NEED SOME SUGGESTIONS ON CALIBER

[jonbearman]

I have a savage long action build and want to try something different.The only cartridge I dont want due to short barrel life is 6.5x284.I hope you can steer me in the right direction.I sorta like the 280AI but I dont know about die availability.Any ideas much appreciated. Jon Lennon

 

[RonAKA]

I would suggest the .260 Rem or the 6.5x55 Swede. Brass from Lapua for the Swede, and soon to be for the .260 Rem. Lots of room for the long bullets in the Rem, and OK in either case if single feeding. About 8% more case capacity in the Swede, so the barrel life trade off could be made between the two choices.

 

[jbarnwell]

If you have never shot the 280AI, I think you would like it. I don't know what your plans are, but the 280AI is an excellent hunting rifle. I shoot 140 Accubonds, 150 Ballistic Tips and the 154 Hornady SST. All are extremely accurate, .5 MOA or better and velocity is on par with the 7mm Rem. Mag. I shoot the 140's at 3150 fps and the 150-154's at 3020-3050 fps. Good thing is the muzzle blast and recoil are much less than the 7 Mag., a much more efficient cartridge. This round has been filling my freezer with venison for over 15 years.

There are lots of good cartridges out there, this is just my 2 cents on the 280AI.

Good luck on your project!

 

[fullersson]

.243 win works great on a long action with a fast twist barrel because you can load the 105 Berger VLD's long enough too jam the lands and still feed from the magazine. We did it with a Savage long action with a Lothar Walther drop in and it worked great. We did the same thing with a .308 win on Savage long action with a Lothar Walther drop in and it worked even better.

 

[HillbillySniper]

260 rem has the same ballistics of a 6.5x284 but three times the barrel life. 280 ai is a great round as well great all around hunting caliber! Either or would be a great choice best thing in your favor is your buildilg on a long action so you can build anything. Let us know what you decide on.

Hillbilly

 

[navyrad8r]

hey john
how about straight 7?? Brian has those hybrids flyin great! just a thought. i went .260 for first bolt gun.
cheers as always,
doc

 

[jonbearman]

Doc ,what is a straight seven? I guess I want something I can actually buy dies for .Can you get 280AI dies?

 

[jbarnwell]

Jon, I forgot to mention before, 280AI dies are easy to find. Redding makes both standard and bushing dies, Hornady and Wilson also have dies for it.

Jarvis

 

[Forester]

280AI dies are pretty available, several different makers out there.

 

[navyrad8r]

i am not sure ??? but i heard alot of folks doing well with it. is this gonna be a prone gun? i thought it was 7x.284 (.284win) but that is a .280. 7mm projo in a 7mm case? i am confused, but the link below said it was the caliber alternative to 6.5x284 because of better bbl life.

http://www.6mmbr.com/7mm284.html

that link kinda sums it up.

how about 6.5x .30-06 as an alternative or 7x08?. i can help but think that if you shoot these bigger cartridges you are just burning more powder and upping some recoil and operating expense.

sorry not a helpful post,
doc

 

[SpiritNugent]

I wouldn't think twice about the .260 Remington.

 

[7mmtcu]

If you have a long action go 280ai. I have one in 26inch Encore it shoots 1 inch@300 140 ballistic tips 62.5gr of h4831sc std fed lg rifle primer. 600yd 6inch group recoil like a 7mm08

 

[K0na_stinky]

how about 6.5x .30-06 as an alternative or 7x08?. i can help but think that if you shoot these bigger cartridges you are just burning more powder and upping some recoil and operating expense.

sorry not a helpful post,
doc

If you wanted a 6.5-06 wouldn't a .270win do a good job as well? Other then a lack of bullet choice. But there is still lots out there to choose from. I'm having a lot of fun with my .270. I'm shooting a Savage 111.

 

[HillbillySniper]

Jon if I'm not mistaken norma makes 280ai brass as well.

Hillbilly

 

[DCRYDER]

Nosler makes the 280AI brass, also make factory loaded ammo. I really like my 280AI with 168 VLD's. With a 27" Shilen barrel it shoots them at 2980fps easily.

Nosler sells them anyway. I think the brass is made by Norma for Nosler.

 

[RonAKA]

Since barrel life is a concern, I checked three cartridges with the Bart Bobbitt barrel life estimation formula, as well as the 6.5x284 for comparison. Here are the results including the assumed powder weight (H4831 and 140 grain bullets), which is the only variable besides bore area.

Best to worst:

Cartridge - Grains - Life (rounds)
260 Remington - 46 - 1770
6.5x55 Swede - 50 - 1500
6.5x284 Win- 52 - 1380
280 AI - 63 - 1260

The formula is based on the .308 Win providing 3,000 accurate rounds. And while we could probably debate until the cows come home whether the numbers are right, I think they at least have some relative value. The hard part is that accurate is very subjective.

This is suggesting that if improved barrel life is an objective, then 280AI might not be the way to go.

If anyone thinks the powder weights are off then let me know. I ratioed up the Swede based on case capacity compared to the 260 Rem, as published loads for the Swede are light due to the old military actions still around.

 

[therifler]

from my experience as a builder the formula for burn out is pretty close although i have faired better than the suggested life on 6.5X 284. earlier someone mentioned the 7 cartridge i believe that would be 284 win. . it was chambered in the mod. 88 as well as winchester bolt guns . early on the twist was not qute right and they were not known for their accuracy . given the right twist and proper bullets they make a fine target rifle as well as a great hunting gun . T.R.

 

[cliffe]

1770 divided by 1380= 1.2826 or hillbilly math the answer is 3 . hope you don't do taxes lol cliffe

 

[dan06]

.280 ack is a nice round.....shoots well and is easy to load for. good bullets available with great balistics. Don't be afraid of it.

 

[BBTC48]

My buddy dug out a Rem 25-06 closet queen (LA) and is having it rebarreled with a new Walther 280AI, but not ready yet. This is to be for hunting so barrel life wasn't a prominate factor in the thought process. I rebarreled a Win70 LA from 270 to 6.5 Swede 8" twist and just love it. I've only chrony'd a few loads out of this short hunting barrel (22") but will give 2850fps with 108 scenars and 3100fps with 130gr TSX and not topped out with powder charges. No experience but there's been glowing reports of good barrel life in the 6.5 Swede AI, compared to 6.5/284. I prefer the Swede personally and If I wanted to go with 7mm I'd do straight .284 Win. and prefer Forster micrometer plunger style dies. Good luck Jon.
Bill