Thread: 280ai powder choices

Hey all, going down the 280ai road with a new 20" trueflite barrel, what powders do you recommend for good velocities with the 162's? Have plenty of 2225 but figure that might be too slow burning. Prefer powders that are temp stable and actually available?

I’ve just finished a bit of testing with retumbo (2225) and ended up at about 2900fps with the 166 atip from a 24 inch barrel. Was using a long drop tube and long coal though.

Contact Kiwi Greig he did my load with the 166 A tips ,i have a 20 inch barrel as well and they are doing 2820 fpt per sec . Was not chasing the fastest load more intrested in accuracy and long cartridge life and one that uses a readly available powder .

Try plain old 2209 and see what you get.
Mine is doing 3130 with 150 LRABs.

I found that 2217 pretty good, but I now run N560 for 2980fps with 162 AMAX from 24in bbl. N560 gives me an extra 80fps or there abouts. Also tried RL22 = very accurate, but speed down around 2850fps with AMAX

Originally Posted by Benj

I’ve just finished a bit of testing with retumbo (2225) and ended up at about 2900fps with the 166 atip from a 24 inch barrel. Was using a long drop tube and long coal though.

what was the powder weight there?

Hi, I've been working with 165gr Norma Bondstrike and RL23, 59.0gr avg 2985fps to 59.5gr avg 3045fps out of a 25" barrel. 59.5gr is my max, above that I started to get slightly heavy bolt lift. Yet to fine tune my final load. All the research I did suggested the 280ai required a 24-26" barrel to get a full powder burn and it works best at maximum pressure and barrel length below 24" negates and advantages of the Ackley improved case. With a 20" barrel you mat require a faster burn rate powder to achieve a full powder burn, 2209, RL19 or maybe 2213SC. As previously stated Kiwi Greg would be worth contacting.

Originally Posted by Bert 71

Hi, I've been working with 165gr Norma Bondstrike and RL23, 59.0gr avg 2985fps to 59.5gr avg 3045fps out of a 25" barrel. 59.5gr is my max, above that I started to get slightly heavy bolt lift. Yet to fine tune my final load. All the research I did suggested the 280ai required a 24-26" barrel to get a full powder burn and it works best at maximum pressure and barrel length below 24" negates and advantages of the Ackley improved case. With a 20" barrel you mat require a faster burn rate powder to achieve a full powder burn, 2209, RL19 or maybe 2213SC. As previously stated Kiwi Greg would be worth contacting.

Slightly off topic but where you getting your Norma bondstrike ?

If said 20” .280 ai hasn’t been built, would a .284 win be a better cartridge in a 20” tube.


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More brass choices with 280AI

Originally Posted by chainsaw

I found that 2217 pretty good, but I now run N560 for 2980fps with 162 AMAX from 24in bbl. N560 gives me an extra 80fps or there abouts. Also tried RL22 = very accurate, but speed down around 2850fps with AMAX

Yep N560 goes very well

Originally Posted by Dicko

If said 20” .280 ai hasn’t been built, would a .284 win be a better cartridge in a 20” tube. Tapatalk

Yes, 284 would be better in shorter bbl. This is based on my own experience with 284 & 280ai. I can get same or better performance from 22in bbl 284 as I get with 24in bbl 280ai. Also run a 20in bbl 284 which is nearing end of bbl life and replacement will be 18in.

Originally Posted by dannyb

Slightly off topic but where you getting your Norma bondstrike ?

Hi dannyb, Greg at Custom Guns in Invercargill had some about a year ago, haven't seen anymore advertised anywhere for ages.

Originally Posted by Bert 71

Hi dannyb, Greg at Custom Guns in Invercargill had some about a year ago, haven't seen anymore advertised anywhere for ages.

Yeah, would've liked to try them, guess I'll wait see if anymore make it to NZ

Started at book max and went up to 64.5grains of retumbo