Im New and looking for advice

[PJGunner]

"Crater marks on your primer. After firing and the bolt opens normal make sure to look at the primer. Crater marks indicates too much pressure.
There are tons of image examples on the inTRAnet of a cratered primer."

While I agree with this, be advised that there are exceptions to the rule. I have a Remington M700 30-06 and regardless of the pressure level of a load from a very light cast lead plinking load or a full balls to the wall big game load, the primers will crater. Close inspection of the face of the bolt shows that the firing pin hole has a bevel similar to reaming the crimp from a cartridge case. Just a slight shallow bevel that I guess some worker at Remington did for whatever reason. It's probably something that never should have been done but there it is. There is a fix by having a gunsmith drill out the hole and bush it which I may or may not have done.My point is don't overlook the possibility of checking out the bolt face first as the hole may have been chamfered as it appears mine was off the hole could be a bit larger than normal. egardless of the quality of quality control, sometimes stuff just happens.

"Welcome aboard. PAY ATTENTION to what your doing. This hobby requires 100% CONCENTRATION."
That cannot be stated strongly enough. If you're tired, grumpy about something or whatever, then that is not the time to load ammo.
Paul B.

 

[gerry]

For the reloading process I found Speer was the best in explaining it. Not sure about the others but I'm sure there are some good ones. Nosler puts out a good manual too.

 

[Skeeter4890]

Yup, Magnum primers are good.
H4831SC is a good powder. Time to roll some rounds off the press.

JD338

JD i was curious what length barrel do you have on your 280ai?

 

[JD338]

JD i was curious what length barrel do you have on your 280ai?

24" Hart#5 contour

JD338

 

[gerry]

Hey Gerry I appreciate it i actually have a custom rifle that I got built by Pierce Engineering in Lansing Michigan, it has their lightweight Shadow action and a Mullerworks cut rifled barrel and an AG composite carbon fiber stock shot some factory Nosler 140 accubonds through it and the biggest group was around half MOA but I know that was me because the first group I shot were all touching each other

Sounds like an awesome gun!

 

[Skeeter4890]

24" Hart#5 contour

JD338

Awesome thanks JD

 

[Skeeter4890]

Sounds like an awesome gun!

Yeah even with a full steel barrel it is around 7 pounds with no optic.

 

[Aussie Wanderer]

I am running mine with a 26 inch tube. I figured if I didn’t like the length the gunsmith could always cut it down a bit. The rifle shoots so well I won’t interfere with its harmonics. Interestingly when ordering the barrel he asked if I wanted it fluted. I asked should I and his response was, “every time he has to interfere with a barrel, the greater the chance it has of ruining its natural harmonics”.

 

[Skeeter4890]

I am running mine with a 26 inch tube. I figured if I didn’t like the length the gunsmith could always cut it down a bit. The rifle shoots so well I won’t interfere with its harmonics. Interestingly when ordering the barrel he asked if I wanted it fluted. I asked should I and his response was, “every time he has to interfere with a barrel, the greater the chance it has of ruining its natural harmonics”.

Well I guess I kinda misspoke mine is spiral fluted I just meant it's a steel barrel and none of it is carbon fiber

 

[Aussie Wanderer]

Nah skeeter, I have fluted barrels on rifles that are tack drivers. He was simply saying the more you play with barrels the more things can go wrong.

 

[Skeeter4890]

Anyone have any luck or try Ramshot Magnum? According to the Hodgdon reloading app they have on their website that's supposed to provide the highest velocities in their lineup for the 280ai

 

[JD338]

I haven't tried Ramshot Magnum but it sounds like a good choice for the 280 AI.

JD338

 

[Skeeter4890]

I haven't tried Ramshot Magnum but it sounds like a good choice for the 280 AI.

JD338

I'm also very curious about the Vihtavouri powders N565 N560 N165 but don't seem to hear much about them, also just going to keep my fingers crossed to magically fall upon some RL26 since everywhere I look that seems to be the Holy Grail powder for the 280ai lol

 

[michsteve]

I haven't tried Ramshot Magnum but it sounds like a good choice for the 280 AI.

JD338

And on sale at Midway

Ramshot Mag Smokeless Gun Powder 1 lb

Ramshot Smokeless Powder is newly manufactured, meaning it hasn't been pulled from loaded ammunition and it's not military surplus powder. Every powder...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[JD338]

I built my 280 AI almost 20 years ago. My gunsmith told me to use RL22 and Magnum primers. That combo has delivered stellar performance. As a result, RL22 is my go to powder. The only exception is the 168 ABLR with IMR7828SSC.

JD338

 

[300WSM]

Anyone have any luck or try Ramshot Magnum? According to the Hodgdon reloading app they have on their website that's supposed to provide the highest velocities in their lineup for the 280ai

I'm also very curious about the Vihtavouri powders N565 N560 N165 but don't seem to hear much about them, also just going to keep my fingers crossed to magically fall upon some RL26 since everywhere I look that seems to be the Holy Grail powder for the 280ai lol

Ramshot powders are ok. I've never been wowed by Ramshot but I've never been disappointed either.

I can tell you one plus is all Ramshot powders meter great. If you're looking for a powder that is inherently consistent in the way it drops Ramshot is a great choice.

Perhaps I am speaking Greek to you since you are new...but maybe you know a great deal so far.

VV you hear less about as it's just not stocked in as many places. With the price of powder seemingly increasing every week VV was always a bit more expensive and now even more...

That said VV is a good powder.

I've found extruded powders have been the most accurate that I've used. In a platform I'm trying to shoot long range and accuracy is paramount I will use extruded powder.

 

[Skeeter4890]

Ramshot powders are ok. I've never been wowed by Ramshot but I've never been disappointed either.

I can tell you one plus is all Ramshot powders meter great. If you're looking for a powder that is inherently consistent in the way it drops Ramshot is a great choice.

Perhaps I am speaking Greek to you since you are new...but maybe you know a great deal so far.

VV you hear less about as it's just not stocked in as many places. With the price of powder seemingly increasing every week VV was always a bit more expensive and now even more...

That said VV is a good powder.

I've found extruded powders have been the most accurate that I've used. In a platform I'm trying to shoot long range and accuracy is paramount I will use extruded powder.

Nope no Greek detected lol, I appreciate it and thanks for the input I may see if I can find the N560 and N565 at a local store and see if I can find some Ramshot Magnum then I will have multiple different options for powders to start testing with and find what I like!

 

[FOTIS]

Excellent advices given on here, its what I like about this forum and welcome aboard Skeeter4890.

Absolutely!

 

[Skeeter4890]

One more question I keep seeing quickload on here in different forums how does that work and is it a good tool to look into to purchase?

 

[DrMike]

Is [QuickLoad] a good tool to look into to purchase?

Yes.