280 Remington Loads? Good & Bad?

[Reloader]

I picked up a Ruger Hawkeye 77 in 280 Remington this afternoon.   22" Barrel.
My first 3 shots at 100 yards were grouped 1.375" center to center with the last two holes touching each other.  This was with Remington factory ammo 150 grain core-lokt psp, so perhaps this rifle has potential.  I know the 22" barrel might cost me some velocity but its set up in Stainless with synthetic stock and will probably spend a good amount of time on my quad.
Anybody have any 280 Remington success or failure loads to pass on.  I'm thinking of staying with 139 grain Hornady, 150 Grain Remington PSP, or 150 Grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets for the first stab at reloading for this one once the dies and brass show up. 
 
 
 
 

[sr sawyer]

My son's Ruger 77 loves a near max charge of RL 22 and the 140 grain Nosler ballistic tips (shoots a little under 1 M.O.A).  I bought him this rifle in 1996 when he was 15 and this load has proven to be a deer and hog slayer.  The largest hog was 220# and the largest deer 210#.
 
He has made shots from 40 yards to a little over 300 and always with good results.  Never lost an animal and no long blood trails.
 
Luck with your finding that ideal load.
 
Ken 

[Dave in WV]

My son had a MKII stainless 280 that was very accurate. He loaded 139gr Hornady flat base bullets using H4350. He did use H4831 and got more velocity but standardized his powder supply with the 4350. With a Ruger torquing the front action screw to 65 in/lb, the rear screw to 50-55 in/lb, and the center in but not tight (use blue loctite to hold it in) will usually give the best accuracy.

[patrick66]

I have been shooting 120 g. nosler ballastic tips, loaded with 54.0 g.  H4350. 3/4 inch at 100.
 
I have shot 7 antelope all 1 shot kills, 9 deer one shot. I recovered 2 bullets, 1 at 90 yards,hit spine, destroyed 7 inches,found 42g of bullet. #2  large buck at 340 yards found 37g of bullets.It,s all I shoot                                                     P66

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive got a featherwieght win. in 280 and it really likes the speer 145 flat based hot core. Ive shot a truck load of deer with that bullet and never saw a reason to change it. Rugers can be finiky rifles but i dont recall ever dealing with  a 280 ruger that wasnt a shooter so they must have gotten that one right.

[cwlongshot]

My long time favorite bullet in my 280 is the Hornday 154g RN & Spitzer. Mine likes IMR 4831 powder, but many others shoot just as well. I am lucky to have a NON finicky 280 Shillen barrel.
 
Lloyd has also recomended another favorite, Speers 145g is a awesome bullet too! I used to shoot allot of them in a 7mm/08.
 
Good luck with yours, its a great and under rated caliber.
 
CW

[Reloader]

I loaded up some 150 grain Nosler Bts with 51.5 grains of IMR4350. Not the best group but good enough for a hunting load until I find something better.


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[rugerfan.64]

I've been loading RL 22 for years behind a Sierra 140 gr Gameking, CCI 200's. Never saw a need to change it. Half inch groups when I do my part, Deer from spitting distance to 350 yards its devastating.

[Reloader]

I got a chance to try out the 280 load on a decent Blacktail buck.  The 150 grain BT did a whole bunch of damage at 250 yards.

[Lloyd Smale]

nice buck!

[charles p]

You will probably have good results with 139-140 grain bullets.  I prefer flat based bullets.  RL powder is hard to beat.  I may have used H-4831 also.

[jasonprox700]

I have a MKII with the 22" barrel.  The gun fits me perfectly and balances great.  I don't think I would want any longer barrel for this rifle.
 
I've tried numerous loads in mine.  Here are my results.  All bullets were loaded over RL19.  57gr seemed to be the magic number for all bullets.  It's a max load, but my gun seems to like them better.
 
140gr Gamekings:  Shot awesome.  Tied for most accurate bullet out of this gun.  Problem was it was just too explosive on deer.  Out of 20+ deer, I had one pass thru.  Most of these weren't shoulder or frontal shots either, they were broadside shots.  I finally gave up after the last doe I shot with them kept going after 4 shots.  I later found that the bullets splashed under the hide and failed to penetrate.  They only slowed here down.
 
140gr Nosler Accubond:  Another accurate bullet.  Good expansion whether it be bone or broadside.  Most consistent bullet I found.  I would highly recommend.
 
140gr Nosler Ballistic Tip:  Accurate.  Too explosive for me.  No pass thrus on 3 deer shot broadside.  They were a mess inside, but still no pass thru so a nogo for me.  Heavier and maybe slower loads might have worked better.
 
139gr Hornady GMX:  I haven't tried these out on deer yet, but wow, awesome accuracy.  Could believe the first 2 three round groups, .45" & .6" center to center.  Plus, I picked up 150 of these for $40 shipped!  Can't wait to see how they do on deer.