280 ackley for 600yd

[7mmtcu]

I have an Encore in 280 ackley 26'' and i am trying to make it as accurate as I can for out west shooting. It has all of Mike Bellum's trick's in it. What I would like to get info on is any body shooting this round for 600yd and if so what are your best load's and loading technique's. I am using Nosler ballistic tip's in 120 and 140gr. Thank's

 

[Rtheurer]

Hi Brian

I shoot a 280 AI in my Walking Mule deer rifle. My intensions where to shoot the 140 and 150 class bullets as well. Some times things dont work out that way and I ended up finding the 162gr Amax on a whim shot far better for my rifle. Powders I worked with where H4831SC, R22, H4350, N160, and finally N560. Turned out the N560 and the 162gr gave me the best results for accuracy. If my hunting rifle does not shoot in or around the 1/2MOA area I keep looking, This combo is what worked in my 1:9 twist Hart #4 barrel.

Im using Norma brass and 210 Match primers. Velocity is around 2850fps if memory serves me right.


This is a great hunting cartridge that feeds good and has a good selection of bullets for the bigger bodied game. Speaking of that I need to take it out and excercise it a little.

Good luck
RussT

 

[Bob3700]

For 600 yd shooting (competition) the 180 Berger is probably the king. Couple that with H4831sc and you should have excellent results at ranges up to 1000 yds.

RGDS

Bob

 

[7mmtcu]

Thank's for the feedback very helpful

 

[flatlander]

Russ, I've been working with a 280AI I built around a Howa 1500 LA. Used a 26" 1:9 Krieger in #5 sporter contour, and bedded it into one of B&C's Weatherby-style stocks. So far, I've used H100V for fireforming with 100-120gr. bullets, which gives decent accuracy & velocities of 3000+fps. But I've been a little disapointed in the velocities I've seen with the heavier 7mm bullets, using AA3100 & H4831.

Most likely my expectations were a little unrealistic, as I based them on what I've been seeing out of my 284s with 28"-30" bbls. But even using RL17, so far, the best I've gotten out of a 162 AMax has been a little over 2700fps. To this point, I've used only some old R-P 7mm Express & 280 Rem brass that I annealed the neck/shoulders on. I do have a few boxes of RWS 280 Rem brass on hand, and would expect those caseheads to stand up to a little more pressure than the R-P stuff. What's your impression of the Norma brass?

 

[Rtheurer]

Hi Dennis

Im suprised at the low velocity in a Match length barrel. Maybe some R22 or N560 might be in order. Accuracy is the most important part of it as you well know.

The Norma Brass that I purchased in 2004 is very uniform in the neck and the flashholes look like typical Norma... Perfect. I recieved my Bore scope about the same time and I remember looking inside some new cases and seeing the difrence between those flashholes and the Winchester brass I was using in another rifle.

This Brass has withstood some very stout load development so far. So right now I can say its been worth the money. I see they have gone up about 20 cents a hull sense 2004.

RWS cases huh? Just like the Norma, you better pick those off the ground after your done shootin a critter.

I used Speers 145gr bullets for blowing out the shoulder and they shot suprisingly well. just under 1MOA while fireforming. I didnt think that was to bad. I used them to knock over the 500 Meter Rams at the club. good practice.

I wonder how the new Nosler 280 brass weighs out and how unifrom the neck and flasholes are on those new cases?

 

[kapac]

Hey 7mmtcu, i have a custom 280AI in an Encore as well. I have loved this round and thought that this would make a great hunting rig. My barrel is a MGM Shilen Select Match its 30" in length (working) and has Holland muzzle brake with a 1-8". I had this barrel built with longrange in mind but I also had a speed that I wanted to be at, so I thought I could use 168's or heavier only to find out that I too have settled on the 162 A-Max's. I had been using some 4831sc to work some ladder tests then moved on to R-22 and have liked what I see so far and thought when summer comes around I will try the N560. I am using the Nosler custom brass

About my Encore, I have done all the work to the gun as for making my own forend with pillars and my own trigger work and no pins from bellm, in fact the only thing I have gotten from Bellm has been his hammer spring. My Encore with the load I have with RL-22 runs just under 2900fps with 162 A-max's and will shoot one ragged hole at 200yds. I have shot a group at 750yds with my Encore that if I did not have 4 people standing there while I shot it no one would believe me.

Kapac

 

[flatlander]

Russ, thanks for the feedback. I'd have tried some of the Nosler formed cases, but am just too darned cheap (or rifle poor - have several other projects going and all are over budget...). The 7mmExpress brass I've got is left over from a Ruger M77V with that chamber marking - IIRC, I bought that rifle in '81 or '82, and had a local dealer order 100pcs. of new empty brass for it. The only WW 280 I've found is nickel-plated, and I wasn't able to find any new R-P when I got the rifle together, so I just started shooting whatever loaded ammo was left on the shelf. After splitting one neck while fireforming, I annealed all the R-P stuff, and have only lost one more case so far.

I'm saving the RWS back - have a 1:9 Krieger hvy. Palma blank in the shop, and may wind up chambering it for the 280AI and trying it on a BAT 3LL. Dunno though - the 280AI would have to be pretty darned good to beat the results I've gotten out of the straight 284.

 

[7mmtcu]

Kapac I am using ballistic tips and accubond in 140gr. so far AA3100 is ok RL-22 is also as good. Good is 1inch@200 2-3inch@300. I have a Simmons 6.5x21 for glass. I am going to try H4831sc in the spring. I called Nosler and talked to their ballistition, he said this was one of their best powder's.Thanks for the info I love this sight I have been reloading and shooting sillouete for 26 years and I thought I knew somthing until I got on this sight and started learning all over again.

 

[bheadboy]

7mmtcu, i and my son both have 700rem, hart 26"1x9 twist 280 ack, hightech stocks, built by Bobby Hart

both shoot .300-.400" we use r/p brass sorted, flash hole cleaned, 9 1/2 rem, H4350, - my son likes Nos 140bt and i like Sierra 140 sbt, - he uses 58.4gr and i use 58.6gr - both rifles give 3140fps, case life is good

Mule deer just drop, it is a great load

Bob