280 ai

[Weatherby Fan]

totally agree with you, something just special about that -06 case, 35 whelen, 9.3,280 its just a special moderate to low recoil while giving the best bang for the buck. hence still very used and popular-ish

Nice thing about that 06 family of cartridges is they generally feed without issue, moderate recoil, versatile and excellent hunting performance
You can usually get 5 in the mag box
So yes lots of benefits to this line of cartridges

 

[Bustercluck]

What size bullet do you guys prefer in the 280 ackley? 150-160 grain? I’m betting a 175 partition would be a slugger for big game.

Does anyone shoot big and heavy bullets out of them? I’m just wondering what real world performance is with them with the heavies like 180-195?

 

[Weatherby Fan]

What size bullet do you guys prefer in the 280 ackley? 150-160 grain? I’m betting a 175 partition would be a slugger for big game.

Does anyone shoot big and heavy bullets out of them? I’m just wondering what real world performance is with them with the heavies like 180-195?

I find that you don’t get the velocity out of the 280AI when you use anything heavier than 160gr, on top of that the 280AI is not throated properly to use heavy for caliber bullets,
You Midas well go to a 7mm PRC if you want to run 175-195 bullets
I’ve shot lots of deer with the 140gr and 160gr Accubonds out of the 280AI and performance was excellent, I like to run the 140AB at 3100-3150 and the 160AB at 2950-3000 fps

In saying all that I know a lot of guys running 168/175gr bullets in the 280AI without issue just slow imho

 

[hunter-4-life]

I find that you don’t get the velocity out of the 280AI when you use anything heavier than 160gr, on top of that the 280AI is not throated properly to use heavy for caliber bullets,
You Midas well got to a 7mm PRC if you want to run 175-195 bullets
I’ve shot lots of deer with the 140gr and 160gr Accubonds out of the 280AI and performance was excellent, I like to run the 140AB at 3100-3150 and the 160AB at 2950-3000 fps

In saying all that I know a lot of guys running 168/175gr bullets in the 280AI without issue just slow imho

Between you and a local buddy of mine here, you both have me debating throwing a 280 AI together with a 22" barrel, 8.5 twist. Run a 140gr bullet for deer and go up to a 160gr for the once in 10 years a guy gets an elk or moose tag. I wouldn't hesitate to take it elk hunting in the slightest.

The one thing holding me back is my passion to reload is slowly dwindling away. I still have all my loading gear but I find myself getting too busy to dedicate time to it. Yes factory ammo is available, but it isn't on the cheaper side. If a guy is going to spend $100/box on shells, i'm thinking a 7mm BC would be the better option between the 2. Better performance velocity wise, still run a lighter or heavier bullet, short barrel still and same price for ammo.

 

[remington jim]

What size bullet do you guys prefer in the 280 ackley? 150-160 grain? I’m betting a 175 partition would be a slugger for big game.

Does anyone shoot big and heavy bullets out of them? I’m just wondering what real world performance is with them with the heavies like 180-195?

I’m playing with the Barnes 145 LRX now out of mine ! I like that LRX bullet design and it’s going plenty fast from the AI .
Like WF says if I want a bigger bullet I would use a bigger cartridge in a 7 mm series .

 

[257hunter]

What size bullet do you guys prefer in the 280 ackley? 150-160 grain? I’m betting a 175 partition would be a slugger for big game.

Does anyone shoot big and heavy bullets out of them? I’m just wondering what real world performance is with them with the heavies like 180-195?

I’ve always preferred lighter stuff out of mine. Like to maintain a bit more muzzle velocity. 140 accubonds have been excellent.

 

[tony d]

Still one of my favourite cartridges

 

[Weatherby Fan]

Between you and a local buddy of mine here, you both have me debating throwing a 280 AI together with a 22" barrel, 8.5 twist. Run a 140gr bullet for deer and go up to a 160gr for the once in 10 years a guy gets an elk or moose tag. I wouldn't hesitate to take it elk hunting in the slightest.

The one thing holding me back is my passion to reload is slowly dwindling away. I still have all my loading gear but I find myself getting too busy to dedicate time to it. Yes factory ammo is available, but it isn't on the cheaper side. If a guy is going to spend $100/box on shells, i'm thinking a 7mm BC would be the better option between the 2. Better performance velocity wise, still run a lighter or heavier bullet, short barrel still and same price for ammo.

Yeh it’s fine for Elk if you use a good quality bullet, my buddy uses the 145 LRX and killed his Elk last year at 454 yards, elk took a couples steps and tipped over,
I’m going to try and develop a load with the 145gr LRX if not I can always use the factory Barnes 152gr LRX in a pinch !

 

[s3xspert11]

What size bullet do you guys prefer in the 280 ackley? 150-160 grain? I’m betting a 175 partition would be a slugger for big game.

Does anyone shoot big and heavy bullets out of them? I’m just wondering what real world performance is with them with the heavies like 180-195?

Haven't used mine in years quite some time, there are so many awesome bullets and advances in the last 10 years however
Ive yet to be let down with a 150 Nosler PT or a barnes tsx/ttsx.
Nosler PT isn't fancy or flashy but Ive seen it kill a lot.

Over the last 3-4 years Ive switched over mainly to the federal terminal ascent and had great luck if you want bonded with higher BC.