280 Rem, 168g AccuBond LR. What can’t it do?

My Cooper 280AI doesn't have the fastest barrel. Also it is 24" but shoots the 168 Berger classic hunters at 2900 fps with H4831SC. With a properly throated 280AI with a 26" barrel guys are getting crazy speeds, like 2975 fps with a 175 ELD-X.
 
Had the exact same setup thinking it was the last rifle I’d ever need. I guess the thought of that freaked me out so I sold it. But I whole heartedly agree, and still have a box of those same bullets from when I had that LAW 280 rem. Personally I’d stick with a non AI cause they’ll always just feed like butter and there’s more romance to the 280 rem IMO lol
 
If I were to put together something with a .284" bore that weighs 8lbs it would be chambered in something larger than 280. One of the various magnum 7's would be better suited to that weight. An 8 lb 280 will of course work but IMHO it's somewhat of a mis match in the weight vs chambering.

If it were 7 lbs I'd go 280 or 280AI.

For a 6 lb'er...7mm-08
 
I hit a doe at 20 yards with a 150 ABLR at 3250 in a 7mag and the damage was incredible. She pretty much fell in two once the hide came off. Hit in spine where rib cage ends. It was like a grenade went off.

Have shot a couple deer with the 129 ABLR out of a 6.5x55 at about 3000 FPS at 300-400 yards and the bullet performed perfectly. Pass throughs on both shoulders and good damage.

The ABLR definitely didn’t like that high of an impact velocity.
 
If I was to do it again, after having and owning a bunch of different 280AI rifles, I would get the old 280 and not do the AI thing again.
I reload, but found the AI was not as great as all the hype.
I would want a sub 7LB in 280 though.
And it seams after owning several and my wife has a 280AI Cooper still, the speeds some are posting I cant see possible, unless you are way over psi.
It is not and never will be a 7mag or Bee. If those are the speeds you want then get the mag,bee,ultramag,28nosler. Don't buy at 280 or 280AI as physics don't lie, you just cannot safely get those speeds out of them.
 
If you think that a 139 GMX is too destructive you are going to hate the ABLR. If you want to save meat, don't shoot them in the meat. :)

I'm in the more destruction kills faster camp, so I'll put my vote in for the 28 Nosler for a 7. When I run your 600 yard energy for the 280/168 LR I'm coming up with 1350 foot pounds. My 28 will take the same bullet out there with 1/2 again as much and the 195 EOL with what might as well be double. You're going to notice double.
 
If you think that a 139 GMX is too destructive you are going to hate the ABLR. If you want to save meat, don't shoot them in the meat. :)

I'm in the more destruction kills faster camp, so I'll put my vote in for the 28 Nosler for a 7. When I run your 600 yard energy for the 280/168 LR I'm coming up with 1350 foot pounds. My 28 will take the same bullet out there with 1/2 again as much and the 195 EOL with what might as well be double. You're going to notice double.

I was under the impression a slower heavier moving bullet would do less damage than a super fast light bullet??
 
If I was to do it again, after having and owning a bunch of different 280AI rifles, I would get the old 280 and not do the AI thing again.
I reload, but found the AI was not as great as all the hype.
I would want a sub 7LB in 280 though.
And it seams after owning several and my wife has a 280AI Cooper still, the speeds some are posting I cant see possible, unless you are way over psi.
It is not and never will be a 7mag or Bee. If those are the speeds you want then get the mag,bee,ultramag,28nosler. Don't buy at 280 or 280AI as physics don't lie, you just cannot safely get those speeds out of them.

I agree, I am happy with 2700-2750 fps, if I wanted high velocity I would use my current 7RM
Maybe a regular 160g AB is a better choice? possibly hold up a bit better?
 
Last edited:
I was under the impression a slower heavier moving bullet would do less damage than a super fast light bullet??


You're over-looking bullet construction. The ABLR is a mostly frangible design that is going to shed most of its weight even at low velocity. That's a good thing for it's intended use, fragmentation will give great killing results at low impact velocities that are dismal with a bullet that only expands. The wound channels look like a bomb went off, and at high speed they look like a bigger bomb went off.
I used the 190 LR on maybe 5-6 dozen fallows and reds. The results are spectacular; but not for everyone. Picture a big varmint bullet with a little tougher one tied to its ass.
 
I agree, I am happy with 2700-2750 fps, if I wanted high velocity I would use my current 7RM
Maybe a regular 160g AB is a better choice? possibly hold up a bit better?

I have an X-Bolt stainless stalker in 280 Rem. It weighs 6 lbs, 9 oz out of the box and I'm really impressed with it.
I've reloaded the 140 ttsx, 150 partition and 140 accubond. They have all performed well at targets and on game. I don't think you need to load heavy for calibre bullets for the cartridge. You're not getting huge velocities out of it.
If your goal is longer ranges you might want to also consider the 162 ELD-X.
Just my 2 cents.
 
I've sailed quite a few 139gr interlocks from 7-08's into ribs of white tail deer from 30' to 350 yards away and all fell on the spot with lung's that looked like they had been removed and set to purée in a blender for an hour then poured back in... With a single entry and exit wound and I never once recovered an interlock from any of said critters... I pushed them HARD with a case full of H4350...

I also loaded 162gr Amax's in 7-08 to 2800fps and shot it frequently to 750 yards on steel plates until I decided that the 6.5CM would be a better round for ringing steel... Boy was I wrong... That 7-08 hit like a hammer and cost less in the end than the CM with better barrel life blah blah blah...

I don't think there is anything you can't do with a 280 in North America... I know I only felt under gunned once with a 7-08 but how often are you going to stalk someone else's wounded bull elk to 20' bedded in a spruce swamp eh?
 
Just getting a new barrel spun on a custom I had built, 6.5-284 it has some major throat wear after 450rds! It will be chambered in 280ai. Almost went with a 280 Rem first go around with this rifle. I also like the idea of both 280/280ai, nice balance of power good ballistics.
 
Just getting a new barrel spun on a custom I had built, 6.5-284 it has some major throat wear after 450rds! It will be chambered in 280ai. Almost went with a 280 Rem first go around with this rifle. I also like the idea of both 280/280ai, nice balance of power good ballistics.

What bullets and powder were you burning up in yours Im loading RL22 with 143 ELDX ers at 2940 fps . My 280 AI loads with RL22 are 150 fps + faster with a 140 gr bullet . Same barrel lenght . RJ
 
Back
Top Bottom