Great for the crops, but with the local variety of Bentonite clay, anything but blacktop and well-graveled roads were impassible. (Some may argue that it's no longer a wildcat, what with Nosler currently providing its custom ammo. Match bullet. 64.0 grains of h4831sc , 143 hammer hunter gave me 1/2 inch groups and 3180 fps on the chrono. Mild-mannered but wicked, the .280 Ackley Improved is a virtuoso of a cartridge. All Shooting Times subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. ammunition can be fired in the Ackley Improved chamber, usually with reasonable accuracy. Accuracy and terminal performance are the cornerstones of Hornady ® Precision Hunter ® factory loaded ammunition. ... neither provided the same level of performance (accuracy & speed) as N560. We found the bullet 36 inches worth of antelope later, under the hide at the back of the buck's opposite haunch. Big bore semiauto or a lever gun? With RL-26 my load is at 2950 with the 160 Accubond and 2925 with the 162 ELDx. ACCURACY IS MY OBSESSION. 280 Ackley 162 gr ELD-X ® Precision Hunter ® Item #85586 | 20/Box . Ackely Improved means the shoulders are at a 40 degree angle making it hold a few grains more powder than the 280 and thus a little more velocity. The 150-grain Barnes TTSX bullet loaded over 59 grains of Alliant Reloder 19 exits the muzzle at 3,061 fps. We had to use the 7x57 Ackley die I loaded up some Nosler 140 gr. "You hit 'im," Justin grunted, and as I worked the bolt the solid "thump" of a well-placed hit floated across the canyon. Cases obtained by firing--and thus fireforming--standard cartridges through Ackley's improved chamber could be handloaded to give improved performance. It shoots the 160-168's fine. For instance, an improved version of the 280 Remington would be known as a 280 Remington Ackley Improved or 280 AI. I like the slick way they feed, I like having five rounds on tap, and I prefer the slender actions that house them. I love that thing and am a huge fan of the .280 AI and the .280 Remington. Noslers Rock. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. We ran into a slight problem when we came to resize the This classic rifle, now in 280 Ackley Improved, has Ruger's touted features and accuracy with of all of our favorite touches. Revolver vs. Semiauto Pistol: A Ballistic Oddity, Springfield Armory M1A Tanker .308 Review, Ruger Custom Shop 10/22 Competition Rifle at 300 Yards, Uberti 1885 Courteney Stalking Rifle Review, Black Hills Evolution of Rifle Cartridge: .308 Win. We discovered that someone had borrowed our 280 ©2020 Outdoor Sportsman Group. However, the .280 AI's heritage is so decidedly feline that I'll take the liberty of referring to it as such.). Other wildcats may accomplish the same thing, but none of them do so with as little effort. 280 Ackley Improved 280 Ackley Improved Case: Nosler Primer: Federal 210 Case Trim: 2.525” Barrel Length: 24” Twist Rate: 1:9” Barrel: Bartlein Maximum Loads Should Be Used With Caution - Always Start With Minimum Loads. When handloading the .280 Ackley Improved for optimal accuracy and ballistic performance, Joseph recommends using match-grade primers. And I had the time to run some mental calculations to confirm that the 150-grain TTSX bullet would still be traveling at or above 1,900 fps upon impact, giving it the needed velocity to expand properly for a clean kill. Velocity is choronographed at 10 feet ahead of the barrel, as per our When chambered in a fine rifle like this Nesika Hunter Model V, the .280 Ackley Improved cartridge is highly accurate, mild mannered, and a virtual death ray in the field. Cases also stretched less, allowing longer case life and necessitating less frequent trimming. Of those by far the most enduring is the .280 Ackley Improved (AI), and for good reason: It performs more like a 7mm Remington Magnum than a standard .280 Remington. And for the more budget-minded, Kimber’s Model 84L Classic Select Grade and Montana are both available in .280 AI and are excellent guns. rifle can easily be re-chambered to the Ackley version. And finally, I was using a Zeiss 4-16X 50mm Victory Diavari FL scope with the company's Rapid-Z reticle--superb for those times when you really need to push the distance envelope. The .280 Ackley Improved has been basking in the limelight since Nosler started chambering its Model 48 rifle for it and offering loaded ammo and unprimed cases. Because the Barnes TTSX is very aerodynamic as well as being a tough, premium bullet capable of taking any big game inhabiting the lower 48 states, I took the .280 AI on back-to-back Wyoming pronghorn and Colorado elk hunts. usual practice. Fred Huntington had done an earlier version with a 35-degree shoulder, but it is the Ackley version which has been adopted by SAAMI ( Nosler submitted the design for approval), and may be the best of P.O. Speed sells but Accuracy kills. And in a pinch, owners of Ackley-chambered rifles could pick up standard ammo at the local hardware store and usually get at least hunting-grade accuracy, so these wildcats didn't suffer from any "can't get ammo" stigma. All bullets were molly coated, and all groups are 5 shots at 100 .280 Ackley Improved powders Hey guys. 280 ackley improved. This new wildcat, which became known as the .280 Ackley Improved 40-Degree Shoulder, beat .280 Rem ballistics by about 100 fps, which gave it energy and trajectory figures that nipped at the heels of the 7mm Rem. I dont know how much you will lose going down to a 22" pipe. Discussion in 'Big Stuff--7mm, 30 Cal, .338+' started by kochie, Mar 2, 2014. kochie. The .280 AI was developed by modifying the case from the .280 Remington. Looking at switching to Vihatvouri powder for use with 160 - 168gr projectiles. decapping the cases by using a Wilson decapping set. Needless to say, the buck dropped on the spot. Great care has been given by Hornady engineers to develop superior, match­-accurate hunting loads that allow the ELD­-X ® bullet to achieve its maximum ballistic potential. It was unnecessary; he lay quiet in the bloody snow, shielded by a canopy of tiny oaks. The bullet had taken the arteries off the top of his heart and passed through both lungs, putting him down in just a few seconds. I won't even admit how far it was, but I was very confident in the rifle/cartridge combination and its ability to place the bullet precisely where it needed to go. These cheap postwar variants offer perhaps the best value on the vintage-Mauser market. We look at the futuristic .450 Bushmaster and how it compares to the tried and true .45-70. WARNING: The loads shown here are safe only in the guns for which they were developed. Looking for some advice here please. Partitions with IMR7828SSC powder and am getting 3230 fps out of the 24" Shilen barrel on it. our tests. to partially size the cases, and as the 7x57 die is not long enough to deprime Accomplished handloaders coaxed performance rivaling that of magnums out of their rifles. The Ackley improved is sometimes quoted as giving a 100fps gain in velocity over the standard cartridge. Like situational ethics, standards of accuracy vary according to circumstances. I'll stick my neck out and say it: I think the .280 Ackley Improved cartridge is the finest of the flock and gives shooters more for their effort than any other wildcat. Elk CountrySeveral days later found me in the Colorado snow, hiking up a very steep canyonside with my friend Justin Ludwig. In some instances, the higher velocity comes more as a result of maximum loading. Cases obtained by firing--and thus fireforming--standard cartridges through Ackley's improved chamber could be handloaded to give improved performance. Ackley's earliest wildcats was the 7mm-06 Improved, which was made by necking down the .30-06 Springfield case and fire-forming it to have less body taper and a 40-degree shoulder angle. Keith Feeley of Tactical Solutions sat down with Michael Bane at SHOT Show 2018 to talk about the new X-Ring Takedown SBR .22LR rifle. brass after it was fire formed. 175 Gr. We used Remington brass and the Federal 210M throughout all yards. The .280 Ackley Improved casing will launch a 7mm, 120 gr. Only shot it a few times because it was 14 degrees. It is popular enough that Nosler both chambers its fine rifles in .280 AI and produces .280 AI in its custom line of ammunition, as well as providing component brass for handloaders that would rather not take the time to fireform cases. The .280 Ackley Improved is—you guessed it—the .280 Remington with the taper removed and the shoulder angle revised to 40 degrees. ... 280 Ackley Improved, Nosler 160 grain Accubond bullet, muzzle velcocity 3,020 fps, impact velocity 2,020 fps....the shot is at the 25 second mark in the video. The bullet had expanded perfectly and retained 99.5 percent of its original weight. In a pinch (read lost luggage), .280 Rem. I AM CONSIDERING BUYING A NEW RIFLE IN A 280 Ackley IMPROVED. Thread starter bdg848; Start date Apr 3, 2020; Apr 3, 2020 #1 B. bdg848 Senior Member. When the Nesika spoke its piece to a good buck facing me almost straight on, the 150-grain TTSX impacted just inside the point of the buck's left shoulder. Shooting a .22 LR rifle at 300 yards is just as challenging as shooting a .300 Win. With Nosler 140 gr. 280 Ackley Improved for 1000 yard While waiting for the barrel to get done, I've ordered my dies and Nosler AI brass (very nice stuff by the way). ISS Prop House gives us the rundown on the guns used in Enemy at the Gate. An informal autopsy proved that not only had the TTSX expanded properly, it had passed completely through the bull. Both actions are identical, though. Ackley die set, and he was out of the country. another project we are working on. The .280 Ackley Improved provides honest magnum performance with every advantage of a standard cartridge. Kind of late , but finally finished up load work on this 280 AI. P.O. This Colorado bull was shot across a wide, gnarly canyon where the advantages of the .280 AI in a highly accurate rifle really came into play. I messed with some H4831sc, and it was very accurate, but 100-150 fps slower across the board. A torrential rainstorm had just passed through northeastern Wyoming. Select a light load of a relatively fast powder (IMR4895 is great) from the standard .280 Remington data. Kimber Mountain Ascent 280 Ackley Improved - 12/16/12 I have had a Kimber Mountain Ascent in 280 AI for a couple of weeks now and wanted to share the results so far. The .280 Ackley is an improvement over a standard 280 Remington, and that’s not easy to do. When we found a good bull, he was in a tiny pocket across a deep, wide canyon, and there was no way to get closer. Handloading Hints Even though there are at least eight different factory loads on the market now—from Hornady, Federal, and Nosler—as always handloaders can fine-tune accuracy and can often bump up velocity with carefully crafted handloads. My personal experience with it began last fall with a fine custom rifle built by Dakota Arms that utilizes a Nesika Mark V action. Took my Mtn Ascent in 280 Ackley out today. The following data was developed in a Hall action rifle, with a Hart varmint … Also, almost any existing .280 Rem. Finally we decided that I must take the shot or lose the opportunity. The following data was developed in a Hall action rifle, If you study ballistic charts, that's almost precisely the velocity attributed to the same-weight projectile in the 7mm Rem. We ping steel with a .300 WinMag at over a mile. Mag. and .270 Win. It is important to note that the SAAMI-spec .280 Ackley Improved is dimensionally different than most of the wildcat versions and may not be interchangeable depending on when and how the rifle was chambered. I DO A LOT OF TARGET SHOOTING BUT AM BUYING IT TO MAINLY DEER HUNT IN GEORGIA. *Most Accurate Load C Compressed Load 1 The .280 Ackley has a similar velocity to the 7mm Rem Mag, when using light to mid-weight bullets. Match, Tactical Solutions Introduces New X-Ring Takedown SBR Rifle. Because the .280 AI has less muzzle blast, less recoil, and more rounds snugged into that box magazine, for starters. My initial loads will be with the 150, 168 and 175 grain SMK seated to 3.325" for starters until I can alter one … A couple antelope and three whitetails later I am sold on this combination. By the simple device of opening up a typical SAAMI-spec chamber to have less body taper and a (much) steeper shoulder, he created a larger, more efficient propellant chamber, yet he did so in such a manner that the standard parent cartridge would still function and safely fire in the improved chamber. Top . When the bull turned broadside, I squeezed off the .280 AI. The joys of handloading are many, and one of them is sharing the experience with a novice. Powders include IMR Indeed, the .280 Ackley Improved (280 AI) is one of the newest SAAMI standardized rifle cartridges on the block. Mag. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Proof In The PronghornTypical antelope hunting involves a lot of glassing from a heated, mobile box blind, typically built by Ford, Dodge, or Chevrolet, and a short stalk when a good buck is found. Cleaned after every shot so really can't tell about the accuracy so far but they are all in the same neighorhood. Mentored through late summer and early fall by friend, writer, and .280 AI aficionado Chub Eastman (who has, last I heard, 18 one-shot kills to the credit of his .280 AI), I developed a fantastic handload for the Nesika. A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE HAS ONE AND HE CONSIDERS IT TO BE FANTASTIC. One common chambering for custom rifles is the .280 Ackley improved. As a user of rifles chambered in original .280 Ackley Improved, I haven't found the definitive or entirely trustworthy answer to this question. For shooters new to the intriguing world of wildcatting, it's the easiest of the wildcats to tame due to the plethora of available rifles, components, loading dies, and information. The bull was into the scrub oak before I could shoot again. bullet over 3,400 fps. The key element enabling this was that Ackley's chamber maintained the original dimension from the head of the cartridge to the juncture of the neck and shoulder, allowing both his improved version and the factory parent version to headspace properly. I would stick with a 24" though. The most recent group I shot at 200 meters--yes, 200--measured 0.8 inch. I've got a .280 Ackley built by Accurate Ordnance with a 22" Brux 1-9" twist. Give a Gift   As long as you have the accuracy and higher BC I dont think a little lower velocity is a problem. Factory 280 Ackley Improved rifles. Hill Country Rifles and Dakota Arms offer standard rifles chambered in .280 AI, as do most custom riflemakers worth their salt. 175 Gr. Ackley (1903 - 1989), who designed the round, was a master of "improving" standard factory cartridges. This pushes the shoulder forwards to 40 degrees and minimizes body taper. His initial load with 56 grains of IMR 4831 parked three 140-grain Barnes TTSX bullets into a .5” group. Conclusion. Forty-five minutes and one small canyon-bottom river-crossing later, we approached the mountainside pocket with care, ready for the bull to explode from the brush like a small locomotive. Long live P.O. I use and appreciate magnums, but I don't love them. .280 Ackley Improved .280 Ackley Improved on the right One of P.O. I'm not a veteran of the .280 Ackley, though I've carried a secret crush on the cartridge for years. Basically it has the same parent case (30/06) as the 270 Win, 25-06 Rem and of course, the 280 Rem. I own several lightweight rifles, including 2 Kimber Montanas, Titanium Browning A-Bolt, 2 Tikka Superlights, Browning X-bolt, and a Forbes Rifle. Powders legendary in the .280 Ackley Improved are Reloder 22 and H4831. They performed well in the author's Nesika rifle, but Reloder 19 gave spectacular results with the 150-grain Barnes TTSX. 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