280AI Reloaders

[bboswell]

I have enough brass that it is time to start my own loads and I'm looking for bullet recommendations.

I have been impressed with the results of the 140 Accubond on the 4 deer we have killed with it so it is a front runner.

I know Mike speaks very highly of the 120 TTSX, he has likely taken more game with the 280AI than anyone I know so these are for sure on the list for deer.

This rifle will also be my back up on an elk hunt so think I need to develop something heavier for longer range elk and big hogs. 168 Berger and NosPar in 140 & 160, come to mind here.

Which do you favor and what else should be added to my list?

[db@100]

My .280 isn't the AI but I've taken several elk with Nosler 140gr.

[hardtner]

I shoot the 140 AB so I'm no help

[bboswell]

My .280 isn't the AI but I've taken several elk with Nosler 140gr.

Which one?

[HOYTPRO2001]

What's wrong with a 168 Berger? I wouldn't take for them now.

[bboswell]

What's wrong with a 168 Berger? I wouldn't take for them now.

They have a solid reputation and will likely do best at long range but I wasn't terribly impressed with them on close range deer with my 7 mag.

[Artos]

The 120 barnes & n165...

[scott.str]

Wouldn't recommend a beger ever. They blow up to fast and don't cause the damage needed. Always had good luck with Barnes. May not be the most accurate but it puts a good hole and holds its weight. Even 120 should be OK on elk. Considering a 140 gr lead core will lose some weight on impact and the Barnes wont

[Mike D]

I've shot deer from 30 yards to 400 yards with my 257 Weatherby and 115 Bergers. Blow up have never been a problem.

3/8" AR500 Steel plates don't fare to well at 200 with that combination either.

[IMG]http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/03/cd07afcbdfb065e6a22fde23**d387ef.jpg[/IMG]

[bboswell]

280AI Reloaders

The 120 barnes & n165...

My remberer isn't what it used to be but your the one I referring to on the 120 TTSX's

They are poison out of our 7-08's so a few more fps should make them great on deer.

[Artos]

My remberer isn't what it used to be but your the one I referring to on the 120 TTSX's

They are poison out of our 7-08's so a few more fps should make them great on deer.

Been shooting it for 20 years amigo...mine shoots the 120's & 140's the same, but the 120's are lightening & give much better blood trails on whitetails with almost no recoil. Never shot anything heavier but don't think you need to with the construction of those barnes for anything in TX.

I wouldn't be worried shooting a bull nilgai with the 140's...

Keep us posted.

Paul

[softpoint]

I have a .280 AI. I use 150 Nosler Ballistic tips and I've never lost a hog or deer with it, but haven't had the opportunity to shoot an elk.

[LWD]

Stick with the 140 Accubond or the 120 TTSX. I've gotten 3 feet of penetration with triple shocks.

[Lawhorn]

My 280AI loves 120 grain Nosler partitions that being said I wasn't getting any pass throughs. I shot 3 bucks with them this year and didn't get a single pass through blood trails weren't an issue as all of them dropped in their tracks!! That being said I just bought a box of 120 gn TSXs and will load them this weekend and hopefully shoot a few more culls. I will post pictures and results when and if I do.

[Artos]

My 280AI loves 120 grain Nosler partitions that being said I wasn't getting any pass throughs. I shot 3 bucks with them this year and didn't get a single pass through blood trails weren't an issue as all of them dropped in their tracks!! That being said I just bought a box of 120 gn TSXs and will load them this weekend and hopefully shoot a few more culls. I will post pictures and results when and if I do.

The new tipped bullets are performing way better than the original...I cannot tell you how many deer I've taken over the past two decades, but the great vast never went more than 20-30 yards. All my blow ups were with the ballistic tips & this gun never did like the partitions or ANY of the bonded bullets on paper, so never saw hair.

Having said that, when I tried the original x x x bullet there was a mix of drt's, runs with very minimal blood (all left in the deer) & the rest Ray Charles could follow...I started trying different angles & found that if I hit a front shoulder on a quartering shot with a heart / lung hit and getting an exit just behind the opposite shoulder, the results improved dramatically. Going to the tipped 140's helped & finally a good friend said to shoot the barnes in the lightest tipped bullet available & push it as fast as it will go & the switch to 120's around a couple years has finalized the issue so far.

Good luck & looking forward to seeing your results...I bet they group better than your partitions too.