280 AI Velocity problems!?

[26Reload]

Following....
I think oh Lance and brute killing daughter Kenyon are 280ai shooters....

 

[L.Sherm]

Newmexkid p.m sent

 

[26Reload]

Hey...Sherm....any secrets ought to be open........
As my 280ai is a 22" noodle barrel...shooting 168lrab....netting 2630fps....any more and the bills of my hats suffer too much....

 

[L.Sherm]

No secret I just dont publish my loads on an open forum.

 

[Darktimber]

Im shooting a 24" barreled 280ai for deer season this year. With a stiff charge of rl23 and 160gr. Nosler partition im getting mid 2900's.
You shouldnt have any trouble getting 3100 out of a 140. Mine is a 1/9.25 twist

rl23 was recommended to me by a few experienced guys on this forum and its doing really well for me. Over 100fps better than hodgdon powders

 

[Jluck]

Why does a certain speed matter? Are you out of scope adjustment? I will take a slower more accurate load Over a bench racer load any day...

 

[DJ Fergus]

Now that the weather has cooled off I have started searching for a load for my new 280AI. While contemplating the build, I was hoping for at least 3100 FPS with a 140 gr. Nosler Accubond. My barrel is a Brux finished at 26". So far I have tried H-4831SC-IMR4350-IMR4831. All with Norma fire formed cases with CCI primers. This morning I got a velocity of 3018 FPS with a max load, (for the rifle) of IMR4831. The Nosler book shows IMR 4831 as their accuracy powder at 58.5 grs. I got extractor marks at 57.5 so I won't go any higher.A guy at the range said I should try RL 26 for more speed. Is that correct?

I like rl26, I run it in a 6.5 cm. I've never
Ran it in any of my 7mm rm, but it should yeid more velocity for you than 4831. I believe that rl26 would work well for you in the 280ai.

 

[fightthenoise]

Nosler 140 grain AB factory ammo is listed on the box at 3150 and I get 3137 out of a 22" Bergara. To me it's odd your speeds are that low even with the powders you're using. I do plan to work up a load this winter myself and RL26 is definitely where I'll start. Luckily I socked some away.

 

[Tex_Hunter]

Why does a certain speed matter?...

it doesn't, people get really caught up on it for bench racing statistics but down range it makes nill difference. Precision Rifle Blog did a WEZ analysis and showed that pushing handloads 50-100fps extra had only single digit % increase in hit probability at 1000yds and even less improvement inside of that. If you need less drop/drift it's time to step up to the next largest cartridge shooting the bullet you want to use.

 

[Bro Dave]

Went back an read all the responses. Seems like RL 26 might be a happy place. Luckily I have 13 lbs. of it. I should have asked for help before I blew through 235 Accubonds! As they say...The only stupid question is the one not asked!

I wouldn't get hung up on the specific powder although RL 26 is excellent. Think about the class of powder. 4831 is a moderately slow powder while RL 26 is a very slow (magnum) powder. You may find H-1000, Retumbo, 7828 etc. as the solution as well as RL 26. Just think how many more accubonds you'll blow thru

 

[newmexkid]

Yes, accuracy trumps speed. However, I do it, maybe, differently. And that is the fun of handloading. I like to find as much velocity as I can and then start adjusting loads for the best accuracy. This is the first Ackley round I have ever owned so, it has been a learning(?) process.

Nosler 140 grain AB factory ammo is listed on the box at 3150 and I get 3137 out of a 22" Bergara. To me it's odd your speeds are that low even with the powders you're using. I do plan to work up a load this winter myself and RL26 is definitely where I'll start. Luckily I socked some away.

I thought maybe my new LabRadar was not working properly. But, one of the times I was at the range I got the chance to shot over a Chrony and pleasantly surprised they were in the area of 5-9 FPS of each other.

 

[Eagerbeaver]

Maybe the colder temps are keeping speeds down a bit?

 

[manitou]

I run two standard .280s with 26" pipes and they both get 3040 with H4831sc and 140 gr accubonds.... with no pressure issues. (identical rifles) Both shoot sub1/2" groups when I behave. Something seems off if you are getting pressure signs in an AI with that load... imo. I avoid RL powders due to temp sensitivity, but lots of folks like them for their speed.

 

[Hunterjones]

Now that the weather has cooled off I have started searching for a load for my new 280AI. While contemplating the build, I was hoping for at least 3100 FPS with a 140 gr. Nosler Accubond. My barrel is a Brux finished at 26". So far I have tried H-4831SC-IMR4350-IMR4831. All with Norma fire formed cases with CCI primers. This morning I got a velocity of 3018 FPS with a max load, (for the rifle) of IMR4831. The Nosler book shows IMR 4831 as their accuracy powder at 58.5 grs. I got extractor marks at 57.5 so I won't go any higher.A guy at the range said I should try RL 26 for more speed. Is that correct?