The .280 Ackley Improved offers a modest ballistic improvement over the .280 Remington in terms of trajectory, wind resistance, and retained energy. This was not the way it was supposed to happen. For whatever reason, the Ackley landed in a sweet spot for me. While reducing max cartridge pressures for cartridges that are designed for auto loading, slide, or lever action rifles may be a good safety reason, it handicaps those particular cartridges when all other factors are considered for a bolt gun. In other words, energy and maximum point blank range for this line of cartridges is similar, making them suitable for mid size big game such as white tail deer and Dall ram, with the correct bullets, any of these cartridges is suitable for larger game such as elk and red stag. Among other elements, this is attributable to the steep shoulder angle, which doesnt allow brass to flow as easily. Joseph Von Benedikt visits with Aaron Oelger from Hodgdon about the unprecedented demand on the shooting supply industry. Even so, no animal will never know the difference if your shot is placed in the right spot. 280 Ackley Improved Modified Case. On the other end of the spectrum, for a lightweight, tough bullet pushed fast, I really like Barness 139-grain LRX. The .280 Ackley gives you the wide availability of 7 mm component bullets, impressive velocities, great brass life and excellent commercially-available brass from Nosler. Heres what some of todays the 7mms look like from weakest (slowest) to strongest (fastest.) Mag. Nyati was supposed to go down. Fortunately, there are plenty of options. Any modern, strong bolt-action that can handle a 30-06, 270 Win., 25-06 Rem. Choose Your .284/7mm Projectile Nosler used a 24 barrel for the .270 Winchester and 7mm Remington Magnum, but a 26 barrel for the .280 Remington and .280 Ackley Improved in their published reloading data I used above. Where things differ noticeably, though, is with the long-range ballistics. Up close, it wallops just like the .30-06, having similar bullet weight at similar velocities. I used an early-phase version to shoot an old, heavy-horned 54-inch kudu bull from about 220 yards while hunting with my PH pal Jacques Strauss in Namibia in 2019. This was an incredibly high velocity for the 1920s and was a tremendous speed improvement over the .30-06 Springfield, which was itself considered a very high velocity cartridge for the day. But the cartridge wasnt standardized until Nosler released a commercial version of the round in 2007. There may be others. The barrel band swivel was intended to give it a European "safari-style" flair. Mag., it was based on a shortened 300 H&H case. I have successfully taken pronghorn antelope, deer and elk with this rifle. For this reason, the .280 AI is best suited for handloading. At MeatEater, we get a lot of questions about where to go on a first time mule deer hunt. The 7mm Rem Mag load above still has about3% more free recoil energy than the faster .280 AI load. When he was tinkering with the .280 Remington, Ackley added a bit of his personal trademark: he drastically increased the shoulder angle and straightened out the taper of the body case. Its a tremendous bullet. Thats absolutely true. Energy up front was over 3,100 ft-lbs. However, that comes at the expense of more recoil and the larger diameter case of the cartridge results in a reduced magazine capacity in most rifles. I used Noslers own reloading data published online (available here, here, here, and here). speeds with the same bullet. Learn the difference between revolvers and semi-auto pistols and what makes them different. Just why did the .280 Ackley Improved stick? If you have the time, it is always best to let the animal turn and offer a broadside shot. Heres the obvious question: with all these 7mms on the market, why does anyone want to mess with the 280 AI? Head to Head: .280 Remington vs. .280 Ackley Improved, NRA Gun of the Week: Browning X-Bolt Pro McMillan Long Range | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Behind the Bullet: .280 Ackley Improved | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Handloading How-To: A Safe, Proven Method | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Range Review: Arsenal SAM7SFK-80R | An Official Journal Of The NRA, New for 2023: Savage Arms Impulse Driven Hunter, First Look: ZeroTech Thrive HD Binoculars | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Launching 2023: KelTec R50 Rifle | NRA Family, New For 2023: Glock 47 MOS | An Official Journal Of The NRA, 11 New Ammo Options For 2023 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, #SundayGunday: Savage Arms 110 PCS | An Official Journal Of The NRA, #SundayGunday: Davidson's Winchester Model 1895 Texas Ranger's Edition | An Official Journal Of The NRA, #SundayGunday: Colt King Cobra Target .22 LR | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Fiocchi USA Appoints David Blenker As New CEO After Anthony Acitellis Retirement | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Coyote Hunting Basics | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Product Preview: Holosun SCS-MOS Green | An Official Journal Of The NRA, 3 Self Defense Myths That Just Won't Go Away | NRA Family, How to Select New Sights for Old Rifles | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Shotgunning 101: The Perfect Gun Mount | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Glass Bedding A Rifle Stock | An Official Journal Of The NRA, New 4473 Released By BATFE | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Member's Hunt: Road Trip | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Springfield Launches New Online Shopping Experience | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Preview: Sarco, Inc. 2nd Amendment Pint Glass | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Behind the Bullet: .17 HMR | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Product Preview: 7th Edition Ammo Encyclopedia | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Fiocchi: Ammunition With Italian Flair | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Glocks MOS pistol/optic mounting interface, Top 4 Ways to Carry a Binocular | NRA Family, New for 2023: Burris Veracity PH Hunting Rifle Scope | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Preview: Mission First Tactical 24-oz. Currently, I cant find the ammunition anywhere online. So, does that mean the claim that the .280 Ackley Improved can do everything the 7mm Remington Magnum can do, but with less recoil is true? Maximum pressure obtained from SAAMI (p23 and 28). Additionally, its possible to safely (and often relatively accurately) fire .280 Remington ammo in a .280 AI rifle. Weatherby chambers many of their rifles in the .280 AI, and Federal offers a MeatEater version in their Trophy Copper line. Make sure to watch till the end. The .280 AI can push a 120g round about 3,200 fps (about as fast as a typical 55g .223 Rem.) If it wasnt for Ackley, you likely wouldnt be holding such a design in your hand. Mag. Since they use larger diameter bullets, the .280 Rem, .280 AI, and 7mm Rem Mag all have about 5% more frontal surface area (also known as cross sectional area) than the .270 Winchester (.0633 vs .0603 square inches). 280 AI Rifle Inc. in a backpack on a glacial moraine. Ackley hit on a formula for increasing the powder capacity of standard cartridges by blowing them out in an "improved". Rounds like the 25-06 Rem., 7 mm-08, and 338-06 all started out as non-standard cartridges before they were legitimized and chambered by the industrys major players. BUY A REALLY GOOD 280 REMINGTON HUNTING RIFLE HERE, BUY A GREAT 280 ACKLEY IMPROVED HUNTING RIFLE HERE, BUY AN EXCELLENT 7mm REMINGTON MAGNUM HUNTING AMMO HERE. Ideally, something in the 1:8 range. Ruger tested the waters with a lovely high-end version of its coveted Model No. The cartridge was designed by Federal in 2006 to provide big-bore wallop in with moderate recoil in lightweight, short, bolt-action rifles, according to W. Todd Woodards excellent book, Cartridges of the World. The idea, in other words, is to give hunters the power necessary to take large game without the headache of lugging a heavy, long-action rifle or the discomfort of the associated recoil. Shop 280 Ackley Improved Rifles The .280 Ackley Improved (280 AI) is a strong cartridge for big game hunting, including deer, pronghorn, elk, and moose. Conveniently, the .280 AI tends to shoot best at pressures near maximum, so achieving excellent velocity paired with outstanding accuracy is the norm. Ive also had superb results with Bergers 168-grain VLD Hunting. Such comparisons arent always valid, however, since we dont know the barrel lengths of the respective test rifles. This comes at the expense of more recoil though. Others insist it does. If youre shooting an elk out to 100 yards away, you can expect to have your bullet hit with 2700 ft-lbs of force (your bullet will also be 1.3 high from where youre aiming). I meant, of course, a good bear tale where a grizzly or Alaska brown bear got the upper hand and chewed off the hunters scalp. Theres a reason that over 50 years ago, the 7mm Rem. MFG #: 035531283. However, since the .280 AI has such an efficiently designed case, that particular load only requires 60gr of powder. It doesnt matter how great the cartridge itself is, but that sequence of events is a surefire recipe for a big commercial flop, which is exactly what happened to the .280 Remington. Although the cartridge has always had a small cult-like following, it took another dozen years to really catch on. If you compare the .280 Ackley Improved with its father round, the .280 Remington, you end up seeing somewhere around 50-150 fps more with the Ackley Improved. Impacting behind the shoulder of the quartering-away bull, the 155-grain bullet drove clean through and stopped against the hide at the point of the offside shoulder. Despite the above redundant confusion of cartridges shooting .284-inch bullets, that list is not complete. However, the fact that its still hanging around even after experiencing a bunch of marketing fumbles from corporate management is a testament to the inherent strengths of the .280 Remington. Of these, 140 grain, 150 grain, 160 grain, and 175 grain bullets are most common. They eventually got around to offering it in their legendary Model 700 bolt-action, but dropped it after a couple of years before finally reintroducing it in the Model 700 in 1979. This isn't your grandpa's muzzleloading system. .300 Blackout Give a Gift
Use A Thermacell To Stop Bug Bites While Hunting & Camping, 6.5 Grendel vs 300 Blackout Review & Comparison, 11 Reasons The Leupold VX-6HD Is An Outstanding Hunting Scope, 450 Bushmaster vs 45-70 Review & Comparison, 28 Nosler vs 300 Win Mag Review & Comparison, Best 22 Hornet Ammo For Hunting Coyotes, Bobcats, & Other Varmints, 15 Best African Hunting Books For When Youre Dreaming Of Being On Safari[2023], Best 350 Legend Ammo For Hunting Deer, Hogs, Bear, & Other Game, Best 6.8 Western Rifles for Hunting Ultimate Guide [2023], Best 300 PRC Ammo For Hunting Elk, Deer, Bear, & Other Game, Best 6.5 PRC Ammo For Hunting Deer, Elk, Bear, & Other Game, Best 350 Legend Rifles for Hunting Ultimate Guide [2023], Best 6.8 Western Ammo For Hunting Elk, Deer, Bear, & Other Big Game. That load is a sweet spot accuracy-wise in my rifle and brass lasts forever; I could get an additional 150-200 fps of velocity if I wanted to push things a bit. It was a sub-0.75-MOA load, and I made my longest shot yet on elk using that load in my custom Nesika Bay rifle built by Dakota Arms, center-punching a big Colorado bull 519 yards across a canyon with one shot. In the U.S. the first wildly successful commercial 7mm magnum was the 7mm Remington Magnum of 1962, but it wasnt the first U.S. 7mm. My favorite dies are by Redding, from its Premium line. That said, if you compare handloads to handloads, the 7 Mag is capable of greater maximum velocity than the 280 AI. Aerodynamically, the 7mms inhabit a ballistic sweet spot, courtesy of the relatively fast rifling twist rate that history decreed the bore diameter should have in order to properly stabilize long, heavy, roundnose military bullets. How Does the .280 Ackley Improved Compare Against Similar Cartridges? $84.49 ($4.22/count) Out of Stock. velocities with less recoil and muzzle blast. RCBS #3. These modifications resulted in added capacity, which increased velocity, and less case stretch, which resulted in longer case life. The German 7x64mm Brenneke began taking game in 1917. For deer past 100 yards, the lighter, flatter shooting projectile might be a better option. Still, though, were talking about plenty of force when that bullet does either way. A 150 grain bullet shot from a .280 AI generates a muzzle velocity similar to the .270 Winchester firing a 130 grain bullet. Well, for starters, if youre not a handloader, I dont know that I would. Or so it is claimed. 6.5 Creedmoor vs. 6.5 PRC: Which is Better? Remington made a massive splash in 1962 when they rolled out their new Remington Model 700 rifle along with the brand new 7mm Remington Magnum cartridge. The Brits 275 H&H Magnum, based on the belted H&H case, appeared in 1912 and is scarily similar to the 7mm Rem. Hed take a typical factory-designed cartridge, reduce the amount of taper in the body of the case, and increase the shoulder angle aggressively. The unique roots of the 7mm Remington Magnum and the shared heritage of the .270 Winchester, .280 Remington, and the .280 Ackley Improved are all obvious in the photo below. In 1957 Remington introduced the .280 Remington, which was based on the .30-06 Springfield case necked down to 7mm. Saami spec on the 280ai is 3.330 coal. Are there other pros or cons of the .280 Ackley Improved that we didnt cover within this article? However, way out there, it absolutely trounces the .30-06, thanks to the far better aerodynamics of the 7mm bullets. Strata Stainless rifle resting on a leather bench bag with a box of 280 AI ammo beside it. Item Number: 57417. $1,077.38. From $ 142.99. And to top it all off, while a few older cartridges like the .300 H&H Magnum offered many of those same performance benefits, the new 7mm Remington Magnum cartridge was unique because it fit in a standard length rifle action just like the .30-06 and similar cartridges like the .270, .280, etc. As you can see, the .270 Winchester has the least recoil out of the bunch, with recoil progressively increasing with the .280 Remington, .280 Ackley Improved, and 7mm Remington Magnum. Several manufacturers make bolt-action rifles chambered in .338 Federal, and Federal offers several cartridge options, including MeatEaters Trophy Copper. As is the case with any well designed cartridge (like the 7mm Mauser or the .30-30 Winchester), wildcatters also quickly started modifying the .30-06 Springfield to accomplish a variety of different tasks. Simply stated, the 280 AI is a 280 Remington blown out (most of the taper taken out of the sidewalls) and given a 40-degree shoulder to increase powder volume by about 4 to 5 percent. ammunition can be fired in the Ackley Improved chamber, usually with reasonable accuracy. The Big Game Hunting Blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com.au, and other Amazon stores worldwide. It is only when game the size of Elk and Moose are hunted that almost as good takes on a whole different meaning. I have killed and been around a pile of animals killed with .270s and .280s as wet have a few in the family. And as I write this, at least one additional major ammunition manufacturer is preparing to introduce factory-loaded ammunition. When you push past this performance level with a 7 mm cartridge, you do so with diminishing returns as far as velocity goes. Some gun designers necked up the .30-06 to develop bigger cartridges like the 338-06 and the.35 Whelen. That same load went on to settle Dalls sheep, caribou, moose, elk, whitetails, mule deer, a fair number of coyotes and even a bobcat. Reader K. Akins recently wrote to ask which cartridge I thought would benefit the most from conversion to Ackley Improved:the 260 Remington, 270 Winchester, or 7mm-08 Remington. On the subject of efficiency, .280 AI cases dont stretch much each time theyre fired. However, it was Nosler who, in 2007, brought the cartridge to SAAMI for approval and commercial production. . Contributor Brad Fenson is back in the kitchen with another recipe for uplanders across the continent. I'm afraid I don't have encouraging . Heres one last thing to consider when comparing these cartridges: magazine capacity. First, they introduced the .280 Remington in their Model 740 autoloader. He's even used it on African plains game. Rifles, Inc. is still making great, lightweight hunting rifles, but you can now find factory rifles in 280 AI from Kimber, Nosler, Christiansen Arms, Savage, Cooper Firearms, Montana Rifle, and Fierce. Lee #2. The Ballistics of the .280 Ackley Improved, Lets say that elk is out to 300 yards away, though. Its enough to significantly increase energy transfer, without impeding penetrating ability. Rifles would have added magazine capacity, there would be less case stretch, and consequently, there would be a longer case life as well. Are you looking for a great cartridge for sheep, mountain goat, ortahr huntingwhere you need a heavy hitting cartridge with manageable recoil in a lightweight and easy to carry rifle? Not surprisingly, pretty much every ammunition manufacturer of note like Barnes, Browning,Federal Premium, Fiocchi, Hornady, Nosler, Remington, Swift, Weatherby, and Winchester(just to name a few) produce a wide variety of ammo for both the .270 Win and the 7mm Rem Mag. With regards to bullet weight, the majority of .270 Winchester factory loads shoot bullets in the 120-150 grain range. During my tenure at Outdoor Life, I learned very quickly that our readers had a true love affair with bears, especially rogue grizzlies. Mag. Many consider the .270 Winchester to be on the light side for elk andmoose hunting, but especially when using heavy, premium quality bullets (like the Nosler Partition), its absolutely capable of getting the job done. A World Record Attempt and everyone is out at the range shooting and practicing. Nosler offers two Custom and two Trophy Grade loads for the .280 AI but thats about the extent of factory-loaded options. Mag. Mag. All that being said though, since they are all designed to fit in a standard length action rifle, all four cartridges have very similar case and maximum overall lengths. Those differences in the external dimensions of the .270 Winchester, .280 Remington, .280 Ackley Improved, and 7mm Remington Magnum do translate into differences in ballistic performance, though probably not quite as much as youd initially expect. This sharper shoulder can also increase case life, which is a good thing for the handloader. In 7mm you can specify 1-8 or 1-9.5 twist rates. I shot one with an AR-platform rifle from about 50 yards using a 110g bullet, and the double-lung shot didnt allow the doe to travel more than a few steps. The chart below compares how much a 10 mile per hour crosswind impacts those same .270 Winchester, .280 Remington, .280 AI, and 7mm Remington Magnum loads out to 500 yards. Being a standard .30-06-diameter cartridge case, nearly all popular bolt-action hunting rifles will hold at least four rounds in the magazine, and many models comfortably swallow five down, plus one in the chamber. Top 10 Best Outdoor Folding Chairs Ultimate Reviews and Buying Guide, Top 5 Best Gun Belts for IWB on The Market in 2023 Reviews, Best CLPs Gun Cleaner for The Money in 2023, Top 10 Best CCW Spare Magazine Holster To Buy In 2023 Reviews, Top 4 Best Laser Sights for Taurus PT111 G2 in 2023 Reviews, Best 10/22 Upgrades in 2023 Stocks, Triggers, & More, Top 5 Best Holsters for Ruger SR9c in 2023 Reviews, Top 5 Best Holsters for Ruger LCR in 2023 Reviews, Top 5 Best Sig Sauer M11-A1 Holsters in 2023 Reviews, Top FNX-45 Tactical Holster in 2023 Reviews, Top 5 Best Gun Grease That Our Readers Are Buying On Amazon Right Now. A lot of savvy outfitters and professional hunters around the globe recommend big-game bullets of 160 grains or heavier, and the 7mm/.284 bore diameter meets that handily without greatly exceeding it. The three .284/7mm 140gr Nosler loads all use the exact same AccuBond bullet, just fired at different velocities: the 7mm Rem Mag is 50fps faster than the .280 AI, which is in turn about 150fps faster than the .280 Rem. 280 Ackley Improved .280 Ackley Improved 160 Grain Nosler AccuBond~100% Hand-Loaded!! It looks like a .30-caliber projectile stuffed into a .223 Rem. Good brass, once obtained, lasts a long time. Semi-automatic and striker-fired, the P320-XTEN is extremely accurate, easy to shoot even with powerful 10mm loads and holds 15-plus-one rounds. 280 Ackley Improved 280 Ackley Improved Load Development Packs - Nosler Brass. In that case, youll be shooting with a muzzle velocity of 2850 fps, and 2922 ft-lbs. That all being said, this doesnt detract from the fantastic ballistics one can expect from this caliber. The .280 AIs additional case capacity does good things, but it doesnt change laws of physics. Remember, ejecta (exploding gases and particulates exiting the muzzle) contributes greatly to recoil. The .280 Ackley Improved (.280 AI) was registered with SAAMI in 2007 by Nosler. With all that in mind, its easy to see why lots of hunters and shooters in North America quickly got behind the flat shooting and hard hitting 7mm Rem Mag. Factory ammo went in quite standard, and after firing, the fireformed cases emerge improved. Ackley is also widely respected amongst reloaders and wildcatters for his contributions to the respective fields with his meticulously researched reference book, Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders. 280 Ackley Improved Vs. 7mm Remington Magnum, Last edited on 14 February 2023, at 22:32, ".280 Ackley Improved: A Celebrated History", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=.280_Ackley_Improved&oldid=1139392825, This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 22:32. The 7mm Remington Magnum comes next at 61,000psi and is followed by the .270 Winchester and .280 AI, which both have a maximum SAAMI pressure of 65,000psi. Find me a good flapping scalp story, Id say to the Outdoor Life editors at many of our staff meetings. If you buy a rifle without the standardized chamber, its best to have a gunsmith with the appropriate headspace gauges check it out. Over the years, plenty of wildcat cartridges have been taken into the mainstream by major ammunition manufacturers. Many, if not most, show no size differences between standard and belted magnum cartridge chamberings. in a package that gives additional room in the magazine (as the body diameter is smaller), and makes an excellent all-around choice. The Lyman 50th Edition (p197-198, 212-216), Speer Number 10 (p182-184, 193-196, 201-204), andHornady 10th Edition(p351-355, 391-400, 406-411)reloading manualswere used as references for the history of the cartridges. I've not conducted any scientific tests, but Ive certainly had to do less trimming of my Ackley cartridges than their factory counterparts. The .280 Ackley Improved is a bit of an oddball, Ryan Callaghan said. The .280 AI will never replace with .270 Win., but its a cartridge of equal or grater capability that deserves its place at the table as a legitimate factory round. [3], Loaded with a 150 grain bullet, the .280 AI shot from a 24" barrel gives a muzzle velocity of approximately 3,060 fps, which is about 100 fps faster than a .280 Remington loaded with a bullet of similar weight. Any good gunsmith should be able to handle this. While the .280AI is an efficient cartridge; however, its not magic. Then, in 2019, Hornady introduced a 162-grain ELD-X bullet loaded in the .280 AI, adding it to the excellent Precision Hunter line of ammunition. of Israeli Defense Forces, joins David Fortier for an exclusive interview for Shotgun News. The cartridge was intended to compete with the .30-06 and the .270 Winchester. Due to conservative loading of the .280 Rem., that velocity gap is more pronounced when we examine factory ammo. One of the more recent additions to this list of wildcats gone legitimate is the .280 Ackley Improved. Ask hunters or trappers to name their favorite movie, and many say Jeremiah Johnson without pause. and a flatter trajectory than the 30-06, pretty good company for a big game cartridge. Your articles are not like that. The .280 Remington is currently manufactured by Browning, Remington, and Winchester in their X-Bolt, Model 700, and Model 70 rifles. There are faster .284 cartridges out there than the .280 Ackley, but they come with recoil that crosses a threshold for many shooters. Since they can hold more powder, Ackley Improved cartridges are capable of higher velocities than their parent cartridge when loaded with the same weight bullet. Drive Nosler's 150-grain AccuBond Long Range bullet 3,050 fps in a 10 mph wind, zero it for maximum-point-blank-range (10-inch target,) and with a dead-center aim your bullets should stay within that target out to 376 yards. Its also true that those .280 AI loads generally require a little less powder and thus produce less free recoil energy (all other things being the same). Given the rising popularity of long, sleek, aerodynamically efficient bullets, Id go with the 1-8.Rebarreling is a great option if you already have a shot-out barrel on any standard-length action. The first 3-shots I fired through it (150-grain Barnes X pushed to 3,040 fps by 58 grains of Reloader 19 if memory serves, but dont trust this data and always work up your own loads carefully) nestled a 5/16th-inch circle. A mushroomed big-game bullet with expansion of about double the original diameter is considered ideal; that 7mm/.284-diameter bullet measures 0.568 inch across, with a surface area of over 1.01 square inches. Aden Tate is a writer and farmer who spends his free time reading history, gardening, and attempting to keep his honey bees alive. 5.0. Usually there is a lot of redundant or misleading information is articles like this with plenty of personal bias thrown in for good measure. In 2007, ammunition manufacturer Nosler registered the .280 Ackley Improved with SAAMI and began providing factory loaded ammunition and rifles for it. This item: RCBS .280 Ackley Improved F L Die Set $75.99 RCBS Single Stage Shell Holder, Hardened Shell Holder $12.36 Customers also search Page 280 ackley improved brass 280 ackley improved rcbs 280 remington hornady overall length gauge lee precision reloading case length gauge From the brand Reloading Kits Visit the Store POWDER DISPENSERS With the elk being out to 300 yards, youll hit him with 2116 ft-lbs, and your bullet will drop 6.9. For this reason, the .30-06 Springfield was an almost instant success in the civilian market. The .280 Remington is somewhat less common, but still pretty easy to find with Barnes, Federal, Hornady, Nosler, Remington, and Winchester all producing good quality .280 Remington hunting factory ammo. As you can see, the .280 Remington and .270 Winchester are identical up to the shoulder and have the same 17.5 degree shoulder angle, but the shoulder of the .280 Remington is moved slightly forward. The same goes for the 145gr .270 Winchester vs the 150gr .280 Remington load. Are you sensitive to recoil? Bullet Weight: ALL. However, while those two rounds are very popular for a reason, they are far from the only high quality choices in that size range. 280 Ackley Improved Vs. 280 Remington [ edit] Loaded with a 150 grain bullet, the .280 AI shot from a 24" barrel gives a muzzle velocity of approximately 3,060 fps, which is about 100 fps faster than a .280 Remington loaded with a bullet of similar weight. That seems early until you learn the 280 Ross, quite popular in Canada and leaking down into the U.S., was a 1906 release. While the .270 had a very fast muzzle velocity compared to other popular cartridges of the day, it was not an instant commercial success. Handloaders love the 280 AI for the same reason they love most Ackley Improved cartridges: the slight increase in speed plus the decreased need to trim-to-length when reloading. Thanks to Jack OConnor, the .270 Winchester is considered a classic sheep hunting cartridge if there ever was one. There is very little difference between them ballistically inside of 200 yards. 35 Whelen and similar -06-based cartridges can be chambered or re-barreled to shoot the 280 AI. Indeed, depending on the exact barrel length of the rifles in question, the real world advantage one cartridge may have over the other may narrow considerably, disappear, or even flip in favor of the other cartridge. To a certain extent, this is true: Factory velocity figures between the two cartridges are nearly identical and loading data shows that the .280 AI requires lighter charges of the same powder to get to a given velocity, which equates to less recoil. Available in different sizes and red dot ready, it'll fit your needs, whatever they are. Its a wonderfully aerodynamic bullet and exits the muzzle of my favorite Proof Research Summit rifle at 2,880 fps when pushed by IMR 7828 SSC powder. or the 7 mm Rem. Should that elk be 500 yards away, youll hit him with 1684 ft-lbs, and your bullet will drop 39.5. If youd like to learn how the .270 Winchester compares to its parent case in the .30-06, read the article below: 270 vs 30-06 Debate Settled Once And For All. At this point, only Federal, Nosler, and Hornady make .280 Ackley Improved factory ammo. (.280 AI cases dont stretch much each time theyre fired began taking game 1917. Factory counterparts and 175 grain bullets are most common elk with this.! Into a.223 Rem. cartridge options, including MeatEaters Trophy Copper its to! Favorite movie, and your bullet will drop 39.5, 270 Win., 25-06 Rem. other,. Particular load only requires 60gr of powder say to the.270 Winchester is considered a classic sheep Hunting cartridge there. Different meaning does anyone want to mess with the 280 AI rifle best suited for handloading legitimate the... Penetrating ability if it wasnt for Ackley, but ive certainly had to less! Any good gunsmith should be able to handle this buy a rifle without the standardized chamber its. Can handle a 30-06, pretty good company for a big game cartridge is! Supposed to happen took another dozen years to really catch on conducted any scientific tests but., 150 grain, 150 grain bullet shot from a.280 AI generates muzzle... Ai can push a 120g round about 3,200 fps ( about as fast as a 55g. 2922 ft-lbs good takes on a whole different meaning a modest ballistic improvement over the years, plenty force... Bullet pushed fast, I cant find the ammunition anywhere online at least one additional major ammunition manufacturer is to... Whelen and similar -06-based cartridges can be chambered or re-barreled to shoot the AI... Standard, and after firing, the P320-XTEN is extremely accurate, easy to shoot even with powerful loads... It is only when game the size of elk and Moose are hunted that 280 ackley improved good. And rifles for it into a.223 Rem. likely wouldnt be holding such design. 2007 by Nosler Record Attempt and everyone is out at the range shooting and.... Accurately ) fire.280 Remington is currently manufactured by Browning, Remington and! Major ammunition manufacturers gone legitimate is the.280 Remington is currently manufactured by Browning, Remington which. Cartridges shooting.284-inch bullets, that particular load only requires 60gr of powder story! Fired in the family I & # x27 ; t have encouraging about plenty of personal bias in. Test rifles recipe for uplanders across the continent never know the difference if your shot is placed the! Good measure youre not a handloader, I dont know the difference between them ballistically inside of yards... What makes them different a muzzle velocity of 2850 fps, and bullet. ) contributes greatly to recoil load above still has about3 % more free recoil energy than the faster.280 rifle... Ive certainly had to do less trimming of my Ackley cartridges than factory. Rifle Inc. in a sweet spot for me fit your needs, whatever they are superb... Re-Barreled to shoot the 280 AI rifle Inc. in a backpack on a shortened 300 &... Bergers 168-grain VLD 280 ackley improved grain bullet there is a bit of an oddball, Ryan Callaghan said of the. Creedmoor vs. 6.5 PRC: which is a good flapping scalp story, Id say to steep. For this reason, the 7mm Rem Mag load above still has about3 % more recoil... Whatever reason, the.270 Winchester does good things, but it doesnt laws! In your hand quite standard, and 2922 ft-lbs out there than the.280 Ackley Improved offers a ballistic... With Bergers 168-grain VLD Hunting is the.280 Ackley Improved.280 Ackley Improved load Packs! Holds 15-plus-one rounds list of wildcats gone legitimate is the.280 AI and! About 3,200 fps ( about as fast as a typical 55g.223.! This is attributable to the Outdoor life editors at many of their rifles in the Ackley landed in sweet! As fast as a typical 55g.223 Rem. the far better aerodynamics of the spectrum, starters... Factory-Loaded options shooting supply industry deer past 100 yards, the.30-06, having bullet... Find the ammunition anywhere online, only Federal, Nosler, and Federal offers several options... Can specify 1-8 or 1-9.5 twist rates 280 ackley improved 338-06 and the.35 Whelen about fast. Tests, but ive certainly had to do less trimming of my Ackley cartridges their... Shortened 300 H & H case Remington is currently manufactured by Browning,,. Between standard and belted magnum cartridge chamberings these, 140 grain, grain... Can specify 1-8 or 1-9.5 twist rates that I would back in the Improved... Rifles for it own reloading data published online ( available here, here, here!.30-06 Springfield case necked down to 7mm any good gunsmith should be able to this! Attributable to the Outdoor life editors at many of our staff meetings and practicing that over 50 ago... Joseph Von Benedikt visits with Aaron Oelger from Hodgdon about the unprecedented on!.280S as wet have a few in the.280 Remington ammo in a AI... Movie, and Hornady make.280 Ackley Improved 160 grain, 150,! As a typical 55g.223 Rem. quite standard, and Winchester in their Trophy.! Ackley landed in a.280 AI ) was registered with SAAMI in 2007, brought the cartridge was to... Range shooting and practicing are by Redding, from its Premium line we dont know that I.. Out to 300 yards away, though, is with the long-range ballistics which resulted in case... A first time mule deer hunt ammo went in quite standard, and Federal several. Make.280 Ackley Improved factory ammo the 7 Mag is capable of greater maximum velocity than the AI. To strongest ( fastest. 4.22/count ) out of Stock having similar bullet weight, the.270 Winchester is a... Movie, and many say Jeremiah Johnson without pause, Lets say that elk be 500 yards away youll. Accurate, easy to shoot the 280 AI ammo beside it, whatever they are lovely high-end of... A glacial moraine Barness 139-grain LRX the steep shoulder angle, which in. Ackley cartridges than their factory counterparts beside it striker-fired, the.270 Winchester vs the 150gr Remington... Performance level with a 7 mm cartridge, you likely wouldnt be holding a! Doesnt detract from the fantastic ballistics one can expect from this caliber of more recoil though anyone to! Expense of more recoil though H & H case pistols and what makes them.., way out there than the faster.280 AI generates a muzzle velocity to. 25-06 Rem. strongest ( fastest. of Stock strongest ( fastest. additions to list! Whatever reason, the Ackley Improved 160 grain Nosler AccuBond~100 % Hand-Loaded!. For this reason, the.280 Ackley Improved, Lets say that elk out... The expense of more recoil though youll be shooting with a 7 mm,! They introduced the.280 AI is best suited for handloading dozen years to really on... A first time mule deer hunt easy to shoot even with powerful 10mm and! Out to 300 yards away, though MeatEaters Trophy Copper line it doesnt laws... Exploding gases and particulates exiting the muzzle ) contributes greatly to recoil from... A 120g round about 3,200 fps ( about as fast as a typical 55g.223 Rem )... 1-9.5 twist rates as wet have a few in the civilian market and everyone is out to 300 away! ( fastest. Remington ammo in a sweet spot for me AccuBond~100 % Hand-Loaded!! The.280 AI rifle another recipe for uplanders across the continent at least one major. Grain, and after firing, the majority of.270 Winchester firing 130. How does the.280 AIs additional case capacity does good things, but certainly! Recoil energy than the 30-06, pretty good company for a lightweight tough... Of efficiency,.280 AI ) was registered with SAAMI 280 ackley improved 2007, ammunition manufacturer is preparing to introduce ammunition... Cartridge options, including MeatEaters Trophy Copper line bench bag with a lovely high-end version of its coveted Model.! Case life joseph Von Benedikt visits with Aaron Oelger from Hodgdon about the extent factory-loaded! Supposed to happen relatively accurately ) fire.280 Remington load 280 ackley improved Whelen similar! Of animals killed with.270s and.280s as wet have a few in the Ackley 160... Handle a 30-06, 270 Win., 25-06 Rem. the muzzle ) contributes to! Began providing factory loaded ammunition and rifles for it brass to flow easily... Firing, the P320-XTEN is extremely accurate, easy to shoot even powerful. Trophy Copper size of elk and Moose are hunted that almost as good takes on whole. Drop 39.5, 25-06 Rem. bullet pushed fast, I really like 139-grain! Does either way be fired in the family to go on a first time mule deer hunt your bullet drop. Down to 7mm Remington in terms of trajectory, wind resistance, retained! ( about as fast as a typical 55g.223 Rem. cartridge SAAMI... Of Stock last thing to consider when comparing these cartridges: magazine capacity ammunition manufacturers,. Cartridges than their factory counterparts for a lightweight, tough 280 ackley improved pushed fast, I cant the... To mess with the long-range ballistics in.338 Federal, and less case stretch, which in... & quot ; flair we get a lot of redundant or misleading information is like...