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.280 Ackley Improved Ammo 2026: Factory Loads From the Makers

By , EditorUpdated How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked 4 current .280 Ackley Imp loads on Federal's and Hornady's own product pages on November 5, 2026: 3 from Federal and 1 from Hornady. The bullet weights, velocities, energy figures, test barrels and statuses below are copied from the maker pages. We don't use retailer prices or third-party ballistics. This is a comparison of popular loads from 2 makers, not every .280 Ackley Improved load sold.

Grouping follows the usage label Federal prints on their own pages. Hornady is listed in its own table, because Hornady prints no usage label. The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses.

Hunting loads

These are the loads Federal label "Big Game, Long Range" on their own pages. Figures are copied from each maker page.

LoadCartridgeItem #BulletMuzzle velocityMuzzle energyTest barrelBoxMaker status (Nov. 5)
Federal Berger Hybrid Hunter280 Ackley ImprovedP280AIBCH1168 gr Berger Hybrid2,800 fps2,924 ft-lbNot listed on maker page20Available
Federal Terminal Ascent280 Ackley ImprovedP280AITA1155 gr Terminal Ascent2,930 fps2,954 ft-lbNot listed on maker page20Available
Federal Trophy Copper280 Ackley ImprovedP280AITC1140 gr Trophy Copper3,075 fps2,939 ft-lbNot listed on maker page20Available

Hornady loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label and no stock status on our capture, so these loads are listed by product line, such as Precision Hunter. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures from each page's ballistics table, and the test barrel is the one the table names.

LoadCartridgeItem #BulletMuzzle velocityMuzzle energyTest barrelBoxMaker status (Nov. 5)
Hornady Precision Hunter280 Ackley85586162 gr ELD-X® Precision Hunter®2,850 fps2,921 ft-lb24 in20Not listed on maker page

Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures in each maker's ballistics table. Test barrel is the length the maker lists. "Box" is the round count per box. Status is the maker's own wording on its product page, and it changes daily. All pages checked November 5, 2026.

Which bullet weight? What the makers' numbers show

Loads in our tables run from 140 gr to 168 gr. The lightest is Federal Trophy Copper (P280AITC1) and the heaviest is Federal Berger Hybrid Hunter (P280AIBCH1). The fastest listed muzzle velocity is 3,075 fps, Federal Trophy Copper 140 gr (P280AITC1), with no test barrel listed. The highest listed muzzle energy is 2,954 ft-lb, Federal Terminal Ascent 155 gr (P280AITA1), with no test barrel listed. Because test barrels differ or are not listed, compare across makers with care.

The makers label loads for game, varmints or target use. They don't tell you one weight is right for a species. The right choice depends on bullet construction, range and your state's rules. Check your state hunting rules and your state wildlife agency before you buy.

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

Muzzle velocity depends on barrel length, so compare loads tested on the same barrel. Of the 4 loads, 3 list no test barrel, 1 list 24 in. The loads with no test barrel are from Federal. A rifle with a shorter barrel than the maker's test barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. SAAMI's test barrel for the .280 Ackley Improved is 24 in.

No barrel-length-velocity page exists yet for the .280 Ackley Improved, and we have not charted one. Our barrel length vs velocity data covers other cartridges. The closest we have are 7mm Rem Mag barrel length data, for the 7mm Remington Magnum (the same bullet diameter, in a belted magnum case), so do not read those numbers as .280 Ackley Improved data.

.280 Ackley Imp: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI lists the cartridge as "280 ACKLEY IMPROVED [280 ACK IMP]" in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4, its centerfire rifle standard (approved Feb. 10, 2025), as a cartridge separate from the 280 Remington. The cartridge drawing was issued 02/01/2008 and revised 05/05/2022. SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 65,000 psi, measured by transducer (the table shows 650 in psi/100). Crusher pressures are not established. Cartridge overall length runs from 3.136 in minimum to 3.330 in maximum. Case length is 2.525 in (−.012), and bullet diameter is .2845 in (−.0030). The drawing shows 4 grooves and a twist of 1 in 9.00 in, right-hand (marked optional). SAAMI reference velocities are Not yet verified, because the PDF text does not clearly pair each bullet weight with its velocity. Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.4 PDF. The .280 Ackley Improved MAP row is also on our SAAMI maximum average pressure table (Z299.4, 65,000 psi / 650 psi/100).

SAAMI says all standard rifle test barrels are 24 in long and that exterior ballistic data for centerfire rifle cartridges is based on that length. Its listed exceptions (7.62x39, 277 Sig Fury, 30 Carbine, 300 AAC Blackout, 300 HAM'R, 350 Legend, 350 Remington Magnum, 360 Buckhammer, 400 Legend and 44 Remington Magnum) do not include the .280 Ackley Improved, so SAAMI measures it on a 24 in barrel.

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Rifles for .280 Ackley Imp

The .280 Ackley Improved is a rifle cartridge, and the loads in the tables run from 140 gr to 168 gr. See also new rifle releases and the new hunting rifles of 2026.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Federal show availability on their own product pages. Hornady's pages show none on our capture. We don't track retailer stock or prices. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

For more ammo, see .280 Remington ammo, 7mm-08 Remington ammo, 7mm Rem Mag ammo, 7mm PRC ammo, .270 Win ammo, .30-06 Springfield ammo, the barrel length vs velocity data, new ammo for 2026 and all ammo releases.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for .280 Ackley Improved?
SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 65,000 psi for .280 Ackley Imp, measured by transducer, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 (the table shows 650 in psi/100).
What grain is .280 Ackley Improved ammo?
In our tables the bullets run from 140 gr to 168 gr. Check your firearm maker's manual for what your rifle is set up to shoot.
How fast is .280 Ackley Improved ammo?
In our tables, listed muzzle velocities run from 2,800 fps to 3,075 fps, and muzzle energies from 2,921 ft-lb to 2,954 ft-lb. Test barrels vary, and some maker pages list none. See the test barrel section of this guide.
What does test barrel mean?
It is the barrel length the maker used to measure the listed velocity. A shorter barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box.
Do you list prices or stock for .280 Ackley Improved ammo?
No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 5, 2026. Hornady's pages show none.

Sources

  1. Federal: Federal Berger Hybrid Hunter .280 Ackley Imp 168 gr Berger Hybrid, item P280AIBCH1 (checked Nov. 5, 2026)
  2. Federal: Federal Terminal Ascent .280 Ackley Imp 155 gr Terminal Ascent, item P280AITA1 (checked Nov. 5, 2026)
  3. Federal: Federal Trophy Copper .280 Ackley Imp 140 gr Trophy Copper, item P280AITC1 (checked Nov. 5, 2026)
  4. Hornady: Hornady Precision Hunter .280 Ackley Imp 162 gr ELD-X® Precision Hunter®, item 85586 (checked Nov. 5, 2026)
  5. SAAMI: ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 centerfire rifle standard, .280 Ackley Improved drawing (checked Nov. 5, 2026)

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