280 AI, 140 BT, and RL-17

[jmad_81]

Wanted to give a few new powders a try in my 280 AI today. It shoots really well with RL-22, but I was hoping that I could get some more fps out of it. The group below is a very normal group with my RL-22 load. They are cruising along at 3147 fps. This group was on another persons target so i never got to measure it :x but I'm guessing in the .2-.3 range.

I tried some RL-17 this afternoon. I started at the Alliant max for the 280 (53 gr.) and worked up to 56 gr in one grain increments. The first two shots went into the same hole! The wind picked up a good bit on the last two groups (far left). I wanted to chrony them, but I left my tripod at bear camp on my spotting scope. Should be packing up camp in the next day or two, so I,ll get some speeds for you guys shortly! Hoping to be in the 3200 range.

 

[DrMike]

The groups are certainly promising. It'll be interesting to see what you get for velocities.

 

[JD338]

Jake,

Nice shooting. RL 17 looks good, just need to know what kind of velocity you are getting.

JD338

 

[jmad_81]

I don't think I'm at the max yet. I might be able to go up one more grain. The burn rate is similar to 4350, and the max for 4350 is 58 gr with the 140, I stopped at 56gr. I will proceed with caution from here up. Having a chrony will help shed some light on things as well.

 

[6mm Remington]

All in all thought that's pretty darn impressive. I just don't know how I did load work B.C. (before chronograph)! :grin: It shows you so much.
Good job.
David

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

To bad neither of us came prepared tonight with the cronographs!! I hope you get in the 3200 range.

Hard to pick and work around a load when they all shoot 1/2 MOA or UNDER ya know!

 

[SJB358]

Looks like RL17 has some promise Jake. That is one great shooting rifle. Looking forward to your chronograph results. I know having the chronograph available to assist with load work is really indispensable! Scotty

 

[TBASTIAN]

Crazy...

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Well, he was able to hit 3200fps. I'll let him tell the rest

Man that rifle shoots amazingly well for a savage, lol. Its gotta be that pac-nor barrel and mcmillan stock hahaha.

 

[jmad_81]

Jorey you almost make it sound like I blew it up or something exciting!

I started out where I left off yesterday. The first group on the right is 56 gr. RL-17. The left group is 57 gr RL-17. I didn't see any PSI issues either. I'm going to try 56.5 and 57 again. I don't like how big the ES is with the 56 load, but it sure shoots well. I'm not sure why I got the huge drop in fps on the third shot of 57 gr either :? . The first two shots out of it yesterday went into the same hole just like the first two did today. So I might try shooting 57 gr first next time just to see if it is heat causing the issues.

The little group goes .227". That is a new personal best out of a hunting rifle for me. The bigger group went .571". So far I have tried five different load with RL-17 and the worst one went .8 something in a 15 mph wind. The 280 AI is the winner for my favorite rifle for the month!

 

[SJB358]

Man, that is great shooting Jake. Well built rifle/platform you have. Is the RL17 better (faster-more accurate) than RL22? Just wondering, I tried it in my 25-06 and it seemed okay, not really any better than RL22 though. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

RL17 has some uses. I don't believe it will replace RL22 across the board, but it does have some cartridges where it shines.

 

[jmad_81]

Scotty it seems to shoot better across the powder charges as a whole, but RL-22 seems to shoot just as well with the one load I have. So far I have been able to get better velocity with rl-17, but the two loads that shoot great with RL-17 and RL-22 are about 10 fps different. I did get better speeds than 3147 with RL-22 but it was to hot and didn't shoot very well ( around 1 MOA). I was never able to break the 3200 mark with RL-22. I'm very happy with the RL-22 load, I just have several different powders laying around, and over 400 140 BTs to play with. As of now my hunting load is still the RL-22 @ 3147 that shoots .3" all day long. If I'm going to settle on a different load it will have to be faster and shoot just as good.

I'm just playing around with some different stuff for the fun of it.

 

[SJB358]

Jake, I get that bug too. Always seems to be something new to try out huh! I haven't tried RL17 in anything other than the 25-06 but it seems like it might be great for the 338WM also. Again, it is hard to step too far from RL19/22 for me. Seems like you are getting great speed and awesome accuracy with those 140's. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

The scientist in me has never permitted me to leave a load alone. There are new powders, bullets, etc. to be tested in various combinations. That keeps me coming back to the reloading bench.

 

[backcountryhunter]

So, did you ever best the RL-22 groups ? I personally don't see anything lacking in the first groups you posted but that's just me ... 3150 is pretty darn good for a standard case

 

[JD338]

I still think its tough to beat RL 22 in the 280 AI. My rifle is throated long si I can deat the bullets out. I have done 3240 fps from my 24' barrel but droped it back down to 3150 fps to extend case life. The 140 gr AB has a BC of .485 and shoots pretty flat at 3150.

JD338

 

[jmad_81]

I did go back out and play around with it a bit more, but the group that shot the best was the same average speed as the RL-22 load, but the ES was over 50 fps. My gun is not throated as long as JDs so the 3150 is pretty much max in my gun. I might try some 7828 (shoots the 160 AB VERY well), and maybe some Mag Pro (also shoots the 160 AB very well) with the 140 BT. Its getting hot here now so I might have to wait till next fall. I hate load testing in the summer.

 

[C.Smith]

Come on now, the Columbia Basin does not get that hot :wink:. LOl You have a great shooting rifle for sure and make me want to find a cheap 30-06 Savage doner rifle to convert into the .280AI. It performs as good or better than my 7mag.

Corey

 

[jmad_81]

Before I put the McMillan on it I was into it about $800 including donor action, fluted barrel, trigger, dies, go/no go gage, and barrel nut wrench. Pretty hard to find a good factory rifle that will shoot that good for that kind of money IMO.

If you ever want to build one let me know. I would be more than happy to help, and/or let you use my gages and nut wrench.