Hunting bullet recommendations for .280 AI

[35WhelenAI]

Barnes TTSX/LRX are very reliable, consistent and deadly performers. In all chamberings and calibers from my experience. Lighter weight gets the same job done as heavier traditional weights, flattens trajectory and takes care of business on the receiving end.

 

[Jim1187]

7mm 154 Hornady interlocks as well as 160 and 175 grain Speer offerings while lacking polymer tips and high BC's have done well for myself and friends from 7mm cartridges from the 08 and x57 to the STW killing deer, black bears and moose.
I would be very content to load either version of the .280 with a 154 interlock and hunt any deer, elk or moose wandering NA. It is also usually available. Really any heavier cup and core or tougher that shot well and was consistently available would be my current goal.

 

[Darryle]

You could grab a box of the 140gr AccuBond factory Nosler ammo and possibly be surprised, I know I was. I have only had one deer go more than 30yds(my fault for screwing up the dope, he was 306yds and I read my card wrong), the rest were DRT.

 

[6.5Express]

Ive been loading H4831 and 145 lrx in nosler headstamped brass for 5 years in mine. Coyotes, Pronghorn, whitetail, mule deer, bull elk, and a mt goat have all considered it plenty.

 

[Bughole]

I have a 280AI Custom.

VLD's don't come into their own until 600+ yards.

If you are like the rest of us mere mortals and shoot at more reasonable ranges, a 160 AB in a 280AI is like peanut butter and jelly for a one load, do everything, gun.

BTW, factory specs on that rifle say 9" twist, so it may shoot 160 and 168's very well.

 

[Seth1913]

Bumping this thread up as I am building up components for my 280 ai as well. Has anyone tried the 160 shock hammers or heavier hammer offerings? Thinking of a 5-600 and in elk bullet.

 

[christian1]

Exit from a 143 HH loaded with RL16 out of my buddy's 280 AI this year...

Didn't go 20. Everything was jello inside, only the core exited. Talk to Steve at Hammer, he'll put you on the right track

View attachment 381051

This way boyz! Check out those loins.

 

[handwerk]

Another fan of the 145 LRX in my 280 AI

 

[River_Hunter]

I'm brand new to reloading but should receive my Wilson dies tomorrow! Reloading for a brand new Weatherby Mark V .280 AI and looking for bullet recommendations for antelope, mule deer and elk. I have a .280 Rem and have a case of Norma Oryx ammo and have been saving the brass, which has now been cleaned and deprimed. I have a pound of IMR 4350, a few hundred Federal 210 primers and 50 Nosler 120gr ballistic tips. My plan is to reload the .280 Rem brass with the 120gr Noslers and fireform some .280 ai brass, then work up some hunting loads with different bullet sample packs. So far I have a 12 pack of Hornady 150 gr ELD-X and a 12 pack of Barnes 145gr LRX. Any other bullet recommendations for me to try? I'm snatching bullet sample packs up as they come back into stock.

I've had great experience with accubonds, they are my go to for big game.

 

[sneaky]

Ive been loading H4831 and 145 lrx in nosler headstamped brass for 5 years in mine. Coyotes, Pronghorn, whitetail, mule deer, bull elk, and a mt goat have all considered it plenty.

4451 also works really well with those 145LRX, at least it does out of mine lol. Most of my other loads are worked up with IMR4831.

 

[sneaky]

Bumping this thread up as I am building up components for my 280 ai as well. Has anyone tried the 160 shock hammers or heavier hammer offerings? Thinking of a 5-600 and in elk bullet.

Depends on what twist rate you have. Those heavy monos need a fast twist to stabilize

 

[Seth1913]

It’ll be a 1-8 twist.

Depends on what twist rate you have. Those heavy monos need a fast twist to stabilize

 

[Patterbuilt]

Mine accidentally LOVES 195 Bergers @ 2760fps. 11 (I think) kills with that combo. Didn’t mean to shoot ‘em cause they are “to heavy” lol. 1-8 twist

 

[Patterbuilt]

Coincidentally, I had a 26” Proof carbon fiber installed on my newest Ackley. (First rifle is a stainless Bartelin 25”) It shoots the same exact load just as well. Same builder if that matters. Prolly used the same rig to cut the chamber…

 

[EdP]

finner said:
Exit from a 143 HH loaded with RL16 out of my buddy's 280 AI this year...

Didn't go 20. Everything was jello inside, only the core exited. Talk to Steve at Hammer, he'll put you on the right track

I don't get the "only the core exited" statement being applicable to a mono bullet. Does this mean the petals were shed in the body and the bullet base exited? I think that's what they are intended to do.

 

[Fire_9]

I don't get the "only the core exited" statement being applicable to a mono bullet. Does this mean the petals were shed in the body and the bullet base exited? I think that's what they are intended to do.

Its exactly what they are intended to do

 

[Poor Knight]

I got out to the deer lease over the weekend, went thru the barrel break-in and then tested out 150gr Hornady ELDX, Barnes 145gr LRX and 143gr Hammer Hunters. These were the sample packs I could find - I couldn't find any Nosler bullets. Used IMR 4350 and Fed 210 primers in new Nosler brass. I had 10 rds each load. All loads shot under 1.5 MOA, but the Hammer Hunters shot 1 inch at 200 yards, so that's the bullet I'm using. Ordered 50 of them and will set up a ladder to see which is most consistently accurate, then stick with that!

 

[wyosam]

Bumping this thread up as I am building up components for my 280 ai as well. Has anyone tried the 160 shock hammers or heavier hammer offerings? Thinking of a 5-600 and in elk bullet.

If you want to get 5-600 the hammer hunter/absolute hammer are what you’re looking for. I like the 155AH, lots of people having great luck with the 143HH/140AH as well. The shock hammer would be great if you said 400 and in, but to stretch it out go 155 for the better BC


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[ZWA]

Big fan of the 140 Absolute Hammer here. Cannot go wrong with a 280AI.

 

[WestMOhunter]

If you want to get 5-600 the hammer hunter/absolute hammer are what you’re looking for. I like the 155AH, lots of people having great luck with the 143HH/140AH as well. The shock hammer would be great if you said 400 and in, but to stretch it out go 155 for the better BC


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Curious what powder you’re using and what velocities you’re getting with your 155 AH loads? I’m planning to develop a load with that bullet starting with H4350 in my 23” Criterion, since it’s faster than the typical .280 AI powders like R23, R26, H4831. Thanks.