7mm 160 Accubond on elk?

Verminator2

Verminator2

Active member
I have a great load with the 160 Accubonds, but they are only going 2750 out of my .280 AI. What are your experiences with the 160 Accubonds on big game? I'm wondering if I would be better served by a faster 140 (accubond or TTSX) on elk. Sorry if this is a little repetitive, I didn't want to hijack the other thread.

Thanks.
 
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Fantastic elk medicine. I will be using either the 160 AB or 160 Partition this year at about 2850-2900 out of my 280 AI. 140 or 150gr (Insert premo bullet name here) will work well also. Heavier bullets just drive deeper. Elk are big animals so a rifle does not need to be .5 tack driver for them. Good luck this year.
 
What powder are you using to get 2850 out of your .280 AI? Maybe its just the difference in chambers/barrels, but I jumped a full 1.5 grains of H4831SC and got almost no increase in velocity.
 
55grs of RL22 with CCI 200's.... Where you going to be elk hunting at in OR? Thats where I am headed Sept 1st.
 
My dad and I drew tags for the first season Silvies Rifle bull tag. With the burn a couple of years ago, should be some really good elk hunting in there for a couple years. I think the season starts the last week of October, or close to it.

I'm using 55grs of H4831, RL22 must be just a little faster? I might have to see if I can find somebody with a little. I definately want enough "oomph" to get through the shoulder of an elk.
 
Sent you a PM. Good luck to you and your dad over in Silvies. Should be able to get a nice bull. Is he shooting a 280AI also?

Almost curious if he is chuckling to himself because he is just buying a off the shelf box of 270 or 3006 remington cor loks. While your wondering how to scrape every fps out of yours.

My dad and brother taught me to hit them right....then it don't matter what your using.

Meanwhile its fun to push the performance envelope. On a end note an easy way to get another 100fps out of a rifle is buy a new chronograph...cheaper the better.
 
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No, I think he will be using either his 30-06 or 7 mag. He'll be reloading his rounds, using the 140 TTSX for the 7 mag. And I'm probably over thinking this lol. I know I can hit them right, but in the off chance that something goes wrong, I do like a bit of insurance. Thanks for the advice
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What are the specs on your 280? I have consecutive serial number pair of Cooper Excalibers.... With Cooper I figured chambers would be the same and cut with the same reamer. On my 280AI handloaded neck sized brass chambers very easily. With my sisters 280AI the bolt stops a 1/2in short of closing (when using cases for my rifle)
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For there to be that much difference the chambers are cut very different....
 
I bought mine used from a member here (kunas). I don't have all the specs, but I know that it has a shilen barrel, fluted, medium weight. Remington 700 LA, bedded into a boyd gray laminate JRS stock. The trigger was also worked on, a nice crisp 3 pounds. I'm not sure who did all the work, but it seems to be good. It will shoot the 140 and 160 accubonds close to .5" at 100, 3 shots. With the Leupold VX-II 4-12 on it it probably weighs 8.5-9 pounds. Not a lightweight, but lighter than the pig I'm used to carrying around coyote hunting.

I would think that the chambers would be close as well. Just goes to show that you shouldn't rely on somebody else's ammunition/cases in your rifle. Can you neck size cases that have been fired in her rifle and chamber them?
 
Originally Posted By: Verminator2I have a great load with the 160 Accubonds, but they are only going 2750 out of my .280 AI. What are your experiences with the 160 Accubonds on big game? I'm wondering if I would be better served by a faster 140 (accubond or TTSX) on elk. Sorry if this is a little repetitive, I didn't want to hijack the other thread.

Thanks.

I started at 53gr/R-17 with 160gr Accubonds in my 280AI @ 2834fps and worked up to 56gr/R-17 @ 3046fps and I also worked up Nolser data using IMR-7828 with 160gr Accubonds to 1gr under max @ 3058fps. This be my first year with the Accubonds I've got some 160gr TSX I may try also. I drew a bull tag for the first season then drew cow tag with buck tag 3rd season and a late antelope tag so hopefully have the 280AI ready for one of those hunts or maybe backup rifle at least.

Hard to say about 2750fps with 160gr bullet but to me that somewhat slow.
 
I was also thinking it was a bit slow, roper. I just ran the numbers and the 140 Triple Shock had 1480 ft lbs of energy, at 400 yards, going 200 fps faster than my 160 accubond, which had 1707 ft. lbs. I think I'll stick with the 160gr. bullet, but I might be trying some R-17 or R-19 in it. I may just have a slow barrel, I don't know.
 
I would think you should be able to get 2900fps or so with a 280AI and 160g bullets. There at most what about 100fps shy of 7 RM's, and you can get 3000fps quite easy with most 7 RM's and 160's.

In my 7 RM, the accuracy load is 61g of RL22 and is only doing 2850-2900fps, which for me is a bit to slow for longer range work.

All in all, the 160g AB will still getter done on elk even when started at 2750fps. The AB's will reliably expand down to 1700-1800fps so I think your good out there a ways. On the other hand, theres nothing wrong with a 140g AB if you can push it to the velocities you want. It wont penetrate quite as good as the 160g on the closer shots, but I"m still certain it would ruin any elks day whether it be 50 yards or 500.

BTW, congrats on your tag. Hope you fill it. I have a good friend who has family in Burns with a bit of property and they hunt Silvies every year for elk and do ok most years.
 
What powder are you using Jack? I think I might bump the powder charge up a bit and see if I can gain anything without pressure signs.
 
My loading book for it is out in my shop, but it is a VV powder. I can check which one tomorrow.
I had it up slightly over 3000 but it was more accurate a bit slower.

Jack
 
If you have a load right now that is accurate and not giving you any problems I say you are good. No personal experience with the 160 grain Accubond but the 160 grain Sierra GameKing works well for Elk. I would absolutely pick the 160 grain Accubond over the 140 for Elk. (Not that the 140 would not work)

Good luck!
 
I have had the opportunity to go Elk hunting only once. For my 280 AI I took the 160g TSX. It exited the off side shoulder at about 125 yards. The 5 x 5 somehow managed to swap ends before it hit the ground.

The Load was: Norma case, 160 TSX, 54.2g of IMR 4350, 215M primer, with the bullet seated .050" off lands. Several 3 shot groups with this load have been under 1/2", and it chronos at around 2,910 FPS. I have loaded up to 55.0 with the IMR 4350 but it did not shoot quite as well and bolt lift got a little sticky in warm temperatures.

I have tried H 4831, IMR 4831, Accubonds, Partitions, Sierra SBT, and bullet seating from .000 to .075", but the above has been my best. I have never used the RL powders, but the other powders listed here are much slower than IMR 4350.

Good Luck!
 
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