7mm hunting rifle

[bheadboy]

having done both 280AI and 7-08AI
li find no dif in the case forming and cleanup,

take you choice and have fun

Bob

 

[M700]

3000 fps with the 168 is easy for the 7mm Rem mag. Higher is very likely. Think RL-22.

I know it's old fashioned, belted, and out of date and all that. But it still shoots easy, loads easy, and kills stuff really dead. I like those qualities in a hunting rifle. Also, recoil is just peachy - about the same as my .30-06 rifle, no problem at all.

Regards, Guy

 

[Dave T]

wvuredneck09,
I live near you here in WV and I would strongly suggest a 7MM WSM. Mine is a Winchester, lugs lapped with action spec out, Krieger stainless 24" barrel and McMillan stock done by Tom Merrideth from T&M Stockworks. May be a little overkill here in WV for our white tails but you know what the terrain is like here and I want the extra power so they won't run down a hole and have a difficult time getting them out, know what I mean? I know Winchester brass isn't the best but you can sort it out and prepped it up to be just fine. 7MM WSM has enough power to use on bigger game if needed, all in a short powerful cartridge.
Dave T

 

[oldroper]

I build my 284 and got my loading data from here with R-17 and 160gr bullet and I'm just little long barrel
and I over 3000fps
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek095.html

You can get on the Nosler site and guy shooting the 280AI with 160gr AB mid 3000fps with loading data from Nolser manual and I get that with my 280AI.

I use the 280AI and 284 on a combination deer/elk tag here and I used the 280AI on antelope last year.

I was looking at the 7WSM as I had customs in the 300WSM and 270WSM using the Model 70 WSM action. There is seating depth issues due to magazine length
so I decide long action 280AI .



h

 

[wvuredneck09]

even at 3100 on the rem mag it is still more over-bored and is likely to have even worse barrel life than the WSM or RSAUM, that is really my reason for eliminating it. My velocities are strictly to show that the 300' swing in MV leaves little difference in wind drift which is the hardest to account for. I don't mean to offend anyone just trying to have an honest discussion here. I do like the 7mm WSM (I own one already that I bought on a whim and didn't do the research, however I like it, just trying to figure out if the extra powder/recoil/ lack of barrel life are worth it.

 

[wvuredneck09]

great read btw old roper, sounds like a long action could really let the 284 shine, maybe even brighter than its long action cousin (280).

 

[bcarico]

The 284 Shehane Has been on my mind for a hunting rig using a long action. Good Brass Good Speed Good Accuracy. What's not to like?

 

[M700]

"just trying to figure out if the extra powder/recoil/ lack of barrel life are worth it"

All good things to consider - makes it fun and interesting while considering a new build or purchase!

 

[wvuredneck09]

the shehane adds a whole new dimension if done in a long action, a 180 VLD at close to 3100 with 56 grains of powder, the 7 WSM will do this but takes 10 grains more powder which means less barrel, more cost, and more ouch to the shoulder. the 7 SAUM takes about 8 grains more than the shehane. does anyone know with the loss of taper if there is an issue feeding in a repeater? also does anyone make a "mid" length action that would work for this?

 

[Dave T]

wvuredneck09
Did you get my private message?
Dave T

 

[wvuredneck09]

I just did, forgot to check it when the pop up came up and I just replied. There always seems to be a flaw in everything, it seems with the shehane I would be spending enough on the dies alone that by the time i fire-form and then load rounds I might be better off going with the RSAUM or WSM and just picking up an extra barrel or 3. back to scratching my head, a straight 284 might still be the happy medium and requires no fire-forming at all.

 

[g.ross]

love the 280ai

 

[Baron B58]

Redneck; you said it! go for the straight 284 Win; I did the same and still very happy with my choice!!

 

[M700]

Baron - are you loading it long, or short enough to run through a short-action magazine?

 

[jonbearman]

If you go 280 improved ,have ptg make a reamer to use reformed lapua brass.Expiper taught me that.

 

[JabaliHunter]

I like the .280 AI and that would be my pick for the heavier bullets.
The only magnum 7mm I have used is the Rem Mag, which also has its place; but I haven't tried either of the short magnums.

 

[Clark]

Okay, the engineer in me came out and heres the results in a chart, still confused, to close to call. All values for 168 Berger Hunting VLD


Caliber MV (ft/sec) Drop @ 600 10 MPH @ 600 ft*lbs @ 600 Brass/100 Prem. Brass Over Bore
7-08 AI 2800 80.1 inches 21.9 inches 1444 43.98 71.99 L 890
280 AI 2900 73.9 inches 20.8 inches 1566.4 39.58 119.99 L 1110
284 Win 2900 73.9 inches 20.8 inches 1566.4 63.98 121.49 L 1050
7 WSM 3100 63.2 inches 18.9 inches 1825.8 68.98 83.98 N 1260
7 RSAUM 3100 63.2 inches 18.9 inches 1825.8 71.99 ??? 1170
7 Rem Mag 3000 68.2 inches 19.8 inches 1693.7 59.98 129.99 N 1330

MV= estimate based off of some info on this site and ammoguide
Drop/Wind/energy = JBM ballistics
Brass = all midway winchester brass except RSAUM which is remington
Prem. Brass = all midway Lapua(L) or Norma(N) brass per 100 all require forming other than 7 Rem Mag
Overbore= index number comparing water cap. to bore and may pred. barrel life

The only thing I can say is it seems that the best bang for my buck might be the 7-08AI but requires alot more brass work than the 284. Eliminate the 7 Rem Mag based off of this info and the 7WSM shows no adv. over RSAUM but I cant find norma brass in 300 SAUM which i have read is out there.

Being an engineer, I also made a chart, chose 7mmRM, bought a reamer, and shot a mule deer and an antelope with it in 2011. Here is my chart:


I got a deal on 26" Lothar Walther CM barrel blanks in 7mm 1300 taper = ~ 53 ounces finished
I got a deal on Hornady 7MM .284 DIA 162GR BIG GAME POLY CARB TIP 28452 bullets and moly coated them

Comparing cartridge performance with Quickload and Quicktarget at close to optimum powder choice and 65kpsi:
7mmT/CU ........................26.1 gr H335 2330 fps -471 yards
7-30 Waters ........................30 gr W748 2456 fps -395 yards
7mmBR ...........................31.2 gr W748 2510 fps -360 yards
7mm IHMSA .......................40.2 gr Re17 2704 fps -247 yards
7mm-08 .......................40.6 gr IMR4895 2789 fps -198 yards
7mm-08AckleyImproved .........43.6 gr Re15 2833 fps -171 yards
7x57mm ...........................44.6 gr Re15 2843 fps -165 yards
7x57mmAckleyImproved .........46.4 gr Re15 2873 fps -150 yards
284Win .........................50.0 gr IMR4350 2890 fps -172 yards
280Rem ............................53.5 gr H414 2961 fps -152 yards
7mm Rem short action ultra mag 55.5 gr Re17 3015 fps -73 yards
280RemAckleyImproved ........57 gr IMR4350 3019 fps -71 yards
7mmRemMag ......................68.2 gr Re22 3129 fps -15 yards
7mmRem ultra mag ............83.3 gr IMR7828 3130 fps -15 yards
7mmWeathMag ....................71.8 gr Re22 3170 fps +7 yards
7mmSTW .............82.2 gr Ramshot Magnum 3158 fps 0 yards

*The 7mm IHMSA, 7mm-08, 7mm-08AckleyImproved, 7x57mm, 7x57mmAckleyImproved, 280Rem, and 280RemAckleyImproved have 1889 Mauser case heads [7.65x53mm parent] with large Boxer primer pockets and 65,000 psi is a reasonable max pressure for handloads.
*The 7mmBR 1889 Mauser case heads [7.65x53mm parent, 6mmBR parent] with small Boxer primer pockets and could have gone to 80,000 psi:
*The 7mmRemMag, 7mmWeathMag, and 7mmSTW have a 1912 H&H case head [375 H&H parent] and could have gone to 70,000 psi.
*The 7mmTCU has a 1950 Rem case head [.222 Parent] with small Boxer primer and could have gone to 75,000 psi
*7x30 Waters has a Winchester 1895 case head [ 30-30 parent] and could have gone to 70,000 psi.
*The 284 has a Winchester 1954 case head [284 parent], and possibly should not go more than 54,000 psi.

 

[wvuredneck09]

Interesting data, actually makes the 280 AI stand out even more to me, doing over 3K with 11 grains less powder. with a lapua 30-06 case I think it also could go to 70ksi safely.

 

[Baron B58]

M700, to me a 284 is a long action cartridge which is no big deal at all. If I were forced to go with a short action I would rather chamber for the 7mm 08 or one of the 6.5mm cartridges. You dont want to lose case capacity with the 284.

 

[M700]

Thanks Baron. From the velocity you posted, I figured you were probably loading long to get max case capacity.

Agree, with a short action rifle, I'd likely stick with the .308 based cases. For a repeater anyway. I've got a long-term .308 Win rifle that is simply stone reliable. The 7-08 version would be even better at longish ranges.

Regards, Guy