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Secret to make a Nosler AB shoot in a 280 AI

accuracyman

Silver $$ Contributor
I am trying to get a Nosler AB 160g to shoot accurately in my 280 AI hunting rifle. The barrel is a 9.25 twist Hart that is 26" long. It shoots Sierras, Hornady ELD-X's, and Bergers great. It is the old reamer before Nosler. I am working (attempting anyway) up a load for an Elk hunt later this year in Utah but struggling to make them shoot consistent. It is the regular Accubond not the long range variety.

Others seem to be able to make them shoot but I have not had any luck. I have H1000, H4831SC, H4350, and RL23 on hand. Currently the brass is Winchester that was fireformed in my chamber. I'm shooting CCI LR Mag primers. I have ordered a box of Nosler brass to see if that helps. Suggestions appreciated.

Kris
 
I’ve shot the 160 ab for a long time in 3 different barrels and were always easy to tune using H4831 sc. Try a different bullet. I shoot the 175 ABLR now and won’t be switching to anything else. Great performance on elk and shoot really good with RL 26 @ 3040 fps in a 26 inch barrel.
 
Best load I had for a 22in was with Swift Scirocco pills, 150g and 61g of Reloader 22. Around 3000fps and accurate.
 
With the regular AccuBond it seems that either your rifle likes them, or it doesn't.
No in between ground.
Like you, my rifles shoot everything else great, but i couldn't get the AccuBond to group.
As others have said, use the 168gr Berger VLD-H. It has accounted for many elk.
The ABLR works well for me also. I shoot the 150gr ABLR. Extremely accurate at distance.
 
Thanks for the reply’s. I guess I had it in my head I needed a heavier constructed bullet for Elk. I’ve not hunted Elk before so I was trying to be safe not sorry. As suggested I’ll move on!

Thanks for pointing out the obvious. Sometimes I get too determined and won’t quit. Bergers it is!

Kris
 
accuracyman said:
Thanks for the reply’s. I guess I had it in my head I needed a heavier constructed bullet for Elk. I’ve not hunted Elk before so I was trying to be safe not sorry. As suggested I’ll move on!

Thanks for pointing out the obvious. Sometimes I get too determined and won’t quit. Bergers it is!

Kris
Click to expand...

I have spec 280AI also "old reamer 280AI" and I fire form Rem 280 brass for that. Got to ask did you have it build?
 
I built it years ago. I have been building my own for 25 years now. Got into Benchrest shooting back then and decided it would be cheaper in the long run to be able to spin my own. I guess that’s why I am so frustrated with those Acubonds. The rifle shoots most conventional bullets just fine but that barrel just hates the Acubonds!

I decided to take a different rifle for this elk hunt and leave the 280 Ackley at home. I just got frustrated with it trying to make those Acubonds shoot. I’m spinning up a straight 284 right now so we’ll see how it does. I have a 300 Win Mag that will go and hopefully this 284 Win. I do have a 338 barrel in the rack so I might spin up a 338 Win Mag as well. Luckily I have plenty of time to get a couple rifles Elk ready.
 
I do shoot the hunting VLD in my 280 Ackley for deer sized game. The reason for the Acubonds was the owner of the private land I’ll be hunting recommended the Acubonds and Partition for Elk. I chose the Acubonds over Partition because it has a better BC. Since he knows more than I about Elk hunting I set off on this adventure. Little did I know it would be so frustrating.

I don’t doubt the Berger recommendations since I shoot then now but I was trying to use what the owner recommended. My 300 Win Mag shoots the Partition OK so I’ll stick with that in the 300. We’ll see what the 284 and maybe the 338 prefers. We can always use another hunting rifle. :D
 
Go to Long range hunting forum. I just posted about the 280 Ackley and there is 4 pages of posts there and a few about the nosler accubonds. I posted here a not a single response. Probably my title sucked. It’s in the reloading section. I would post a link just not that savvy. Good luck they have lots of information on hunting and reloading.
Jason
 
You might try, the 150 AccuBonds or Horn 150 ELD-X's as,. My sons Tikka 7mm-08, 9.25 TW,..would NOT "shoot" anything over, 150 grains, "well" / consistently ! NOT even, the 168 Bergers *! And I'd recommend that, you take, the 168 Bergers out to, 400 Yards to "see" IF it still, "shoots" well at, DISTANCE!
*Maybe due to, Length of Bullet to, the TW rate ?? He gets 1/2 MOA with, the Horn ELD-X 150's, NOW ! Killed his Elk at, 250+ and NO Problem with, Bullet, expansion / penetration ! Some barrels, just WON'T shoot, "some" Bullets ! Good Luck ! PS,. FORGET the .338 Win Mag as, it's to, "brutal" to shoot well, unless, "Braked" ! A good .270 - .280 Cal Rifle with, most, 140- 150 grain "Hunting Bullets", Kills Elk, just FINE,.. IF, you put IT, in the "Boiler room" ! We kill, Elk & Moose all the time with, "Sharp Sticks" !
 
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Thanks for the heads up on long range hunting forum. I’ll check out that thread. I don’t believe elk are armor plated just trying to comply with a bullet recommendation from a man that has lots of experience. I have numerous rifles that would probably get it done but I am keen on the 280 Ackley so I figured I would start there. I have a few rifles that would qualify by some folks and some that would not qualify. I could use a 7-08, 308, 25-06, 30-06, 270, 280, 280 Ack, 6.5-284, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 35 Whelen, 7mm Rem Mag, 300 Win Mag. Add to that the straight 284 that is on the lathe right now and I have too many choices.

We all have that one rifle that we fancy and have a lot of experience and confidence in. Mine is the 280 Ackley. I do appreciate all the comments and do not disagree with anything recommended here. I’ll move on and find two rifles that I have confidence in. Part of the enjoyment on a hunt like this is the preparation and justification to be at the range more
 
std7mag said:
People are/have been taking elk with the 140gr, even the 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip.

Except for the guys from Gunwerks & Best of the West, most elk are shot 400 yards & closer.

Take a 7mm-08, and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...
The last bullet I would try and shoot an elk with is a Ballistic tip. The worst failure I've ever had was 25 years ago on a deer with the 140 BT in a 7mm-08. Splashed on the hide right behind the shoulder on a rib, 6 hrs later I finally caught up to it and was able to finish it off after I let it lay for 3 hrs first.
 
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accuracyman said:
I built it years ago. I have been building my own for 25 years now. Got into Benchrest shooting back then and decided it would be cheaper in the long run to be able to spin my own. I guess that’s why I am so frustrated with those Acubonds. The rifle shoots most conventional bullets just fine but that barrel just hates the Acubonds!

I decided to take a different rifle for this elk hunt and leave the 280 Ackley at home. I just got frustrated with it trying to make those Acubonds shoot. I’m spinning up a straight 284 right now so we’ll see how it does. I have a 300 Win Mag that will go and hopefully this 284 Win. I do have a 338 barrel in the rack so I might spin up a 338 Win Mag as well. Luckily I have plenty of time to get a couple rifles Elk ready.
Click to expand...
If it was me I would take the 300WM with Berger 215's and the 338WM with225 NP
You wont need anything else
 
I'm in the same boat as the op. I have a great shooting 280AI that won't shoot any accu bonds that I've tried. It shoots 168 HVLD's way better than it should shoot anything, being a plain jane hunting rifle. It shoots the partitions pretty well but I've never seen that bullet shoot great...plenty good enough for a hunting rifle, but never great. It has a 9 twist pac nor on it and shoots just about anything well except for those two and it just puts a great big grin on your face with the Bergers. Almost bench gun like with "the" load. I can throw just about any powder under those and it still shoots good but a stout load of n165 is crazy accurate with the 168 berger. That bullet has performed very well on big whitetails but it's never been elk hunting. I suspect it'd do just fine though. Always big exit holes on big deer and I don't recall one taking more than a few steps after hit. Shots have been from very close to a little over 500.
 
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