Loading for the 280 Ackley...

[M7025-06]

Yep...I'm gonna use H4350 for the 140's.

Though, according to QuickLoad...MRP would send them at over 3,200 fps...may or may not be accurate though.

The MRP should work with the 160's...I hope.

With MRP & R22 being so close the same burn rate, you should have no problem hitting 3200 fps in an AI. I'm getting 3040 fps in my 280 Rem with 140 gr AB's on top of 59 gr. of R22.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Some rounds I just loaded...

54, 54.5, 55, and 55.5 grains of H4350 under a 140 AccuBond...just working up to find max.

Also 58, 58.5, 59, 59.5, and 60 grains of MRP under a 160 AccuBond...I know I could probably go higher, but I'm gonna wait until I get an accurate capacity measurement.

~3.34" OAL....

 

[Ridgerunner665]

According to Norma...MRP's heat of explosion index is 3873 and bulk density is .910...Quickload says 4020 and .960

Notes for later...not gonna edit anything in QL until I've fired a few rounds to see what everything looks like (chrono data, brass, etc.)...those numbers vary from lot to lot.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Finally sold all the Lapua 30-06 brass I had...gonna reinvest the proceeds into brass for the Ackley...won't be long and this thread will get interesting (got an email the other day)

 

[Dwh7271]

Excellent .
That's good news.
You are really going to like this cartridge.

 

[longrangehunter]

As you all know, I don't even have the rifle yet..

The 160 will do all I need from the Ackley...800 yards with enough speed to expand well...honestly only intend to shoot to about 600 anyway, but there may be exceptions to that rule (depending on rack size and conditions at the time)

I have brass (Nosler), bullets (140 & 160 Nosler AB's), and powder (Nosl...I mean Norma MRP)...

Primers...I have a few thousand CCI BR2's...but it seems many people like to use magnum primers in the 280 Ackley...and I understand the concept behind that (60+ grains of slow burning powder)...Nosler data shows they used regular large rifle primers, as does Hodgden data...I'm inclined to try the BR2's before buying any more primers but would be interested to hear anybody's experiences with this.

Unless you use a fine ball powder I wouldn't use a magnum primer. A lot of precision shooters have found lower ES using std. primers over mag. primers even in magnum length cartridges. I've been loading the 280 AI for almost two decades now, you'll find either the F210M, BR-2, or WLR will just
fine in the 280 AI.

Pick a bullet for the application and/or two 150/175, 140/160 and pick a powder the fills the case close to 100% and find your bullet jump first then move the powder around to fine tune. Stick with it unless it doesn't group will enough for your needs. I only say that because testing every bullet/powder combination can lead to wasting away a good barrel and of course..... more of your money!

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Good to know on the primers...

I've picked my components too... 160 AccuBond, Norma MRP, and BR-2's...have enough of all to last several years, so I gotta make it work.

I doubt I'll deviate from any of that, especially bullets...the ABLR's are attractive, but I believe the plain old AccuBond will do what I want.

I don't have time for intense load development, at least not in one session...it'll probably take me 2 years to sort this thing out, just like it did my 30-06....kept at it, a few rounds here, a few rounds there....and finally got it shooting great....took about 50 rounds (load work rounds)....slow but sure, just keep moving forward, lol.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

7mm AccuBond LR bullets now in stock at Midway and Cabelas...Cabelas has 150 and 168 grain, Midway only has 150's.

I ordered 2 boxes of the 150's...

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I made a decision today...since the only things I'm likely to hunt are deer, coyote, and maybe elk someday...I'm gonna stash the 5 boxes of 160 grain Accubonds back and save them for the elk, should it ever happen.

The last few weeks I've been thinking of times gone by...the days when the only rifle I had was a 25-06 and I used it for everything, it'd sound a lot like bragging if I told just how good I got with that rifle during those years...I won a lot of bets putting holes in quarters at 100 yards and soda cans at 400.

I want to get back to that...so...I got rid of my trusty 243 (Savage 11) that I've been using for coyotes...the guy I bought it from has been after me to sell it back to him for over a year now, so I did...I still have the 30-06 that I got back from my son, and I am going to keep it, re-stock it, put another scope on it...and stick it in the back of the safe, for a spare.

The Nosler, when I get it, will be the rifle I grab when I go hunting...coyotes, deer whatever...I only have time to fire maybe 50-75 rounds per year, and at that rate I won't live long enough to wear the barrel out, but if I do I reckon I can get another one screwed on there easy enough...I'm gonna work up a good load with the 150 grain Nosler AccuBond LR bullets and use that load for EVERYTHING, except elk.

I wasted most of the day (not really wasted, I was driving) pondering on a good predator bullet for the 280 Ackley...then I realized I didn't need another bullet, the ABLR expands quickly...should do fine on coyotes.

And when all is said and done...I'll get in a good bit of practice with that one load instead of wasting time and money fiddling with multiple loads.

Keepin it simple....and making sure all trigger time on the M48 is quality time!!!

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Kinda blurry...but my buddy sent me this today...it made the mistake of stopping to look back at him...130 BT from Scott's 270 (A-bolt) got the best of him.

 

[Dwh7271]

Good riddance. 1 more coyote done for.
RR,
Think you're on the right track. I have 2 boxes of the 150 ABLR on the way. Have a really good load with the 160 AB but want to fool around with the 150s. Let you know what works in mine. Have some RL23 on the way supposedly and thought I'd try that and some MRP. Really like the MRP so far.

 

[SJB358]

I think your probably going to love the 150's in that 280. Great bullet weight it seems in the 7's.

I'll second Deweys thoughts on MRP. Almost wanna get 8 lbs of it. Might try 23 first though. Just in case!

 

[Ridgerunner665]

One reason I chose the 150 is OBT...it's the heaviest bullet that might reach node 4 at about 3,100 fps in a 24" barrel, with a pretty warm load of slow powder (MRP, 7828 ssc).

Also...ordered 2 more boxes today...lol, don't wanna run out!

Yeah, I believe it will be a better dual purpose bullet than the 160 AB...I'm gonna step up my game on the coyote hunting, my buddy (Scott) and I are gonna get more serious about it...going to get us a decent predator calling setup...call it target practice with a purpose.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

And by all means...I welcome any news of the new powders in the 280 Ackley...very much looking forward to seeing what these do.

 

[akhunter]

How much powder you going to add to get 3100 fps with the 280 AI?

 

[Ridgerunner665]

How much powder you going to add to get 3100 fps with the 280 AI?

Not sure yet...but QuickLoad says about 64.5 grains for 3,108 fps at 61,000 psi.

Goal is to find accuracy and speed at moderate pressure, trying to stay around 61k psi to go easy on the brass ($78 per 50)

 

[DrMike]

And that is cheap! Prices for Nosler brass here is somewhere beyond obscene. Consequently, I'll use up what I have and see if I can extend life for some of it.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Yeah...I could save some money using other brass...280 brass, but my goal is ultimate accuracy and I don't much care for match prepping brass from scratch (Win, Rem, etc.)....

I'm going for a complete Nosler system, lol....bullets, brass, and rifle....for no particular reason.

Without even trying....I've sold my buddy on Nosler brass for his 270...he wants me to work him up a 600 yard load for his A-bolt....I showed him some Norma brass on sale now at Cabelas for almost 50 percent off....he didn't want it, said get him Nosler.

One thing is for sure....its too spendy to beat up with full house 65k psi loads.

 

[longrangehunter]

If you think the prices of components and ammunition is high now, just look back at what prices were 10 years ago...... powder was $16.00/pound, bullets were 1/2 of what they are now and in 2008 a box of Nosler 280 AI brass was 49.95..... which is 50% cheaper then today's prices.

I'll bet in another 10 years the prices will be 50% more in 2025, and lead maybe out of the mix for bullets.

 

[Guy Miner]

Dire prediction there Cole, but you're likely correct. Phooey.

Guy