I got to hunt with my new .280AI this past weekend, and I'm a believer!

dropped a doe, hoss of a mature buck (210lb 8.5yr old), and javelin in their tracks! Yes yes, I know, shot placement not bullet.....but I was shooting a 140gr Accubond bullet hit HARD, you can hear the thud as it smacks the animal and they drop!

Can multiple other rounds do this, of course, but that little .280AI is a dream to shoot, deadly accurate, great ballistics, and hits like a tank.

How fast is that 280 pushing the 140?

I love my 280, someday it will be an AI. I'm pushing the same bullet around 3150. It has made lots of one shot drops since 07 when I got it. Come to think of it all have been one shot drops

yes, it is a hammer..
the factory load from Nosler pushes the 140 AB at 3150
My load is 59.5g of IMR4831 at 3060. I know I could go faster but it it such a great shooting load I haven't wanted to push it harders.
Yes, mine has never had anything take a single step.

What are you running to get 3150 out of the 280?

the Nosler Custom ammo states 3150 on the box....but I don't have a chrono so i don't know if I am getting that or not.

it is..

Congrats!

Maybe the baddest cartridge in the 30-06 action?

Haven't turned either of my .280's into an Ackley yet, but the 160 Accubonds I use in my standard .280 sure make a whack when you hit something. There was no doubt that I had hit the bull I was shooting at.

Hmmm making me think about that cartridge. I've been researching it for a while but decided I was gonna have another 6.5creed instead. Now I might change my mind back to the .280ai!

It has my vote. I would rather have it than my 7Mag, it seems like it comes so close with less powder and recoil.

Yes sir, my 280 shooting 140 accubonds hits them like Thors Hammer. I've never had a critter take a step after being hit by one but the largest thing I've shot with it was a Mule deer buck that weighed over 300 pounds live weight.
Last hog that I shot in the head with it sounded like slapping a 1X6 on a flat concrete floor.

Since I'm almost out of reloads for it I'm going to have it punched to AI before next season and work up loads for it.

One of the best things for a reloader with AI cartridges is case life. The less tapered case with a sharp shoulder angle does not stretch as much so less trimming is required. Plus with an AI chamber you can use the standard cartridge in a pinch, velocity will be reduced some but good accuracy is still there a lot of the time.

Caution should be used in reloading the AIs though as the nearly straight walled cases do not provide as much back thrust on the bolt so some pressure signs we normally look for do not show up until higher pressures are reached. Follow loading data and approach max loads with caution and with that in mind.

56gr 4350

Maybe the baddest cartridge in the 30-06 action? [/quote]

It has my vote. I would rather have it than my 7Mag, it seems like it comes so close with less powder and recoil.[/quote]


^^^^^^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I have been shooting a 280 since I began serious pursuit of meat back in 1998. I still have my original pair of TC Encore 280's, one blued & one stainless. I also have a Ruger All Weather MK II & Weatherby Mk V UltraLight in 280. I just took delivery on a Borden custom in 280 AI. I am starting load work up for it next week.

The Wby UL is extremely accurate with 55 gr H4831SC & 140 Accubond's.

I began a Harvest Log in 2003. Since then I have 50 witnessed one shot kills out of 52 rounds fired. The two extra were my fault. Most all of those kills were with 150 CoreLokt's. Some were 140 Accubond's.

What is it that makes us gravitate toward non-traditional cartridges?

The 280 Remington will put as much meat on the table as the 280 AI. I have both. I hunt both. I do prefer the 280 AI simply because I like the 40° shoulder. That is why my other favorites are the 7 Wby & 300 WSM.

I have been considering the idea of having the Wby UL in 280 Remington rechambered to 280 AI.

What's your opinion?

You said it, 40 degree shoulder...

I agree... what is it?

For me, it is the desire to hunt with cartridges I like because it's what I chose and not the mainstream popular choice. If the cartridge is a popular choice, like the 300 WSM, then I choose it because it fits the performance parameters I am seeking. And, I much prefer short actions than long.

The 300 WSM is what I was looking for when I bought my first 308 in 1977. The 308 has put plenty of meat on my table. However, of all the viable cartridges that I have, the 280 is my go-to choice 95% of the time. I whacked my Red Stag with it but would not have felt lacking with my 280.