I have a Remington model 7400 .280 that I will be using this fall for a big bull elk hunt. What I need is a good load for this gun. I would like to use a 140 gr. Nosler partition. Hope you all can help me and thank you for everything.

I find that Rloader 22 and H4831SC work well in my 280AI projects witih NOsler partition and Accubond 140 grainers. These powders also work well for fireforming 280 loads.

THe Nosler Manual #5 has all the information you need.

I think you would do better to shoot a 160 grain Nosler Partition. I would recommend RL 22 or H4831SC. Both are good for 2800 fps with a 160 grain bullet. The 160 Nosler Partition will shoot flat enough for any shot out to 300 yards.

Otherwise if your dead set on a 140 grain bullet then RL 19 or IMR 4350 are my powders of choice. Consult the Hornady manual. 57 grains of IMR 4350 is the Jim Carmichal load. Have had great success with this load at over 3000 fps.

I also use the 160gr bullets if elk might be on the menu. My better loads w/ 140gr bullets are w/ either of the 4831. Start w/ 55gr & work up. A compromise might be going to a 150grNP.

I'd suggest you consider using W760 or one of the 4350's as your slowest burn rate powder in the 7400. You may find RL22 or IMR 4831 to be to slow and that it may cause problems with the autoloader.
Bill

Good point Mr. Bill, I didn't catch the 7400 ref. It's not a Garand though, but I probably would not go slower than IMR4831.

DON"T use 4831 in your 7400 auto, the pressure peak is too high at the gas port.

I have found the 280 to be the most difficult caliber I load to get to perform, and out of an auto, it might even be worse. I have found that 4064 or AA 2700 worked the best so far.


The absolute BEST ammo I have found, is old Winchester 162 gr Silvertip BT. Doubt if you can find any, but they were great. Maybe a bit soft for Elk, but great on Deer size animals.

Second best was teh 165 gr Remington RN Core Lokts.

Have fun.

It's not a .280 but I've been experimenting with the .284 Win in a 100. I've found this rifle likes the 154gr Hornady SP with 53gr IMR4350 ignited with WLR primers. I had worked up to 55gr of powder then backed down to 53grs.
I've also tried W760, worked up to 53grs then backed down to 52grs. This 100 likes the IMR better.
Planning on trying H4350 and XMR4064 someday.
As anyone in the know can imagine I'm not to content with the Win 100, it's not an 88. I haven't had much satisfaction with the autoloaders (except with the M1), still trying to sell the 7400SP 30-06 and I think the 100 may not be far behind. Bought a Savage 111FC 30-06 to replace the 7400 and I may have to settle for a .308 Win 88 instead of the .284. I've also been considering buying an 88 in .243 and having it rebored and chambered to the .284 but even that might be a wash in cost.
If you'd like to extrapolate (or interpolate) a little I found my -06 7400 liked Hornady 165gr SP's with either 56.5gr W760 or 57.5gr H4350, WLR, Rem Ni brass, good accuracy (slightly better with H4350) for a 7400, ejected cases reliably and no pressure signs.
I don't care for the triggers, even after having them tuned, and don't like chasing the brass.
Bill

IDEL: I have two .280 Remingtons: one is a Rem. 725, and the other is a Pachmayr Custom, I had Frank Pachmayr make up for me on a cherry 1909 DWM Argentine Mauser action, Apex barrel, etc., a number of years ago.



I have never had accuracy problems with either. I long ago settled on the 160 grain Nosler Partition, 54.0 grains IMR 4350, for elk and sometimes, Mule Deer. I've also killed Black bear with that load.The other load is a Hornady Interlock 139 grains bullet in front of 56.0 grains of IMR 4350, which I've used on Whitetail deer, a couple of antelope, and a couple of Mule deer.



Both my rifles shoot 3/4" @ 100 yards, hot or cold, rain, snow, or shine, with those loads. They both shoot about 1" to 1 1/4" with Remington Factory 150 grains CoreLokt PSP.



If it were I, in your place, I'd definitely go with the 160 grains Nosler Partition. I guarantee you if you do your part, that bullet will do its part on a bull elk. If your rifle is CONSISTENT with 1 1/2" @ 100 yards, that's all you need to kill an elk.



FWIW. L.W.



EDIT: Where are you going on your elk hunt, and at what time of the Fall??