Ross .280 - solving the bullet dilemma.

Claven2

Claven2

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Ok, so I'm gearing up to reload for a .280 Ross. I've got custom brass from Buffalo Arms, dies from CH4D - all I'm really missing is .287" or .288" projectiles.

So of course, I had to solve this issue. Using commonly available .284" bullets just wouldn't do and shooting cast will really limit this rounds. The .280 can push a 160gr jacketed bullet past 3000fps.

You CAN buy these projectiles in the states, but they do not ship to Canada.

So... I had no alternative but to manufacture a bumping die ;) (I have a mill and a lathe). It started out as 1018 bar stock.

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I've tried it and it DOES work, but only with flat-based bullets. I've tested Nosler Partitions and Speer spire-points. You do need a strong press to use this setup. I use it on a Lee Classic Cast.

It does NOT bump bullets over the whole length, only the first 1/4" at the base end, but this should be sufficient to act as a driving band.

I hope to report range results when the gun is back from the gunsmith (getting custom scope bases fitted and blued).
 
.280 bumping die

Ok Ron...er Claven, The line forms behind me once youre into production. Once your Ross is ready it will be interesting to see any difference between .284's and the bumped-up ones. I know your bore is perfect so a few thou' may not make a difference. Remind me when you are out this way to give you some old Speer 160's to try that are supposed to be .287's.
Geoff
 
Paper patching is certainly an option, but why bother? My bumping die is working to swage the bullet bases up to .288".

Granted, not everyone is going to want to manufacture a custom die at home...

I should have taken pictures while I was making it. It's actually a lot more machining work than it looks, especially considering it was all done on manual machines and that the cone plug was done with a left-handed thread so that the die wouldn't unscrew from the press when the plug it removed. Also, I had to ream a 1/32" relief hole into the plug die so that any stuck bullets could be punched out AND I had to first manufacture a custom .288" spire-point reamer from tool steel and harden it so that I could precisely ream the bullet profile into the top plug.

It looks a little rough because I didn't spend a lot of time polishing the exterior, but it really is very functional and the important surfaces are lapped to a mirror finish.
 
Very cool and innovative. I thought the naysayers said it was impossible? ;)

This idea fills a widespread need and the process could be applied elsewhere, e.g. 264 to 267, 308 to 311, 312 to 314, 323 to 326, etc.

A 1/4" groove-diameter driving band should be fine. Remington made a bunch of "two diameter" bullets (I have some for the 6.5 mm) that were that way and they worked great. They allowed a longer OAL without messing with the throat - essentially an extended "viritual" throat.
 
Claven2 said:
The .280 can push a 160gr jacketed bullet past 3000fps.
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Good Work.

It would be interesting if you could chrony your loads from your range session. I always thought that the .280 ross pushed 160's at around 2800 but that was factory stuff from a long time ago and likely loaded with cordite. New powders should help.
 
Pathfinder said:
Good Work.

It would be interesting if you could chrony your loads from your range session. I always thought that the .280 ross pushed 160's at around 2800 but that was factory stuff from a long time ago and likely loaded with cordite. New powders should help.
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doesn't the 280 have greater case capacity than the 7mm rem mag? maybe even more like the 7mm RUM?
 
The .280 Rimless Nitro-Express Ross only have 77 grains of water capacity, while the 7 MM Rem Mag have 82 and the 7 mm RUM have 116 grains of water capacity.

CIP MAP for the .280 R. N-E Ross is 3 250 bar, or 47 137 PSI, while the 7mm Rem Mag have a MAP of 61 000 PSI (SAAMI).

Hawk bullets used to ship here, unless they changed their policy. Woodleigh also have .287" dia bullets.

BTW, nice job.
 
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I think he is about to tell you that the first one took considerable longer to make, than would the next ones.
And actually, if some of you want some, he could give you a great price for the first ones, and let you have one for $680., plus shipping.
 
The 275 H+H also used oversized .287-.288 bullets and Ross Seigfred paper patched .284 and got good accuracy........Harold
 
H4831 said:
I think he is about to tell you that the first one took considerable longer to make, than would the next ones.
And actually, if some of you want some, he could give you a great price for the first ones, and let you have one for $680., plus shipping.
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LOL. Making several of these would be a major PITA without a CNC lathe at the least. Manual lathes are great for prototyping but are no way to do production ;)

There is zero chance that I could make these dies profitably, but if anyone else wants to try making one I am more than happy to walk them through it ;)

For starters, you need a mill and a lathe. The mill can be anything, even a cheapy chinese bench mill, but I would recommend a more sturdy lathe since you need to make some fairly substantial cuts into steel bar stock. I use a 3.5' South Bend 9A.
 
dan belisle said:
LOL, great deal. Everytime I look at a 280 Ross case, I have to fight the urge to "Ackley-ise" it. - dan
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While that might give it a performance boost, the idea behind using the Ross case is that you get to shoot a vintage work of art in the commercial M10 with flush mag. Would be a trvesty to have one reamed.

Also, the round has that long taper on purpose to prevent cartridge binding in the straight-pull action. There is no camming extraction in a Ross like on a turnbolt.
 
288 ross bullet

if someome want to have a longer bearing area on the bullet ,one way would be among other option to used a stronger dies whit a 1 1-4 -12 O.D. on a lee classic or other heavy duty press ,( a swaging press ???? ) or a Big arbour press like a 3 tons or more capacity, regards Bob P.S if you want some 288 bullets please email . me
 
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Claven2 said:
While that might give it a performance boost, the idea behind using the Ross case is that you get to shoot a vintage work of art in the commercial M10 with flush mag. Would be a trvesty to have one reamed.

Also, the round has that long taper on purpose to prevent cartridge binding in the straight-pull action. There is no camming extraction in a Ross like on a turnbolt.
Click to expand...

:D The idea is "as well as", not "instead of". I also like multiple ice cream flavours. - dan
 
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