280 remmington case to a 280RCBS improved

[lhrbull]

I have to fire form some 280 cases into 280 Improved just wondering if a 3/4 max charge will do the trick trying to save on powder since it seems so hard to get

[shrek]

Yes that will work, sometimes ill even go more like just under max

[TVHunts]

I think thats what I did with mine was about 3/4 charge with cheap 154 gr. hornady bullets.  Since then I have bought Nosler 280 AI brass and have had good luck with it.  It's spendy but 50 will last you a long time.  Its a sweet cartridge, Good luck

[Don Fischer]

Don't try this unless someone else chime's in that it's alright. Why can't you simply load it up around a grain under max for a 280 and seat the bullet so it touch's the lands? Probably don't even need the bullet touching. Better yet take 30-06 cases and size leaving a bump around the base of the neck to hold the case where it belongs.

[lhrbull]

the caliber is a 280 rcbs improved so the Ackley improved brass doesn't work the guy who worked up the load for me wanted me to fire form the 280 rem. cases

[Biggerhammer]

When Fire forming most Ackley's and the majority of wildcats. Especially if the the shoulder is going to be "Blown out" moved forward. It is best to go with a 3/4 charge with the bullet just far enough into the lands to push the case base firm up against the bolt face. Bad things can happen if the case isn't firmly against the bolt face. For example, on a Remington action the ejector on the bolt face puts tension on the rear of the case. For a standard chambering this isn't a issue when fireing a cartridge due to the fact the cartridge is either head spaces of the belt or the shoulder, there for it is tight against the bolt face when the bolt locks up.

When cchambering a cartridge that is actually shorter(shoulder) and or slimmer case taper than the chamber it is going to be fire formed to. Especially if the it is a non belted case, there is nothing for it to head space off of and the Remington ejector is putting pressure on the case base and it is held ever so slightly away from the bolt face. This gives unpredictable brass movement when fire formed, with the bullet slightly seated into the lands it forces the case base flat/ flush against the bolt face for a good solid, accurate fire forming.


Here is a example of a case head failure while fire forming Bell .404 Jeffery brass to 450/.375 Ultra Magnum. This was fired with a group of twenty I was forming that day. It was the first round I had seated for fire forming with 500gr Hornady's into the lands. The first bullet I seated was to deep, I made a seating die adjustment and loaded the rest. Got distracted by a six year old daughter and forgot to pull it and re seat the bullet. 19 of them formed up exellent, this one went off with a odd "WHOP" and allot of smoke out of the bolt. Spooky stuff when your face is right by a 500gr bullet on top of 102 grains of powder.  Wildcats or fun but serious stuff, some are not very complicated others take a little know how.

[jay.sharkbait]

I've always used pistol powder, cotton and sawdust.

[Biggerhammer]

Pistol powder, cream of wheat and tissue here.


There are several options, neck up .270 Winchester brass. Some guys that are really into their .280 AI's take the time to form their brass fro quality 30-06 Lapua cases. The 30-06 Lapua cases are much more involved and come out slightly short.

[mountainman]

Bottom line is, he is not forming a .280 AI. He is forming a 280 RCBS Improved. They are not to the same spec, two different cartridges. One would have to look up a chamber/case print to confirm if the shoulder Juntion is being moved forward when formed or if the shoulder angle and slight case taper are the only changes upon fire forming.

If I recal correctly, I think the only difference is shoulder angle. Shot and owned allot of wildcats. Started with a 25-284, 27 years ago.😉

Either way, factory loads can be fired to get the finished case. Only difference between the 2 in the shoulder angle, the Ackley being at 40 degrees, the Huntington RCBC is his standard 30 degree.   

[Biggerhammer]

Hornady hydrolic dies work wonders, very affordable and saves piles of components. Less wear on the barrel, time saved and more powder left for full house loads. The plus side is after Hydrolic forming you can shoot full house improved loads right out of the gate. The guys at the custom shop at Hornady shoot competition with loads that have only been hydrolic formed. A couple .280 AI's at that.😉 Time well spent forming from 30-06 Lapua brass, if one serious.

[mountainman]

I could see that with a radical dimensional change such as moving the shoulder forward as in a full wildcat, but the joy in an Ackley is you only change taper and shoulder angle, easily accomplished by just shooting them. You still need a die set to reload, so no saving in components. Cost for the " Hydraulic" (not hydrolic) starts at $175, but is not needed, and the time consumption of drying the case if water is used, or removing residue if an oil is used, well, a whole lot of extra work and cost for a problem that isn't there. Just shoot them factory and reload them wildcat...too simple!

[jay.sharkbait]

I could see that with a radical dimensional change such as moving the shoulder forward as in a full wildcat, but the joy in an Ackley is you only change taper and shoulder angle, easily accomplished by just shooting them. You still need a die set to reload, so no saving in components. Cost for the " Hydraulic" (not hydrolic) starts at $175, but is not needed, and the time consumption of drying the case if water is used, or removing residue if an oil is used, well, a whole lot of extra work and cost for a problem that isn't there. Just shoot them factory and reload them wildcat...too simple!

So what factory load do you suggest using to form .450 Ackley?