Kimber 280AI Load Development

[markwondi]

Ran a OCW a few weeks back and found a great node between 60.5 and 61.0gr RL26 and 160gr accubonds. Loaded several up at 60.7gr and ran a seating depth test today. As I usually find, it liked the accubonds .040" off the lands. Shot two separate 3-shot groups to confirm. Plan to shoot this load out to 600 yards in a few weeks.

Specs:
Kimber Montana 280AI
PacNor 9twist barrel finished at 24"
Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44
Weighs in at 6lb 10 oz all up


60.7gr RL26
160gr Accubonds
.040" off the lands

I think this will become my favorite "do all" rifle and it'll definitely be with me on my backpack Elk hunt next year.

 

[hunter0925]

That is my next build and the bullet I will be using. I'm jealous because I'm still waiting on parts and having to put mine off as my action collects dust. Awesome shooting!

 

[280longshot]

Pretty impressive...for a light weight rifle.
What's a OCW?


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[EastTNHunter]

Pretty impressive...for a light weight rifle.
What's a OCW?


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Don't wanna steal his thunder, but "optimal charge weight," similar to a ladder test

What kind of velocity on that 160gr load?

 

[markwondi]

That is my next build and the bullet I will be using. I'm jealous because I'm still waiting on parts and having to put mine off as my action collects dust. Awesome shooting!

It's definitely an intriguing cartridge. What action you building off of?

FYI - MidwayUSA has the 160gr Accubonds for $17/box (~50% off).

 

[markwondi]

Pretty impressive...for a light weight rifle.
What's a OCW?


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Don't wanna steal his thunder, but "optimal charge weight," similar to a ladder test

What kind of velocity on that 160gr load?

Yep.

Didn't break out the Magnetospeed on this load yet, but I'd expect it to be in the 2975-3000 fps range.

 

[lungpuncher1]

That is my next build and the bullet I will be using. I'm jealous because I'm still waiting on parts and having to put mine off as my action collects dust. Awesome shooting!

It's definitely an intriguing cartridge. What action you building off of?

FYI - MidwayUSA has the 160gr Accubonds for $17/box (~50% off).

Thank you for that. I'm doing load development for my bergara and I needed some. Prefect timing.

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[EastTNHunter]

Pretty impressive...for a light weight rifle.
What's a OCW?


Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Don't wanna steal his thunder, but "optimal charge weight," similar to a ladder test

What kind of velocity on that 160gr load?

Yep.

Didn't break out the Magnetospeed on this load yet, but I'd expect it to be in the 2975-3000 fps range.

Cool. That's about what my '06 is pushing 165 NABs with RL17 at, but the 7mm has higher bc and sd numbers.

 

[jlanecr500]

Looks real good. That sure is a lite rifle. As of late, I have been doing OCW progressions at 200 yards as most long range projectiles are boat tails and i like to give them time to stabilize.

 

[hunter0925]

That is my next build and the bullet I will be using. I'm jealous because I'm still waiting on parts and having to put mine off as my action collects dust. Awesome shooting!

It's definitely an intriguing cartridge. What action you building off of?

FYI - MidwayUSA has the 160gr Accubonds for $17/box (~50% off).

I will be building off a 700 action. Nothing special. Will be a brux #4 fluted in a 9 twist. Greyboe stock, timney trigger and ptg dBm are on backorder.

 

[Andy S.]

Everything about that is sick, from the overall lightweight setup, to the 160 AB, to the accuracy, to the down range energy that load has, everything. Thanks for sharing.

 

[DaveB]

Great shooting. That 284 caliber seems to lend itself to accuracy.

 

[gravy]

Mark you always have well put together rifles. Did you dupe the factor tube or go with a different contour? Who did the work?

 

[markwondi]

Mark you always have well put together rifles. Did you dupe the factor tube or go with a different contour? Who did the work?

Thanks! I've figured out what I like and how I like rifles built for the hunting I do and it seems to have worked out well.

This is a factory contour dupe. For the long action Kimbers, I prefer the factory contour especially when finished at 23-24", otherwise the rifles tend to get nose heavy.

For the short action Kimbers, I like the Lilja modified contour that follows the factory contour to the end of the stock and then straight tapers to 0.600" at the muzzle. Great contour for short actions with a 21-22" finished barrel and still sub 6lbs.

Eddie Fosnaugh (Fosnaugh Customs) did the work as well painting the stock and cerakoting the barreled action.

 

[mr.big]

I have a Stiller Predator V right bolt left port action with a Jewell 1.5 ounce BR trigger bedded in a Shehane St1000-F stock that I need to put a bbl on,,maybe a Christmas present,,I have thought about a 6 Dasher and a 6.5x284 and the 280AI ,,since I already have other 6mm target rifles I am really thinking about a 30" Brux 1.250 no taper bbl 8.75 twist 280 AI throated for the 180 Hybirds,,

it would be the total opposite of the rifle you are doing but it should really rock

 

[mr.big]

Mark you always have well put together rifles. Did you dupe the factor tube or go with a different contour? Who did the work?

Thanks! I've figured out what I like and how I like rifles built for the hunting I do and it seems to have worked out well.

This is a factory contour dupe. For the long action Kimbers, I prefer the factory contour especially when finished at 23-24", otherwise the rifles tend to get nose heavy.

For the short action Kimbers, I like the Lilja modified contour that follows the factory contour to the end of the stock and then straight tapers to 0.600" at the muzzle. Great contour for short actions with a 21-22" finished barrel and still sub 6lbs.

Eddie Fosnaugh (Fosnaugh Customs) did the work as well painting the stock and cerakoting the barreled action.

Bartlien does Rem factory tapers for standard ,magnum and varmint contours,,they are close to a #2 but fit the factory stock back like new,,

 

[markwondi]

Mark you always have well put together rifles. Did you dupe the factor tube or go with a different contour? Who did the work?

Thanks! I've figured out what I like and how I like rifles built for the hunting I do and it seems to have worked out well.

This is a factory contour dupe. For the long action Kimbers, I prefer the factory contour especially when finished at 23-24", otherwise the rifles tend to get nose heavy.

For the short action Kimbers, I like the Lilja modified contour that follows the factory contour to the end of the stock and then straight tapers to 0.600" at the muzzle. Great contour for short actions with a 21-22" finished barrel and still sub 6lbs.

Eddie Fosnaugh (Fosnaugh Customs) did the work as well painting the stock and cerakoting the barreled action.

Bartlien does Rem factory tapers for standard ,magnum and varmint contours,,they are close to a #2 but fit the factory stock back like new,,

The Kimber contour is significantly less than the Remington, even the Lilja modified contour.

Speaking of Bartlein, love their barrels but I have one of their Remington Mag contours and it came in ~0.040" over spec. In fact, it was equal to or slightly larger than their #3 contour which is quite hefty. Every bartlein barrel I've used has been over their spec sheet by at least 0.020" throughout the entire contour... not sure why.

 

[markwondi]

I have a Stiller Predator V right bolt left port action with a Jewell 1.5 ounce BR trigger bedded in a Shehane St1000-F stock that I need to put a bbl on,,maybe a Christmas present,,I have thought about a 6 Dasher and a 6.5x284 and the 280AI ,,since I already have other 6mm target rifles I am really thinking about a 30" Brux 1.250 no taper bbl 8.75 twist 280 AI throated for the 180 Hybirds,,

it would be the total opposite of the rifle you are doing but it should really rock

It would be hard to beat the 6.5x284 throated for the 147gr ELD-M for me, but the 280AI and 180gr Berger hybrids would be excellent too.

 

[TiminTN]

I have a reamer based off the 30/06 case length, using the 280AI body. Lapua cases in 30/06 made into 280AI is pretty neat. Just shorter neck is all.

If you haven`t tried N165 in your AI maybe you might want to give it a go. Just if you want to test something new. Your loads look way good for whitetails.

 

[DaveB]

Berger is owned by same company that owns VihtaVuori powder, and Lapua.

did not know that

 

[mr.big]

Berger is owned by same company that owns VihtaVuori powder, and Lapua.

did not know that

rumors that the 2018 SHOT show will see them release factory ammo loaded with Lapua brass and Berger bullets,,

 

[TiminTN]

They are moving some or all of their production back to Arizona. Must no longer feel welcome in California.

 

[DaveB]

Where Berger is located right now is on the edge of La Habra and Fullerton. It was a neighborhood headed downhill when I lived in Diamond Bar 25 years ago. Moving to Az is probably a good decision on a lot of fronts.

 

[pety222]

Had one built last year from a remington 700 action n a #5 kreiger 1in10 twist
loves the load of 60 grn of imr 4831 n a 140 berger .020 of the lands into lil tiny clover leafs at 100yrd

 

[infoman jr.]

I'd consider myself pretty well versed in rifles and their associated descriptive terms, but what is this "dupe" thing?

 

[hunter0925]

I'd consider myself pretty well versed in rifles and their associated descriptive terms, but what is this "dupe" thing?

Duplicates factory contour