.280 Remington help

Have you shot the remington ammo with your hand loads back to back to rule out variables like scope, rings, etc?

If that is ruled out in would try other bullets and work up.

Are these bullets factory seconds or pull downs and have you weighed/measured them

I would also verify your charge weights with multiple sources for that bullet.

I don't think I've ever seen a gun shoot 8-10" groups at 100 yards that didn't have something very wrong like loose optics, bad lot of bullets, wrong bullets, bum barrel, bad crown, or a twist rate that didn't mesh with the bullet length.

I'd go 20 thou off the lands. And like voodoo said. Check for the former support if it's cracked.

Seat them long. If you can't get close to the lands, go to a faster powder.
I've always had better luck using a fast for cartridge powder if the bullet has to jump the grand canyon.

Imr 4350 was always the best for me with the 280.

I would almost definately try a different bullet. I've loaded IMR 4350 (a lot) 139-160 grains, and IMR 4831 (a little) 160 grains. You're hunting deer, that 160 TB is severe overkill. As a general rule, I've found the more complicated a bullet, the harder to get it to shoot well.

I've killed a lot of deer with the 145 Speer GS in this caliber over IMR 4350. It's basically a fancy cup and core. Accurate, holds up well for me even on tough impacts, easy on meat. Have also taken a couple with the 154SST. Didn't like that one, expansion was too violent. Wrecked a lot of meat and didn't exit on clean broadside shots. Was wicked accurate though. Ditto for the 139 SST.

Worked up the 140 Nosler BT last year as I had some longer range hunting locations. Was also wicked accurate for me. Never got a chance to put one in a deer.

The one load I did work up with IMR 4831 was with the 160 Nosler Partition. Got decent accuracy, good enough for the moose they were intended for. Never got to go on the moose hunt. Did drive them through a few deer the next year. They did well, but no doubt expended more energy into the landscape than necessary.

I would look to a 140-154 grain cup and core or Nosler BT for whitetail and see what your rifle thinks. Try the 4831, if that's a bummer, try some IMR 4350.

If your rifle shoots Corelokts that well, it has the potential. You just have to find the right combination. Personally, I've tried IMR4831 in several calibers and the only one I've found it to be exceptional in is 6.5x55. I have a M700 25-06 that shot factory Corelokts sub MOA and it took me 35 years before I tried IMR4350 and duplicated that accuracy with my handloads.

One of my sons has a M77 .280 that was never very accurate until he tried Magpro (per Nosler online data) with 160 Partitions. Thats not something that you'd think would work, but it did.

Whats your twist rate, if its slower than 1-9.5 or so you may do better with lighter bullets.

I run slow powders in my .280AI, best being Retumbo, and RL25. With a regular .280 id start with the 4831s and 139-154s, then go to 7828 or h1k.

LoonWulf said:

Whats your twist rate, if its slower than 1-9.5 or so you may do better with lighter bullets.

I run slow powders in my .280AI, best being Retumbo, and RL25. With a regular .280 id start with the 4831s and 139-154s, then go to 7828 or h1k.

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I forget what's the twist on your ridgeline.

troy fairweather said:

I forget what's the twist on your ridgeline.

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1-9 It does fine with most available bullets, but every once in a while will toss a 168ABLR sideways.
Shoots about 1/2-3/4Moa with 140 fusion, .280 rounds.

If it shoots sub-MOA with Core-Lokts, you are GTG, amigo.

Eat, drink, and be merry!

LoonWulf said:

1-9 It does fine with most available bullets, but every once in a while will toss a 168ABLR sideways.
Shoots about 1/2-3/4Moa with 140 fusion, .280 rounds.

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So if I ever build one maybe a 1-8 would be nice. I am still trying to get that fn 280ai from my dad but that's a medium wt barrel and 1-9 1\4. One day.

troy fairweather said:

So if I ever build one maybe a 1-8 would be nice. I am still trying to get that fn 280ai from my dad but that's a medium wt barrel and 1-9 1\4. One day.

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yeah with the heaviest vlds I think a 1-7 or so, with upto the 168s a 1-8 should be perfect.

I'm probably going to go back to the 162 Hornady eld/amazes in my 7s so if you wanna try the ablrs lemme know.

LoonWulf said:

I'm probably going to go back to the 162 Hornady eld/amazes in my 7s so if you wanna try the ablrs lemme know.

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I still wounder if my 7wsm will run them at mag length. Those very long ppu bullets shoot great don't know the fps tho. I need to ask for a crono for Xmas lol.

troy fairweather said:

I still wounder if my 7wsm will run them at mag length. Those very long ppu bullets shoot great don't know the fps tho. I need to ask for a crono for Xmas lol.

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well, let's find out....I'm betting end up a little short, but nosler list data for them at 2.8ish so might be fine.

LoonWulf said:

well, let's find out....I'm betting end up a little short, but nosler list data for them at 2.8ish so might be fine.

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My Browning mag is about 2.880 could get some more out if needed. My data book for 162 say they run at about 2900 to 3000.

HOLY DIVER said:

I have a new batch loaded with Hornady 139gr SST over IMR 4350 I have several different powder charges to try. It’s not the fact it likes Core locks heck that’s a proven hunting bullet. What bothers me is I really have to figure a hand load out because factory ammunition is close to $45 a box. I’m going to my local range to test these new loads tomorrow

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I think your odds are good with that one. I got it to shoot very well in my rifle, as well as the SST in general in other guns. I still use it for informal target shooting matches as it does better than match bullets in my rifle.

I did not like it's performance on game. It seemed too soft for my taste, leaving fragments well off the impact vector in my venison even on clean soft tissue impacts. This was with earlier production runs of the bullet, I have heard this problem has been rectified with more recent production, but it was enough to get me off of them. If that one doesn't work well for you, I think you'd be pleased with the performance of the Speer 145 Hot Core. Should get similar performance to the Core Lokts and they have been forgiving bullets for me in load work up.