Where to start with 280 AI

[skip189]

Started out with my 280AI with 160 CX and Staball 6.5 load. Killed a cow elk, nice whitey, and antelope doe between 350-650 yards and performed great. Decided wanted to try other bullets and built a 162ELDX load with H1000 for my brothers Tikka 280AI and it is super accurate. I was trying to use Hammer 145 HHT this year but load fell apart before an elk hunt. Shot the H1000 load for my brothers Tikka and it was just as accurate in my rifle. Ended up filling both our tags on cows in a matter of an hour. Next load build I think will be 160 AB and probably N560. Killed alot of animals with the 180 AB in my 300 WSM and seem to be easy to tune

 

[kjw]

I’ll second the barrel cooler. I use mine all the time in warmer months even as I shoot other guns.
My brother in law in Alaska gets crazy accuracy from staball 6.5 and if I remember the 168 Barnes. It acts like it was built to kill mtn goats.
I’m picking up my 280 AI on Wednesday. Had my friend/gun plumber spin up a 23” barrel with an 8 twist and put it on a 700 action that needed new life. Can’t wait. Going to try 162 HHT hammers first.

 

[Whisper Pickle]

I have had really good luck with the Hammer HHT 145 grain and RL17.
The powder is hard to come by and if anyone has any suggestions on how to find more, please advise, but I plan on using the HHT or a Nosler variant I've been testing in my 280 AI based on the accuracy and deviation on my initial hand loads.

 

[Weldor]

I have had good luck with Magpro. this is a group of 150 Core lokt (old Style) Average 2980 fps