Need what works for you in this caliber. I’ll be out of factory ammo this season. She shoots the Barnes Vor-Tex TSX 140’s like a laser beam, several notches on the sling for deer, elk and bear. That said Barnes discontinued 280 factory loading and they won’t divulge what the recipe was either. I’ll be out of the reloading game for awhile longer yet, so that option is still out the window for now. I’m looking and reading, but I’m way out of the loop on all the new factory bullet offerings and knowing what is best for what. My three targets, what would you shoot out of a 280 at them. Nope not gonna get anything else, had this rifle since I was 10 and know it better than the garbage man knows my ex wife.



Owl

What’s your twist?

One of the fastest kills on a grizzly I ever seen was with a 280 and the Barnes 140 grain bullet. I was guiding Cody Robbins and remade a fantastic shot at about 200 yards. The bear just rolled over. Its been on TV a few times now. The Hornady ELD seems to be a good bullet. Maybe try those, Hornady loads them in their factory stuff. 150 grain bullets I think. Good luck

1 in 9.25. It should stabilize just about anything.



Owl

My advice is to just buy a few different loads and see what the rifle likes. What works in one rifle may not work well in another. Plus, just because it has stabilized a certain weight bullet in the past doesn’t necessarily mean it will stabilize a different shape/profile bullet of similar weight.

Yea, I was trying to cut a fat hog and eliminate a little guess work. I know it doesn’t like green and gold cup/core I wish it did.



Owl

Another vote for Hornady.
I’ve shot it in 308, 222 and 7x57 with great results.
Now they also offer Superformance ammo too.

Also know a few guys that had good results with Federal Fusion ammo.

I would try Federal Premium with the 140 gr Nosler Accubond.

<<>> oops I meant Federal Premium like Ed said.

You know it likes the 140 Barnes just find the powder to go with it rather than changing weigh and brand of bullet.

I shoot 140 Accubonds and have had no problems
on deer. Always.a pass through ...


I
Donnie

Try federal premium trophy copper or anything off the premium line

Off the shelf I shoot Federal Premiums in everything. Overall I have been very pleased.

Osky

Hornady ammo loaded with the 162 gr ELD-X. You’ll like it if your gun shoots them well. Trust me.

the bullet is still available

if you have a few left I would get them over a chronograph then start building the round. there are people who will load you exactly what you want.

there is a shop here that has a guy with with a class 6 FFL to manufacture ammo you bring them what your looking for and they will make it for you. I don't know about cost. I know whe startrs off making a ladder of rounds you tell him what shot best.

or

a basic reloading kit single stage press is around 140 add a set of dies for about 40 and for right about 200 +powder , Primer and Projectile you can be making ammo to do exactly what you want.

buy up a lifetime supply of that bullet , powder and reload exactly your round for the rest of your life.if you have saved your brass used so far you probably won't even need any brass 5 reloading's before annealing if you have 100 pieces of brass you could reload 500 rounds before annealing , if you anneal every 5 you can probably make the brass last for well ove 2000 rounds especially if you neck size only until your 5th as long as you are running a bolt action rifle. that is probably a life time at the rate you have been shooting

I was talking with a gun smith who wanted to know how many times you could realistically reload a case I think he said he used a 7mm-08 1 case 100 bullets and brought his portable reloading setup to the range , in a morning at the range he loaded and fired 100 rounds normal pressure loads from that piece of brass , I recall him saying he annealed the brass every 5 or 10 rounds and neck sized.
the answer is more than 100 if your careful.

I have lost track of how many reloads I have on some of my 308 brass neck sizing only 8-10 maybe

Have two 280s and a 280AI. All like Sierra 140 grain Gamekings with flat bases. I only hunt whitetail deer in the East. Use same bullet in 7-08. I don’t need a premium bullet where I hunt. I want rapid expansion and DRT performance at about 2900+ ft per second. I am too old to track or drag a deer.

The reloading will have to wait. I understand it, have done it, will do it again for sure, just not right now. I have all the equipment, a good supply of bullets, brass, powder, always working on more, in time. Lefty, I’m still searching, even the kids are looking, way more computer savvy than I am. Pete, good call on the customer loaders, I didn’t even think of that avenue, thanks.

Thanks everybody.



Owl

I have 3 280 rem rifles and 280AI kimber. I have the savage long range hunter 280AI on order. U can say I like the 280 rem. I started out loading 139gr sst bullet with RL19. I am shooting a Speer 130gr hot core bullet in another. I load a Berger 140gr VLD in last one. I load a 168gr Berger VLD in 280AI. After I shoot all my 139gr sst up. Going to all Berger bullets. But I have 6 or 700 139gr sst on hand.

Ive got 4 unopened boxes of the Barnes 140 TTSX that you speak of. Scooped them up when i saw they made my 280 do magical things! Not sure if I want to part with them, but hey, everything has a price... (Make an offer.)