Load for 280 Ackley

[Baetis Hatch]

Hey everyone,

New to the forum and thought I would share some load information. I have posted a picture of a load for my 280 custom ackley (model 70 trued action, lilja 1:10 twist, Bell and Carlson stock etc). I have been using 140 VLD's with RL 22 -- great success but wanted to try a little heavier bullet. New load is 160 grn AccuBond with 55.5 grn of IMR 4350. Using a custom die (reamed to chamber) with a wilson seater. Also WLR primer and Nosler brass -- trimmed, sorted (weight, length and concentricity). Nice grouping -- the high mark was a fouler from a completely clean barrel. The next three shots (if you subtract the diameter of the bullet) is just under 0.25 MOA.

Anyone else have luck with a similiar load (for my rate of twist)?

Baetis Hatch

 

[JD338]

Baetis Hatch

Welcome to the forum, glad you are here.
I shoot a M700 blueprinted action with a Hart #5 fluted 24" barrel chambered in 280 AI. Tubb recoil lug and pillar bedded in a LSS stock.
My best loads for both 140 gr and 160 gr AB's have been with RL 22. The 160 gr AB's clock 3019 fps and my best group went .092" c/c.

JD338

 

[Baetis Hatch]

JD 338,

I have seen your posts before -- and was impressed. Nice rifle and nice groups. I don't think I can shoot as well as you...

I tried RL 22 with the 160's but not much luck for me. I have had luck with 140's at 100 yds as noted, however, ES and SD's were high. I also was getting variance in Velocity from lot to lot. I hated to leave the powder because 100 yd groups were awesome -- a little better than my 160 loads. I have had more consistent velocities with the IMR 4350 though I have not performed any downrange tests beyond 400 yds -- yet. Keep me posted on your doings and as I have more information I will share with the forum. By the way, have you had the chance to shoot elk or deer with your 160's and what kind of velocity were you getting with the 140's?

Baetis Hatch

 

[JD338]

With the 140 gr AB, I have had velocities of 3240 fps. I have backed the load down to 3150 fps and case life is forever.
I am going to use the 140 gr AB on Antelope in WY this fall. I have used the 160 gr AB on WT.

JD338

 

[Baetis Hatch]

That is right where I am with the 140's -- 3240. I noticed my nosler brass is loosening a bit in the primer pockets and don't care much for that. Were you able to retain accuracy by backing off on the load? Mine seems to shoot very well at max -- but I admit I haven't backed off by more than a grain and a half... Perhaps a few to 3.5 grains might get me back in a node that works?

 

[Desert Fox]

Great chambering. I'm loading for a friend 280AI using Reloader 25. You can read my load development on the thread title The Black Widow.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=15361

 

[jmad_81]

I also had great luck with RL-22 in the 140 and 160 weights. 7828, and Magpro both shot very well with the 160 ABs ( under .5"). RL-17 shot great with the 140 BT as well (.2-.3").

 

[SJB358]

JD 338,

I have seen your posts before -- and was impressed. Nice rifle and nice groups. I don't think I can shoot as well as you...

I tried RL 22 with the 160's but not much luck for me. I have had luck with 140's at 100 yds as noted, however, ES and SD's were high. I also was getting variance in Velocity from lot to lot. I hated to leave the powder because 100 yd groups were awesome -- a little better than my 160 loads. I have had more consistent velocities with the IMR 4350 though I have not performed any downrange tests beyond 400 yds -- yet. Keep me posted on your doings and as I have more information I will share with the forum. By the way, have you had the chance to shoot elk or deer with your 160's and what kind of velocity were you getting with the 140's?

Baetis Hatch

Very nice rifle Mr. Hatch! Looks like it is a really nice walking around rifle! Scotty

 

[Baetis Hatch]

Beretzs,

It is a number 4 contour cut to 24.85 inches and fairly light everywhere else excluding the z6 3-18 x 50 scope. I think it is probably around 8.5-9.25 packing weight. Balances well since I took 1.15 inches off the barrel( it was a 26" barrel at first).

I packed it deer hunting last year running around the mountains of Idaho for a couple of days --5-15 miles per day. It was fine -- not heavy. It is not as light as my Kimber in a 257 Roberts but I trust its longer range capabilities.

I hadn't measured the grouping that I had posted figuring it was just under a quarter MOA -- which I had specified in my earlier post. I measured with calipers last night -- outside to outside of the 3 shot grouping (excluding the fouler shot from the just cleaned and oiled barrel) and then subtracted the diameter of the bullet(.284) for a grouping size of 0.197. If I am performing this measurement incorrectly someone please advise. If it is correct it shoots better than I am capable.

Thank you for the kind comments...

Baetis Hatch

 

[SJB358]

It certainly shoots better than I could, thats for sure. It looks like a very well set up rifle and with the 160gr AB's it should be one excellent mountain rifle. Scotty

 

[glane5910]

Nice, will have to try some of those. I've ordered some Berger 168gr hunting VLD's..B.C. on those is a whopping 0.614 IIRC. found a load with RL22, 63.0gr launched it at 3000 FPS 0.60" groups which I'm betting can get much better.

 

[Baetis Hatch]

Glane,

That sounds a bit high to me (63.0 grains of RL 22) for a 168 Berger VLD. 63.5 on 140 grains was loosening my primer pockets (showing signs of pressure). under 60.0 grains of RL 22 would seem to me to be the upper limit for a bullet that heavy. Preferably 58.0 or so grains.

I have shot the 168's out of mine but could not find a load I was happy with (58.5 grains of RL 22 and chrono'd at just over 3000). Could be that my rate of twist (1:10) was a little too slow to properly stabilize a bullet that heavy. I have spoken with others who did well with RL 22 and the 168 Berger but they were shooting out of a 1:9 twist.

I do like the BC's on the Berger. Even a visual inspection tells you all you need to know about how it will "cut" the wind. Next go around (when I need to re-barrel) I will go with the 1:9 specifically to shoot that bullet.

Let me know how it turns out for you...

Baetis Hatch

 

[glane5910]

I'll be starting a lot lower than that. I've found RL 22 to be heat sensitive also. One load I used with it in my 280 Rem was fine in the winter but when it warmed up to 95-100's, it was too hot and blew primers..
Greg

 

[JD338]

Depending on the throat and magazine length, you might be able to load a higher charge weight.
My rifle is throated long, allowing for more case capacity. Some of the velocities I obtained in my rifle were almost unbelievable, too high for me to write here! The pressures were up there as well and I lost cases to loose primer pockets after 3-4 loadings.
I have since reduced the charge weights and I get very respectable speed, accuracy and long case life.

JD338

 

[glane5910]

I'll find out as soon as I get the box of bullets here. Thanks for the info..

 

[jmad_81]

I'm thinking that 59.6 gr of RL-22 is max in mine with the 160 AB, and I'm right at 2950.

 

[SJB358]

I'm thinking that 59.6 gr of RL-22 is max in mine with the 160 AB, and I'm right at 2950.

That is still just about as good as any 7RM does. Scotty

 

[Baetis Hatch]

I understand throating a rifle long and what it can do for case capacity and resulting pressures. That said, I am throated long -- and cannot see how someone could shoot 168's with that much powder (63.0 grains of RL 22) without having problems -- and serious problems at that... I could be wrong -- it wouldn't be the first time and it certainly wont be the last. Be careful and let me know how it turns out -- or have some living relative let me know! hahahahaha...

 

[JD338]

I understand throating a rifle long and what it can do for case capacity and resulting pressures. That said, I am throated long -- and cannot see how someone could shoot 168's with that much powder (63.0 grains of RL 22) without having problems -- and serious problems at that... I could be wrong -- it wouldn't be the first time and it certainly wont be the last. Be careful and let me know how it turns out -- or have some living relative let me know! hahahahaha...

I'm with ya. :wink:

JD338