Henry Rifle Forums

Went to the range this morning and tried to dial in the new to me Ruger M77 .280. The black dots are the first round, the red dots the second, and the splatter my last. I didn't get it nearly as good as I'm used to buy I blame my eyes. One quirky note the guy two stations down from me put two shots in my target covered by the bigger black dots. I've never experienced that before.

Well Jake, you're shooting better than that other fella. I'm thinking that .280 will come around. Factory or handloads? Optics?

Rifletom wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 06, 2019 2:08 pm

Well Jake, you're shooting better than that other fella. I'm thinking that .280 will come around. Factory or handloads? Optics?

I shot both factory and hand loads. The first two sets were with Federal 140 gr. The last handloads with 162 gr Hornady BTSP over 44.4 gr of IMR 4350. The scope was what came with it a Leupold 12X target scope. Yeah, I think the other guy just got a bit confused as to which one was his target.

'Jake, bump that 162gr bullet up to 47.0-48.0gr IMR 4350. that is still well below max. This should improve things.
Do you happen to have H-4831? You'll like that in your .280. Mighty good looking set-up Jake. Always liked those M77's.

No, no 4831. My first handloafs so started toward the bottom. I'll bump up the next batch. I'll try the 4831 when I run out of the 4350.

Come on guys... at least use a powder & bullet from this century!!!

Suggested load, all cautions apply:

Bullet: 160g Nosler Accubond
Primer: CCI 250
Powder: 52.3g Reloder 17
OAL: SAMMI
About 2800 fps

OP-
Scrub the snot out of the barrel, use some Barnes CR-10 with a nylon brush to get all the copper out if you have to.

Don't always get Nosler unless I can find the factory seconds. Go ahead and call me cheap....I really don't care. The IMR 4350 was what I had on hand for use in .243 loads. Use it in my 25-06 as well. I did catch 250 150 gr Nosler seconds on sale at Midsouth this week. I'll load those after I get through the Hornady. I try to get powders that can be used across caliber ranges: PowerPistol, Accurate #9, TruBlue, Bullseye, H110 and IMR 4350.
Jake

Nice looking set up Jake. Im sure you will get it dialed in to your likings.

I've never experienced that before.

Heard about it happening often.
Either a really confused shooter or someone sneaking in some sight in shots on yours to reduce holes in their own.