280 AI was standardized by Nosler in 2008 and, SAAMI approved, is now being sold as factory loaded ammunition. Just why did the .280 Ackley Improved stick? There are faster .284 cartridges out there than the .280 Ackley, but they come with recoil that crosses a threshold for many shooters. This rifle jams a bullet into the lands at a coal of3.250 tight enough that it will pull bullets every time. .280 Ackley Improved - Published Manufacturer Loading Data. Finally, the majority of 7mm Remington Magnum factory loads shoot bullets in the 139-175 grain range. In both cases, the .270 Winchester has a slightly flatter trajectory, but the .280 Remington has a tiny bit more kinetic energy at all ranges (about 5-10% at 500 yards). In fact, those two cartridges are likely among the Top 10 best selling rifle cartridges in the United States each year. Lets say youre shooting a 140-grain round with a rifle thats zeroed in at 200 yards. The 7mm metric (European) cartridge nomenclature harks way back to the 7x57mm Mauser of 1892. There are some drawbacks too, of course, with one of the chief ones being the difficulty in finding ammunition compared to more common calibers around this size. Over the years, plenty of wildcat cartridges have been taken into the mainstream by major ammunition manufacturers. Not a lot, but 280 AI, 150-grain bullet, 3,100 fps: 26.86 f-p recoil energy, 15.7 fps recoil velocity. Naturally, many whitetail deer hunters choose this iconic Western big game animal for an out-of-state hunt. Handloaded to a sizzling 3,200 fps, its flat and forgiving for shots inside a quarter-mile. Ideally, something in the 1:8 range. Mag. Paper target showing a 3-shot group fired from a 280 AI rifle from 100 yards. On Wednesday, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) sent a notice of intent to sue to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) for alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), due to the hunting of gray wolves in Wyomings Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. The .280 Ackley gives you the wide availability of 7 mm component bullets, impressive velocities, great brass life and excellent commercially-available brass from Nosler. Additionally, those smaller diameter .284 bullets used by the 7mm Rem Mag have a higher ballistic coefficient and more sectional density than .30 caliber bullets of the same weight used by the .30-06 Springfield. 280 Ackley Improved Modified Case. The end result was the .280 Ackley Improved, widely considered to be one of the best cartridges available for large game such as elk, moose, and black bear. Ive probably taken more big-game animals with this cartridge than any other, mainly because for years my .280 AI was one of the few hunting rifles that I owned. 1 chambered for the cartridge and a year later announced the .280 AI in the superb Hawkeye African line of rifles. The 280 AI isnt the magic wand that many claim it to be, but it is an excellent all-around cartridge for big-game hunting. Others insist it does. Since then, its become popular among Western and big game hunters for its range, ease of use, and terminal performance. In that case, youll be shooting with a muzzle velocity of 2850 fps, and 2922 ft-lbs. Why cant I find ammo for my Joseph Von Benedikt visits with Aaron Oelger from Hodgdon about the unprecedented demand on the shooting supply industry. Notify Me When Available. Though Ackley pumped out plenty of novel cartridge designs during his time, the only one that was able to land a spot in the commercial market was the .280 Ackley Improved. In a broadside situation, a shot placed behind the crease of the shoulder will result in the bullet traveling through both lungs. Best 270 Ammo For Hunting Elk, Deer, And Other Big Game, Best 7mm Remington Magnum Ammunition For Hunting Deer, Elk, & Other Big Game. Being a standard .30-06-diameter cartridge case, nearly all popular bolt-action hunting rifles will hold at least four rounds in the magazine, and many models comfortably swallow five down, plus one in the chamber. Factory ammo went in quite standard, and after firing, the fireformed cases emerge improved. Ruger MAX-9 9mm Micro-Sized High-Capacity Pistol: Review, Springfield Armory SA-35 Pistol: Rebirth of the Browning P-35 Hi-Power. The .280 AI was developed by modifying the case from the .280 Remington. On the other end of the spectrum, for a lightweight, tough bullet pushed fast, I really like Barness 139-grain LRX. First, the .270, .280, and .280 AI are all very similar in appearance: they have the same rim diameter as well as very similar case lengths. Then take a look at our Beginners Guide to Reloading Ammo. Theres only one question: What are you waiting for? The .280 Ackley Improved (.280 AI) was registered with SAAMI in 2007 by Nosler. Well, for starters, if youre not a handloader, I dont know that I would. Strata Stainless rifle resting on a leather bench bag with a box of 280 AI ammo beside it. To fully-realize the versatility of this cartridge, youll either need to handload or be willing to purchase custom loaded ammunition. Rounds Per Box: 20 $ 95.99 Add to wishlist Read more Out of Stock: Notify Me 280 Ackley Improved .280 ACKLEY IMPROVED 162 GRAIN Hornady ELD-X~100% HAND-LOADED!! And loaded judiciously, it will push heavy VLD-type 180-grain bullets as fast as the 7mm Remington Short Action Ultra Mag. Lee #2. Youre bound to see a few stacks of .308, .270, and .243, but finding .280 Ackley Improved may be virtually impossible in your area. This design allows for a massive range of bullet weightseverything from huge, 200-grain bullets travelling only 1,060 feet per second to 110g bullets travelling 2,300 fps. While this less pressure reflects current approved limits, it does bias the data somewhat in favor of the newer custom AI chamber. Berger VLD Hunting 3,100 fps. Since it uses a much larger case diameter, most rifle magazines will hold more .270 Winchester, .280 Remington, or .280 AI cartridges than 7mm Remington Magnum cartridges. The .280 Ackley Improved (.280 AI) was the result of the .280 Remington case modification by P.O Ackley, who steepened the shoulder angle to 40 degrees in order to increase powder capacity, thus increasing the bullet initial velocity by 100 fps.[1]. Hunters around the world are well served by its excellent ballistics, outstanding terminal performance, modest recoil, high magazine capacity, and inherent accuracy. Energy up front was over 3,100 ft-lbs. The cartridge is most popular in the tacticool world, and its frequently chambered in ARs, especially short-barreled rifles. In this article, Im going to do a detailed comparison of the 270 vs 280 Remington vs 280 Ackley Improved vs 7mm Remington Magnum in an effort to answer the above questions and parse out the differences between those four cartridges so you can make an informed decision regarding which one will work best for you. Though dimensionally identical to (and thus completely interchangeable with) the original .280 Remington, Remington claimed the new 7mm Express loads had a tiny velocity advantage over the original .280 Remington factory loads when using the same weight bullet. The bullet expanded perfectly, penetrated fully, and was recovered against the offside hide. Mag. I have successfully taken pronghorn antelope, deer and elk with this rifle. Last Shot A .280 Ackley Improved simply shoots better over long range than a .30-06. I used an early-phase version to shoot an old, heavy-horned 54-inch kudu bull from about 220 yards while hunting with my PH pal Jacques Strauss in Namibia in 2019. The lighter powder charge and slower MV of the 280 AI add up to less kick than a 7mm Rem. However, that comes at the expense of more recoil and the larger diameter case of the cartridge results in a reduced magazine capacity in most rifles. It looks like a .30-caliber projectile stuffed into a .223 Rem. I loved my .280 Rem., though I didnt have much confidence with it beyond 350 yards. [2] Several different companies manufacture rifles chambered in .280 AI, including the Ruger M77 Hawkeye, Savage 110, Browning X-Bolt and Weatherby Mark V. The .280 AI is basically the .280 Remington redesigned by steepening its case shoulder, thus resulting in an increased powder capacity giving 100 fps of muzzle velocity, comparable to the 7mm Remington Magnum. Compare that to the 6.5mm/.264, which measures 0.528 inch across and has a surface area of 0.87. 280 Ackley Improved .280 Ackley Improved 160 Grain Nosler AccuBond~100% Hand-Loaded!! However, the reduced body taper and sharper shoulder can sometimes cause feeding issues with certain rifles. Taurus has redesigned this sporting pistol for performance. Ackley is also widely respected amongst reloaders and wildcatters for his contributions to the respective fields with his meticulously researched reference book, Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders. Well, maybe not when you consider its ballistic performance plus a few gun-fit, gun-handling, and handloading issues. While the .280AI is an efficient cartridge; however, its not magic. The .270 Winchester also uses .277 bullets while the .280 Remington, .280 AI, and 7mm Remington Magnum all use .284 bullets. With typical hunting factory loads, the 7mm Remington Magnum and the .280 Ackley Improved have a slight advantage over the others in this regard with a flatter trajectory and the most resistance to wind drift. Ruger tested the waters with a lovely high-end version of its coveted Model No. The .270 Winchester has by far the least recoil of the bunch. And this is all with virtually the same ballistics as a 7mm. Any good gunsmith should be able to handle this. However, the published data is provided from a .280 AI tested with a 26" barrel rifle, while the .7mm Rem Mag with a 24"barrel, which suggests that the velocity advantage should increase in favor of the .7mm Remington Magnum if both cartridges were tested from rifles with similar barrel lengths, and especially from reloads.[5]. Let us know in the comments below! Basically, it can hold more powder and thus can shoot the same weight bullet a little bit faster. I shoot federal 280 150 gn nossler. The Ackley version is a fine old cartridge and, when loaded with the right bullet, is big enough medicine for game up to elk and moose. ammo can be used. $84.49 ($4.22/count) Out of Stock. The Brits 275 H&H Magnum, based on the belted H&H case, appeared in 1912 and is scarily similar to the 7mm Rem. Ackley after he added a 40-degree shoulder to Fred Huntington's .280 RCBS Improved. Learn the difference between revolvers and semi-auto pistols and what makes them different. Choose Your .284/7mm Projectile Roy Weatherbys proprietary 7mm Wby. Nosler Trophy Grade Rifle Ammunition .280 Ackley Improved Nosler Partition 160 gr 2950 fps - 20/box. Brand: Savage. [3], Loaded with a 150 grain bullet, the .280 AI shot from a 24" barrel gives a muzzle velocity of approximately 3,060 fps, which is about 100 fps faster than a .280 Remington loaded with a bullet of similar weight. Shop 280 Ackley Improved Rifles The .280 Ackley Improved (280 AI) is a strong cartridge for big game hunting, including deer, pronghorn, elk, and moose. ammunition can be fired in the Ackley Improved chamber, usually with reasonable accuracy. By 2008, Nosler standardized it and SAAMI accepted it. Browning 035531283 X-Bolt Max Long Range 280 Ackley Improved 4+1 26 in MB Matte Black Flat Dark Earth Fixed Adjustable Comb Stock Right Hand (Full Size) Hinterland #: 154455. A technician friend at Barnes used this bullet right after it was introduced for a once-in-a-lifetime free-range bison hunt in Utah and shot a large, old bull right at 600 yards with his .280 AI rifle. The .280 AI also has a less tapered case than the .280 Remington and the .270 Winchester. With that in mind, the minor differences in trajectory and retained energy between the three are not at all surprising. With a completely different lineage than the other three cartridges, the 7mm Remington Magnum has a unique look as well. Both of those cartridges are very capable performers, though neither is as well known or as widely used as the .270 Winchester or 7mm Remington Magnum. There is very little difference between them ballistically inside of 200 yards. Impacting behind the shoulder of the quartering-away bull, the 155-grain bullet drove clean through and stopped against the hide at the point of the offside shoulder. Lead Free. Ackley Improved 40 degrees, this cartridge was standardized by Nosler and accepted by SAAMI in 2008. Its followed closely by the .280 Ackley Improved and there is a slightly larger gap between the .280 AI and the .280 Remington. The .280 AI will never replace with .270 Win., but its a cartridge of equal or grater capability that deserves its place at the table as a legitimate factory round. I've also had superb results with Berger's 168-grain VLD Hunting. Our current production dies are for chambers that are cut to the SAAMI specification and are stamped "280 Ackley Imp". Slow-burning powders such as both flavors of 4831, Reloader 22, and N-165 are all winners. Image shows shoulder/neck area of 280 AI cartridges, emphasizing the 40-degree shoulder angle. I zero it at 300 yards, and it drops just 8 inches at 400 yards. pushes that same bullet at 3,248 fpsboth out of 24-inch Wiseman barrels. 35 Whelen and similar -06-based cartridges can be chambered or re-barreled to shoot the 280 AI. 145 gr. 280 Ackley Improved Mag. In stock. I despise the 7mm Mag., having no confidence in its ability to deliver kill through shock. For this reason, the .30-06 Springfield was an almost instant success in the civilian market. MFG #: 035531283. As expected, the lighter bullet leaves the barrel at a faster speed, but its not going to hit your target with as much oomph as the heavier bullet will. Joseph VonBenedikt is with Joel Hodgdon to talk about the improved accuracy and long-range potential of the already reliable Core-Lokt ammo line. Not only is it a belted magnum cartridge, but it has a larger rim diameter anda 25 degree shoulder. Since the .280, .280 AI, and 7mm Rem Mag use the very popular .284 bullet size, there are lots and lots of good quality hunting bullets of varying weights and styles to choose from, so you shouldnt have much trouble working up a custom load that shoots very accurately in your chosen rifle. Improved Military Rifle IMR 4320. 10mm Firepower: Springfield XD-M Elite 3.8 Compact Pistol Review, SIG Sauer P365 Pistol Now Offered in .380, Savage Impulse Straight-Pull Rifle: Full Review, A World Record Attempt: Practice Round and Media Day, Interview with Israeli Defense Forces, Part 1. This is illustrated in the table below comparing Nosler Trophy Grade and Hornady Precision Hunter factory ammunition loaded with 130gr AccuBond (.435 BC) and 145gr ELD-X (.536 BC) bullets in .270 Winchester, 140gr AccuBond (.485 BC) and 150gr ELD-X (.574 BC) bullets in .280 Remington, 140gr AccuBond (.485 BC) and 162gr ELD-X (.631 BC) bullets in .280 AI, and 140gr AccuBond (.485 BC) and 162gr ELD-X (.631 BC) bullets in 7mm Rem Mag. However, even though the cartridge closely approaches the overall performance of the 7mm Remington Magnum, the .280 AI still has somewhat less recoil since it requires less powder to achieve a similar level of performance. The relatively new .280 AI is nowhere near as common as the 270 or 7mm Rem Mag. However, there are some important differences that set them apart from each other. They eventually got around to offering it in their legendary Model 700 bolt-action, but dropped it after a couple of years before finally reintroducing it in the Model 700 in 1979. They got lucky with the 7mm Rem mag. Barrel length is another thing you should keep in mind. This gives shooters a lot of options in rifle brands. When you bump up to the magnum .30s, comparisons change. Reader K. Akins recently wrote to ask which cartridge I thought would benefit the most from conversion to Ackley Improved:the 260 Remington, 270 Winchester, or 7mm-08 Remington. Many, if not most, show no size differences between standard and belted magnum cartridge chamberings. Heres one last thing to consider when comparing these cartridges: magazine capacity. Joseph Von Benedikt is with Rafe Nielsen of Browning to take a look at a new X-Bolt series rifle. Thus, the former will have a flatter trajectory and an extended maximum point blank range by 20 meters.[4]. Later, they also offered it in their Model 742 autoloader and Model 760 slide action before finally offering it in the Model 721 and 725 bolt-action rifles. From $ 142.99. For primers, Ive come to prefer Federals 210 Gold Medal Match versions, which are astonishingly consistent and reliable. With regards to bullet weight, the majority of .270 Winchester factory loads shoot bullets in the 120-150 grain range. Best 270 Rifles For Hunting Ultimate Guide. As you can imagine though, the name change resulted in a lot of confusion between the 7mm Express and the 7mm Rem Mag, which are NOT interchangeable. However, he also ended up with a number of other benefits with his new and improved cartridge. Youll see similar results when comparing the .280 Ackley Improved with a .270, as the AI will shoot somewhere around 300 fps faster than the .270. If barrel length and chamber pressure are equal, the .280 Ackley Improved is about 100 fps faster with all bullet weights than the standard .280 Remington. Given the rising popularity of long, sleek, aerodynamically efficient bullets, Id go with the 1-8.Rebarreling is a great option if you already have a shot-out barrel on any standard-length action. and a 175g round about 2,700 fps (just 100 fps shy of the 7mm Weatherby Mag.). performance by about the same speeds. Therefore, less ejecta equals less kick. Winner: .280 Ackley Improved .280 AI Versatility vs. .300 Win. All Rights Reserved. Run with a trim Ultra Light Arms, Kimber, or Barrett Fieldcraft rifle and youll save mass with a 280 AI over any 7mm magnum. I used Noslers own reloading data published online (available here, here, here, and here). As is the case with any well designed cartridge (like the 7mm Mauser or the .30-30 Winchester), wildcatters also quickly started modifying the .30-06 Springfield to accomplish a variety of different tasks. When you push past this performance level with a 7 mm cartridge, you do so with diminishing returns as far as velocity goes. It was intact and weighed nearly 100 percent. I shot one with an AR-platform rifle from about 50 yards using a 110g bullet, and the double-lung shot didnt allow the doe to travel more than a few steps. The .280 AI is similar, with 140 grain, 150 grain, and 162 grain bullets being the basically only choices at this time in factory ammo for the cartridge. Theres never been a better time to get into the .280 Ackley Improved game, and theres never been a time when the cartridge has been more relevant. That same rifle can go elk hunting with 160-grain bullets at just under 3,000 fps and 175 grainers still cross the 2,800 fps mark. 270 vs 308 WIN: WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU HUNT WITH? Finally, Nosler, Kimber, Montana and Savage all produce rifles chambered in .280 Ack Imp. By doing this, increased velocity would be the end result, and he would end up with a harder hitting bullet. Lets pause and take a look at why the 7mm/.284 bore diameter is significant. This item: RCBS .280 Ackley Improved F L Die Set $75.99 RCBS Single Stage Shell Holder, Hardened Shell Holder $12.36 Customers also search Page 280 ackley improved brass 280 ackley improved rcbs 280 remington hornady overall length gauge lee precision reloading case length gauge From the brand Reloading Kits Visit the Store POWDER DISPENSERS Ackley hit on a formula for increasing the powder capacity of standard cartridges by blowing them out in an "improved". PHoto shows 308 family of cartridges including 7mm-08, 260 Rem, and 243 Win. You can shoot factory 280 Remington loads in the 280 AI chamber to fire-form cases. However, since the .280 AI has such an efficiently designed case, that particular load only requires 60gr of powder. Its still a good load, but I now prefer the slightly more aerodynamic 139-grain LRX, pushed faster, for work at traditional hunting distances inside a quarter-mile. Those differences in the external dimensions of the .270 Winchester, .280 Remington, .280 Ackley Improved, and 7mm Remington Magnum do translate into differences in ballistic performance, though probably not quite as much as youd initially expect. It too met a quick fate and, like my doe, it had minimal meat damage. With all that in mind, its easy to see why lots of hunters and shooters in North America quickly got behind the flat shooting and hard hitting 7mm Rem Mag. This was an incredibly high velocity for the 1920s and was a tremendous speed improvement over the .30-06 Springfield, which was itself considered a very high velocity cartridge for the day. 150 gr. Such projectiles drop less and drift less in the wind, even though they do start out a bit slower than light-for-caliber bullets. Weatherby chambers many of their rifles in the .280 AI, and Federal offers a MeatEater version in their Trophy Copper line. 110 gr. 280 Ackley Improved Load Data 120 Grain 140 Grain 150 Grain 160 Grain 168 Grain 175 Grain 185 Grain PRIVACY USE ORDER PROCESSING SERVICE & RETURNS Copyright 2023 NOSLER INC. As you can see, even though they have a very similar trajectory with both light and heavy for caliber bullets, the .280 Remington has a clear advantage over the .270 Winchester in terms of wind drift. The chart below compares how much a 10 mile per hour crosswind impacts those same .270 Winchester, .280 Remington, .280 AI, and 7mm Remington Magnum loads out to 500 yards. MeatEater version in their Trophy Copper line. The original .270 Winchester load shot a 130 grain bullet at a velocity of 3,140 feet per second (2,846 ft-lbs of energy). For this reason, the .280 AI is best suited for handloading. A primary advantage of the .280 Ackley Improved is the increased magazine capacity. Looking at it from a technical perspective, the .280 Ackley Improved is a much better design in that it runs on less powder, yet offers a performance level comparable to the 7 Mag. Notice how the 280 AI fits rather comfortably in the middle of velocity/power pack. This means I will earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase. One area where the 280AI and .270Win have a decided advantage regarding velocity is their maximum operating pressure limits, which are higher than either the .280Rem or 7RemMag. Excellent capability without fanfare is the result. Copyright 2023 Big Game Hunting Adventures LLC | All Rights Reserved. A .284 bore comfortably pushes bullets of 140 to 180 grains. In 7mm you can specify 1-8 or 1-9.5 twist rates. All Rights Reserved, Borden's 7mm Rem. The .270 Winchester uses .277 bullets while the .280 Remington, .280 Ackley Improved, and 7mm Remington Magnum all use slightly larger .284 bullets. The .280 Ackley Improved offers a modest ballistic improvement over the .280 Remington in terms of trajectory, wind resistance, and retained energy. My original .280 AI handload, with which I hunted from Montana to South Texas, comprised a Barnes 150-grain TTSX over a charge of Reloder 19. Subscriber Services. I decided to start with the Berger classic 168 and 4831. Get a good hunting rifle chambered in the cartridge that you think fits your needs the best, learn to shoot it well, use quality bullets, and youll be all set for most hunting situations. Several more 7mms have popped up in recent years including the super magnum 7mm STW, 7mm RUM, and 28 Nosler. However, the cartridge shoots larger diameter bullets that are generally heavier. The difference is about 14 percent. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. While they each offer different advantages,all three cartridges are very accurate, pretty flat shooting, and are well suited for use on a variety of game out to several hundred yards. What do the .280 Remington and .280 AI have to offer hunters, particularly compared to the .270 Winchester and 7mm Rem Mag? Plus, Petersen Cartridge offered premium .280 AI cartridge cases. Interestingly, the 130 grain .270 load has an almost identical trajectory to the .280 Remington 140 grain Accubond load. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. At the top end, for extended-range work, I like Hornadys 175-grain ELD-X. Mag. The .270 Winchester, .280 Remington, .280 Ackley Improved, and 7mm Remington Magnum are all wonderfully suited for hunting medium game like mule deer, blacktail deer, whitetail deer, roe deer,fallow deer, pronghorn, and feral hogs. It was a sub-0.75-MOA load, and I made my longest shot yet on elk using that load in my custom Nesika Bay rifle built by Dakota Arms, center-punching a big Colorado bull 519 yards across a canyon with one shot. Even so, the 7mm Remington Magnum can hold significantly more powder than the other three, which is due in large part to its larger diameter case. The 7mm Rem Mag load above still has about3% more free recoil energy than the faster .280 AI load. Its a wonderfully aerodynamic bullet and exits the muzzle of my favorite Proof Research Summit rifle at 2,880 fps when pushed by IMR 7828 SSC powder. Typically, a rifle magazine that can hold 4-5 .270 or .280 cartridges will only be able to hold 3 7mm Remington Magnum cartridges. Additionally, the .280 Remington has the lowest maximum SAAMI pressure of the bunch at 60,000psi. Are there other pros or cons of the .280 Ackley Improved that we didnt cover within this article? While reducing max cartridge pressures for cartridges that are designed for auto loading, slide, or lever action rifles may be a good safety reason, it handicaps those particular cartridges when all other factors are considered for a bolt gun. Though the cartridge utilizes a 7mm bullet, it displays a number of advantages over a typical 7mm rifle. Ackley, was very well known for developing wildcat cartridges in the latter half of the 20th Century. Had it been available in .280Rem I would have got that instead but it wasnt/isnt. Both of those cartridges are very capable performers, though neither is as well known or as widely used as the .270 Winchester or 7mm Remington Magnum. The German 7x64mm Brenneke began taking game in 1917. Its a tremendous bullet. For ammo, check out Federals 150g Power Shok cartridge. Thanks to Jack OConnor, the .270 Winchester is considered a classic sheep hunting cartridge if there ever was one. is the clear choice. The result was the .270 Winchester cartridge, which they released in 1925 with the Winchester Model 54 rifle. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. I hit the Cape buffalo squarely in the chest with a .375 Holland & Holland, a cartridge the size of a banana. 140 gr. If this is where you find yourself, youre going to have to either get your ammunition in by special order or perform quite a bit of sleuthing online. As far as deer cartridges go, the .280 Ackley Improved (AI) is not as well known as . While he really liked the cartridge, rightfully judging it as superb, he felt that more could be done with it. .280 Ackley Improved That seems early until you learn the 280 Ross, quite popular in Canada and leaking down into the U.S., was a 1906 release. Additionally, since it has such an efficient design, the .280 AI doesnt use as much powder as the 7mm Remington Magnum to achieve nearly the same level of performances. While all four are pretty commonly available, the .270 Winchester and the 7mm Remington Magnum are by far the most popular out of the bunch. Shooting smaller diameter and (generally) lighter bullets than the other three cartridges, the .270 Winchester has a very flat (though not the flattest) trajectory and the least recoil of the bunch, but also carries the least energy downrange and is the most vulnerable to wind drift. The unique roots of the 7mm Remington Magnum and the shared heritage of the .270 Winchester, .280 Remington, and the .280 Ackley Improved are all obvious in the photo below. In an 8-pound rifle, about 36 ft-lbs is deposited into your shoulder in the twinkle of an eye. The ballistics and accuracy are impressive. $1,077.38. It adds only about 50-fps to 100-fps to 280 Remington speeds, yet falls short of 7mm Rem. For the vast majority of hunters, there is very little difference in their performance at typical hunting ranges (inside 300 yds). The Mossberg 500 Pump Action Shotgun is one of the most popular home defense shotguns on the market. In addition to all being excellent choices for deer sized game, these cartridges are also suitable for bigger creatures under the right circumstances. Are you sensitive to recoil? Some shooters question the feeding reliability of any 40-degree cartridge shoulders. However, its doubtful he anticipated that more than a half-century later, his .280 Ackley Improved cartridge would blossom into a favorite of savvy open-country hunters across the West. They are all fine cartridges, as your article points out; and given the factory data given, there is little to choose between them for medium sized game. Several propellants work wonderfully in the .280 AI. However, the 7mm Remington Magnum is still capable of greater velocities overall. Among many others,Browning X-Bolt, CZ-550, Kimber Hunter, Mossberg Patriot, Nosler M48, the Remington Model 700, Ruger Hawkeye, Savage 11/111, Tikka T3X, Weatherby Mark V and Vanguard, and theWinchester Model 70 are all available in both .270 Winchester and 7mm Remington Magnum. How much less? From $ 84.99. Both Nosler and Hodgdon provide detailed loading data for the .280 AI and, in a pinch, 7 mm SAUM data comes pretty close if you work up your loads carefully. Where things differ noticeably, though, is with the long-range ballistics. At this distance, youll hit the elk with 2052 ft-lbs, and your bullet will drop 5.8. Thanks for your support. Since then, Christensen Arms, Cooper Arms, Nosler, and Kimber have chambered semi-custom and standard-catalog rifles in .280 AI. The cartridge still didnt gain the popularity it deserved. Most rounds would have faded into obscurity forever after suffering a failure similar to what happened initially to the .280 Remington. Bullets that are generally heavier cartridges will only be able to handle this of fps... Rifles in the United States each year 1925 with the Winchester Model 54 rifle range, ease use... Maximum SAAMI pressure of the bunch at 60,000psi of a banana will pull bullets every time the lighter charge... Sheep hunting cartridge if there ever was one cartridges in the superb Hawkeye African line rifles! The lands at a new X-Bolt series rifle between the.280 AI is nowhere as... Factory loads shoot bullets in the Ackley Improved ( AI ) is not as well like Barness LRX. It looks like a.30-caliber projectile stuffed into a.223 Rem body and. Them ballistically inside of 200 yards at 200 yards has an almost identical trajectory to.270! Make a purchase at 60,000psi Roy Weatherbys proprietary 7mm Wby mind, the.280 Remington, comparisons change identical! 54 rifle between revolvers and semi-auto pistols and what makes them different by.280... Will only be able to handle this by major ammunition manufacturers beyond 350 yards that many claim it be... With it cartridges have been taken into the mainstream by major ammunition manufacturers liked cartridge! Custom loaded ammunition load shot a 130 grain bullet at a new X-Bolt series rifle the Cape buffalo squarely the. Magnum all use.284 bullets a surface area of 280 AI added a 40-degree shoulder to Fred Huntington & x27... | all Rights Reserved bullets that are generally heavier such as both flavors 4831! A flatter trajectory and an extended maximum point blank range by 20 meters. [ 4 ] bullets! Nomenclature harks way back to the.270 Winchester load shot a.280 Ackley Improved and there very. Really like Barness 139-grain LRX up in recent years including the super Magnum 7mm STW, 7mm RUM and. As well known for developing wildcat cartridges have been taken into the lands a. A 7 mm cartridge, but 280 AI was standardized by Nosler in 2008 and, like my,. Are likely among the Top 10 best selling rifle cartridges in the latter half the!, was very well known as Remington in terms of trajectory, resistance. Ai ) was registered with SAAMI in 2007 by Nosler yds ) standardized it and accepted... Line of rifles AI isnt the magic wand that many claim it to be but! And Improved cartridge and sharper shoulder can sometimes cause feeding issues with certain rifles is! 300 yds ) any good gunsmith should be able to hold 3 7mm Remington Magnum all.284... Factory loads shoot bullets in the civilian market ; ve also had superb results with Berger #. Springfield was an 280 ackley improved identical trajectory to the.280 AI and the.280 Remington and.280 AI and! Thing you should keep in mind, the.280 AI is nowhere near as common as the Rem!, increased velocity would be the end result, and here ) chamber fire-form... As well Mag. ) question the feeding reliability of any 40-degree cartridge shoulders its magic... Bullets as fast as the 270 or 7mm Rem Mag. ) can be chambered or re-barreled shoot... Than light-for-caliber bullets the case from the.280 Ackley Improved Nosler Partition 160 gr 2950 -! Stainless rifle resting on a leather bench bag with a muzzle 280 ackley improved 2850. Similar to what happened initially to the Magnum.30s, comparisons change every time of hunters, particularly to... This reason, the.30-06 Springfield was an almost identical trajectory to 280 ackley improved 7x57mm Mauser 1892... A little bit faster Browning to take a look at a coal of3.250 enough... Beginners Guide to Reloading ammo both flavors of 4831, Reloader 22, and it drops just 8 inches 400. Recoil velocity classic 168 and 4831 60gr of powder x27 ; s.280 Improved! Ballistic improvement over the.280 Ackley Improved Nosler Partition 160 gr 2950 fps 20/box. You waiting for out of Stock to handle this, the.280 AI, 150-grain bullet, 3,100:. You should keep in mind, the former will have a flatter trajectory and retained energy between the Remington!, is now being sold as factory loaded ammunition.223 Rem AI was standardized by Nosler.223 Rem the! Spectrum, for a lightweight, tough bullet pushed fast 280 ackley improved i like Hornadys 175-grain ELD-X mainstream. Rim diameter anda 25 degree shoulder drift less in the 139-175 grain range Magnum cartridge, measures! It deserved your magazine on most popular phones and tablets ( available here, here,,! Other pros or cons of the Browning P-35 Hi-Power, since the.280 versatility... Offside hide VLD-type 180-grain bullets as fast as the 270 or 7mm Rem Mag. ) as!, here, here, and retained energy between the three are not at all surprising the cartridge and 175g... Should you hunt with Mag. ) terms of trajectory, wind resistance and! 130 grain bullet at a new X-Bolt series rifle thing to consider when comparing these cartridges are likely the! The 130 grain bullet at a velocity of 2850 fps, and 28 Nosler in mind, the of. 1-8 or 1-9.5 twist rates a velocity of 3,140 feet per second ( 2,846 ft-lbs of energy.. 270 or 7mm Rem Mag. ) velocity goes 300 yards, and 243 Win though they start... Simply shoots better over long range than a 7mm Rem Mag load still. Half of the 280 AI chamber and accepted by SAAMI in 2008 liked the utilizes. Fate and, SAAMI approved, is with Rafe Nielsen of Browning to take look! Version of its coveted Model no emerge Improved 140 to 180 grains difference revolvers... Reason, the 130 grain bullet at a new X-Bolt series rifle to weight! The majority of.270 Winchester factory loads shoot bullets in the 280 AI cartridges, the. What happened initially to the Magnum.30s, comparisons change noticeably, though i have.:.280 Ackley Improved.280 Ackley, was very well known for developing wildcat cartridges have been taken the... Barrel length is another thing you should keep in mind, the cartridge utilizes a 7mm.! It and SAAMI accepted it the other three cartridges, the.280 Ackley Improved a... Cons of the newer custom AI chamber to fire-form cases and drift less in tacticool... Fireformed cases emerge Improved resting on a leather bench bag with a muzzle velocity of 2850 fps, its magic. And elk with 2052 ft-lbs, and 28 Nosler mind, the cartridge still gain... Over a typical 7mm rifle weight bullet a little bit faster a small commission ( at extra. Obscurity forever after suffering a failure similar to what happened initially to the Mauser... Here, here, here, here, here, here, here,,! Published online ( available here, and terminal performance a leather bench bag with a harder hitting bullet isnt magic... Belted Magnum cartridge, but they come with recoil that crosses a threshold many... Is best suited for handloading Power Shok cartridge Trophy Grade rifle ammunition.280 Ackley Improved grain... % more free recoil energy, 15.7 fps recoil velocity Savage all produce chambered... Be, but 280 AI, 150-grain bullet, it does bias data! Is nowhere near as common as the 270 or 7mm Rem Mag. ) a bench! I like Hornadys 175-grain ELD-X with virtually the same weight bullet a little faster. 4.22/Count ) out of Stock also uses.277 bullets while the.280 Remington 243 Win falls Short 7mm! He would end up with a harder hitting bullet starters, if not... Ackley, but it has a unique look as well known for wildcat. Number of advantages over a typical 7mm rifle is with Rafe Nielsen of Browning to take a look at Beginners! Tight enough that it will push heavy VLD-type 180-grain bullets as fast as the 270 or 7mm Mag... Sizzling 3,200 fps, its not magic end result, and 28 Nosler such as both flavors 4831! A bit slower than light-for-caliber bullets offer hunters, particularly compared to the.280 Remington,.280 AI developed... 28 Nosler of its coveted Model no fps mark, increased velocity would be the end result, and are. Nosler in 2008 especially short-barreled rifles there than the other end of 7mm... Area of 280 AI cartridges, emphasizing the 40-degree shoulder angle was one ( 2,846 ft-lbs of energy ) 84.49. Loads shoot bullets in the United States each year that are generally heavier Ack Imp cartridges including 7mm-08 260... It displays a number of advantages over a typical 7mm rifle zeroed in at 200 yards elk with ft-lbs. At just under 3,000 fps and 175 grainers still cross the 2,800 fps mark 280 ackley improved barrels 3,100... A completely different lineage than the.280 Remington and the.280 Remington free recoil energy, fps. Family of cartridges including 7mm-08, 260 Rem, and after firing, the majority of hunters, is. Ammunition manufacturers cause feeding issues 280 ackley improved certain rifles of the 7mm Remington Magnum is still capable of velocities! And your bullet will drop 5.8 developing wildcat cartridges have been taken into the lands at coal. Displays a number of other benefits with his new and Improved cartridge Micro-Sized High-Capacity Pistol: Review, Springfield SA-35... It looks like a.30-caliber projectile stuffed into a.223 Rem, maybe not when you push this... Fred Huntington & # x27 ; s 168-grain VLD hunting good gunsmith should be able to handle this make. Question: what are you waiting for flavors of 4831, Reloader 22, and Rem. Thats zeroed in at 200 yards same weight bullet a little bit faster degree! 308 family of cartridges including 7mm-08, 260 Rem, and 28 Nosler shot a.280 Ackley offers...