280ai
- Thread starter Jjeat
- Start date
270WSMXBolt
Regular
- Location
- Delta B.C.
Length of barrel and twist rate are factors to consider. Amongst many others.
For a basic answer. The highest BC wins.
I have some wonderful .284" Hammer HHT (Hammer Hunter Tipped) G7=.287 170grn monolithic copper bullets that require a 1-8" minimum twist.
For a basic answer. The highest BC wins.
I have some wonderful .284" Hammer HHT (Hammer Hunter Tipped) G7=.287 170grn monolithic copper bullets that require a 1-8" minimum twist.
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I think a guy should define what job the rifle needs to get done, then the optimal projectile can be looked at a lot closer. Hunting whitetails in Saskatchewan without a rangefinder in your pocket, vs ELR target shooting
If you want my generic answer, I'd say 150-175gr
If you want my generic answer, I'd say 150-175gr
Prefer 160 gr or so in most of my larger 7mm's. - dan
Back in the late 80's when I was looking to buy my first big game rifle of my own (previous rifles had been gifted), and I was settling on the 280 Rem, I read an article (do not recall author now) that opined that the 160/162/165 gr bullet weight was the optimum for 7mm caliber.
I shot factory 160 gr ammo back then, and developed a load for that Browning A Bolt with the 162 gr Hornady BTSP that would put 5 rounds into a nice cluster at 100 yards with the max load of IMR4350 (do not recall charge or approx. velocity anymore). Compared to the felt recoil, and penetration of the steel rub bars used to hold targets, it was definitely more than the factory 160 gr ammo, and closer to on par with the factory 7mm Rem Mag ammo of a friend's rifle with 160 gr ammo. (Didn't own, or have access to, a chrony back then). All I knew was that it definitely smacked whitetails and mule deer!
Later, when I had my first 7mm Rem Mag, I used the Federal Premium 165 gr SGK ammo with great success on mtn. goat, mule deer, moose and elk. Shot accurately and proved well with on-game performance. My 7MM STW loves the 160 gr SGK and AccuBond ammo (sub-MOA accuracy) and has proven very effective in its on-game performance over the past 26 years!
Today I have a 7mm-08 using 140 gr AccuBond ammo, 280 using 150 gr AccuBond ammo, 7mm Rem Mag using 155 gr Terminal Ascent ammo, 7MM STW using 160 gr AccuBond ammo, and a new 7MM PRC that I am hoping to use 170 gr Terminal Ascent ammo in. (I like to have one particular bullet weight for each cartridge I won in a caliber class.)
Were I to get a 280AI, I would hope to use either the 155 gr Terminal Ascent or 160 gr AccuBond ammo in. (Factory or handloads)
I shot factory 160 gr ammo back then, and developed a load for that Browning A Bolt with the 162 gr Hornady BTSP that would put 5 rounds into a nice cluster at 100 yards with the max load of IMR4350 (do not recall charge or approx. velocity anymore). Compared to the felt recoil, and penetration of the steel rub bars used to hold targets, it was definitely more than the factory 160 gr ammo, and closer to on par with the factory 7mm Rem Mag ammo of a friend's rifle with 160 gr ammo. (Didn't own, or have access to, a chrony back then). All I knew was that it definitely smacked whitetails and mule deer!
Later, when I had my first 7mm Rem Mag, I used the Federal Premium 165 gr SGK ammo with great success on mtn. goat, mule deer, moose and elk. Shot accurately and proved well with on-game performance. My 7MM STW loves the 160 gr SGK and AccuBond ammo (sub-MOA accuracy) and has proven very effective in its on-game performance over the past 26 years!
Today I have a 7mm-08 using 140 gr AccuBond ammo, 280 using 150 gr AccuBond ammo, 7mm Rem Mag using 155 gr Terminal Ascent ammo, 7MM STW using 160 gr AccuBond ammo, and a new 7MM PRC that I am hoping to use 170 gr Terminal Ascent ammo in. (I like to have one particular bullet weight for each cartridge I won in a caliber class.)
Were I to get a 280AI, I would hope to use either the 155 gr Terminal Ascent or 160 gr AccuBond ammo in. (Factory or handloads)
