284 W or 280 AI

[Eric Leonard]

for a singleshot bench gun to be throated for optimum results in a 30 inch bbl for 180 class bullets which case would give most speed with good accuracy for shooting 1000 min and maybe to a mile,,it would seem a properly throated 280 AI would give more speed but will it shoot with the 284,,,

rifle is single fed short action Stiller with ST1OOOF stock

 

[Sniper338]

Hard choice... personally I think the 284 would be more inherently accurate, 284 shehane would give the accuracy and a tad more speed... BUT I think the 280AI would reach further in the end. A buddy of mine has a 280AI and loves it, but I have no experience with it. Hopefully some others will chime in... I'd do a 284 shehane.

 

[Bigame1]

I have no experience with a bench rest 280AI but I do with a 26"
Tube and shoot 168 Berger hunting VLD at 3150 with 65 grains of
Retumbo Nosler cases Fed Gold Match primers and if hunting in the teens or single digits I switch to mag.primers all with excellent accuracy!

 

[flatlander]

I've been a 284 fanboy since building my 1st one in 2006 - it shot so well in 1000yd any/any prone matches that I bought a BAT 3LL and built another one. A couple of years ago, I did a 284 bbl for my DTA SRS, and it's shot up to par relative to the other two rifles. Then last year, after finding a couple of 5R 1-9tw 7mm heavy Palma blanks on Krieger's online inventory list, I chambered one of them in 280AI, and have been comparing it to the 284s at every opportunity.

So far as I've seen so far, despite the 280AI having nearly 6grs more case capacity than the 284, it doesn't have much to show for it. Velocities have been pretty much the same, using H4831 & SC or IMR7828SSC in the three 284 bbls (one 30", two 28") and the 30" 5R in 280AI. Accuracy-wise, I feel all three of the 284s have a slight edge over what I've seen out of the 280AI so far, but I have to qualify that by saying I haven't had time to shoot the 280AI as much as I'd like, and have a lot more experience with the 284s.

If I had to make the choice between the two cartridges today, it'd probably come down to brass availability. When I built that 1st 284 9yrs ago, WW284 brass in mass quantities was just a call to PV away, and I bought plenty of it. Now it's unclear whether they're ever going to make another run of it, and if they do, when it'll be available. However, Norma's now making 284 brass, and there's always Lapua 6.5x284.

When it comes to the 280AI, you might get lucky and find some R-P somewhere, or take your chances with Nosler and see if the primer pockets will hold up for more than a couple of firings. I've got some Nosler 280 that I've fire-formed in my 280AI, but haven't shot it again yet, so don't know how it'll hold up. I also bought a couple hundred RWS cases a few years ago in anticipation of building a 280AI. Personally, I have a lot of confidence in the accuracy of my 284s, and would probably just stick with what I know, even though I like my 280AI, and will continue to work with it. Until I get more experience with it, it's hard to say for sure whether it's got anything to recommend it over a straight 284.

 

[ShootDots]

There are 3 MAJOR "parent-cases" where the "off-spring" of each has proven to be just as accurate as the parent case. The "BR-Family", the "308-Family" and the "30-06 Family" of cartridges. The .280 / .280A.I. falls into the latter. I am quite certain that with the proper loading techniques, you will get excellent accuracy out of the .280A.I. As far as "which one may be more accurate" (the .284 or the .280A.I.), I think it would come down to how good the barrel is and the shooter, all else being equal. Take a look at German Salazar and what he has accomplished with a 30-06.

 

[wwbrown]

Last year I built up a 280 AI for F-class using the original dimensions not the current SAAMI. I use Lapua 30-06 brass, neck down and fireform instead of using Rem 280 brass and fireform or 280 AI brass that is available to SAAMI specs. Maybe I am stubborn but I so not build a competition gun unless I can start with Lapua brass in it. I went with the original configuration as the case capacity is slightly greater.

I am happy with the accuracy, due to some spine problems I was/am not able to compete much with but when I did it did not let me down. I had no problem developing an accurate load for the 280AI but have never shot the 284 Win so I can not compare the 280 AI to it.

 

[Eric Leonard]

Thanx,,not sure what I will do but leaning to 280AI ,,,a friend of mine has a 7-06 tight neck reamer also I may explore,,

 

[flatlander]

Not that it makes a whole lot of difference, but my 280AI reamer is ground to the old dimensions, not the SAAMI specs that Nosler got approved when they started making 280AI brass. I ordered it with a rather short throat - more like what you'd spec for 140gr hunting bullets - and use a throating reamer to set it up for 175-180gr LR bullets. There are at least as many guys out here wanting a 280AI for hunting as there are who're interested in LR shooting, so the short throat was the practical way to go.

 

[jonbearman]

PM expiper, he is a walking encyclopedia on the 280AI. He can help you out.

 

[kev77]

280ai or the 284 are very similar in both speed and accuracy . It's only as good as the operator . I shoot 280AI, because I did not wang to be a 284 sheep Follower. Lol

 

[Nvreloader]

Mr Big

I have both cases, (I will have as soon as the reamer gets here for the 280 AI)
just for the availability of brass alone, I would go with the 280AI, lots brass readily available,
can use 30/06, 25/06 and 270 cases if need be.

Jonbearman is correct,
Expiper steered me in the right direction for the 280AI case, Thanks RA.

Contact PTG and get reamer print #41808,
Dave set me up with this print for use with the 30/06 case,
but can also use 280 brass if I can find some good stuff.
holds 74+ grs H2o case capacity (FF).

Tia,
Don

 

[Footsore]

Mr Big

I have both cases, (I will have as soon as the reamer gets here for the 280 AI)
just for the availability of brass alone, I would go with the 280AI, lots brass readily available,
can use 30/06, 25/06 and 270 cases if need be.

Jonbearman is correct,
Expiper steered me in the right direction for the 280AI case, Thanks RA.

Contact PTG and get reamer print #41808,
Dave set me up with this print for use with the 30/06 case,
but can also use 280 brass if I can find some good stuff.
holds 74+ grs H2o case capacity (FF).

Tia,
Don

Don what projectile is that reamer throated for?

 

[Nvreloader]

Foot Sore

I get my reamers with no throating, and I have a throater for every caliber,
That way I can adjust as needed etc.

Tia,
Don

 

[lawrence97]

I have a 280ai reamer setup for nosler brass with a .313 neck and a .189 freebore for 180 hybrids. I can run it up to 2980-3000 fps with 62gns of h4831sc. I find the accuracy comparable to my shehane from 200-1000 yds. I have only shot it at local matches and I have been using my shehane at big matches because I have more brass.

I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

 

[tclaunch]

My latest reamer to date is a 280AI based off the 30/06 case, same reasons as stated above, to be able to use Lapua brass. I used .188" freebore for the heavier bullets.

 

[dkhunt14]

The only 7MM I ever saw win in 1000 yard BR is the 7RSAUM. I have seen a bunch of 284's and a few 280's shot and they just wouldn't win. They just weren't accurate enough. Even Jason Baney which used to test for this site built one and gave up on it. For Benchrest they have to shoot small. Matt

 

[22BRGUY]

The only 7MM I ever saw win in 1000 yard BR is the 7RSAUM. I have seen a bunch of 284's and a few 280's shot and they just wouldn't win. They just weren't accurate enough. Even Jason Baney which used to test for this site built one and gave up on it. For Benchrest they have to shoot small. Matt

I've noticed this also.....any theories why Matt?

 

[mshelton]

The only 7MM I ever saw win in 1000 yard BR is the 7RSAUM. I have seen a bunch of 284's and a few 280's shot and they just wouldn't win. They just weren't accurate enough. Even Jason Baney which used to test for this site built one and gave up on it. For Benchrest they have to shoot small. Matt

I've noticed this also.....any theories why Matt?

Just sticking my nose in here but I'd say bullet availability, seems that the best bullets available are in 6mm (Sally Bauer won 1k shooter of the year a couple years ago with both guns in 6 Dasher) then followed by 30 cals in availability. The advantage with the 6s is that a small guy if set up correctly can make them without anything more than human powered presses, Clay Spencer was a example of that, his 103s won more than their share of matches. For the 30s (and probably 7s) though you need a mechanically assisted press which is a lot of investment, Clay had a hand press set up for the 30s with a 4' handle and well, you didn't want to pull on it more than a dozen times.

 

[expiper]

accuracy trumps everything......Roger

 

[hogan]

Why the fixation with 7mm?

6.5/284 seems to be your ticket with 1000yd and up to 1mi being your goals. Some like the 6/284 where barrel life is no concern...

Might look at a 6.5x55 Ackley Improved. Anything you choose, shoot it from a LA receiver.