280 AI powder choice for 160 AB

[25WSM]

Got lucky and found 2 pounds of Retumbo. It's hard to find right now too. My accuracy with Retumbo is 64 gr and 168 berger vld hunting @ 2915. It's a hammer with that load and many other 280ai I have built for clients shoots great within a grain up or down of that load. Fed 210 primers worked best for me. .010 off for seating depth.
Shep

 

[Kaptoe]

In general when I see everyone's load data you all push the limit. Call me pedestrian but I don't ever see pushing my 280ai to 3000fps with anything 150gr or heavier

 

[25WSM]

64 grains is one more than hodgden says. No pressure at all. I don't think you can put too much Retumbo in it. 65 grains is all I can get in there but all our guns shot best with 63 to 64 grains right at 2900 fps.
Shep

 

[Raudy707]

The 280 AI is so easy and user friendly you can choose a whole gamut of powders and get those 160 Accubonds to 2950-3000 fps. Reloader 23 is awesome stuff if you can't find Rldr 26, but Rldr 17, H1000, Retumbo and H4831 will get you slinging 160's in the high 2900's and right at 3000 fps. 56 grains of Rldr 17 will shoot under 1 MOA at 100 and is 3020 out of my wife's 24" Kimber Montana, and 3070 out of my 26" Hart barrel. This is a hot load so start at 53 and work up. Rldr 17 is pretty temp sensitive so keep in mind about 1.5 fps/deg. F. Start at 57 grains of Rldr 23 and work up to 62 should be about max. Rldr 26 start at 61 grains and work up to 65. Try different primers too. My wifes Kimber loves CCI 250 M primers but my rifle with the Hart barrel prefers Fed 210 Match. I'm actually shooting 168 Accubond LR with 62.7 grains of Rldr 26 at 2980 and my rifle loves it! Shot a 5" group at 800 yds yesterday. Going to try at 1000 this weekend. Not too shabby when my buddy is using his 7 RUM with 89 grains of powder and getting 3030 fps. I'll take my 50 fps loss with 30% less powder all day. Ha!

 

[Hornhunter32]

Retumbo and H4831 were my powders of choice.

 

[SnakeRiverEric]

I used RL23 for 160AB in a Kimber Mtn Ascent. 58.5gr was right at max 2950fps

 

[25WSM]

Guys on another thread say they get 2975 with a 175 and rl23. I don't know how they are getting there.
Shep

 

[Raudy707]

Guys on another thread say they get 2975 with a 175 and rl23. I don't know how they are getting there.
Shep

That does seem awfully fast even for Reloader 23. 30" barrel maybe?? Ha ha. Seems like Reloader 26 territory and over max load to me. 7 mag territory right there.

 

[Palix-Dog]

The 280 AI is so easy and user friendly you can choose a whole gamut of powders and get those 160 Accubonds to 2950-3000 fps. Reloader 23 is awesome stuff if you can't find Rldr 26, but Rldr 17, H1000, Retumbo and H4831 will get you slinging 160's in the high 2900's and right at 3000 fps. 56 grains of Rldr 17 will shoot under 1 MOA at 100 and is 3020 out of my wife's 24" Kimber Montana, and 3070 out of my 26" Hart barrel. This is a hot load so start at 53 and work up. Rldr 17 is pretty temp sensitive so keep in mind about 1.5 fps/deg. F. Start at 57 grains of Rldr 23 and work up to 62 should be about max. Rldr 26 start at 61 grains and work up to 65. Try different primers too. My wifes Kimber loves CCI 250 M primers but my rifle with the Hart barrel prefers Fed 210 Match. I'm actually shooting 168 Accubond LR with 62.7 grains of Rldr 26 at 2980 and my rifle loves it! Shot a 5" group at 800 yds yesterday. Going to try at 1000 this weekend. Not too shabby when my buddy is using his 7 RUM with 89 grains of powder and getting 3030 fps. I'll take my 50 fps loss with 30% less powder all day. Ha!

 

[Palix-Dog]

Thanks I have RL17 and some 4831 in stock.

 

[Raudy707]

Thanks I have RL17 and some 4831 in stock.

Since you have a Kimber like my wife's, try that Reloader 17 load. It also shot bug holes with H4350 and 150 grain Combined Technology Silvertips and E-tips. If you are worried about temp sensitive powders use the H4831 or Reloader 23. She killed a B&C blacktail at 584 yds, one shot with her little lightweight rig and the 160 Accubond/RL17 combo. Who says lightweight rifles can't be accurate? Grin. Good luck P-Dog.

 

[Palix-Dog]

Since you have a Kimber like my wife's, try that Reloader 17 load. It also shot bug holes with H4350 and 150 grain Combined Technology Silvertips and E-tips. If you are worried about temp sensitive powders use the H4831 or Reloader 23. She killed a B&C blacktail at 584 yds, one shot with her little lightweight rig and the 160 Accubond/RL17 combo. Who says lightweight rifles can't be accurate? Grin. Good luck P-Dog.

Thanks for the info. I will definitely try the rl17. Congrats to your wife on the black tail.

 

[cajun]

If you hunt in temperature extremes stay away from R17. I have found it to be very temp sensitive. If you work up a load in warm weather you will lose velocity when the temp drops. Not uncommon to lose 90 fps going from 80-20f which we can easily see down south. R26 has worked really well in 7 mag for me which is very similar.

 

[Bob Wright]

I use RE23 in my 7 mag with ABLR 175 gr at 2920, no pressure signs.

RE23 in a new custom 280AI with first handload using the 145 LRX Barnes at 3100. Compressed load due to SAAMI chamber, but again, no pressure.
I'm a Hodgdon fan, but this particular powder out runs H4831 by 150 fps and best SD and ES with best groups. It's worth a try for 30 bucks.