[deehugo]

Looking for loads for a 280 Remington. Seems to me like I should be able to load it with as much Hodgdon H-380 as my 30-06 with a 150 Sierra BTSP. However the data from Hodgdon shows 59 grains of H-380 for a muzzle velocity of 3005 FPS for the 30-06. It has no data for the 280 Rem. in the 150 gr bullet. My Sierra manual shows 51.8 Gr of H-380 to be the max with a 150 gr bullet and my old Lyman manual shows it to be 52 grains. I'd like to squeeze as much velocity as possible out of it because I hunt the wide open plains of Oklahoma for whitetail and long shots are common. Some day I might re-chamber it for the 280 AI but for now I'll work with what I have (or will soon have...) I know there's lots of other powders to choose from but the H-380 shoots great in my 22-250, 7mm-08, & 30-06 and I have a lot of it already. Thanks!!

[MOshooter]

280 Rem is a fine cartridge my father has one in a Remington 721 it's a "Deer Slayer"...I have worked up several loads for this caliber using Noslers and it's a tack driver!
My best advice would be in reloading for this round and any other start below max charges and work your way up.Also if you want to really "dial it in" find your true rifle cartridge length and experiment with different seating depths from the rifling's of the rifle...I have had some very accurate loads using imr 4831 and 4350

Good Luck

[deehugo]

Thanks Mo shooter. I have several loads worked up and I am anxious to try them out. I'll try the powders you mention and see what happens.

[lonyaeger]

These books will give you many options in just about any caliber
(.280 included) for bullets and powders. I doubt anyone here is going to want to help you work up a hot load. Either use one of these manuals or a manufacturer-specific manual. Good luck.

Loadbooks Bullet Reloading Manuals, Bullets, Reloading, Guns

[deehugo]

I'm not looking to exceed recommended max loads. It just seems like since the 280 is in between the 270 and '06 and both of those have loads that are 3k FPS or better the 280 should have the same performance. I've heard the loading data for the 280 is conservative because when it was first developed it was in a semi automatic. The bolt guns are supposed to handle the pressure better. Don't know if that's accurate or not but thought it was interesting. Thanks for the suggestion on the book. I ordered one.

[lonyaeger]

Originally Posted by deehugo

Thanks for the suggestion on the book. I ordered one.

I think that will work for you. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[JTJ]

My book shows H380 only being used up to 130 gr bullets in the 280R. It looks like the 130gr 284 is the bore size equivalent of the 150gr 308 and the powder is not good for the heavier bullets.

[deehugo]

I think I'm going to have to experiment. My Sierra manual has loads for the 150 bullet using the H-380 with 2800 FPS. I'm hoping the weather allows me to get to the range and chrono some loads and see what kind of groups it'll shoot.

[deehugo]

Finally made it out to the range. Got some really good groups. I'll narrow it down and get out the chronograph to see what I'm getting.

[deehugo]

I intended to attach these with the last post. All at 100 yds.