If you had to choose ONE bullet for .280ai...

[WisBorn]

For the past 20 years I have used Hornady SST Interbond in my 7mm Rem Mag.

I voted for the Nosler Accubond after have good results with it in a 300wsm. I also have had good experiences with the Nosler Partition in a 300WM. I would like to give the Hornady ELD-X a try also.

To many good choices out there. Trying a few types of bullets until you find one that gives you good consistency may be the way to go.

Enjoy the 280AI!!!

 

[Patocazador]

I'm partial to Nosler 140 gr. partitions. If unavailable, I'd go with 140 gr. Accubonds. Both have worked well for me especially the partitions over the last 50 years.

 

[Random 8]

I would choose, for my purposes, the 145 Grand Slam, with honorable mention to the 140 NP. I'm shooting whitetail deer with a standard .280 Rem. It's on a Mauser 98 action, so I'm not afraid of warm loads approaching your velocities. My ranges are longish but not extreme, maxing out at around 300. I just find the Speer GS to be a rock solid bullet in this medium for caliber application. They hit deer like a hammer, and shoot plenty flat for my type of shooting. I don't like cup and cores at this sort of velocity/bullet weight. If I wished to shoot heavier, then a heavier for caliber cup and core or ballistic tip would be my choice.

For heavier game, I'd consider the 160 NP to be about perfect. Not a lot of experience with the Accubond, but have heard good things. The NP has decades of successful hunts backing up the design. It will also perform on small deer, so for a true do-all bullet, this may be it if it shoots well for you. Accuracy was superb for me when I worked up a moose load for a hunt I never drew a tag for.

I'm just not a fan of the various VLD/LR designs. I've played with a few samples I got for a deal in various calibers, and found them finicky in the accuracy department. My Mauser is also a standard mag length K-98, so these and monos are a non-starter for me...too long.

 

[Peakbagger46]

For one bullet for EVERYTHING I'd probably lean toward 160 gr bullets. Probably heavier than needed for most game, but if I were taking it after elk, moose or bear I'd want it. Most of those bullets have a high enough BC to hold up better for long range work than the lighter 140 gr bullets. The 175's start to become more specialized IMO.

Which bullet? Probably the Ballistic Tip. While they do have a reputation for fast expansion anytime you start going heavier for caliber that improves. AND, Nosler listened to consumers and several years ago started making the jackets a little thicker on the Ballistic Tips which helps hold them together better. While the reputation is still out there, newer versions of that bullet now perform very close to the Accubond.

No, don’t plan on a non-bonded to preform anything similar to a bonded bullet. For JMR 40 shooting whitetail from a stand at broadside deer they’re fine though.

 

[.455_Hunter]

175 gr Woodleigh or Hawk in your preferred tip flavor.

 

[LoonWulf]

No, don’t plan on a non-bonded to preform anything similar to a bonded bullet. For JMR 40 shooting whitetail from a stand at broadside deer they’re fine though.

Ive found the newer balistic tips to be significantly tougher than they were when I first started shooting them. They might not hold together as well as a similar weight bonded, especially the heavier built bonded, but on lighter animals (say 8" across or so) Ive actually found accubonds to expand faster. The only other bondeds ive used (that I remember) are Fusions and I found them to not expand nearly as much as I would like, especially in smaller animals.
So while a bonded bullet DOES insure better penetration it might not necessarily be "better" than a traditional cup and core depending on the bullet chosen and how it's delivered.

 

[WisBorn]

I was on the Hornady website and was looking at the new CX bullets. I would like to see how they perform?
Time to start looking harder at non lead bullets.

 

[troy fairweather]

I was on the Hornady website and was looking at the new CX bullets. I would like to see how they perform?
Time to start looking harder at non lead bullets.

Look at hammers

 

[Boattale]

My vote is Federal Trophy Bonded Tip. Good expansion across a wide range of velocities, solid shank for deep penetration, I strongly prefer boattail polymer tipped bullets. They seem to be shooting well in my .270. They're 160 grain which will be fine for anything you're likely to use it for.

 

[horsey300]

Any game but at what ranges, I like Barnes, but they need more impact speed, so I don't like them farther out there, I like elds, but not at close ranges usually. If your average hunt is more than 100-150 yds, I'd say eld or terminal ascent or bonded whatever would be fine, if your average hunt stays under 200 yds, Barnes would be fine. I've been liking scirocco 2s more and more lately, they open fast like a sst but stay together like an accubond. This gives me more flexibility on range.

 

[wombat13]

I found 120 gr TTSXs in stock at Red River Reloading so I ordered two boxes. I'm going to cancel my 140 gr TTSXs on back order when I receive the 120s. As of right now, my hunting rarely presents opportunities farther than 150 yards. I'm going to work up a load with the 120 TTSX for my current hunting and then work on a longer range round. Probably Nosler Accubond based on responses to this thread. A lot of people like the Partition, but the BC is kind of low for a long-range load.

 

[black mamba]

160 gr Partition for me. Still the most reliable combination of expansion and penetration I've found.

 

[Steve H]

My 280 Rmmy loves 140 gr Barnes "X"....I bought a good supply a few years back. No idea what I'll switch to when I run out.