280 Ackley improved bullet recommendations

I've shot 162 SST and ELDM @ 2980…both messy under 200.
Last couple of years switched to 168 ABLR @ 2940…perfection near or far!
My son uses 160 Accubond in 7 SAUM…awesome as well!
Used RL23 and N560 in both.

Roughrice said:

I've shot 162 SST and ELDM @ 2980…both messy under 200.
Last couple of years switched to 168 ABLR @ 2940…perfection near or far!
My son uses 160 Accubond in 7 SAUM…awesome as well!
Used RL23 and N560 in both.

Click to expand...

How is hand loading for the 168 ABLR? Were you able to find a sub moa group easily?

SamuelBerryhill308 said:

How have these bullets performed on game? I've looked at both hornady bullets and the 168 classic hunters and also the 168 ablr

Click to expand...

So far I've only used the 162ELDX and the 166ATip on game. Both have worked great. The 162 ELDX was from the 7mm RSAUM 17.5" bbl with MV of 2830 fps. It performed as I had hoped. Double shoulder shot with bullet diameter entry and quarter sized exit. Buck dropped at the 72 yard shot.

The 166 ATip was shot from a 26" bbl 28 Nosler. With 3331 fps MV. Shot was 30 yards with complete penetration and a massive exit wound. Buck traveled maybe 30 yards and crashed.

I've not shot the B168VLDH on game yet. If it performs like the other Berger VLDH bullets I killed deer with I won't be disappointed.

OG-danimal said:

How is hand loading for the 168 ABLR? Were you able to find a sub moa group easily?

Click to expand...

Not the easiest ...but luckily worked out.
Seating depth was the most work.
I had the same issue with the 150 ABLR in 284 Win.
They are both finicky about seating depth from my experience. They may like to long jump in one rifle and be 10-30 k off on the other.

I have a 7-06 Ackley which is very close to 280ai. Several deer and 2 antelope using 168 HVLD most don't take over 5 steps. Also I deer with 143 HH worked very well. H4831 and RE23 both work well. I went 7-06 so I could make it from 30-06 Lapua brass

In the 160 class I really like the 162 eld-m. Great whitetail bullet.

I can tell you what works for me in 7mm ranging from 7-08, 7STW and 7RUM velocities and, you will be surprised.
Have used the following with excellent results.
Nosler 120g Ballistic Tip. Holds together well, even though core separates.
Barnes 120g TSX/TTSX. Excellent bullet.
Barnes 145g LRX. Beyond excellent.
Nosler 150g Ballistic Tip. As above with the 120g.
Nosler 160g Accubond. Beyond excellent.
Nosler 168g ABLR. Excellent at ranges beyond 500.
Nosler 175g ABLR. As above.

If Hammers weren't so expensive here, I would be using them.

Cheers.

SamuelBerryhill308 said:

How has these performed on game?

Click to expand...

My Kimber Montana 280AI has harvested 10+ mule deer in Wyoming and New Mexico at ranges of 75 to 350 yards with that 162ELDX projectile - most were one impact dead right there. One large mule deer I shot twice - down on first impact but I hit him again as he was close to a boundary I did not want him to cross - classic side shot in vitals.

For me, the 162 ELDX is a perfect blend of fragmentation and penetration. Front half fragments or mushrooms - if close, fragmentation the further out and velocity drops off you get fragmentation/mushroom. The base drive through for penetration.

Shot an antelope facing me in NM at 200+ yards and the bullet impacted center of chest with fragmentation in vitals and the base drove through and broke spine, ended up under rear skin - DRT. Previously in WY I shot a mule deer with the Texas heart shot and it drove from rear to chest again DRT.