What to use?

[Slopeshunter]

Hello everyone,

I just recently acquired a 280AI (24" bbl, 1:9 twist). Starting to research what I should think about reloading for hunting.

This fall I'll primarily be hunting deer and elk with this gun.

The bullets I'm looking at are:
- Nosler ballistic tip
- Nosler accubond
- Barnes TSX

I've heard great things of the Barnes TSX, but they are the most expensive of the 3 listed.

Anybody have any experience with this caliber? What do you like to use? Should I look at doing one load for deer and one for elk? Or just one load that will work for all?

Looking for some opinions. Thanks in advance!

 

[James Jones]

I would say use the 160gr Accu-Bond for both , they expand well yet still penitrate well also (for the elk)
The 140gr Accu-Bond may very well pass through an elk but I don't think I'd risk it if the 160s shoot well.

I had great luck with R-22 in a buddies 280Ai but changed to VV-165 because it was a little more accurate and a good bit cleaner. I believe our finished loads were in the 3000fps range out of a 25" barrel with 160gr partitions.

 

[bailey1474]

[ QUOTE ]
I would say use the 160gr Accu-Bond for both , they expand well yet still penitrate well also (for the elk)
The 140gr Accu-Bond may very well pass through an elk but I don't think I'd risk it if the 160s shoot well.


[/ QUOTE ]

+1

If you were just hunting deer I'd say the 162 gr Amax. I wouldn't dare use one on an elk though.

 

[screech]

I would go with the 160gr. accubond for elk and the 160accubond, the 162gr. amax, and the berger for deer. get the accubond shooting good and you'r set.

 

[Slopeshunter]

Thanks guys. Sounds like I'll pick up some 160 accubonds and see how they do.