Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Help me customize my Model 70 .300 WSM...

That seems on the hot side for a standard 280 to be launching a 162 at that speed...?

How about the .308 208g amax? Hornady's website is showing a better bc than that of the .284 162g bullet. How are those? Never shot them, but would like to learn...

It's not far off what a .280 is capable of, not to mention the short bearing surface of the 162AM. I have not seen any pressure signs at all, even in the heat of summer. Works for me.

Jordan makes a good point. '06 can drive a 165-168 to 2900+-. Same case, smaller bearing surface, slow burning fuel. Why not?

Hornady is only showing a max of 2900fps with a 7 Rem mag, and that bullet/powder combo, and their test barrel was 24". Something doesn't add up. A 280 isn't even a 280AI, let alone a magnum...I am 3000fps with a 280AI and 150's.

I think it just goes back to the YMMV thing. I'm sure people see a lot better numbers than that outta their 7RMs, and maybe some see slower. Boxer I believe runs his 162 AMs at 3100 out of his 7WSM. It'll be sweet if I can run em at the speed Jordan does, anyway!

You are asking for a Kaboom if you are chasing Jordan's speeds. If you want more speed, get it punched out to an AI, or get a Mag. 100fps isn't going to matter anyway, especially with a turret.

Boxer usually runs moly, and is his 7WSM out of a 22" tube?

Sorry, I am just not buying 2947fps from a standard 280 out of a 22" tube, there has to be high pressure hiding in that equation.

You could be right! I don't plan on starting anywhere near those max loads. I still gotta get a turret then I'll happily run those a lot slower!

Take your 280 down to Gre-Tan in Rifle, and have him punch it to a 280AI.

I'm getting 3105fps with a 24" 7WSM using 67gr of IMR7828ssc. Boxer is getting 3150fps using moly.

The 2950fps mark is entirely do-able from a .280, and I'm not the only one to hit that speed. The 7RM should be closer to 3100fps at the upper end, not 2900fps. The A-Max tends to give a bit better velocity than other 160gr bullets because of the shorter bearing surface, to boot.

Regardless, I recommended he WORK UP to that load. If he finds pressure before getting to 60gr, he should stop. Pretty simple.

Jordan, how are you testing pressure? All your loads are redlined. High pressure can be present long before you feel a stiff bolt, or see ejector marks etc.

No they're not. Just a couple are redlined

If I never ever see any signs of excessive pressure, even in the heat of summer, then where's the problem? I couldn't care less if there is "high pressure" if I can never detect it in any way. It does not negatively affect me at all. There are plenty of guys running 140gr bullets in the .280 at 3100fps (I get 3050fps in my rifle), but I don't see them catching any flack? Plenty of guys getting 3100fps with 160's in a 7RM. The .280, .280AI, and 7Mag are not rated to the same SAAMI pressure, so you can't linearly compare what you think the velocities should be from each cartridge, even though the rifles and actions may be identical.

Very nice moose.


I have just started experimenting with the 162 AMax and 7828 in my .280AI.

So far so good. Excellent accuracy at 100 yards and 2840 fps out the spout.

After deer season I will do some more at longer distances.

Disregarding the low pressures the 280 is SAAMI'ed at, it just seems logical that the 280 could hit that number with THAT bullet. The 280 was totally short-changed on it's pressure rating I think.

dogcatcher... I don't think I'll ackley this particular rifle, because I don't think the 280 AI would shine in the little 22 inch barrel it has. What say you?

BTW, I should mention that in the 7WSM, I'm on the 5th firing of the WW brass that I use for that load, and in the .280 I'm on the 11th firing on the RP brass that I use, and in all cases the primer pockets are still tight, case head expansion is not out of the ordinary, and there are no other pressure signs (unless I jam the bullet hard into the lands, in which case I get the odd extractor mark or mildly stiff bolt lift). Both loads in question are using the 162gr A-Max, like I mentioned before.

What do you find yourself shooting at game more Jordan, 162 AM or 140 TSX?

I typically carry the rifle with a mag full of 140gr TTSX for jump shots or shots within 400 yards, where I need penetration and a bullet that holds together more than a high BC. I also carry a few A-Maxes for any shot that I may need to take over 400 yards...

Interesting, cuz those 140 TTSX have a decent BC too!

Would you consider a 280 AI in a 22 inch barrel, or leave it as standard 280?

Going AI certainly won't hurt anything. It will give you a velocity gain and cut down on your case trimming. I have a 7RM with a 21.5" barrel that does just fine by me. My own .280 is still a standard .280, and I have no plans of going AI. It's a Ruger Hawkeye, and also has a 22" barrel, FWIW. My opinion- if you want to go AI, go AI. A standard .280 kills stuff just fine, but the AI has certain perks.

The 140 TTSX has a decent BC, but .412 certainly don't stack up to .625 when the range gets long and the wind blows

Yeah, I've gotta get SOME velocity increase... be it a lot or a little. Plus... AI is just cool.