280 AI w/ 150 NBT & 162 AM

[efw]

I am in the process of FINALLY building one (thanks for the tube Chet!!).

Thinking that 150 NBTs/BSTs will be my choice until 162 AMs come back to shelves near me. I have LC 06 brass and Prvi 174 FMJs for FF'n; will likely use IMR-4350 for that since I have an 8 and am phasing it out (hoping to go to 8s of TAC, Big Game, and Hunter for the bulk of my loading).

Here are the powders I have that I think will be good for the 150/162:

Hunter
H-4831
RL22
Magnum
7828

What do you guys suggest? I am interested in a balance between speed and accuracy, though I value the latter over the former within reason.

Thank you for your assistance,

Efw

 

[nvbroncrider]

Run 7828 or RL22 with a 150 LRAB or a 160AB and don't look back.

Here's 160's and 7828 in mine.

 

[gerry]

Can't help you much but it is neat that it has all worked out for you. Good luck.

 

[JD338]

Eric,

Jake nailed it. RL 22 IS the powder for the 280 AI. Everything I feed my 280 AI shoots .5 MOA or better.
With the high BC of the 150 gr ABLR and getting 3100 fps, it is a very flat shooter with a lot of energy down range.

JD338

 

[preacher]

I also used R22/ 150 NBT in a 280 AI I had back in the '90s. I used 7828 under the Speer 160 HC too. I was experimenting, so just had a 22" bbl reamed out, only gained 50 fps with my favorite loads, but it sure made a beautiful cartridge!

 

[efw]

made a beautiful cartridge!

Right on; Jim got this cartridge in my head when he gave me one of his sexy cartridges. It's been on a shelf on my bench at eye level ever since, and when my buddy told me he'd like to sell his PF M70 06, well that REALLY got me thinking !!

Thanks guys. RL22 will be my starting point...

 

[SJB358]

With the results JD gets out of his 280AI with RL22, I would surely try it first. I get EXCELLENT results with RL22 and my 7WSM as well which is sorta the same deal. It just works really well with 160's. Good luck, the 280 Ackley is a cool one.

 

[JD338]

Eric,

I shot some168 gr ABLRs out of the 280AI this afternoon. I recovered 3 from water jugs, finding them in the 5th jug. The MV was 2936 fps.
I will shoot for groups when it warms up, 13° F was enough for me
doing the water jugs.

JD338