I recently purchased a NEF Handi rifle in .280 and want to start working up some loads. shot corelokts out of it just to sight it in and was only geting about three inch groups with those. I worked some loads up using 139 gr Hornady sst's and RL19 powder with my best group being about two inches. If anyone has any pet loads for this caliber, or if I'm real lucky, for this rifle I would appreciate it. I'm also considering trying the 140 Accubonds since I have had good luck with them in another caliber. I really don't expect this gun to be a tack driver but I would expect 1" groups with reloads.

I searched through the archives for you and could not come up with anything.....I guess if we dont get any replies we will have to go by the rule of thumb with the 06 casings guns, and try the 4350 and 4831 powders. I think we will probably get a "workable" load out of 4350. I would also like to see if anyone who has reloaded for this caliber would post their COL. We have alot of options that we havent tried yet, so dont get discouraged because one load bullet combination hasnt worked, we'll get you shootin by summer!!!

Hi, i've been loading for a .280 for about 15 years. The load I've settled on for 140 gr. bullets(I use Nosler Partitions) is 56 gr. of H4350, and a CCI 250 primer.This load is a few grains over what's recommended in the mauals,so approach with caution. I use this load in a Rem 700 Mountain Rifle and see no indications of excess pressure.

I reload for my 280 Rem and have really 2 loads that i like. One for varmit and one for big game... the varmit load i will not publish because it is nearly 2 grains of 4350 above any max published load... i get no pressure signs in my rifle and accuracy is exceptional so i use it... the big game load consists of 175 partitions seated .025 off of the lands of my rifling. I use fireformed and neck sized brass with a CCI Benchrest primer. Powder is IMR 7828 @ 54.0 grains... Chrono right around 2690 - 2700 in cold weather and almost 2800 in the warm weather of summer... this is a good mid range load without a whole lot of recoil... accuracy in MY rifle is exceptional at under an inch... but then again it's been rebarrelled with a Shilen match grade and i've done all of the bells and whistles of blueprinting the receiver and bolt... 700 remington btw... this reload may not work as well in your rifle... each rifle likes something different generally... this 700 totally detests 160 partitions for the most part in hunting load trim...

Jamie

Hehehe...Rootsy..I know what you mean about temperamental... My M70 .280 will not group ANY 150 grain bullets I've tried in it, but it groups pretty well with 140s and 160s...

PRETTY GOOD in my case means about 1.5 MOA, and I had to work to get that... My rifle delivers decent hunting accuracy, but it sure ain't no bench rest rifle...

I've got my best accuracy with 140 grain Nosler BTs and R-19 loaded to near max...Imr 4350 works well with 140s and 160s, again at near max. loads...The rifle seems to want to be loaded right up there near top end in order to group...

My wifes .280 (rem 7400 auto) does rather well, and has good accuracy for a auto, with 54 grains of IMR 4831 and a 160 grain Nosler Accubond bullet. That is near Max and its shoot at 2830 f/s not fast by any means but good enough to take a elk or moose with ease.