280 Ai loads

[plumbs7]

Hi All , my 280 Ai barrel is getting closer to fruition. 30" Lilja 3 grove 9 twist . Panda action.

I just need help with loads , both fire forming and full loads , cases etc . Will be using Berger 180 hybrids?

Kind regards Graham.

[willow]

Haven't shot mine for a few months now since moving to Perth but I'm back in Sydney next week and will reacquaint myself with it thankfully. I use Norma 280AI brass, just ran it through a FL sizer before I originally fired it and that was that. I'm using 180gr VLDs, jammed 10 thou. Haven't tried jumping them as it shot well straight away. I have used both 2213SC and 2217. I plan to stick with 2217 as I believe it produces smaller groups. 2213SC gave great velocity, 59.5gr averaged 2970fps out of a 32" Bartlein but I'm not quite sold on that powder as I could not get the SD into single digits. 59.5gr of 2217 produced tighter groups and originally ran around 2780fps, but that was before the barrel started to speed up. I suspect it will cruise around 2830-2850 running that same load now with single digit SD. I have taken it up to 61gr with 2217 but ran out of case room and it didn't group as well and the SD opened up. Haven't tried 2209 in it.

PhilD on here shoots the 280AI better than I do, I think he's running 2213SC. He may have some more tips for you...

I reckon it's an easy enough cartridge to tune though.

[Tim N]

Hi Grahame,
My first 280AI uses 53.0gns of 2209 behind a 180VLD (jamb or jump)which gave high 2800s
From memory Es was around 15f/s but for whatever reason it shoots great at the longs.
Naturally check the velocity in your barrel.

[plumbs7]

Hi Grahame,
My first 280AI uses 53.0gns of 2209 behind a 180VLD (jamb or jump)which gave high 2800s
From memory Es was around 15f/s but for whatever reason it shoots great at the longs.
Naturally check the velocity in your barrel.

Hey Tim , thanks ! Also thanks Willow.