Reloading 280AI

brisketntaters

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Hey there, very new to this so bear with me. Looking to start reloading for my 280AI and I’m wondering about best choice for powder and primers?? I’ll be using Nosler brass with Barnes LRX 145gr bullets. These choices are entirely due to what has been available hahaha. I realize I’m going to need to spend time developing a load and that there’s far more to it than just selecting a powder….that being said I’m just wondering if anyone out there has any experience/info with this particular combination that I’ve got to work with here. The rifle is a Browning X Bolt Hells Canyon Speed with a 24” barrel. Cheers
 
You have good brass and bullets for the 280AI.
I've had great success with RL26 and Fed 210M primers with the 150 nosler ab, nudging 3100 fps.
RL19 works well with the 139 lrx in mine, 3139 fps.
 
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I had tremendous success with the 140 grain Nosler Accubond and IMR-4831. Two posts above mine, I can easily see Reloder #26 working quite well for the 280AI.
 
This question should have been asked in the Reloading Forum... you would get more and better answers...

For my Ruger African .280AI with 24" barrel, I use Nosler 150 Accubonds over H4350 with CCI 200 primers for 2900 fps... that will do for anything in NA, but would not meet bison requirements.
 
59-Rl22 with a 160 accubond for 2950 and teeny groups for me.

Also had great accuracy and 3350+ with the 120 TTSX and H4350 though I cannot remember the charge weight.
 
I use 4831SC and 140g ttsx out of my 23” barrel Kimber 280ai. I also use same bullet and powder out of my custom Tikka 280rem. Hasn’t let me down on any game yet!
 
I mainly use RL26 in my 280AI, but there's lots of good powders to choose from. I shot an elk a few years ago with the 145gr LRX and it worked great. This Quickload chart should help you choose powders

Code:
Cartridge          : [B].280 Ack Imp[/B]
Bullet             : .284, [B]145, Barnes 'LRX'[/B]BT 30282
Useable Case Capaci: 63.124 grain H2O = 4.099 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.330 inch = 84.58 mm
[B]Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch [/B]= 609.6 mm

[B]Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 62000 psi[/B], or 427 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 104 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

Cartridge          : .280 Ack Imp
Bullet             : .284, 145, Barnes 'LRX'BT 30282
Useable Case Capaci: 63.124 grain H2O = 4.099 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.330 inch = 84.58 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 62000 psi, or 427 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 104 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

60 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-26                  97.5     61.0     3.95    3073   100.0    62000   11524   1.105  ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP                           98.5     59.8     3.87    3039    99.5    62000   11664   1.109  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560                    100.3     59.7     3.87    3025    97.1    62000   11872   1.107  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC                        99.3     59.3     3.84    3018    97.5    62000   11520   1.099  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO                    100.5     62.1     4.03    3005    95.6    62000   11874   1.113  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22                 100.4     59.1     3.83    3002    98.6    62000   11459   1.115  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17                  88.2     53.8     3.49    2995   100.0    62000   10297   1.115  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-16                  93.2     52.8     3.42    2994   100.0    62000   10339   1.109  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828                           104.0     58.8     3.81    2992    97.2    60415   11436   1.110  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-23                 102.1     58.1     3.77    2989   100.0    62000   10270   1.117  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum                     100.5     63.7     4.13    2989    99.1    62000   10987   1.105  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-25                 104.0     60.2     3.90    2987   100.0    57793   11146   1.128  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N565                    104.0     62.2     4.03    2976    97.0    61121   11649   1.131  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N555                     98.3     56.1     3.64    2965   100.0    62000   10403   1.136  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19                  97.4     56.7     3.67    2959    98.5    62000   10940   1.119  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                      92.9     55.8     3.62    2958    99.8    62000   10627   1.124  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                        87.8     54.0     3.50    2954    99.5    62000   10665   1.125  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      87.8     54.0     3.50    2954    99.5    62000   10665   1.125  ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP                           92.4     53.2     3.45    2941   100.0    62000   10180   1.130  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550                     89.8     53.4     3.46    2940   100.0    62000   10314   1.134  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204                           92.5     55.6     3.60    2935    98.3    62000   10669   1.122  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831SC                     98.8     58.1     3.77    2933    96.7    62000   10757   1.117  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831                      102.8     58.1     3.77    2933    96.7    62000   10757   1.117  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                       91.2     53.0     3.44    2926   100.0    62000   10109   1.142  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                            96.8     54.0     3.50    2920   100.0    62000    9948   1.138  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203B                          84.8     49.4     3.20    2906   100.0    62000    9652   1.141  ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 2                        104.0     60.5     3.92    2905    96.6    54276   11477   1.163
Vihtavuori N165                    102.7     59.1     3.83    2903    98.8    62000   10216   1.130  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350                       95.3     54.2     3.51    2903    99.1    62000   10145   1.130  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V                 94.8     53.4     3.46    2903   100.0    62000    9363   1.132  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350                            93.5     54.1     3.51    2903    99.2    62000   10127   1.130  ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World SW4350               92.7     53.4     3.46    2902    99.6    62000   10198   1.142  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160                     89.9     53.4     3.46    2901   100.0    62000    9677   1.134  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4955 Enduron                   100.1     56.7     3.67    2898    96.9    62000   10455   1.127  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4451 Enduron                    89.9     51.7     3.35    2894    99.4    62000   10009   1.132  ! Near Maximum !
 
60 grs of RL26 and a Fed215M and that Barnes 145 LRX will work WELL i Bet ! I shot LOTs of RL22 in my 280AI But RL26 gives higher FPS and Better accuracy in my custom HVA rifle - RJ

Likewise for my 240 Wby., 270 Win. and 300 H&H.............they all love Reloder #26. I have another, new 300 H&H and 257 Wby. to try Reloder #26, and sure that at least one will love it.
 
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