huntinfool87
Member
Mine has a timney also. From what I've heard that trigger in the xbolt is not great.
It was a 7-08, a&b had that weird 1-9.25 back then, even a 1-10 your probably fine with 175 hunting bullets to stabilize.I honestly I'm not sure, I bought it slightly used from @troy fairweather's dad, he wanted a 308 win barrel for his commercial fn 98 mauser action. I, we, fitted it to my LA Coruna 98 action. I still have work to do on this rifle but hunting season, getting sick opening day and work hours slowed my build down a bit.View attachment 1123070 View attachment 1123071 View attachment 1123072 View attachment 1123073
I believe it started out as a 7mm08 or 7x57 and finish reamed to 280 ai. So either a 1:8 or 1;9 twist is most likely I'll check it out for sure after christmas.
What is your barrel length? Do you know what kind of MV you're getting with reloader 26?Reloder 26 and Norma MRP have worked very well for me with 160 and 168 grain bullets.
Reloder 26 is the best, but MRP ain't half bad either.
What is your barrel length? Do you know what kind of MV you're getting with reloader 26?
My Hornaday manual (9th edition) does not even have the .280AI listed in it. I'm curious what your twist rate is in your rifle? Then once you get some load data what bullet shot best.I'm also a new member of the .280ai fam. I purchased a Kimber Hunter in .280ai this week. The first truly NIB firearm I've ever purchased - it was still sealed in plastic bags and covered in a film of oil. My first loads will be with 120 gr TTSX for whitetail in 2023. This bullet has the same SD as the 100 gr TTSX that I'm shooting in the .25-06 and that bullet drops deer like they were hit by lightning. Second bullet I want to load is the 150 gr ELD-X (because it is relatively high BC, half the price of the TTSX, and it was on the shelf).
So which powders should I try? I have a good amount of several of the powders mentioned so far: H4831, IMR4831, IMR4350, RL22. Other considerations:
1. Barnes shows RL17 as the most accurate powder tested with the 120 TTSX. Nolser also shows RL17 as the most accurate powder with the 120 ballistic tip. Problem is, I only have 1lb. So that's only a little over 100 rounds that I can load and then I have to find RL17 or start over.
2. Barnes and Nosler show good results with Hybrid 100V and I have 3.5 lbs of that. Good velocities and the most accurate powder tested with the 110 TTSX.
So for the 120 TTSX should I try RL17 knowing that if it works well I'll be scrounging to find more? Should I try Hybrid 100V because it looks good on paper, but many people seem to not like it very much? If neither of those, then IMR4350 appears to be the next best that I have on hand.
I don't have the Hornady manual to check what they're showing for the 150 ELD-X. I rarely buy Hornady bullets because it irritates me that they won't publish load data online like Nosler and Barnes do. Nosler indicates best accuracy and good velocity with H4831 and the 150 gr ballistic tip. Should I start there or try one of the other powders listed above?
Thats a very helpful tip! Thank youAnother helpful tip.... if a certain manual doesn't have 280 Ackley in it, 7mm Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum data can be used.
Both rounds have virtually identical case capacity and use the same powders/bullets.
Feel free to compare them where they are both available and see for yourself... they'll always be within a grain or so of each other, and perfectly safe in any modern rifle.
Twist is 1:9, although I haven’t checked it myself. From what I’ve read, that twist should be okay up to 168 gr for most bullets. After that it’s questionable.My Hornaday manual (9th edition) does not even have the .280AI listed in it. I'm curious what your twist rate is in your rifle? Then once you get some load data what bullet shot best.
That's good to know. Hornady recommends a minimum 1:8.5 for their 175 ELD-X. When I enter the data for the Nosler ABLR 175 gr into Berger's stability calculator it results in about stability factor of 1.38 and Berger indicates anything under 1.5 is marginally stable.Mine is a 1 in 9 twist and shoots great with 175 grain bullets... I've never shot anything lighter than 150's in it.... my primary hunting load uses 160 grain Nosler Accubond bullets.
I've laid a good many deer down with it at ranges out to around 800 yards.
My rifle is a Nosler M48 Custom, 24 inch 1 in 9 magnum contour barrel.
That's good to know. Hornady recommends a minimum 1:8.5 for their 175 ELD-X. When I enter the data for the Nosler ABLR 175 gr into Berger's stability calculator it results in about stability factor of 1.38 and Berger indicates anything under 1.5 is marginally stable.
I appreciate all the feedback on this. It's very helpful as there really isn't much information out there.
I have a couple boxes of factory loaded 140gr rem. Core lock bullets for the standard .280. I was thinking about fire forming them to get my hands on some more brass. As of right now I only have 1 box of some nosler loaded ammo for the .280AI I have tons of brass for the standard. 280 but I would like to do my load development with once fired brass only. So fire forming seems like the most feasible option given the times.
I just did the comparison for Nosler load data. This is almost correct. There is a maximum difference of 4.5 grains or 7.5% (with 7 SAUM having higher max charge) in 120 grain bullets. Restricting the comparison to 150 gr or greater, there is a maximum difference of 3.5 grains or 6.3%. Is that close enough? I guess if you are desperate for data and very careful in your load work up.Another helpful tip.... if a certain manual doesn't have 280 Ackley in it, 7mm Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum data can be used.
Both rounds have virtually identical case capacity and use the same powders/bullets.
Feel free to compare them where they are both available and see for yourself... they'll always be within a grain or so of each other, and perfectly safe in any modern rifle.
I just did the comparison for Nosler load data. This is almost correct. There is a maximum difference of 4.5 grains or 7.5% (with 7 SAUM having higher max charge) in 120 grain bullets. Restricting the comparison to 150 gr or greater, there is a maximum difference of 3.5 grains or 6.3%. Is that close enough? I guess if you are desperate for data and very careful in your load work up.
Twist is 1:9, although I haven’t checked it myself. From what I’ve read, that twist should be okay up to 168 gr for most bullets. After that it’s questionable.
I want to try those in my 1:8 twist but I can't seem to fine anyI’m testing 180 grain Hornady bullets in my 1:9 twist rifle. Seems to do fine. I’ll take it out to 600 yards soon.
As of right now mine is for target shooting primarily but I haven't ruled out hunting at this timeI did a lot of homework on this cartridge because it was my intent to get one for junior if he establishes himself as an actual hunter. Looking at ballistics the 160 class bullet had the SD and energy numbers to take just about anything minus a trip to Alaska where you could be on the menu. What advantage are we chasing with loadings heavier than 160 class bullets. I don't believe we're target shooting here so my assumption is selecting a bullet with good terminal ballistics and enough velocity to activate the proper expansion characteristics.
I did a lot of homework on this cartridge because it was my intent to get one for junior if he establishes himself as an actual hunter. Looking at ballistics the 160 class bullet had the SD and energy numbers to take just about anything minus a trip to Alaska where you could be on the menu. What advantage are we chasing with loadings heavier than 160 class bullets. I don't believe we're target shooting here so my assumption is selecting a bullet with good terminal ballistics and enough velocity to activate the proper expansion characteristics.