280AI or 6.5x284 ??

[spikers220]

I have a Rem 700 action collecting dust and would like to build it into a long range deer/elk gun someday... Which would be better the 280AI or the 6.5x284... How about for the barrel twist rate and so on?

 

[jp]

I am having one built also and I choose the 280AI, I think they are both good calibers, but I was told the barrel life is a little longer on the 280. The highest G-7 for the 6.5 is 0.299 for the 140 A Max (Hunting Bullet) and the 280 is 0.307 (162 gr) A-Max . I am not sure what the G-7 is for the Berger 168gr Hunting. Hope this helps..

 

[2644ever]

Since you're ready to use a .264 caliber cartridge and a .280 Rem case, why not try a 6.5-06 or a 6.5-280? (the reamer is the same, the headspace is not.) Brass is plentiful and cheap and accuracy is there, provided you use a good 28" barrel made in Oregon (hint hint) with 3 or 5 grooves and a twist of1 in 8".
It worked for me, it should work for you too... and stay away from expensive brass and shoulder angles steeper than 30* 8)

 

[Erik Cortina]

280 AI. Better ballistics, better barrel life, and offers bullet weights from 120 to 180, what else can you ask for.

Get a 26" bbl in 1:9" twist and you are all set!

-X3M

 

[TonyR]

Spikers
Since you seem to have a long action, you might want to consider either a straight 284 Win or the 284 Shehane. With the long action, you can seat the bullets to about 3.200 overall length so the shank stays out of the donut area. I have the Shehane for an F-Class rifle, and I get the 162 A-Max to over 3100 fps with a 31 inch 1:9 twist. With a shorter barrel, you would still be above 2800 fps. I use Lapua brass expanded to 7mm. The 7mms have started to take over long range F-Class and the 284 case is very efficient with lots of excellent powders. I haven't pushed a barrel until it is fully shot out, but I still get match accuracy from a barrel with 1500 rounds through it and I believe it will make 2500.

 

[Laurie]

Since you seem to have a long action, you might want to consider either a straight 284 Win or the 284 Shehane. With the long action, you can seat the bullets to about 3.200 overall length so the shank stays out of the donut area. (TonyR)

+ 1 on that. The .284 would be my choice assuming it's a long action. You have excellent 6.5-284 Lapua brass that is easily expanded to 7mm, or can use cheaper .284W Winchester brass as is. 1-8" twist will stabilise the longest / heaviest hunting bullet you'll load.

If you fancy an AI though, the 280AI's reputation is very good. I would prefer to start off with something with such good brass available for it off the shelf, no fireforming etc in what has been proven to be a very accurate and efficient cartridge design in long-range competition shooting.

Not that we have any elk in the British Isles, or anything as big on four legs except horses or in zoos. How about .35 Whelen - we Brits are told it's the archetypal Elk cartridge?

Laurie,
York, England

 

[oldroper]

Since this may be a "long range deer/elk gun someday" I would build a 280AI and depending on how much weight you want to carry lots of option on barrel contours/length.

I use either 7mm or 30 cal for my deer/elk rifles here in Co. This year I'm adding a 284 and 280AI to the line up hopefully I'll get them in time for this year season. I got the 284 more as a late season cow hunt rifle might use it for antelope the 280AI be more for the combination season (deer/elk).

I like my deer/elk rifle to weight no more than 9.5 lbs and that a good carry weight for me when you start adding a pack etc..

Well good luck.

 

[RonRouse]

Spikers, IMHO, I would opt for the 284 due to the fact that we have the excellent Lapua brass available. I have a 280 AI built on a Rem long action by one of the premier smiths and it doesn't feed very slick due to the straight walls of the fireformed case. If you choose the AI, I would talk to your gunsmith about what has to be done to the feed rails of your action. Good luck!!! Ron

 

[alf]

With your 2 choices, at long range and elk on the menu, I'd go with the 280AI.

It'll add 150 ft lbs at every yardage to the 6.5.

A big 338 will blow both away though.........

 

[bingo1010]

i have both in long range tactical rifles, both wear 28" kriegers. 280ai uses 06 lapua brass and will move a 180 berger 3000 acurately, 284 uses lapua brass and moves a 162 a max 2950 accurately. i love the 280ai, i have loaded it to 3130fps with the 180 berger and it still shot 1.5 inches at 300 yards. the case of the 284 is the limiting factor, you don't run into that with the 280ai. that being said i do have a friend that has an ai hunting rig and it doesn't feed to well from the mag well. do a 280 rcbs (i think) it has the 30 degree shoulder as opposed to the 40 degree of the regular ai, and may feed a little better. either are accurate, just a little more speed with the 280

 

[TonyR]

Bingo is correct. The 280 RCBS is about the same as the 280 AI except that the shoulder is 30 dgrees instead of 40 degrees.

 

[tsiero]

In hunting its more about the bullets and bullet placement than the cartridge. The 7mm variants with a Partition bullet is strong medicine for your application.

 

[mikecockcroft]

bingo 1010
I would be interested in your load that moves a 180 at 3000 and over. My 25 in. barrel 280AI wont do that with the powders im using.

 

[RJinTexas]

I would think that the 280AI would be a better choice when used for elk. And now that Nosler is making good brass that's weight sorted +/= .5 grains, then the flash holes are deburred. Nosler completes the case prep with neck sizing and chamfering the inside and outside of the case mouth. All the works done load them up and go hunting.

Regards
RJ

 

[wapiti25]

Having done a lot of hunting, I would limit the barrel to no more than 26. I prefer 24'' and the 280 std feeds better. If your bolt face is .473 I would go with the 280 rem, .532 I would go with the 7mm rem mag. Long barrels don't carry good. one of my barrels (6.5-06) is 27", way too long.

 

[Ksmirk]

I've got a straight 284 Win and freakin' love it! put it in a long action so I could seat the 162 A-Max at a COL of 3.100" from a 26" 1-9 twist barrel my accurate load clocks the chrony at 3011fps, total terror on whitetails but I would opt for the 280 but not the AI, it's a hunting rifle you need reliablity that if something funky happens you need another shot, the 280 will hold a touch more powder in case you need to shoot heavier bullets and still retain the velocity. Just my opinion so take it for what it's worth. Later,

Kirk

 

[bingo1010]

bingo 1010
I would be interested in your load that moves a 180 at 3000 and over. My 25 in. barrel 280AI wont do that with the powders im using.

keep in mind i have a 28" pipe aas well but here are the loads, of course it goes without saying that these loads may be too hot for any other rifle..... i am using 06 lapua brass as well....180 bergers, cci br2 primers

65.5 grs h1000 2.778 comparator length ave- 3000fps on the nose
62 grs h4831sc 2.778 col - 3020 fps
the 4831 shows higher pressure that the h1000, i do have slight ejector marks so no doubt the pressure is up there. i did go all the way up to 68 grs h1000 but the ladder did not show signs of an accurate node

 

[kev77]

280ai and never look back

 

[T 700]

Go with a 280AI, and with a 1-9 twist barrel. I have one chambered on a Rem LA and love it!!!!

Almost 7 Mag velocity without the recoil, Whats not to like about that. Plus it prints little clover leaves at 100yds.

Thanks T 700

 

[Raptor]

My soninlaw has both the 280 and the 284. His 280 is in a hunting rifle with a Kreiger barrel and the 284 is in a heavy barrel set up to shoot longrange. Both are very accurate!!

I have the 284 set up as a longrange rifle and it is just a "Hammer" I have had 6.5x284s and liked them but they could not compete with the 284 when it comes to barrel life.

My 6.5x284s were gone at around 1400rds. I just had my smith bore scope my 284 on sunday after a shoot and it still looks like new, and it just reached 1160rds of 168 Bergers and AMAXs. Whats not to love!!