Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Anybody loading the Barnes 145 gr. LRX in the .280 ?

I've tried them with my rifle's favorite loads for the 140 gr. TSX, 56 and 57 grs. of Ramshot Hunter. While the 140 TSX shot MOA, the 145 gr. LRX went about 4 MOA. And that's out of a custom rifle with a Pac-Nor SM, SS barrel.
The bullet is very long, 1.43 inches to be exact. That means it's way down below the case shoulder when loaded at 3.34 COL.
Got some loads with the new IMR 4451 to try. Starting at 50 grs and going to 51 and 52 grs.
Anybody have any experience with this combination ? E

My 280 Ackley shot them well with RL-19..

2 inches is about as good as it gets from my #1..sorta disappointed since the 127 gr 6.5 does so well in my Swede and 6.5-06 AI.

In my 280 AI with RL22 they shoot to the same POI and with the same accuracy as the 140 TTSX (3 shots touching at 100). With the 145s, I drop down about 1.5 grains or so from the load I use with the TTSX.

What is your twist rate? Though I can't imagine that would be the issue, unless it's really slow. A 9" twist should stabilize them fine

I just barely got started with them in one of the 280s. So far about 1.2MOA or so. Need to tweak some more...

My rifle's barrel has a 1-10 twist rate. Barnes doesn't say it needs to be faster for that bullet. That, and the ammo I've shot shows no signs of tipping, etc.
In regards to loads, I gather a reduction of about 1.5 grs. under the 140 gr. TSX/TTSX loads is about right. E

OK, to rehash. 56-57 grs. of Ramshot Hunter, which shoots really well with 140 gr. TSX's ran 2.28 @ 56 grs. and 1.8 MOA at 57 grs. Going from a WLR primer to a WLRM blew the group to 3.83 MOA.....
Tried IMR's new 4451. Same Remington brass, WLR's and COL, 3.31. 50 grs. shot right at 3.0 MOA. But 51 grs. went 1.1 MOA. 52 grs. went 1.2 MOA.
So, now I need to approach the top end of say 53.5-54.5 grs. and see if I get pressure signs. I also need to shoot it at 300 yds. to see how much it drops.
I feel pretty good about these loads. They shoot the same zero as my predator load, the 110 gr. Speer TNT over 43.5 grs. of H4895. E

In my 1:9 AI I'm getting sub half MOA with IMR4350. Little on the slow side, but damn accurate

They love RL22 in mine. Never had an issue with temps either. Was out shooting it again yesterday. Although I generally don't even shoot over 75 degrees, so the upper temp range isn't an issue.

My Tikka build shoots those and the 140 TTSX to the exact same elevation, but the 140 TTSX are about 2" left in windage.

I'm actually considering pulling the TTSX's and just running the LRX, because of this and that it likes them better anyhow. In my former 280 (Cooper) they both were close enough to use either one (maybe a slight elevation difference), if anything.

What velocity are you guys getting from the LRX?

Solid 3100 out of a 25" 280 AI. By the way, Barnes now has data online for the 280 AI, including that bullet. But, Hunter powder is the one they used for top velocity.

IMR4350 is only getting 2970 last I checked from 24"

Too accurate to complain about though

That's only slightly lower than what Barnes says for that bullet and powder. They quote 3034 with 55.0

Not in 280 but in 7mm rem mag with RL22 with very nice results.