November 25, 2020
Rifle cartridges should be straight forward. They do a particular thing, and that's that. Rifle shooters, however, most certainly are not straight forward. We twist and turn our logic, straining to find the "perfect" round for hunting, target shooting, long range shooting, etc. These mental machinations result in cartridges which are "in" or "out." A hot (and excellent) cartridge such as the .264 Win. Mag or even the newer 7mm Remington Short Action Ultra Mag is popular, and then it isn't.
Rarely does it work the other way -- where a cartridge isn't particularly popular and then grows an army of fans. I think we are seeing that right now with the .280 Ackley Improved (.280AI).
Why would that be, given the troubled history of the .280 Remington, including the bungling efforts of the parent company to introduce, re-introduce, and then re-introduce it again? Simple. It was just too good to fail.
Is it the "best" or "perfect" rifle cartridge? Of course not. Such a thing doesn't exist. It does have enough things going for it that gun writers and sharp rifle folks have kept the .280 going for decades, and now are discovering the (slight) advantages of the improved version.
Let me stake out a position and anger a bunch of folks (which is just a side benefit). The .280AI is better than the 6.5 Creedmoor, and it may well occupy the slot of the best all-around hunting cartridge for North American game animals.
A brief history. Remington screwed up the .280 Remington cartridge several times. They introduced it in 1957, trying to wedge it into the narrow slot between the .270 Winchester and the .30-06 Springfield. To make it work in their 740 autoloading rifle they kept the chamber pressure lower than it could have been, resulting in reduced velocity. Smart gun writers and handloaders, however, recognized the potential and started cranking out great loads for their bolt guns. A few years later, Remington tried to correct the problem by re-introducing the .280 Remington as the 7mm Express Remington. (This after an aborted attempt to call it the 7mm-06, which it was not, and which would have set up a safety issue should someone try to simply nect down a .30-06 to .284 and fire it in a .280 Remington rifle). Remington did increase the chamber pressure, which was good, but the name was confusing to pretty much everyone, with gun store clerks giving customers 7mm Remington Magnum ammo in place of it. Eventually Big Green re-re-introduced it as ... yes ... the .280 Remington. Sigh.
By this time few gun makers were chambering this stellar cartridge. Custom gun makers, on the other hand, found it to be popular with sharp hunters who often were handloaders and who knew to load it with controlled expansion bullets such as the Nosler Partition.
The big benefit of the .280 over the .270 is the ability to handle heavier bullets. The 160 and 175-grain bullets work great in the .280, making it suitable to for elk, moose, and many African species. The better ballistic coefficients of .284 caliber bullets over projectiles of the same weight in the .30-06 gives this "cartridge of many names" an ever-so-slight advantage over the Springfield.
But what of this "Ackley" version? Who is Ackley?
That's Parker Otto Ackley, known as P.O. Ackley. He was a New York gunsmith, writer, tinkerer, and wildcatter famous for making slightly modified versions of factory cartridges by straightening out the case taper and putting on a shaper shoulder angle. This is done by firing a factory cartridge in the "Ackley" chamber, which fire forms the case to the larger diameter. Now a reloader can use dies for the wildcat, put more powder in the larger case, and increase the velocity. A side benefit, and an important one, of this modification is that you can fire a factory cartridge (.280 Remington, for instance) in a rifle chambered for the Ackley version, and it works just fine. That was especially attractive when the .280 Ackley was exclusively a wildcat -- no factory ammo available. Ackley's books, "Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders, Volume 1 and 2" are required reading for serious rifle shooters.
I first came in contact with the .280 Ackley Improved when Kenny Jarrett, the legendary rifle maker from South Carolina, made one of his super-accurate "Beanfield" rifles in that caliber for my father, Grits Gresham. Dad was the Shooting Editor for Sports Afield magazine, so we got a lot of the cool guns and stuff. Kenny was one of the first and most vocal advocates of the .280AI, proclaiming that he could match the velocities of the 7mm Remington Magnum, but with less propellent and recoil. Perhaps. I suspect that those velocities come only at the expense of high pressures, and now that we have good loading data developed in well-equipped ballistics laboratories, we know that at acceptable pressures, the .280AI turns in velocities about 150fps faster than the standard .280 Remington, and about 100 to 125fps short of the 7mm Rem Mag. It's true that it does this with less powder and less recoil than the belted magnum. Sometimes, though, the .280AI really does match the Magnum.
Then again, looking at the Nosler Reloading Guide Number 7, we see that 61.5 grains of IMR7828 powder behind a 160-grain bullet creates 3043fps velocity in the AI. In the Remington 7mm Magnum, that same powder, at a charge weight of 64 grains, produces 3015fps. The max load for a 160-grain bullet in that manual produces 3077fps, so I'd say the .280AI really does match the 7mm Rem Mag with a bit less powder, which means ever so slightly less recoil.
Drop the bullet weight to 140 grains and you can use a number of favorite powders, such as H1000, H4350, and H4831. Velocities up to 3200fps will give you a point blank max range of almost 400 yards. That is, sight in to hit 3.5 inches high at 100, and hold on a deer out to 400 yards with no adjustments.
All this is known to real gun geeks, but a few things have happened to make the .280AI much more attractive now than it was 25 years ago,when Kenny Jarret, along with Chub Eastman and Bob Nosler at the Nosler company, were singing its praises.
The biggest news is that the .280AI is no longer a wildcat. Nosler went to the effort to get the cartridge accepted by SAAMI as a factory cartridge. (Note that there was a slight, but important, difference in the shoulder location between the factory round and the wildcat. Handloaders MUST understand this, and the folks at Redding have a short-but-thorough explanation. https://www.redding-reloading.com/tech-line-a-tips-faqs/133-280-changes).
Nosler started chambering the AI in its factory rifles. Several other rifle companies followed, including Savage and (in a short run of the wonderful No. 1 single-shot rifle) Ruger.
Nosler offered the .280AI in factory loadings with its premium bullets. That was good, but now Hornady loads .280AI ammo using the ELD-X bullet, and Federal recently released .280AI ammo using bonded bullets with high ballistic coefficients. Expect more factory loads to follow.
I voted with my wallet and bought a limited-run version of the Ruger No. 1 in .280AI. Lee Newton at Classic Sporting Arms (www.classicsportingarms.com) worked it out with Lipseys and Ruger to make a handful of Number Ones with 25-inch barrels. They are not only beautiful, but they shoot. I am getting .75MOA groups with Nosler factory loads. I didn't get my deer this year, but I did carry that rifle up and down the Idaho mountains.
Is the .280AI better than the 6.5mm Creedmoor? Of course. Or, of course not. As with all these comparisons, it depends on the job to be performed. I prefer it because I can use heavier bullets and it hits harder. I also have loved 7mm cartridges since I got my first real "big game" rifle -- a Savage 110 left-handed in 7mm Remington Magnum, at age 15.
For a do-everything hunting cartridge, I think this one is about as good as it gets.
Downsides? It does kick more than the 6.5 Creedmoor. You won't find .280AI ammo just anywhere, and it's likely to be a bit more expensive. You will, however, find .280 Remington ammo, which you can fire in your AI rifle, and it could get you out of a tough spot. If you handload, the .280AI is a dream.
We are seeing a lot more gun companies chamber for the .280AI. It will never return to the category of being only for handloaders or gun geeks.
Next, I'm drawing up plans to build a lightweight bolt action in this caliber. ~ Tom
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Here's what the .280 AI delivers from a 24" barrel with common bullet weights:
140-grain bullets: Approximately 3,050–3,150 fps muzzle velocity, ~2,890 ft. lbs. muzzle energy. Flat trajectory with roughly 6.5" of drop at 300 yards (200-yard zero). This is the sweet spot for deer-sized game and long-range target work.
150-grain bullets: Approximately 2,950–3,060 fps muzzle velocity, ~2,900 ft. lbs. muzzle energy. An excellent all-around weight that balances trajectory, energy retention, and terminal performance on game up to elk.
160-grain bullets: Approximately 2,850–2,950 fps muzzle velocity, ~2,890 ft. lbs. muzzle energy. The heavy option for elk, moose, and African plains game. Higher sectional density means deeper penetration on tough animals.
175-grain bullets: Approximately 2,700–2,800 fps, ~2,830 ft. lbs. muzzle energy. The heaviest practical weight for the .280 AI. Excellent penetration for the largest game the cartridge is suited for.
For comparison, the 7mm Remington Magnum with a 150-grain bullet typically produces 2,950–3,100 fps — effectively identical to the .280 AI — but burns roughly 8–10% more powder and generates noticeably more recoil and muzzle blast. As Tom noted, Kenny Jarrett was making this exact case decades ago, and the numbers bear it out. You get 7mm Magnum performance without the magnum penalty.
This is where the arguments start, so let's lay it out with the numbers and let you decide.
280 AI vs. 7mm Remington Magnum: Nearly identical ballistics with 140–160 grain bullets. The 7mm Mag pulls slightly ahead with heavy bullets (175+) and when loaded to full pressure. The .280 AI uses less powder (more efficient), produces less recoil, generates less muzzle blast, delivers longer brass life, and fits in a standard-length action. The 7mm Mag has vastly more factory ammo options and decades more commercial support. If you handload, the .280 AI is the smarter choice. If you rely on factory ammo, the 7mm Mag has the edge in availability.
280 AI vs. 6.5 Creedmoor: Tom made the bold claim in this article that the .280 AI is better than the 6.5 Creedmoor, and the ballistics back it up. The .280 AI pushes a 150-grain bullet at 3,000+ fps with over 2,800 ft. lbs. of energy. The 6.5 Creedmoor pushes a 143-grain bullet at ~2,700 fps with about 2,300 ft. lbs. That's a 500 ft. lb. energy advantage for the .280 AI. The Creedmoor has less recoil, more factory ammo options, and better barrel life. For deer-only hunters east of the Mississippi, the Creedmoor is plenty. For elk, moose, bear, or mixed-bag western hunts, the .280 AI's power advantage is meaningful.
280 AI vs. .270 Winchester: The .270 Win has been America's darling since Jack O'Connor declared it the ultimate deer cartridge. The .280 AI and the .270 trade blows with lighter bullets, but the .280 AI pulls decisively ahead with heavy bullets. The .270 tops out at about 150 grains practically. The .280 AI handles 160- and 175-grain bullets with ease, making it better suited for elk and larger game. If you only hunt deer, either will serve you for life. If you want versatility across all North American game, the .280 AI is the better choice.
280 AI vs. .30-06 Springfield: These two are ballistic cousins — similar case capacity, similar energy levels, similar trajectories. The .280 AI has an edge in ballistic coefficient at the same weight class because 7mm (.284") bullets are inherently more aerodynamic than .30 caliber bullets of equal weight. This means less wind drift and less drop at distance. The .30-06 has the advantage of the widest bullet selection in the world — from 110 grains to 220 grains. For pure versatility in bullet weight range, the .30-06 wins. For optimized long-range performance, the .280 AI has a slight edge.
The .280 AI has gone from a wildcatter's secret to a mainstream chambering. Here are some of the rifles currently available:
Browning X-Bolt — Available in multiple configurations. One of the most widely distributed .280 AI rifles on the market. Proven accuracy and excellent triggers.
Ruger M77 Hawkeye — Ruger's classic controlled-feed action in .280 AI. The Hawkeye Long-Range Target version is particularly well-suited for the cartridge.
Savage 110 — The AccuTrigger and AccuFit system make the Savage 110 one of the best values in a factory .280 AI rifle. The High Country and Ultralite models are popular choices for western hunting.
Weatherby Mark V — Weatherby added .280 AI to the Mark V lineup, putting the cartridge in one of the most refined bolt-action platforms available.
Nosler Model 48 — Nosler was the company that brought the .280 AI to SAAMI in 2007, and their Model 48 rifles in this chambering are outstanding. Premium pricing, premium performance.
Kenny Jarrett Beanfield Rifles — The rifle that started it all for many .280 AI enthusiasts. Custom-built, guaranteed sub-MOA accuracy, and the rifle that put this cartridge on the map. Tom's father, Grits Gresham, carried one.
Custom builds — The .280 AI is a popular choice for custom rifle builders because it uses a standard .30-06-length action and standard bolt face. Any action that runs a .30-06 can be rebarreled to .280 AI.
Factory ammunition availability was once the .280 AI's biggest weakness. That's changed. Here's what's currently available:
Nosler — The most comprehensive lineup. Trophy Grade loads with 140-grain AccuBond, 150-grain AccuBond, 160-grain AccuBond, and 160-grain Partition. Custom loads with 140-grain Ballistic Tip and 140-grain E-Tip. Nosler is the company that championed this cartridge into SAAMI standardization, and their ammunition is excellent.
Federal Premium — Offers loads with the 155-grain Terminal Ascent and other options. Federal's entry into .280 AI ammunition was a significant milestone for the cartridge's mainstream acceptance.
Hornady — Precision Hunter loads with the ELD-X bullet. Hornady's involvement gives .280 AI shooters access to one of the best long-range hunting bullets on the market.
Barnes — VOR-TX loads with all-copper bullets for hunters who want lead-free terminal performance.
If you handload, the .280 AI really opens up. The standard .30-06 bolt face means brass is available from Nosler, Peterson, and Hornady. Any 7mm/.284" bullet works. Popular powders include Reloder 22, H4831SC, IMR 7828, and Retumbo. The cartridge is known for being easy to load for and extremely forgiving of minor charge weight variations — it just wants to shoot.
Can you shoot .280 Remington in a .280 Ackley Improved chamber?Yes. This is one of the great practical advantages of the .280 AI. A standard .280 Remington cartridge will fire safely in a .280 AI chamber. The case will fire-form to the Ackley dimensions and can then be reloaded as .280 AI brass. This was especially valuable when the .280 AI was a wildcat with no factory ammo — you could buy .280 Remington ammo off the shelf and use it to form brass. It also means that if you're traveling and can't find .280 AI ammo, .280 Remington will work in a pinch.
Is the .280 AI a good elk cartridge?Absolutely. With 150–160 grain premium bullets (AccuBond, Partition, ELD-X) at the velocities the .280 AI produces, it is more than adequate for elk at any reasonable range. The cartridge produces energy levels comparable to the 7mm Remington Magnum, which has been dropping elk reliably for over 60 years. Tom has taken elk with the cartridge and so have countless other hunters. Use a tough, bonded or partition-style bullet at 150 grains or heavier and place the shot well — the .280 AI will do its part.
280 AI vs. 7mm Rem Mag — which should I choose?If you handload and want maximum efficiency with minimum recoil, choose the .280 AI. If you rely on factory ammo and want the widest selection possible at any sporting goods counter in America, choose the 7mm Rem Mag. Ballistically, the two are so close that no animal on the receiving end could tell the difference. The .280 AI is the more refined choice. The 7mm Mag is the more available one.
What barrel length is best for the .280 AI?A 24-inch barrel is the standard and gives you full velocity potential with most loads. A 26-inch barrel will add approximately 40–60 fps, which is meaningful for long-range hunting. Shorter barrels (22") work but you'll sacrifice 80–100 fps. For a dedicated western hunting rifle where the .280 AI excels, 24" is the sweet spot between velocity, weight, and handling.
Is the .280 AI hard to reload for?No — it's one of the easier cartridges to handload. The .280 AI has a reputation for being accuracy-friendly and forgiving of minor charge weight variations. Brass is available from multiple manufacturers, 7mm bullets are offered in every weight and style imaginable, and load data is published by all the major powder companies. If you already reload for the .30-06 or .270 Winchester, the .280 AI uses the same equipment (with appropriate dies) and a very similar approach.
Tom Gresham
Author, outdoorsman, gun rights activist, and firearms enthusiast for more than five decades, Tom Gresham hosts Tom Gresham's Gun Talk, the first nationally-syndicated radio show about guns and the shooting sports, and is also the producer and co-host of the Guns & Gear, GunVenture and First Person Defender television series.
