Thread: Velocity/Powder question

Originally Posted by chainsaw

I would recommend slower powders and heavier pills to get the best from your 280ai.
I found VHT N560 gave best results with 162 AMAX at 2980 fps from 24in bbl 1:8.7 twist. ADI 2217 is worth trying and so is RL26 - LOL, if you could get it. Was originally running AMAXs with RL22, very accurate but about 100fps slower than N560. RL23 is also worth a look. For 150gn Scirrocco pills I’m running 2213SC powder, very accurate load but haven’t chronied this load as I use it for bush load out to 200-250 yards. It will be somewhere around 2900fps which is plenty.
I’d be wary of pushing the 139SSts too fast, they are very frangible & have been known to grenade up close even in the humble 7-08. At 280ai speeds I’d personally not use these on big reds or anything up close where you are shoulder shooting.

Cheers - Im happy with the grouping with this load seems to work well for me - as it happened I had the bits and pieces to make this recipe work (powder etc). Yeah I also use the 139sst in my 7-08 and have done for years - has been my go to with all NZ game, does the job well. I think with this speed in the 280ai should be ok.