• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Loads for 280AI

Brent Thornton

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 14, 2008
59
0
56
DFW, TX
Working on some loads for my 280AI and curious as to any recommendations for 140 or 150 grain bullets.
Thanks.
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

I have loads worked up for 168,175, and 180's. If you decide to shoot the heavier bullets let me know, I will send you loads and chrono info.
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

Just finished my 280 Ackley. I've been shooting 168 smk at 2900 fps, with 58gr of R-22. Want to try the 175 smk. Have you tried H-1000 ?
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

How fast can you push the 180's? I want to shoot 168 or 180 VLDs. Thanks
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

I bet ya .257's gonna say rl22 for the 180's, seriously though whats your barrel length for that velocity quote? I've got a Hart 1-8 that exceeds the normal length.
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

It's a 26" pacnor 3-groove, with a 1:9 twist. I am now shooting the 168 smk's with 57.2 grains of r-22 @ 2850 fps. Pressure was a little high at 58 for my gun. Primer pockets were getting loose. Shot a ladder test today at 300 yards and found a sweet spot at 57.2 grains with only 1/2" of vertical from 57/57.2/57.4.
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

If anyone is interested. I have done a good bit of work with Reloader 17 over the past few days in my 280 AI. I'm using 168 Bergers. My Ackley has a 27 inch Krieger barrel, 1-9 twist. My goal was to get 3000 with the 168. It wasnt hard, and I'm still seeing very little pressure. If anyone has a quickload program, I'd like to see what it has to say. Mine got lost during a move, I'll get another in the group buy. The load I'm shooting for now is giving me about 3015fps and is shooting about 2 inches at 500 yards. I have a load that shoots one little hole at 100 but didnt do so good at 500.
I will list my results but please dont assume that any of this is safe in your gun without working up your load and closely watching for pressure signs. I had nothing to go by since this is such a new powder. I'm amazed at the lack of pressure so far.

Reloader 17, Remington brass, CCI large rifle primers, Berger 7mm 168 VLDs, Trued 700 action
All velocity is average of three shots unless noted and were shot at 100 yards. Oehler sky screens were set at 10 feet. Temp was in the upper 80s to lower 90s during the testing. Elevation 1575
49.0grs this was my starting load to confirm no pressure and to see if the bullet would stablize. It did and it was very mild. Bullets are seated well into the rifling for this testing. I feel this will generate the most pressure and maybe the best accuracy. I have since seated .009 farther off the lands and pressure is now even less.
FOR INFO ONLY! DO NOT CONSIDER SAFE WITHOUT CHECKING IN YOUR GUN!
51.0 2750fps One tiny hole
52.0 2830 One bullet hole -ES- of only 2 fps over three shots
53.0 2872 about 3/4" ES 6 fps
54.0 2905 about .4" primers started to flatten a bit.
54.5 2962
55.0 2980
55.5 2992
56.0 3030 1/2 moa @ 100 and less than 1/2 moa @ 500 most of the time.
56.5 3063
This is as high as I have gone, not because I have pressure but just because it seems I shouldnt be getting over 3000 so easy, and I ran out of time. Brass is not flowing, bolt opens easily, case heads arent swelling, primers are flat but I've had much worse. I think I can keep going and I will see how far I can go next week if I have time. 3100 should be no problem but if someone has quickload, lets see what it says. So far I really like Reloader 17. I also plan to try 4831, H1000, 7828 and maybe reloader 19 and 22 but the 17 is going to be hard to beat.
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

VV N165 Fed 210M primers behind a 140 gr nosler Accubond,very fast and extremly accurate,best load ever shot in my 280 AI!Good luck!
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

Guys thanks. My setup is a lightweight hunting rifle, hart 1-9 twist, 24 inches. I am testing the 140 VLD's today. I had some good results with 53.5 gr. of IMR 4007SSC, with a 150 combined technology, and Fed 210M primers. After the range I'm going would like to work up a load with the 168 VLD. So any load data would be good.
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

257,
My twist is 1 in 9. Not sure if that is fast enough for the 180's.

Cockcraft,

I would be interested in the loads for the 168 VLD's.

The 140 VLD's grouped real nice today, with the imr 4007ssc, in both 54.4 and 55 grains, no pressure signs.

Thanks
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

Bringing this thread back from the dead... should be putting my .280 AI together in a month and am starting to do load research. Anybody have any updates on what their favorite powders are? I'll be shooting the 168 and 180 VLD's most likely right away, but will be developing loads for lighter bullets as well. Thanks.

Mike
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

How does that compare to the RL 17? The gun will be used for mostly steel/paper up to 1K with 1-2 hunting trips in the fall. Curious to hear of anybody else's 'best' loads, and what barrel/bullets/twist they're using as well.

Mike
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

There are some good loads in the reloading depot. My two main loads are:

139 SST
64gr R-22
CCI BR4
Nosler Brass
This runs around 3300f/s from a 24"

and
168 VLD (hunting)
60gr R-22
CCI BR4
Nosler Brass
This runs a little under (right at) 3000 from a 24"

and
162 A-Max
58.4gr R-22
CCI Magnum Primer (450?)
Nosler brass

The Nosler manual is the spot for reloading info. They load for it and they will use some hot loads. They don't use R-17 for anything, but you can take the 4831sc loads, back them off 10-15% and work back up. I think R-17 is probably a little fast for this round, but maybe you can make it work for you.

Always work up to loads. At least one of these is pretty hot and mid-summer temps can certainly raise the pressure beyond safe levels.
 
  • Like
Reactions: [email protected]
Re: Loads for 280AI

Thanks for the info I truly appreciate it.
This is the first caliber that I've reloaded for, however I'm workin with the guys at Seekins (Al is a good friend/hunting partner) to build this rifle and they're helping me along the way, just trying to do my part to get what knowledge I can under my belt before I get back from my summer's work and we start putting things together.

Also, whats a good price on RL 22? I was just at the sporting good store and noticed they're selling the 1 lb containers for $26. I know Midway is a bit lower than that but they're shipping for hazardous material is very pricey. Thanks

Mike
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

Powder Valley. $87.25 for 5lbs. You will want to get more powder or get others to go in with you to cut down the $22 hazmat charge.
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

Here is my load, it seems a little slow to me does anyone have any suggestions.

168 grain berger vld hunting
56 grains H-4831sc
nosler brass
wolf magnum primers
24" broughton 5c 1-9 twist
2750fps
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

Little slow, try RL 22 or 7828 for the 168's. I can get around 2975 in mine with 7828 and nice groups.
Lee
 
Re: Loads for 280AI

H1000, Win LR primer, Nosler case, 162gr Amax. Sweet load.

Good shooting,
Gary