Handi .280 handloads?

[utahman]

Hello fellow handi owners.  I've been wanting a new barrel for my handi for some time now, and I think I've narrowed it down to the .280 26".  I just have a few questions for those who have hand loaded this round.

1) Is it true that most loading manuals keep the CUP lower then the Handi Rifle can handle?
2) If so, what data can you direct me to on handloading the .280 with various bullets to match the max a Handi rifle can handle?
3) Anyone have a favorite Elk load in the .280?
4) Are 7mm bullets the same diameter and whatnot as the .280, are they "synonymous"?

Any other info/suggestions/help for me?
Thanks everyone!

[dpe.ahoy]

The 280 is listed a bit lower in some reloading manuals than the 270.  The 280 uses the same bullet diameter as the other 7mm's and is a hell of a good cartridge.  I only have 2 at this time, and one is a Handi, both like the Accubond 140's over a full charge of IMR 4350.  The old Ruger likes the TSX's of the same weight and H 4831 for Elk.  Plan on trying some Ramshot and RL 19 in the 280 when I get time.  Guess I just get lazy, reach for the same old stuff each time.  Still have a pretty good supply of the old stand-bys, always picked some up when ever I saw a sale.  Yah, I'm a lilttle Irish around the wallet area.   Some guns will handle more pressure than others, but if you don't know what you are doing please stick to the listed loads.  Explosions that close to your face might have you meeting all kinds of new people like Drs., Nurses, CNA's ect.  Nothing you would shoot will know that bullet is 50-60 FPS slower.  DP.

[utahman]

thanks for the info.  I guess I should say that I know the handi can handle more pressure then the manuals I've seen, I just find these manuals give the .280 a false impression of what the round really can do.  I just wish I had some real data on what it really can do when used in a handi.

[gomerdog]

I would recommend that you find as many sources of information that you can and not go over the lowest maximum load of that collection. The break open actions of Handis are not as strong as bolt actions IMHO, and experimenting with over maximum loads is a risk I am not willing to take. If you need that kind of velocity, maybe buying a bolt rifle from another manufacturer in one of the 7mm mags is the way to go.

[Fred M]

Loading books have to accommodate the Rem pump and auto loaders which don't like full power loads and snug cases. Hence the under loaded ammo.
IMHO you should not exceed 58000psi chamber pressure in a Handi, not that it will come apart but you will develop a gap in the breech with consequent accuracy loss. There are a lot of people that do not agree on that point.
Load up your ammo to 64ksi and you soon will find out the truth of the matter.
You are not shooting a bolt gun.

Man I shoot deer and moose with a dinky 257 Roberts Handi and moderate loads. Accurately place your shot and forget about max loads in your Handi.

I shoot all my Handis with that kind of pressure in mind. Even with a bit less
powder the 280Rem in a Handi will do all that you need for deer to elk.
139gr Hornady for deer and 175gr semi pointed bullets for elk

[dpe.ahoy]

In the 2008 Hodgdon yearly manual, it lists loads right in the range Fred is talking about with IMR powder.  Out of the 26" barrel, you will see an increase in speed anyway.  Try them and I think you will be more than happy.  You might even try the Hornday 154g for Elk as it is a stout bullet.  DP.

[Masterblaster1]

So far my accuracy load in my .280 Handi is 50 grains IMR 4831, remington cases, cci large rifle primers, and a 175 grain hornady interlock spire point. Bullets on top of each other at 100 yards off a bench, no joke.....  Velocity is somewhat slower than average loads but accuracy is what counts in my book, 2600 fps or so kills MI whitetail with power to spare.....

[handirifle]

Loading books have to accommodate the Rem pump and auto loaders which don't like full power loads and snug cases. Hence the under loaded ammo.
IMHO you should not exceed 58000psi chamber pressure in a Handi, not that it will come apart but you will develop a gap in the breech with consequent accuracy loss. There are a lot of people that do not agree on that point.
Load up your ammo to 64ksi and you soon will find out the truth of the matter.
You are not shooting a bolt gun.

Man I shoot deer and moose with a dinky 257 Roberts Handi and moderate loads. Accurately place your shot and forget about max loads in your Handi.

I shoot all my Handis with that kind of pressure in mind. Even with a bit less
powder the 280Rem in a Handi will do all that you need for deer to elk.
139gr Hornady for deer and 175gr semi pointed bullets for elk

Fred
I may be mistaken but seems I read somewhere the 270 was loaded to 55K PSI, yes?  If so, seems to me that's about where the 280 should be loaded and that would stay below your suggested 58K.  Or was the 270 loaded higher?

[quickdtoo]

The 270Win has a SAAMI MAP of 65kpsi(52kcup), the 280Rem is 60kpsi(50kcup).

Tim

http://kwk.us/pressures.html

http://www.lasc.us/SAAMIMaxPressure.htm

[handirifle]

I had a feeling I was off.

[Couger]

Very realistically, there's NOTHING that a .270 Winchester can do that a .280 Remy can't do - and even a little bit better!

Absolutely NO NEED to resort to any kind of a "magle-um!"



In a .270 the go-to powder my friends and I use is H4831 in Winchester cases with Winchester or CCI primers.  3100fps with 130grn bullets, and 3000fps with 140's and 2900fps with 150grainers are quite safely doable in the .270.

In a .280R you should easily get 2850+ feet-per-second with 160 grain bullets, and 2950+fps with 140's, 145's or 150's.

Absolutely no reason a .280 case can't "operate" at the same pressures as the .270!

If I needed another powder besides H4831 I'd use H4350 - still in Winchester cases, although Norma brass is also available in the .280.

I always use Nosler bullets, altho I've haven't yet shot or killed anything with the Accubond.  I love the Partitions and Ballistic Tips.

For an elk load I'd use 160 grain Accubond's or Partition's, whatever my rifled liked and approached 2900fps velocity.

For a single "all around load,"  I'd use the same load for elk, moose, whitetails, blacktails and mulies, and even antelope and black bears!

[dpe.ahoy]

Couger, you must be a carpenter cause you hit the nail square on the head!   DP.

[Fred M]

In a good bolt action you can load the 280 or 280Ai to the same pressure as a 270 no problem. That is 65ksi. I have done so in my 280Ai. Not so with a Handi as I said above. Pick a slow powder like H1000 or similar that fills the case and you are good to go with pressure around the 56kpsi. Work up with a chrono. I used H1000 in a 25-06 Handi and a full case of powder and ended up with a velocity like a max 257 Roberts. Besides this powder gave very good accuracy at about 1.2 to 1.3" at 100 yrds.