Alternative powder to Re23 for 280ai

I'm using Peterson brass also. Was it vigin brass or fired brass? Did you have heavy bolt lift? What priners are you using. I'm at 58grn with the 145's and 57grn with the 175's.
Fired brass. Using CCI 250 primers. Only got a heavy bolt lift with 60gn of 4831sc. Other than that load, the only pressure sign I got was the ejector mark. No flat primers or cratering.
 
My biggest issue has been case capacity with RL23 and long mono's. H4831sc and H4350 fix this issue. I may lose 50 fps, but I can accept that. Your rifle is the only thing that will tell you what will work best. Mine gets the best results with H4831sc when shooting 160 grain pills. H4350 is my go to for 140's.
 
Fired brass. Using CCI 250 primers. Only got a heavy bolt lift with 60gn of 4831sc. Other than that load, the only pressure sign I got was the ejector mark. No flat primers or cratering.
I would try standard primers if you have them. Really no need to run magnums. See if the ejector marks go away. Could you also have a stiff ejector giving you false pressure signs?
 
I would try standard primers if you have them. Really no need to run magnums. See if the ejector marks go away. Could you also have a stiff ejector giving you false pressure signs?
I'll definitely try the standards. I really think it's possibly a stiff ejector. I took it out to check and see if it had a burr, or sharp edges yesterday, and it was extremely stiff compared to some other rifles. Idk. I cleaned up all of my brass and I'm going to load some more today. I ran and picked up some more Accubond 160s yesterday. My rifle really seems to like those a lot. How would I know if it is just a stiff ejector? Because it really is the only pressure sign that I have. I'll try to get some pics of the brass and upload them.
 
My biggest issue has been case capacity with RL23 and long mono's. H4831sc and H4350 fix this issue. I may lose 50 fps, but I can accept that. Your rifle is the only thing that will tell you what will work best. Mine gets the best results with H4831sc when shooting 160 grain pills. H4350 is my go to for 140's.
I ran into the same problem with longer monos's. Although the best load I have found in my rifle is probably 143 hammer hunters over RL 23.
 
I'll definitely try the standards. I really think it's possibly a stiff ejector. I took it out to check and see if it had a burr, or sharp edges yesterday, and it was extremely stiff compared to some other rifles. Idk. I cleaned up all of my brass and I'm going to load some more today. I ran and picked up some more Accubond 160s yesterday. My rifle really seems to like those a lot. How would I know if it is just a stiff ejector? Because it really is the only pressure sign that I have. I'll try to get some pics of the brass and upload them.
I had my GS look at my ejector on my Rem 700 cause I was getting some ejector marks at mid weight charges and he said I had a stiff ejector. He said some 700's were like that. A sign of a stiff ejector, at least on 700's is that it will leave a scratch on the brass, when you are pulling the bolt back.
 
This is what I was thinking, but I'm getting ejector marks on Peterson brass with anything over about 2875 with RL23 and 4831sc. I was getting just over 3k with 143 HH. Possibly just a slow barrel or tight chamber?
I'm using Peterson brass also with GM215M. I was thinking you would probably get 3k using Ramshot Hunter. 4831sc is really slow in my barrel.
 
I'm using Peterson brass also with GM215M. I was thinking you would probably get 3k using Ramshot Hunter. 4831sc is really slow in my barrel.
I'll give that a shot. Here is my brass from today. 58.2gn of 4831sc under AB 160's
Just under 1 moa
Avg-2851
ES-24.3
SD-8.9
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2934.jpeg
    IMG_2934.jpeg
    272.7 KB · Views: 39
IMG_0767.jpeg
IMG_0777.jpeg
Those 143HH are a very easy bullet to get to shoot well in my rifle. I keep trying different loads for curiosity reasons and still grab the 143HH when heading out on deer hunts. Ejector marks are prevalent when I start pushing for speed. I am not sure why the marks are showing up on new Peterson brass when I believe I am well within safe load ranges.
 
View attachment 615685View attachment 615686

Those 143HH are a very easy bullet to get to shoot well in my rifle. I keep trying different loads for curiosity reasons and still grab the 143HH when heading out on deer hunts. Ejector marks are prevalent when I start pushing for speed. I am not sure why the marks are showing up on new Peterson brass when I believe I am well within safe load ranges.
Nice! I really like the 143HH.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0871.jpeg
    IMG_0871.jpeg
    352.4 KB · Views: 28
I'm using Peterson brass also with GM215M. I was thinking you would probably get 3k using Ramshot Hunter. 4831sc is really slow in my barrel.
Question.. what is your COAL measurement?I realize this is very rifle specific, but I'd like to get some reference. The reason I'm asking this is, after doing some research it seems as if pressure could be increased by seating too close to the lands. I have been seating about .010 off the lands, and I'm wondering if by seating deeper, I can reduce pressure with the same powder charge.

Edit.
After diving down the YouTube rabbit hole, I found this video. It seems to support my theory. Has anyone experienced this?
 
Last edited:
Question.. what is your COAL measurement?I realize this is very rifle specific, but I'd like to get some reference. The reason I'm asking this is, after doing some research it seems as if pressure could be increased by seating too close to the lands. I have been seating about .010 off the lands, and I'm wondering if by seating deeper, I can reduce pressure with the same powder charge.

Edit.
After diving down the YouTube rabbit hole, I found this video. It seems to support my theory. Has anyone experienced this?

I'm at 0.050 off the lands in my gun which is 3.351 coal or 2.670 bto using the hornady #28 comparator.
 
Well, I guess you learn something new every day. I decided to seat some bullets .080 off the lands with the same exact powder charge and what do you know, zero pressure signs and my groups tightened up considerably… I didn't realize seating depth affected pressure that much.

The flier was my cold bore shot. The other is a 5 shot group at .648"
Average fps is 2860
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2936.jpeg
    IMG_2936.jpeg
    280.3 KB · Views: 21
Well, I guess you learn something new every day. I decided to seat some bullets .080 off the lands with the same exact powder charge and what do you know, zero pressure signs and my groups tightened up considerably… I didn't realize seating depth affected pressure that much.

The flier was my cold bore shot. The other is a 5 shot group at .648"
Average fps is 2860
Looks promising.
Which powder and projectile?
H4350 or H4831 with 143 Hammers?
 
Top