I don’t know if I’m doing this correctly but I am building a .280 AI for FClass 8.5 twist ,31” barrel length. I have 180 Berger’s hybrid. 184 Berger’s, 180 ELDM and SMK . Barrel should be here in a week. Then I will start load development. Not sure if there’s any magic place to start . In my hunting rifle 24” barrel, N-165 and N560 have been ok . Any advice for loading this longer barrel would maybe save me some time as I’m late for the season already. Thanks
A 280 AI is an interesting choice for a F-CLASS rifle. I assume you have your build well along or completed. Your choice in 7mm cartridges is not very common, but should provide you with ample velocity to get to1’000 yards with more than Mach 1.2 velocity remaining. I would start with the Berger 180 Hybrid and / or Sierra Mk’s. I never recommend any Honady bullets for F-Class. H4891 is also a good pouder to try. You will be giving up some velocity to the 7SAUM and the Win. 284 and it’s derivatives. I don’t know what brass is available but if Lapua, Alpha, or Peterson is available they all have good reputations. Good luck.
Consider 168’s as well. I picked up a 280AI used barrel from a guy that did very well in 1000 BR with them and H4350. I have only lightly played with it but was impressed with the numbers so I bought 1000 Berger of the 168’s. I do really like N165 in my 284 with 180’s as well….
Hi, I ran a 280AI in F-Class a few years ago. Quite easy to get going, you can run it at 284 speeds and it will agg very well, barrel life was also decent. I ran a Barnard action (at the time) and had an 8.5 twist Bartlein, and then a Brux barrel. I previously ran Norma brass who actually did make 280AI brass - it worked well and brass life was also good, with 15 firings easily attainable. If I ever opted to run it again, I’d go straight to Peterson brass which I currently use in a 284 Shehane.
Powder choices…RL23 was magic in the 280AI, but is no longer available. I had a good load of ADI2209 (H4350) - About 52gr ran around 2810fps with Berger 184gr hybrids, jumped about 30 thou. H4831sc would be worth trying as you can get more velocity…You should be able to get the 180s up to 2880fps without hurting the brass. N555 would certainly work but that stuff isn’t available in Australia - I do know the burn rate is slightly faster than H4831sc though, so I’d probably look to start around 55gr and test for the usual pressure signs. Primers of choice were S&B but I understand you may not have them available in the US. Fed210M would probably be a decent option and CCI BR2s.
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