280 AI & RL26

[shoot4fun]

Anyone tried RL26 in their 280AI with heavy (175-190) grain bullets?
I just got a pound to try and can't find any data.
Also interested if you have tried it with the 168 grain Berger or SMK.
I know it's a slow powder but I've had some decent success with Retumbo.

 

[Carolina Hillbilly]

I use RL26 for 197SMK's with success. Around 2725fps in a 24" Bartlien 7.5 twist. Seems to be about perfect as far as burn rate.

 

[CTK]

I had good success with rl26 with the 168 HVLD and the Classic Hunter. Check your PM.

 

[shoot4fun]

I had good success with rl26 with the 168 HVLD and the Classic Hunter. Check your PM.

Thank you for the help.
I'm looking forward to giving that data a try.

 

[MTlager]

280 AI is about the same powder capacity as the 7 Saum so around 62 grains of RL 26 should get the 195 doing 2850 to 2900 depending on barrel length and free bore. I was getting that with H1000 , but was hard on brass. Should do better with the 26. Was running in the 2940 range with the 180 vld.

Lonnie

 

[DocDoc]

7mm RSAUM has almost identical case capacity as the .280 AI, so starting loads for both should be similar.

 

[shoot4fun]

Thanks for all the info. Looking forward to this project.

 

[kfreeze]

Bringing this one back from the depths. I was wondering if any of you happened to try RL26 with 175 berger elite hunters?

 

[WeatherbyFan]

I tried R26/160 AB at 59.5/60.0/60.5/61.0, I settled on 60.5 at 3030fps out of a 24” Benchmark, I tried the 175gr Berger Elite Hunters but accuracy wasn’t there with R26

 

[Santee116]

I've found some excellent loads with RL-26 in my .280AI. It has a Brux 1-9 at 22". All with nosler brass and CCI BR2s.

160 Accubond, 61.5 grains = 3,000 fps

165 Sierra Gamechanger, 60.2 grains = 2,890 fps

168 VLD, 60.5 grains = 2,875

 

[L.Sherm]

I tried R26/160 AB at 59.5/60.0/60.5/61.0, I settled on 60.5 at 3030fps out of a 24” Benchmark, I tried the 175gr Berger Elite Hunters but accuracy wasn’t there with R26

Did you try RL23?

 

[WeatherbyFan]

Did you try RL23?

No I didn't, but I do have some R23 so I could try it.

 

[L.Sherm]

It's worked very well in 3 I have loaded for.

 

[Willow]

No I didn't, but I do have some R23 so I could try it.

I would, it's my powder of choice - you can run it slow and steady or run it at close to SAUM speeds with 180s.

 

[SPQR70AD]

I have an older nosler manual that lists IMR 7828 with 175 grain bullet at 2828 FPS for the 280AI 24" tube then standard 280 same powder same bullet at 2812 FPS. any one tried the IMR 7828 fuel?