Bullet selection for 280 REM

[ScreaminEagle]

First let me say that the 280 is the greatest caliber ever made! That being said, what do you guys think about using a 120 grain bullet. I have a load developed already using the 150gr nosler bt and it shoots great. I was thinking of trying the 120gr for more velocity. It will be for deer only in PA so the 120gr should hit hard enough. Thoughts anyone? Also share a load if you use this bullet.

 

[HTDUCK]

IMHO the 280 really shines with 139/140 grain bullets.
I've been shooting one for twenty years now and have never felt the need to load anything else.
H4831 gets me a tad over 3000 FPS out of a 22 inch barreled Model 700.
It kills deer and hogs like the Hammer of Thor.

A bit light for an elk or a moose but I have other rifles for that.

Howard

 

[JD338]

ScreaminEagle

The 7mm 120 gr BT is a very robust and unique bullet. Unique in that it is actually made from the 7mm 140 gr BT. The jacket is cut back to create the 120 gr profile. This leaves the jacket thicker, which makes it a tougher bullet.
Loaded in your 280 Rem, it will be a deer killing machine!
Here is a 120 gr BT that was shot from my 280 AI at 3400 fps and recovered from water jugs.

The perfect bullet for the 280 Rem is the 140 gr PT. It is all the bullet you need up to elk. :wink:

JD338

 

[ScreaminEagle]

ScreaminEagle

The 7mm 120 gr BT is a very robust and unique bullet. Unique in that it is actually made from the 7mm 140 gr BT. The jacket is cut back to create the 120 gr profile. This leaves the jacket thicker, which makes it a tougher bullet.
Loaded in your 280 Rem, it will be a deer killing machine!
Here is a 120 gr BT that was shot from my 280 AI at 3400 fps and recovered from water jugs.

The perfect bullet for the 280 Rem is the 140 gr PT. It is all the bullet you need up to elk. :wink:

JD338

Thanks for the info. I think I will either try the barnes tipped tsx or the nosler bt in 120gr. I have always thought about sending my action to hart for a #5 fluted barrel in 280AI and action blueprinting!

 

[Desert Fox]

I'll stay with either 140 or 150 grain if I were you. I don't think you need anything else. I have my 280 for over 20 years also and I still have to feed it with bullet other than 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip.

 

[DrMike]

My 280 loves 139/140 grain bullets, shooting a number of different loads into sub-MOA groups. It has killed every deer that I've aimed for.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Thanks guys. Could some of you share some of your pet loads for the 140gr bullet?

 

[JD338]

Thanks guys. Could some of you share some of your pet loads for the 140gr bullet?

280 Remington
140 gr BT/PT
57.0 grs RL 19
R-P case
Fed GM210M primer

Shoots well under MOA in 2 different M700's and kills deer and caribou like lighting.

JD338

 

[HTDUCK]

58 grs H4831SC
Nosler brass
Fed 210 primer
139 Hornady BTSP.

I have also shot
57 grs RL19
140 NBT
Fed 210 primer.

Very accurate load

 

[6mm Remington]

59.0 grs. H4831SC
140 gr. Partition
Winchester cases
Federal 210 primers

54.0 grs. IMR4350
140 gr. Partition
Winchester Cases
Federal 210 Primers

2940 fps in a 22" Remington Model 700 MTN Rifle & 3/4 inch 3 shot groups at 100 yards. Taken lots of deer, antelope, and several elk.

 

[Mountain Goat]

My pet load for years was:

56.0gr IMR4831
145 Speer BTSP
Rem Cases
WLR Primer
this load was a very consistent 2974fps out of a cold 22" barrel in a Browning A-Bolt.

My CDL shoots the 140 TTSX's so well that I didn't mess with any other bullets. The 140-150grn 7mm are about as perfect as they get as far as B.C. and sectional density. Get 'em going over 2900 and you have a flat shooting bullet that puts a hole in things. Other than lighter recoil, there's really no advantage to the 120's, though they kill things too.

 

[DrMike]

Tried and proven loads in my Winchester Model 70 Featherweight:

140 g AB, F210, 56 g RL19
140 g PT, R 9.5, 54 g. H100V
140 g Swift A-Frame, R 9.5, 55.5 g. H4831

I use a lot of WXR and WMR, both discontinued. I still have quite a bit on hand, however. These have been my "go to" powders for some years. It is only recently that I've been testing other powders in my 280 as I anticipate the day when I need something different. However, these listed all yield sub MOA groups and excellent velocities in my rifle. Any of these bullets are tough enough to use on about any game in this area.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

thanks I'll have to play around with some of these combos

 

[tecumseh]

140 gr BT
54gr IMR 4831
Remington case
CCI 200 LR primer

140 gr AB
55gr H4831SC
Remington case
FED 210 LR primer

160 gr Sierra Gameking
54 gr RE-22
Remington case
Fed 210 LR primer

 

[tecumseh]

I forgot to ask do you have the standard encore or encore pro-hunter? The barrel on my pro-hunter is 28" long, and the standard encore barrel is 24" long.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Neither. It's a Rem 700

 

[tecumseh]

Neither. It's a Rem 700

Sorry about that, I put this on the wrong post.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Ok I got a box of barnes 140gr. tipped tsx today. I measured the OAL with my hornady gauge and it gave me 3.770" to the lands. Barnes suggests seating .050" from the lands with best results usually found between .030-.070" from the lands. These are some loads I'm going to test first:
140gr. TSX
CCI LR Mag Primer
48gr. IMR 4350
OAL 3.720"

140gr. TSX
CCI LR Mag Primer
47gr. H414
OAL 3.720"

140gr. TSX
CCI LR Mag Primer
46gr. H380
OAL 3.720"

I have many other powders to test but usually only load a few at a time to prevent confusion. Any thoughts?

 

[Desert Fox]

Start with .020" jump first, and see what kind of accuracy you're going to get. Set it deeper .005" increment each time. IMR 4831 or 4350 will be be your best choice for the 280. I use 4831 in my 280 exclusively and never had the desired to try anything else. My load consist of 55.5 grain IMR4350, Federal 210 Match primer, Federal Brass and 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. My velocity from 24" Douglas XX is around 2900 fps. The load is very accurate and proven deadly on deer. Barnes will be a good choice for this rifle also although never did tried it with this rifle. I'll be developing load for my friend Frank 280 Ackley here pretty soon, and Barnes will be one bullet we're considering for this rifle. The rifle has the 26"- 9 twist Kreiger, and it will be interesting to find out what kind of velocity I'm going to get.