Cartridge for long commercial Mauser action?

[std7mag]

So i managed to obtain a "Firearms Co. Alpine" long action Mauser.
It is currently chambered in "7.62X2.49" ala 30-06.
The "bluing" appears to be black paint.
With some sanding and stain, i have no doubt the stock will be sharp!

So, the two long action cartridges i currently don't have, but want, are 25-06 or 280AI.

What say yee?

 

[Cloudrepair]

280 Ai

 

[dthomas]

Get a barrel for each cartridge spun up and just screw the one on that you want to use at the time.

 

[butchlambert]

Get a barrel for each cartridge spun up and just screw the one on that you want to use at the time.

Spun up? My "personal" opinion is the 25-06 is a terrible cartridge. I'll leave it at that.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I'm a fan of a 280 AI.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

The 25/06 is only proof that you can kill a deer with anything, if you shoot it in the right place.

The 280AI is a superb hunting and F-Class cartridge that really delivers with all bullet weights. Easy to load - R-22, my favourite, or H1000.

 

[Clark]

I have converted a pre 64 M70 to 25-06 and shot a deer.
I have converted a pre 64 M70 to 280AI and shot deer and antelope.
I have converted a Sav 110 to 280AI and shot targets.
I have a Kimber 84M in 280AI and have shot deer with it.

My impression is I can shoot further and stop the animal faster with 280AI, but 25-06 kicks less.

 

[SBS]

If this is a true Mauser action, the feed rails (which guide the rounds up out of the magazine when the bolt is pushed forward), are built into the action. This is unlike most modern actions, which depend primarily on a sheet metal magazine that has the upper portion bent to perform this function. If your rifle feeds .30-06 well now, it is unlikely to feed an Ackley improved cartridge such as the .280 AI properly; the feed rails usually need to be altered. This can be a slow, tricky process involving numerous small grinds and feed trials with dummy cartridges. Too much taken out (or in the wrong place) and rounds can pop out of the magazine. You might want to make up some 280 AI dummy rounds and see if they will feed properly without feed rail surgery; being a .30-06 barrel, feeding out of the magazine can be checked even though the cartridge will not go into the chamber all the way.

 

[std7mag]

Hmmmm.
I'm kinda surprised at the less than warm fuzzy feeling for the 25-06. Lol

This will be a hunting rifle, not a competition gun.

I'm not worried in the least bit about opening up the feed rails for 280AI.
I've already done that once for my 284 Win.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

If this is a true Mauser action, the feed rails (which guide the rounds up out of the magazine when the bolt is pushed forward), are built into the action. This is unlike most modern actions, which depend primarily on a sheet metal magazine that has the upper portion bent to perform this function. If your rifle feeds .30-06 well now, it is unlikely to feed an Ackley improved cartridge such as the .280 AI properly; the feed rails usually need to be altered. This can be a slow, tricky process involving numerous small grinds and feed trials with dummy cartridges. Too much taken out (or in the wrong place) and rounds can pop out of the magazine. You might want to make up some 280 AI dummy rounds and see if they will feed properly without feed rail surgery; being a .30-06 barrel, feeding out of the magazine can be checked even though the cartridge will not go into the chamber all the way.

I had one built on a Spanish Mauser (aka Santa Barbera} Never had a feed issue - the rifle was originally a 7x57 - just had the chamber reamed. I also have a similar, Parker Hale version in 243AI. I had to fit an aluminium strip in the front of the magazine - between the follower and the mag box to prevent the cartridge from diving. Otherwise fine. Has the good PH trigger on that one.

 

[AlNyhus]

Of the two choices, my first pick would be the 280 AI.

However, given that it's on a Mauser action, I'd have to check the 25-06 box on this one.

I handload a 25-06 for a pal and he's taken dozens of deer, antelope, a couple of black bear and at least 3 elk with it. Good bullets for the game you're hunting, placed in the correct spot, always works. -Al

 

[Loudenboomer]

Nothing wrong with the 25-06. The guys that don't like it would really hate my .257 Weatherby.
I think it depends on the primary hunting purpose.
If I were hunting fox and coyote and sometimes deer I'd choose the 25-06.
If I were hunting deer and sometimes elk I'd choose the 280 AI. YMMV

 

[Scrumbag]

Depends what you want to do.

I think 25-06 is a great MPBR cartridge and something like the 117gr SST is fairly ballistically efficient and shouldn't break up too easily of you hit a big bone fairly close in and work on foxes and coyotes well.

If you want to dial, 280AI with an ~1:8.5" twist barrel is a very useful tool as will shoot lots of 7mm bullets well.

I have a similar pairing in my current battery.

A 257 Roberts that I tend to run at +P velocities which is a walking, point and shoot rifle (Usually zeroed at 200 yds with 120gr Speer SPBT though I think I'll have to move away from lead to ~100 gr Non-lead in the next year or 2). Scope I have on that is a 3-12x50 Swarovski

A 7x64 (think the original 280 Rem from Europe)
Usual hunting load is a 160gr Sierra SBT handload @ ~2800fps or factory Sako with the 150g Swift Scirrocco.

Targets I use a 180gr ELD-M or a 185gr Nosler RDF around 2750 fps with some success.

Scopewise I use a 6-25x56 ZD on this rifle.

Scrummy

 

[areaone]

Go for a straight 280, no ai. The 280 will feed fine and it is an excellent round. The 25 06 is an excellent deer and antelope round, less recoil than the 280.

 

[std7mag]

Go for a straight 280, no ai. The 280 will feed fine and it is an excellent round. The 25 06 is an excellent deer and antelope round, less recoil than the 280.

I already have a 280 Rem in the form of a Ruger 77 MKII.

Alas, i sold a Forbes 24B in 280 Rem over the summer.
In retrospect i should have sent it in to be turned into 280AI.