280AI Load/Bullet Recommendations

Ltsheets · Mar 3, 2015

So I have a Kimber Montana in 280AI on the way. I just ordered dies and brass last night though I'm holding off on bullets until I get some better information on what I might want to use. The barrel should have a 1-9.5 twist so I'm hoping that'll be fast enough for 168 Bergers if I decide to go that heavy. I'm leaning more towards bullets in the 140-150gr range. I currently have IMR-4350, H1000, and RL-22 that I can try along with CCI Large Rifle primers. My goal is to find a load that will at least shoot .75 MOA. This will be primarily a backcountry rifle when weight savings is important and could get used on elk depending on where I'm hunting but more than likely, my 300WSM will go with me if I draw and elk rifle hunts in the future. Thoughts?

sageadvice · Mar 3, 2015

Congrats on your new iron!! I've had a bunch of friends run Kimber rifles, most love theirs but most, almost to the man, there was some tinkering of the rifle involved before they finally found what they were looking for in a accurate and dependable load.

My 280AI is build on a Rem 700 action and a custom 25" heavier barrel. I found that mine shot almost everything better than expected right from the beginning. Even the Factory 280 Rem cartridges i shot thru it to fireform the brass into 280AI, shot 10 shot 1" groups.

At the time, i had some IMR 4350 so working with 140 Nosler Combined Tech bullets, i slowly worked up with more and more powder until the velocity 10' from the tube was well over 3200 FPS, 1/2 to 3/4" groups, but not showing signs of too much pressure. That was thru my rifle, yours might not be so easy. I've been hunting that combo thru my rifle, did change to Accubonds, ever since and I'm well satisfied.

To me, the 280AI is an iconic deer cartridge, about as energy efficient a cartridge as you can get. It was often preferred for open country hunting by many of the so called "experts and noted marksmen" of days gone past and for good reason.

I hope that you like yours!

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

Ltsheets · Mar 3, 2015

Thanks Joey. I can't wait to get my hands on it and to see how it goes. Now Kimber offers a MOA guarantee on their Montana's so I'm hoping it will shoot well with most of what I try. I'll post here as I work with this rifle and I'm still open to what others use in their 280AI.

osu92 · Mar 3, 2015

I built a .280AI off an old Remington 721 action last winter. Bartlein #3 barrel with 1:9 twist in a Manners EH1 stock. I LOVE this gun. I originally worked up loads with the 168 Berger hunting VLD's that were .5moa right around 3000fps with H1000. I then acquired a few 180 hybrids to try and found a load with H1000 where I'm getting 2925 and similar sized .5moa groups. Only got to hunt with it once last fall but it did very well on my bighorn (at 200 yards).

You shouldn't have any trouble working up a solid load with H1000 and the 168's in your gun. If not them, I'd look hard at the 140 Accubonds.

Ltsheets · Mar 3, 2015

Awesome! I'm glad to hear promising things about the 168vld and H1000. Congrats on your bighorn!!! Did you draw or get it in Canada or Mexico? Pics?

>I built a .280AI off an
>old Remington 721 action last
>winter. Bartlein #3 barrel
>with 1:9 twist in a
>Manners EH1 stock. I
>LOVE this gun. I
>originally worked up loads with
>the 168 Berger hunting VLD's
>that were .5moa right around
>3000fps with H1000. I
>then acquired a few 180
>hybrids to try and found
>a load with H1000 where
>I'm getting 2925 and similar
>sized .5moa groups. Only
>got to hunt with it
>once last fall but it
>did very well on my
>bighorn (at 200 yards).
>
>You shouldn't have any trouble working
>up a solid load with
>H1000 and the 168's in
>your gun. If not
>them, I'd look hard at
>the 140 Accubonds.

muzz · Mar 3, 2015

I'm working up loads now on my ackley, going with 150 grain long range accubonds. I think the 140 grain accubonds is a great bullet for it also. Try 140 accubonds with 60 grains of h4831. That's a load that works well in a lot of 280 ackleys

O--one
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Ltsheets · Mar 3, 2015

Let me know how those ABLR work out. I'm really interested in that bullet b

freebird63 · Mar 13, 2015

Just a heads up, I tried the 168gr ALR, first go round I was seating the bullets to touch the lands and had terrible results. Then reading on the nosler forum someone suggested seating them to sammi specs and that was the ticket, I could put 4 bullets inside the circle the size of a quarter at 200 yards. I was using retumbo powder.

Chuck in Boise

muzz · Mar 13, 2015

Share your load! I worked up some 150 ABLR's with 4831sc and got 1" groups at 100yrds, Now im gonna try some with the new reloader 26 powder as its pressures are lower with higher velocities.

Ill go with it and see how it groups and see what I can work up with it.

O--one
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springvilleshooter · Mar 13, 2015

My 280 AI loves RL-22. So far I have put it behind 140 Accubonds, 160 Accubonds and 162 AMaxs. 60 grains behind the 160s for 3050 and 63 behind the 140s for 3200. All shoot sub MOA with the AMaxs shooting much better.

My rifle has a 25" barrel. -----SS

muzz · Mar 14, 2015

Rl 22 is the great powder for the 280ai but the temp sensitivity is terrible.

O--one
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A--america

springvilleshooter · Mar 14, 2015

I've done some testing with RL-22 and only found a 20-30 fps difference between 100 degrees in the summer and the teens in winter. I can live with that. Most of my loads have a 10-20 FPS deviation as it is. All of my loads are mid range so maybe that has something to do with it?

I've shot a load of RL-22 in my 25-06 AI for 5 years without a single sight adjustment needed, winter, spring, summer, fall. When I have periodically checked zero, this rifle has never been more that 1/2 MOA off. I chalk that up to variations in the trigger operator. I have seen pressure surprises with Alliant powders on the top end.-------SS

lve2143 · Mar 14, 2015

RL 22 is a wonderful powder for
a lot of applications..

Usually the best velocity on a lot of loads.

Not always the best accuracy on said loads.

I'd never be without a can.

muzz · Mar 17, 2015

Reloader 26, 63.5 grains, 150 accubond lr, 210m primer, 2816 coal with hornady bullet comparator shot well yesterday. I need a little fine tuning but should be 1/2" or better if I can stop my heart beating when shooting.

O--one
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Zeke · Mar 17, 2015

My bro has had good preliminary success with RL-22 and Barnes 140 TTSX.

I'll try several variations in mine when it's completed.

I'm awaiting my Lilja #2, 3 groove, 9 twist, SS barrel. It will be a sweet "carry" mountain rifle with that barrel weight and Brown Precision Kevlar stock. I hope it shoots as well as some of you claim your's do!

It would be fun to shoot with some of you guys and see what the ole 280AI's can really do at distances.

Zeke

muzz · Apr 21, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Apr-21-15 AT 07:41PM (MST)[p]Shot again with the 150 ABLR's, reloader 26, with 63.5 grains powder,federal 210m primers, hornady bullet comparator over all length was 2830. Shot just under half inch and average speed was 3234 with a standard deviation of 7.

Thats the best load I have ever had in any rifle.

O--one
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sageadvice · Apr 21, 2015

Muzz said, "Thats the best load I have ever had in any rifle."

Yeah, i don't like to reload that much that i'd to try to improve on numbers like that if they were what i was getting. Are you seeing signs of pressure? Seems like a Hoss load!

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

muzz · Apr 22, 2015

No signs of pressure in my nosler brass. Max load is 64.5 I believe. Im pleased with this load.

O--one
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A--america

muzz · May 6, 2015

Do not load my load. It is over charged. After looking into it im way over pressure. Beats the hell out of me why im not seeing pressure signs but im starting over AGAIN

O--one
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M--mistake
A--america

sageadvice · May 7, 2015

Yeah, that's why i asked if you were seeing signs of pressure,..seemed a bit high to me, a bit too good a numbers.

If it were mine, i'd back off a grain and a half to two grains of powder and see what she does. Your numbers won't be down that much but you will have confidence and piece of mind.

Ending up over recommended max pressure in itself is not unusual and is how i ALWAYS run... as long as the cases look good after firing and there's no other problems.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

muzz · May 9, 2015

wih max pressure on a 280AI case at 65,000psi I was sitting right at 69,000 to 70,000 psi. To dangerous for me. RL 26 is to slow of a powder for the 280AI. Im loading some new test loads with 7828ssc right now and when this weather gets decent gonna go shoot them and see where im at. I hope I can find a load quick. im running out of powder and bullets.

O--one
B--big
A--ass
M--mistake
A--america