280 AI Powder

Backcast88 · Thursday at 3:59 PM

Looking to add a 280 AI to the collection at the end of hunting season. I've got a chance to get a Browning Xbolt 2 Speed at a great price and since I've been itching to get a 280 AI, its time to jump on.

Looking to load 160 TMK, 165 TGK, 162 ELD-M/ELD-X bullets in Peterson brass. Rifle will have a 24" barrel. Trying to narrow down powder options. I was thinking of focusing on n160, n555, 4831sc, and ramshot hunter. Any QL data on that group of powders would be great. If there is a powder I am missing, let me know.

JD338 · Thursday at 5:24 PM

Welcome to the 280AI club. RL22 is my go to powder for 120-160 gr bullet weights. I have 16+ pounds so I am in good shape for some time. I had excellent accuracy with the 168 gr ABLR and IMR7828SSC.
The powders you are considering are all good choices. Of the three, I'd start with H4831SC.

JD338

RL338 · Thursday at 5:47 PM

Out of your 4 powders listed , N555 would be my choice as it work great in my 30-06 with heavies.

6.5_sWv · Thursday at 7:08 PM

RL 19 / RL 23 / IMR 7828ssc / IMR 4831 / Win StaBall 6.5 and H-1000 are also some powders that have performed well in both 280AI I have owned and loaded for.

I agree with JD338, that of the ones you mentioned, id start with the H4831sc.

In my rifle the 165 TGK shot its best with IMR 7828ssc and the 162 ELD-X performed best with RL 19. I like 150s for alot of my hunting and the H4831sc has been very good with the 150 Nosler Ballistic Tip, the 150 TGK, and the 150 ELD-X.

Peterson brass is about as good as it gets for the Ackley. I bought 100 pcs when it was first made available and I'm still using the first 50. I've been annealing every other firing and I'm on 7 firings. The primer pockets are still tight. That brass should last you a good while.

Aussie Wanderer · Thursday at 8:00 PM

Indeed welcome to the 280ai cult…I mean club

I mostly shoot 150’s in mine as well and have found H4350 was excellent. If you want some good YouTube videos, check out Little Crow gun works. He has done a lot of work in the 7mm calibre and gives the old AI a fair going over.

Backcast88 · Friday at 3:08 PM

I'd love to get my hands on RL19 or IMR7828ssc but those are nonexistent for me. Most of the Vihtivori powders are easy to get and Hogdon is hit or miss. That was the reason I was looking heavily at n150/n160/n550/n555.

I'm guessing my CCI 200 primers will be fine. That's what I've got for my 6.5 PRC, 270 Win, and 30-06 and since I've got a couple thousand of them I should be set.