any body shooting a 6.5x280 AI

[Capt RB]

Again Hodgdon 100V is a poor choice of powders. Why put a .260 Remington powder charge (?54 grains?) in a 6.5-280 Ackley? Magnum primers will never promote accuracy. That is why Lapua brought out small primer pocket cases for the 6.5 Creedmore. Here is what Quickload shows for 130gr (I have a 9 twist barrel) Berger VLDs that actually use the case volume.
Alliant Reloder-26 63.70gr 94 %fill 3,251fps 62,000psi
Norma MRP 62.34 95 3,229 61,185
Vihtavuori N560 61.04 95 3,174 57,559
Accurate MAGPRO 63.51 95 3,153 56,800
Ramshot Magnum 65.06 95 3,113 56,430
Accurate 3100 59.74 95 3,034 56,585
Norma MRP 2 59.74 95 2,918 43,867
Hodgdon H1000 59.09 95 2,850 42,128
Hodgdon Retumbo 60.06 95 2,806 37,744

In are testing at the shop the slow powders are not as consistent with sr primers. I'm using 215's over 210's for Rl 26 for very good sd of 2fps. The caveat is I have not shot my creed above 23 degrees. When I set up my 270 years ago. We ran into the same thing in cold temps sub 25 degrees with H4831, 3100 and 7828. The extruded powders will be better served in cold weather by a mag primer.
Warmer temps and non magnum primers show much better consistency. SR primers still will not be best available with slow extruded powders. 4350 and faster powders are better suited for sr primers

 

[tydaws]

Again Hodgdon 100V is a poor choice of powders. Why put a .260 Remington powder charge (?54 grains?) in a 6.5-280 Ackley? Magnum primers will never promote accuracy. That is why Lapua brought out small primer pocket cases for the 6.5 Creedmore. Here is what Quickload shows for 130gr (I have a 9 twist barrel) Berger VLDs that actually use the case volume.
Alliant Reloder-26 63.70gr 94 %fill 3,251fps 62,000psi
Norma MRP 62.34 95 3,229 61,185
Vihtavuori N560 61.04 95 3,174 57,559
Accurate MAGPRO 63.51 95 3,153 56,800
Ramshot Magnum 65.06 95 3,113 56,430
Accurate 3100 59.74 95 3,034 56,585
Norma MRP 2 59.74 95 2,918 43,867
Hodgdon H1000 59.09 95 2,850 42,128
Hodgdon Retumbo 60.06 95 2,806 37,744

Great info! Just out of curiosity, what is QL showing for IMR 7977?

 

[JDD]

I have only gotten to play with it just a little. using nosler 280 brass necked down shot ok but had bullet runout in excess of .005. 57 grs of rl 26 produced with 147 elds produced I load one round at 60 hrs and blew a primmer3025 , 58 gr 3075.
second batch I turned case necks with a 7mm km set up with internal reamer. dropped in 13 grs of 2400 and cream of wheat to fire form . cases came out 95% need a little more powder. Seated bullets had less than 3 thou run out with most about 1.5.loaded 58.5 and 59. od rl26 the loads were a little hoter chron was left at home on the sofa so I have no data . groups were sub moa but not great, last visit to range was in the 70's this trip 45 degrees and windy as hell groups hit a inch or so lower. they were zipping along! I loaded one round with 60 grs of rl 26 and blew a primmer! I will do so more test at 59 give or take . range is closed till the 18 so i will get on with case prep

 

[RockyMtnMT]

I have only gotten to play with it just a little. using nosler 280 brass necked down shot ok but had bullet runout in excess of .005. 57 grs of rl 26 produced with 147 elds produced I load one round at 60 hrs and blew a primmer3025 , 58 gr 3075.
second batch I turned case necks with a 7mm km set up with internal reamer. dropped in 13 grs of 2400 and cream of wheat to fire form . cases came out 95% need a little more powder. Seated bullets had less than 3 thou run out with most about 1.5.loaded 58.5 and 59. od rl26 the loads were a little hoter chron was left at home on the sofa so I have no data . groups were sub moa but not great, last visit to range was in the 70's this trip 45 degrees and windy as hell groups hit a inch or so lower. they were zipping along! I loaded one round with 60 grs of rl 26 and blew a primmer! I will do so more test at 59 give or take . range is closed till the 18 so i will get on with case prep

This is something we have seen with the Nosler cartridge too. No pressure signs right up until it is way over pressure. Be careful and watch your vel too. Good news is you know where pressure is. I would back off 2 grains and tune your load.

Steve

 

[JDD]

Any body shooting a 30" barrel

 

[Wachsmann]

On the 6.5-280 AI is anyone having to neck turn the brass after necking down or is it just a simple necking down of the brass with whatever bushing die you choose with the preferred neck tension. I also think the 6.5 expander is needed.

 

[comen]

My reamer should arrive soon, any body shooting one?

I have one Built on an Interarms Mk 10.
I am using Both RP and Horn. brass. I am keeping pressures reasonable so the Horn. primer pockets don't expand. Load 58.5 gr RL 26. This gives me 2960 with the 140 NBT. (25" Montana barrel works 9 twist) I've put 3 shots inside a 3" targdot at 600 yards. Farthest game kill 455yds on a small 'lope buck

 

[Wachsmann]

I was running the 6.5x284 for a few years but the barrel has finally burned out. I'm some where north of about 4000 rounds on it. It's a stock savage rifle and was easy to shoot. It used to make some good groups. It sported a 24 inch barrel and velocity was only hitting around 2880fps for best accuracy. I tried shooting up to the 2950 mark with retumbo but never got the accuracy I was looking for. About the last 1000 rounds I was chasing that ordeal and then one time out shooting it just started opening up in the groups. Looking at some easy options out they and this seem like an easy way to go with getting above 3000 or so with the 140 bergers and probably still have plenty more gass to burn if wanting to go faster. I also even just considered the standard 280AI for simplicity but also wanted the wife to shoot it. Will most likely have a 26 inch barrel when I get it change over. Heck I even thought about the 280AI just by itself with the 168 berger. Also the other purpose for this is to be able to find cases easier/cheaper. ...........................................

What are some of the powders that are getting used for the 6.5x280AI? Seem H4831 is the most common powder I can find everywhere around where I live.

 

[JDD]

rl 26 at 57 grs will be around 3000 fps

 

[AggieHunter]

I use RL 26 and getting 3063 fps with a 140 grain bullet

 

[CAMO OUT]

Tag

 

[mwar77]

Sounds like a awesome round!

 

[JDD]

I use RL 26 and getting 3063 fps with a 140 grain bullet

58.6 was popping premiers at almost 3200