280 Rem,RL22 and 140 Accubonds?

[HTDUCK]

Guys just wondering if anybody had any real world dope on this load combo?
Been shooting RL19 and 140 BTs for years,quite frankly I've had problems with jacket and core seperations on Tx whitetails.Decided to try the 140 Partitions and Accubonds.
Have a real accurate load at 55 grs of RL 19 but no chronograph.At 57 grains it's still under an inch,but I'm not real satisfied with that.
I have read several threads on various forums about the 280 and RL22 was wondering where to start.
Thanks in Advance,
Howard "The Duck"

 

[DrMike]

Howard,

Thanks for the posts. Interestingly, with Alliant powders, I have primarily used RL19 and more recently played with RL17. According to QL, 60 grains of RL22 will give 2988 fps in a 22 inch pipe. 57.5 grains of RL19 is close to a maximum charge. These are calculated for 58,000 PSI, which is somewhat mild, though they would be about right for your 740.

 

[HTDUCK]

Thanks for the reply Doc.
Guess I should have specified up front that my go to rifle I'm loading for is a 700 with a 22 inch tube.
Looking at my Nosler data they used a 26 inch Lilja for test data.
Neither Nosler or Alliant list anything I've seen for RL22 and 140 bullets.

Just wondering if I'm barking up the wrong tree?From what I'm figuring looking at published data I'm guessing that my setup is shooting the 140s at 2800 fps with 55 grains of RL19 and closer to 3000 fps with 57 grains.

I know I'm spliiting hairs here.

The thing that haunts me is where we are hunting this year.We're leaving Texas to hunt Missouri.Deer up there are nearly twice the size of what we normally shoot here at home.

No way I'm leaving without my 280,just wondering if I can eek a bit more punch out of her and come out even accuracy wise?

Howard

 

[DrMike]

60.5 grains will generate a pressure near that of a 30-06 and push the 140 grain AB at ~3000 fps. This would be a mildly compressed load. You would want to reduce the charge by at least 5% and work up carefully to the maximum. The gain in velocity with RL22 is less than 40 fps over than of RL19 for an additional 3 grains of powder.

The AB at 2800 fps from a 280 is more than adequate for a Missouri whitetail. I have dropped northern BC whitetails and mule deer at 70 to 225 yards with my 280 and a 139 grain Hornady SP. Every one hit dropped at the shot and never moved. The AB will do the trick for you. If the rifle is shooting good, I'd be loathe to change it up too much.

Where in MO are you hunting? It has been a long time since I was in that neck of the woods.

 

[HTDUCK]

Doc thanks for the advice.I guess it's the old theory about "if it ain't broke,don't fix it"

We are gonna be hunting in the area around Richards,Mo.It's about an hour north of Joplin on highway 71.My buddy and I are waterfowl hunting fanatics and have been hunting birds in the area for about seven years now.After seeing all the deer in the area we were invited up by some people we've met over the years that live in the area.

 

[JD338]

HTDUCK

Welcome to the forum.
My go to load in 280 Rem is 57.0 grs RL 19 and a 140 gr PT or BT bullet. Both shot well under MOA and just under 3000 fps. Tough to beat this combo as it gives the same results in other rifles.

I think the 140 gr AB with RL 19 will give you the results that you are looking for. If you want to try a different powder, consider H4831 SC or IMR 4350.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Howard,

I grew up not far from there, just a short distance across the line in Kansas. As a young man, there were no deer in that area. However, primarily due to the efforts of sportsmen, the central states are becoming a hunter's paradise. I trust you'll have success. My daughter just moved to northern MO this past month, so perhaps I'll get an opportunity to hunt there at some point in the future.

JD is correct on the load for the 280. It is hard to beat 57 grains of RL19 and a 140 bullet. It would be hard to find a better all-around bullet than either the PT or the AB. It would work on about any game you'll see.

 

[HTDUCK]

Thanks guys,I appreciate the sage advice.
For the record,I've tried the 140 PT,and IMR 4350 both.Just couldn't get the results I was looking for.

Kinda worried about nothing I guess.
I replaced the twenty year old 3-9 Leupold on this rifle recently with a 4-14 Zeiss.Haven't had time to go to the range with the new glass but I'm sure that will help shrink the groups some.Need to get the rifle zeroed and start playing with bullet seating depth.
I'll keep ya posted!
Howard

 

[JD338]

HTDUCK

I had my best accuracy seating the bullets about .020" off the lands, the COL would still fit into the magazine.

JD338

 

[fredj338]

In my 23"lt.wt. PacNor bbl. M70, I have best luck w/ slower powders, even w/ 140-145gr bullets. I liked RL22, but find IMR7828 or H4831sc more uniform from lot to lot. 3000fps is easy to achieve & I still get sub MOA accuracy w/ 140grNP or 145grSpeer HC or GS. I wantto testsome w/ the 140grNAB, just haven't gotten around to it. The 160gr bullet is my choice, either in the 160grNP if elk may beon the tag or 160grSpeerHC for deer.