Ballistic Tips in my .280 Rem

[Scott Spencer]

It was 52 degrees yesterday morning at 6:30 a.m.! That was my first time on the range in a couple of months and the cool weather was awesome!!

I bought some 140gr BT for my .280 a couple of weeks ago just to see how my Ruger would like them. I've got my 140gr AB load settled but I wanted a BT load as an alternative as well.

I chose to start with H4831SC and RL19 as they seemed to be good powders in the N6 manual. I went with 1 gr separation with max being the last of the three charges. I used F215 match primers and a 3.315" COAL. I had a bad flyer on 56gr of RL19 so I'm not posting the photo. The other 5 targets/loads are below.

Rem Brass
140 BT
F215 Match
55gr 4831SC
2637 avg MV

Rem Brass
140 BT
F215 Match
56gr 4831SC
2705 avg MV

Rem Brass
140 BT
F215 Match
57gr 4831SC
2765 avg MV

Rem Brass
140 BT
F215 Match
55gr RL19
2670 avg MV

Rem Brass
140 BT
F215 Match
57gr RL19
2828 avg MV

 

[SJB358]

Scott, that 280 is a shooter! Wow, it seems like a few of the groups are 2 in and 1 out. Maybe close up the COAL a little at a time and see what it does for you! That would be a flat out deer smacker. Man, those 140gr bullets in your 280 are on fire! You don't really have a bad group in the bunch! Scotty

 

[JD338]

Scott,

Scotty is right, you have a deer killing machine. Seating your bullets a little deeper should tighten you your groups even more. Try turning in the seater 1/4 turn at a time until you get where you want to be.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Can't wait to see how those 120gr BT's shoot of your rifle. Those would should be like little sticks of dynamite! Scotty

 

[Scott Spencer]

Thanks Scotty & Jim! Do you suggest going something like 3.310", 3.305", and then 3.300" or something more like 3.310", 3.300" and 3.290"?

You are right on the 120 BT as well, Scotty! I can't wait for them to come in from ProShop. I got my invoice but no bullets yet.

 

[SJB358]

Scott, I would go 1/4 turn on the seating stem in order to shorten the OAL. Jim passed me that tidbit awhile back and it has worked well when I get the 2 in 1 out group. I go a 1/4 turn at a time, and it seems to sort itself out at one of those lengths. I don't worry too much what the length is actually measuring, until I find the group I want. I record the actual lengths for the future.

I may have to try those 120's I ordered in my 7mm Rem Mag, just to see what they will do. They should be a nasty deer bullet in a 280/7RM! Scotty

 

[JD338]

The little 7mm 120 gr BT is a pretty robust bullet. It shoots lights out in my 280 AI and holds up to the 3400 fps MV.

JD338