280AI & 143 HH

[john k]

I received some feedback on my Berger load thread that lead me to trying the hammer hunters for a mono option on my new rifle. This thread is documenting my load work up with 143 hammer hunters on the Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT….

Ordered bullets Saturday and had them in my hands yesterday. Read through some others experiences and landed on a starting place.

I'll first be looking for pressure and capturing velocities.

Brass: Peterson 1x, 2thou bump to the shoulder, 2thou nt set with mandrel
Primer: CCI 250
Powder: RL26 58-62.5gr
Pill: 143 HH
COAL: 3.316
View attachment 389994

It's very close to the load I'm tweaking. I went to 61.5gr of RL26 and groups were a tad over moa with 3410fps-3440fps. No pressure. I have a 26" tube. Backed it down to 61gr and just over 1/2 moa at 3327fps-3346fps. So far like Steve mentioned, seating depth not an issue. I'm going to crimp (1/8) next. Keep us posted. Thanks

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I shoot the 143HH in my 7WSM. Both RE23 and RE26 (with Fed 215M) are both very accurate. The RE26 is about 100 FPS faster if that's important. Carefully loaded and on a good day, I can normally drop every round under 2" at 417yds. Yeah, I know, it's an odd distance. LOL

With regard to crimping - I've experimented with using the Lee FCD with Hammer bullets on several cartridges. IME, crimping can improve or degrade performance. You just have to do a few direct comparisons to see what the effects are. I've seen some loads improve while others showed an increase in SD and group size. If it isn't helping, don't do it.

 

[Longtine88]

I shoot the 143HH in my 7WSM. Both RE23 and RE26 (with Fed 215M) are both very accurate. The RE26 is about 100 FPS faster if that's important. Carefully loaded and on a good day, I can normally drop every round under 2" at 417yds. Yeah, I know, it's an odd distance. LOL

With regard to crimping - I've experimented with using the Lee FCD with Hammer bullets on several cartridges. IME, crimping can improve or degrade performance. You just have to do a few direct comparisons to see what the effects are. I've seen some loads improve while others showed an increase in SD and group size. If it isn't helping, don't do it.

Sure it's not 417.28 yds

 

[dwc001]

I am shooting 280AI 143 HH RL-23 60.0gr Fed210 primer Peterson brass 3.362 for 3130fps .
killed 3 mule deer 2 blacktail 1 elk.
My gun is pre 64 -Bartlien barrel 26" 1:9 twist It seems to likes this load.









'

 

[john k]

I am shooting 280AI 143 HH RL-23 60.0gr Fed210 primer Peterson brass 3.362 for 3130fps .
killed 3 mule deer 2 blacktail 1 elk.
My gun is pre 64 -Bartlien barrel 26" 1:9 twist It seems to likes this load.

Great results. 3.362 is long! Non magnum primers is unique also with that powder. Thanks







'

 

[Varmint Hunter]

Sure it's not 417.28 yds

Not quite sure. LOL

The club was originally set up to have target backers at 50yds, 100yds, 200yds, 300yds and 400yds. The 400yd backer was about 20yds in front of the largest berm. At some point it was believed that range safety would be enhanced by moving the backer closer to the berm. A quick laser reading from the concrete benches shows that the new distance is 417yds.

It takes a mathematician to figure out your MOA now. LMAO

 

[JD Jones]

I'll first be looking for pressure and capturing velocities.

Brass: Peterson 1x, 2thou bump to the shoulder, 2thou nt set with mandrel
Primer: CCI 250
Powder: RL26 58-62.5gr
Pill: 143 HH
COAL: 3.316

Temp 87-94
1370' elevation
12-20 quartering wind

58gr 2986
59gr 3033
60gr 3093 slight ejector
61gr 3121 slight ejector
61.5gr 3156 pronounce ejector mark
62gr 3173 pronounced ejector mark slight heavy bolt
62.5gr 3188 pronounced ejector mark slight heavy bolt

I think I'm gonna play around more in the 60-61gr range next.

200yard rapid fire

 

[john k]

It's very close to the load I'm tweaking. I went to 61.5gr of RL26 and groups were a tad over moa with 3410fps-3440fps. No pressure. I have a 26" tube. Backed it down to 61gr and just over 1/2 moa at 3327fps-3346fps. So far like Steve mentioned, seating depth not an issue. I'm going to crimp (1/8) next. Keep us posted. Thanks

wow. I gave y'all some crazy figures. The 3400fps was with the 120 HH. My 143 load is 61.5gr with 3159fps average and .529" moa. Sorry guys. I'm sure there had to be a few .280AI shooters putting a question mark around my name. I apologize. Thanks

 

[Mark37082]

I was in a frantic search for RL26 after I read your first post. Alliant powders seem to be unobtainium now. Still good results.

wow. I gave y'all some crazy figures. The 3400fps was with the 120 HH. My 143 load is 61.5gr with 3159fps average and .529" moa. Sorry guys. I'm sure there had to be a few .280AI shooters putting a question mark around my name. I apologize. Thanks

 

[quigley257]

Tag

 

[JD Jones]

I finished my load tinkering for this Elk and deer rifle season today. Now I just need to decide which one I wanna use…168 Berger (.5moa) or 143 HH (.75moa). Decisions decisions

I know I can get this 143HH group to shrink but .75 moa out of a rifle that out the door weighs 7.2# is good enough for now

Load for now-(revisiting this winter after hunting season)
3.317COAL
60.2 gr RL26
Mag primer CCI 250
3101 avg velocity
Peterson 2x
2 thou bump

 

[318lll9740]

Following. The 140 AH is working good in my 280 AI. But interested to see your results.

I run the same bullet with superformance. It supposed to be close to 3350 fps. When I get home this weekend I will chronograph it and post results

 

[BeaverHunter]

I'm just over 3100 fps on a 22 inch barrel in my 280 ackley with 143 hammer hunters.
Nosler brass
215m federals
60.0 grains h4831
In my experience hammers don't really care about jump at all. Just load them to whatever they fit in the mag and shoot em. Under moa load in a savage ultralight.