.280 Ackley Improved?

[thefitter]

Anybody shooting this? Can I get some experiences and opinions on it, please? Seems like a excellent 7mm cartridge.

Thanks

 

[L.Sherm]

Couple years ago I took my brothers 280 browning a-bolt to my smith and got it ackleyed and wow did it wake that thing up! Went from a 2950fps rifle to a 3200fps. 22" barrel and 140gr. bullets. It likes RL22. took mine and had it ackleyed it's a Rem.700 with a Lilja 24" barrel same velocity but mine seems to like Vit.160 but i've got a little tinkering to do yet.

 

[Joe C]

Very interested in this topic...I'll be watching closely.

 

[T 700]

I have one in a Remington 700, It shoots clover leaf's at 100yds. You get the best of both worlds. It is nipping at the heels of the 7mag as far as speed, And has a ton of nock down. The best thing about it is the recoil is half of the 7 Mag I shoot IMR 4831 with a 140gr Sierra Game King. Brass is a not brainer, Just get you some 280 Rem rounds and go shooting, Or get some Nosler 280 Ackley brass. Go for it you will not be sorry!!

T 700

 

[Ing. Michael W. Mayerl]

Anybody shooting this? Can I get some experiences and opinions on it, please? Seems like a excellent 7mm cartridge.

Thanks

Take a look on the German 7x64 Brenneke.
It has a shorter twist and little different groove land dimensions.
I manufacture a 7x64 X with modern throat but an improved version would be very interessting too.
Good brass is also available.

 

[dave7mm]

I had my first one built by Nelson Berger back in 1986.
My load back then was 64g of H4831 with a 140g Nosler Ballistic Tip.
That got me 3140 fps.
It was a M700 with a Douglas stainless airgaged number 4 in a McMillian HTG stock topped off with a 1.5-6x42 Schmidt & Bender.
I carried it all over North America and Canada and never had a complaint.
Its a deer killen sumbitch.
At that time you could not get factory cases so I would just use a load of h4895 and some cheep Speer bullets and practice my off hand shooting.Just to blow cases.Once fireformed.I'd throttle them up.
The off hand practice was worth its weight in gold.
It was a very consistant rifle.
With anykind of rest you could put 5 rounds into a nice 5 inch cluster at 500 yards.
Off a bench it could do even better.
Its a very hard round to beat for a deer getter.
I've tried to beat it and spent lots of money doing so.
Havent been able to really do better than Rem 280 Ackley improved.
dave

 

[bheadboy]

i have had 2 built by R. W. Hart, Bobby, on 700 trued, 26" hart bbl, hightech stks, and both shot 3140fps with 140 Sierra sbt and Nosler bt. grouping .300-.350" at 100. they would go 3200+ but the sweet spot accurcy was 3140. right at 3000 with 160's also shooting under .450"

very accurate, great long range, these were hunting rifles weighing 9# with scope.

Bob

 

[jbarnwell]

I've been shooting one for about 15 years now. Mines is built on a 700 action with a #5 Hart barrel. Excellent caliber, for the midrange weight bullets, mine will hang right with a 7 Rem. Mag.. I have shot as heavy as the 154 SST with great results. Recoil and muzzle blast are much less than the 7 mag and the accuracy with most any bullet/powder combination have been excellent, although it does have it's preferences. With the 150/154 grain bullets I always had my best results with Norma MRP. For several years now I have been shooting only the 140 Accubond with either VV N560 or RE 22. Velocities are in line with the other posters. I would run the 150/154 at 3060 fps for best accuracy and I shoot the 140's at 3150 for best results.

That old Hart barrel has seen it's better days now, I just got a new #5 Brux, 10 twist in that will be put into service shortly. I don't think you will go wrong with this caliber and probably be kicking yourself in the shorts for not building one earlier! Hope this helps.

Jarvis