.280 Rem AI Loads for Silhouette

[Whitesheep]

New here and working up loads for my Patriot M48 in .280 Rem AI. This rifle will be my main large game rifle as well as used in Silhouette matches. What loads have others here found to be good for Silhouette? I am thinking of using 140 gr Sierras for the Chickens and maybe Javalina and 160's for the Turkeys and Rams. While I already have a very good load for 140 AccuBonds, they are rather pricey to sling at steel.

Thank you in advance

 

[longrangehunter]

Hey Whitesheep,

Let me say thanks for coming online. I've used a 280 AI for over a decade now and I've found the 150 NBT w/IMR4831 might be a good middle ground rather then use two different bullet weights, the dope will be easy and the weight should be more then adequate for nocking off those Rams at 500 yards.

 

[SJB358]

Plus if you can buy the 150's as 2nds you can shoot them for the price of other bullets. I like that 150 Nosler. Both the PT and BT are excellent bullets.

 

[6mm Remington]

What weight and type of bullet are you using for hunting right now?? I don't know why a 140 gr. Nosler BT would not work just fine on everything. If you say are using a 140 gr. Partition or AccuBond for hunting, maybe you can get a 140 gr. BT to shoot to about the same point of impact. With a little fussing around I think it would work. If you are shooting a 150 or 160 for game, same thing and try and find something about the same weight that shoots very closely to what you are using. Anything from 140-160 I think should work just fine for you.

 

[Whitesheep]

Thank you all for the quick response. The BT suggestion is a good one as I suppose it should shoot similarly to the Partitions or AccuBonds and require little scope adjustment to go from hunting to silhouette. They are much less expensive than the AccuBonds or Partitions, but still a little more (about $0.07 per round) costly than Sierra. I even think I have a little IMR4831 on hand so I'll give this a try along with my continued load development on the AccuBonds (if I can ever find any).

6mm -- Concerning using different weights for different distances in competition. Recall you shoot 10 round strings each at 200, 300, 385 and 500 meters so if you can shoot a lower power lighter bullet at the hard to hit chickens (200 meters), it can save your shoulder some. Believe me you feel it after 40 rounds of high power holding a rifle off hand with no sling. This is why most people use a 6.5 or 7-08, but I want to hunt Elk with my rifle as well.

Thanks again,

 

[Dwh7271]

Welcome.
Check out Shooters Pro Shop for the Nosler blems and seconds. They shoot fine and I'll bet will work out below the Sierras :grin:

http://www.shootersproshop.com/loading-reloading-bullets.html?caliber=10

 

[JD338]

Whitesheep,

Welcome to the forum. Glad to have you here where you are among several 280AI shooters!
As already suggested, the 150 gr BT seconds would fit the bill nicely. Plenty of knock down power for those 55 lb rams at 500 meters.
I have had very good success with RL22. Work up to 61.0 grs in your 280AI.

JD338

 

[6mm Remington]

Thank you all for the quick response. The BT suggestion is a good one as I suppose it should shoot similarly to the Partitions or AccuBonds and require little scope adjustment to go from hunting to silhouette. They are much less expensive than the AccuBonds or Partitions, but still a little more (about $0.07 per round) costly than Sierra. I even think I have a little IMR4831 on hand so I'll give this a try along with my continued load development on the AccuBonds (if I can ever find any).

6mm -- Concerning using different weights for different distances in competition. Recall you shoot 10 round strings each at 200, 300, 385 and 500 meters so if you can shoot a lower power lighter bullet at the hard to hit chickens (200 meters), it can save your shoulder some. Believe me you feel it after 40 rounds of high power holding a rifle off hand with no sling. This is why most people use a 6.5 or 7-08, but I want to hunt Elk with my rifle as well.

Thanks again,

And it's such fun to do it with an actual hunting rifle! I have not tried it yet, but I would really like to sometime. I just have to see if someplace around here close by does it!!

 

[JD338]

Back in the late 70's and through the 80's, the 280 Rem was a very popular choice for Metallic Silhouette shoots. I used a 7mm-08 when I was introduced to the sport but I also used my 280 Rem a few times. I love the sport. I learned that 547 yds offhand is very doable.

JD338

 

[Whitesheep]

Yes JD338, 500 meters off hand is very doable as I have seen both men and women nail 4 out of 5 Ram's. I hit one once and hope to do so again someday.

I picked up some 140 grain Balistic Tips at Sportsman's Warehouse (ship to store for free) and compared them to the few remaining 140 grain AB's I have on hand. The base to ogive for the BT's is 0.021" shorter than the AB's (0.680" BT vs. 0.701" AB). My Patriot is in the mail to Nosler for a look see on the safety so I estimated COL to ogive by adding 0.021".

Is this a good idea or should I wait to get the rifle back and measure it directly before I load up the BT'?. I can't think of why this would not work, but I would appreciate the input of others.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Well it's probably best to measure but you got to start somewhere.

 

[Guy Miner]

Outstanding test of marksmanship guys.

Congrats on trying your hands at it!

Oh, the .280? No experience with it. But 500+ yards offhand? Yeah, been there. Love it!

BTW, outstanding ram in your avatar! Tell us the story sometime please.

Guy

 

[Whitesheep]

Thank you for the complement on the ram in my Avatar. This Dall Sheep was taken in '08 on my one and only AK hunt. Definitely legal, but not book quality. I Passed on smaller stuff, saw MUCH bigger stuff we could never retrieve. Had the time of my life. Got lost, spent the night out on my own, found myself and flew in two seat bush planes. My glimpse of the "sporting life." I hope to go back for wolf or caribou sometime.