Nosler brass has been fine from my experience(1 box of factory ammo that was on sale).
They all die if you push the pressure.
Winchester brass lost the primer pockets the fastest.
Most of the confusion stems from the differences in interpretation of datum lines on the cartridge drawings.
Theyre the same physically.
You can also use 30/06 brass, it just ends up with a short neck.
If youre using 168gr or longer bullets the 06 brass is fine, unless you want to run a shorter oal.
Shred
I waited about 4 months for Pederson brass before canceling my order, FWIW.
Out of 4 boxes of Nosler brass, there were 5 or 6 that were unusable due to damaged necks. I don't have any other complaints on them than that.
I'm getting ready to have a .280 AI built. What are the benefits of the .280 AI SAAMI versus the .280 AI 40*? I'll be using new Remington .280 brass.
What dies are y’all using?
Just dropped off a receiver to be trued and fitted with a 24” 280AI, so have a few months to gather components and factory loads, but want to get started ASAP.
Thanks in advance…
Just dropped off a receiver to be trued and fitted with a 24” 280AI, so have a few months to gather components and factory loads, but want to get started ASAP.
Thanks in advance…
Lol factory loads. They don’t exist man.
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Thank you…FL dies?
Theyre the same. The internet hyped all the nonsense.
Like the difference between 5.56 and .223
Thanks. I had no idea.
I'm building a .280AI repeater on a Terminus Zeus action. Most of my shooting with probably be within 140-168gr range, but I'd also like to experiment with some high-BC heavy loads.
For you guys with a DBM .280AI, what's your COAL and what length mags are you running with 190gr bullets (Berger, Hornady A-Tip)? Trying to determine if 3.715 or CIP length 3.850 mags are the way to go.
For you guys with a DBM .280AI, what's your COAL and what length mags are you running with 190gr bullets (Berger, Hornady A-Tip)? Trying to determine if 3.715 or CIP length 3.850 mags are the way to go.
Yes sir, super over pressured Hornady brass 4 to 6 reloads. That's free info.
What FL die set do yall prefer for .280 AI? I know it has been mentioned that the two are like .223/5.56, but do I need different dies depending on if I am loading .280 AI SAAMI or .280 AI *40 original? I've never loaded an AI caliber. Are there any peculiarities to loading .280 AI?
quoted for my own curiosity as well…. I’m leaning towards the Redding competition dies, but man, they’re not cheap vs plain old Lee pacesetter.
OTOH, did score these at Cabela’s today:
$2 per round for the brass though…
quoted for my own curiosity as well…. I’m leaning towards the Redding competition dies, but man, they’re not cheap vs plain old Lee pacesetter.
OTOH, did score these at Cabela’s today:
View attachment 7936199
$2 per round for the brass though…
Redding is what I was thinking too, but my Lee dies do make great ammo.
How are the SST's on whitetail and hogs? I haven't tried them yet in any caliber.
Haven’t tried them in this caliber yet, but they work great in .30 cal. Especially like the 180gr bullet.
Thanks!
Not sure about the SST's but I can tell you that the ELD-M's are devastating on deer and elk.
If you call Peterson directly they might have cosmetic brass seconds for really good prices.
I finally joined the .280 AI club!
Well… You see… My local store had a 24” Christensen Arms Ridgeline in .280 Ackley Improved, and with the $350 rebate ending tomorrow (9/30/22), I couldn’t say no…
I snatched a 20MOA EGW HD base off my custom .30-06 AI that I never shoot, and had this old Austrian/USA Zeiss Conquest 3-12x56 30mm FFP scope in a set of Seekins Precision low rings, just collecting dust, so, for now, this is how she’ll be. In the near future, I hope to put a new Kahles Helia 3.5-18x50i, or maybe something like a Razor or a nice hunting scope with exposed turrets (elevation at minimum).
Well… You see… My local store had a 24” Christensen Arms Ridgeline in .280 Ackley Improved, and with the $350 rebate ending tomorrow (9/30/22), I couldn’t say no…
I snatched a 20MOA EGW HD base off my custom .30-06 AI that I never shoot, and had this old Austrian/USA Zeiss Conquest 3-12x56 30mm FFP scope in a set of Seekins Precision low rings, just collecting dust, so, for now, this is how she’ll be. In the near future, I hope to put a new Kahles Helia 3.5-18x50i, or maybe something like a Razor or a nice hunting scope with exposed turrets (elevation at minimum).
looks greatI finally joined the .280 AI club!
Well… You see… My local store had a 24” Christensen Arms Ridgeline in .280 Ackley Improved, and with the $350 rebate ending tomorrow (9/30/22), I couldn’t say no…
I snatched a 20MOA EGW HD base off my custom .30-06 AI that I never shoot, and had this old Austrian/USA Zeiss Conquest 3-12x56 30mm FFP scope in a set of Seekins Precision low rings, just collecting dust, so, for now, this is how she’ll be. In the near future, I hope to put a new Kahles Helia 3.5-18x50i, or maybe something like a Razor or a nice hunting scope with exposed turrets (elevation at minimum).
View attachment 7966684
View attachment 7966685
View attachment 7966687
Thanks!
