280AI hornady eld m 162 gr & nosler 168 gr Accubond LR.

204_ruger

FNG
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Messages
32
I have a 280AI 1@8 twist 26-inch barrel. I am wanting to load hornady 162gr eld m. And nosler Accubond 168gr LR bullets. Powder i have on hand.
RL19 RL22
IMR 4831 4350
H4831 H4350
MAGPRO

Just got some IMR 7828sc to try. I will be using Federal match large rifle primers . And new nosler 280AI brass.
 

coast range

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 19, 2018
Messages
168
Location
oregon
I have run the 168 with rl22 with good results.

I’m just getting ready to load some 162 eldm. Hoping rl23 works
 

skip189

FNG
Joined
Aug 31, 2018
Messages
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Location
Montana(MT)
I have been loading my 162 ELDM with Staball 6.5 and seem to get better accuracy and muzzle velocity over 4831SC and others. All my 280AI loads seem to just like that Staball 6.5 powder. My hunting load this year was the 160gr CX at about 2940 in a 22 inch barrel.
 

cowboy

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 13, 2015
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149
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Mt/Id/SD
H4831sc has been my best luck in 3 different rifles although we’re using 168 Berger bullets.
 
Joined
Aug 23, 2023
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Location
Central Pennsylvania
I have been loading my 162 ELDM with Staball 6.5 and seem to get better accuracy and muzzle velocity over 4831SC and others. All my 280AI loads seem to just like that Staball 6.5 powder. My hunting load this year was the 160gr CX at about 2940 in a 22 inch barrel.
Was your hunting load using 6.5 staball? I'd like to try the 160 cx when my 280 Ackley is finished and I'm looking for ideas for it. Thanks in advance.
 

skip189

FNG
Joined
Aug 31, 2018
Messages
27
Location
Montana(MT)
Was your hunting load using 6.5 staball? I'd like to try the 160 cx when my 280 Ackley is finished and I'm looking for ideas for it. Thanks in advance.
Yeah my main hunting load this year was the 160 gr CX with the Staball 6.5. Shot an antelope, whitey, and a cow elk with it. I like that the CX had no meat damage on any of the animals. The antelope was at 450, deer was 350, and cow was 643. The biggest adjustment that I had with using monos was the impact on the animal there was not the typical "whop" and had to trust your accuracy as the response from the mono impact left me wondering if it was a good hit but when they tip over it verified it.
 
Joined
Aug 23, 2023
Messages
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Location
Central Pennsylvania
Yeah my main hunting load this year was the 160 gr CX with the Staball 6.5. Shot an antelope, whitey, and a cow elk with it. I like that the CX had no meat damage on any of the animals. The antelope was at 450, deer was 350, and cow was 643. The biggest adjustment that I had with using monos was the impact on the animal there was not the typical "whop" and had to trust your accuracy as the response from the mono impact left me wondering if it was a good hit but when they tip over it verified it.
Thanks for the reply. I'm definitely going to have to give it a try. Where did you get the load info from? Starting charge weight....ect.
 

skip189

FNG
Joined
Aug 31, 2018
Messages
27
Location
Montana(MT)
Thanks for the reply. I'm definitely going to have to give it a try. Where did you get the load info from? Starting charge weight....ect.
I emailed Hornady about load data and they told me that the 280AI wouldn't stabilize that bullet and therefore had no load data for it. I then just looked up the data on Hodgdon for 150gr and 165 gr bullets and then ran loads to find where max pressure was. Ended at 55.5 grs for my load which is right at the max for my rifle in regards to pressure.
 
Joined
Aug 23, 2023
Messages
15
Location
Central Pennsylvania
I emailed Hornady about load data and they told me that the 280AI wouldn't stabilize that bullet and therefore had no load data for it. I then just looked up the data on Hodgdon for 150gr and 165 gr bullets and then ran loads to find where max pressure was. Ended at 55.5 grs for my load which is right at the max for my rifle in regards to pressure.
That's kinda funny that hornady would say that. How do they know what twist rate your rifle has? If they're 8 twist 7 prc will stabilize it, I'm positive that my 8 twist 280 Ackley will too. Thanks for the charge info. I'll back off a bit and work up.
 
OP
204_ruger

204_ruger

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Joined
Apr 24, 2020
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I bought some of the berger 7mm 150 gr classic hunter bullets. And a box of Nosler 7mm 168gr accubond lr bullets to.
 
Last edited:

Unckebob

WKR
Joined
Aug 21, 2022
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927
That's kinda funny that hornady would say that. How do they know what twist rate your rifle has? If they're 8 twist 7 prc will stabilize it, I'm positive that my 8 twist 280 Ackley will too. Thanks for the charge info. I'll back off a bit and work up.

If they didn't think many people would be using that bullet in 280AI's, they probably did not want to spend money to test it and develop good data.

Barnes has load data for 160g and 165g copper bullets.

Personally, I am planning to do some accuracy/ velocity testing of the following:
140g TTSX, 145g LRX, 150g Scirocco II, 154g Interbond.
 
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