New to .280ai, looking for tips/suggestions

A

Aabradsh

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
37   0   0
Location
Ontario
Hey guys

I’ve recently got into a .280ai. I’ve been fascinated by this cartridge for a while and figured it’ll make a great “do-it-all” big game rifle.

I’m working on sourcing some factory ammunition (particularly the Hornady Superformance 162gr) to get me started, but will definitely be handloading for this rifle.

The rifle is a Kimber Select, with a 24” 1/9 twist barrel. Does anyone have experience or tips they could pass along. I already handload for a few of my rifles, so I’m not new to that, but what powders and bullets are you getting good results with? I’m hoping to either shoot 162gr Hornady ELD-X, or 160gr Nosler Accubonds.

Any advice would be appreciated.
 
RL22 works well, among a dozen others

RL26, RL23, RL19, RL16, H1000, H4831, IMR 7977, IMR 4831, IMR 4955, Ramshot Hunter, Ramshot Magnum, Accurate Magpro, Vihtavuori n560
 
Running 168 lrx over magpro for 2840fps in my 24" tube, quite accurate and the velocities havent varied from 0deg up to 20 deg that ive shot it in....seems like a pretty temp stable powder for my purposes. Cant speak to what it would do above or below these temps though.
 
IMHO the 280 rem is a fine cartridge as is the 280ai.

I have a 280 that loves all of the powders listed above. RL25 works as well but is a bit on the slow side.
 
Pretty hard to beat an accubond for an all around big game bullet. I'd be as happy with the 140 as the 160. The ELD-X may prove useful but I would need to shoot a few into some test media up close before I felt really confident with them, but I seem to kill most of my game up close. I know neither have a lot of the currently popular features like ultra high BC's or bonding but the 150 Nosler Ballistic tip and 154 SP interlock have both shot consistently well enough in every 7mm rifle I've tried them in from 7mm-08 to STW that I keep a box of each on hand. Of course if you shoot stuff ahead of the guts and behind the shoulder they don't tend to go far so pick whatever bullet excites you, not many will bounce off. Unless you've seen critters wearing kevlar lately.
I will not comment on powders as I have yet to play with a .280ai.
 
I'm an old guy, and forty years ago never had any problem getting 150s of any persuasion over the Oehler at well past 3000 fps with H4831 and magnum primers.

The new 160 Partitions nudged 3000 with good accuracy and fine performance on game.

Ted
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom