7 rem mag or 280 ack?

I have both and based on your parameters...7mag

Having owned both and your listed parameters, 7RM here. The 280ai will achieve similar but lower velocity in a rifle about a half pound less. I sold my 7mm REM Mag and kept my lighter 280ai. My 280ai has a 22.5 barrel so portability and weight savings overrode absolute velocity.

rharfo said:

Old question but I have set parameters that I'm working in.
Gun is to be built. Will be saami spec 280 or 7 rem with 1/8 ish barrel.
I have:
7 rem mag dies and brass.
Hundreds of 180 gr bullets.
8 lbs H1000
Fed match primers 210 and 215
Currently have a ackley chamber 280 rifle and dies.
So I will need 280 ack saami dies and brass.
Tired of fire forming.
Rifle will have a 26 inch barrel and a brake.
Must hit 2950+ with 180 class bullets.
Will be used for 1k shooting and hunting.
RBros just posted a 280 ack for sale 24 inch running 2950 with 180's.
Thoughts?

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Travis builds outstanding/accurate rifles! I have had several of his Tac drivers, you won't go wrong if you buy one of his rifles.

just_jon said:

I have both and prefer the AI. I'm getting between 2890 and 2910 fps with the 195s in a 8 twist 26" barrel. While I have not yet tried the 180s, I think 3000 fps is easily doable.

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Powder?

just_jon said:

Good observation. I'm using N570.

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rharfo said:

Powder?

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rharfo said:

Powder?

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In my 280ai I'm getting 2950fps with 180's from a 27" barrel using N570.

The 7mag won't add much velocity if any. It will require completely different powders. It will increase muzzle blast and recoil. It will have substantially less barrel life.

You can use your seater. You'll only need a new sizer.

You can probably use your current barrel for either cartridge if it's still accurate.

You can keep your current bolt for the 280ai.

Adjusting down for a 26" barrel vs my 27", you'd be looking at 2910-2930fps. You might manage the full 2950fps with the 7mag. Is 20-40fps worth increased muzzle blast, increased recoil, reduced barrel life, and the increased cost of using 30% more powder per shot? If so, the 7mag might be your choice. Run the different velocities through a balistics calculator and see what it really gets you down range.

Shoot the 175 Elite instead of the 180VLD and you'll reach or exceed 2950fps at the muzzle and see increased performance downrange.

7RM with the components and requirements.
H1000 should get 2950 w. 180s in a 26". Mine hits 2996fps easily .7gr off max w. 180 Hybs. We have killed a ton of elk with it out to 882. With RL26 I hit 3065fps. With N565 I hit 3040.


280AI is a great round, but H1000 will get you about 2850-2900 with a 175-180 in a 26". You need a different powder to hit that 2950+ criteria. RL23, RL26, N560 would be close. My old .280AI hit 2986fps w. 175s over RL23 and Nosler brass (more capacity than Peterson) in a 26" suppressed.

I'll vote for the 7RM.

7 mag!

rharfo said:

Old question but I have set parameters that I'm working in.
Gun is to be built. Will be saami spec 280 or 7 rem with 1/8 ish barrel.
I have:
7 rem mag dies and brass.
Hundreds of 180 gr bullets.
8 lbs H1000
Fed match primers 210 and 215
Currently have a ackley chamber 280 rifle and dies.
So I will need 280 ack saami dies and brass.
Tired of fire forming.
Rifle will have a 26 inch barrel and a brake.
Must hit 2950+ with 180 class bullets.
Will be used for 1k shooting and hunting.
RBros just posted a 280 ack for sale 24 inch running 2950 with 180's.
Thoughts?

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280 AI all day long. You can buy Nosler 280AI brass so no more fire forming. I have shot over 400 animals w/my 280 using either 140 grain Accubond or 150 grain ELDX bullets. I am using 7828ssc and getting 3100 fps. My accuracy is .25 MOA at 100 yards. Accuracy is more important than speed. I gave away my 7RM because i would flinch and I am a big guy.

7 PRC........ only because someone else is going to say that. Even though the OP didn't mention it. The 280 AI is just a performer and will meet your parameters. No need to look further. Still I'd go with 7PRC!

I have a blue printed 280AI 700 and an early 7mm RM 700.

My 7mm RM is faster and more accurate especially with ABLR's and such bullets.

The 280 AI has a much heavier barrel.

I'd sell the 280 AI before I'd sell the 7mm RM.

Ill kiss anyone's *** on here if you can find me an animal that can tell the difference between a 7mag or 280ai. That is, if its still alive to say.
I shoot 280ai 180 pills at 2756 over 4831sc, bug holes all day. Not one critter has ever been able to complain. Thats a true dope too, not chronograph numbers. You can get another 100-150fps or better with R23, good luck finding any, so why waste powder on a 7mag? Unless every hunting or shooting situation you experience is hella windy, those extra fps wont amount to much.
If you hunt Idaho, dont worry about longrange hunting, the IDFG is in the process of shutting it down anyway! Bitterness intended!

rharfo said:

Old question but I have set parameters that I'm working in.
Gun is to be built. Will be saami spec 280 or 7 rem with 1/8 ish barrel.
I have:
7 rem mag dies and brass.
Hundreds of 180 gr bullets.
8 lbs H1000
Fed match primers 210 and 215
Currently have a ackley chamber 280 rifle and dies.
So I will need 280 ack saami dies and brass.
Tired of fire forming.
Rifle will have a 26 inch barrel and a brake.
Must hit 2950+ with 180 class bullets.
Will be used for 1k shooting and hunting.
RBros just posted a 280 ack for sale 24 inch running 2950 with 180's.
Thoughts?

Click to expand...

If you like heavy bullets, I would stick with the7RM.
The 280AI works great with 162 ELDX or lower grain bullets. Concentrate on accuracy, not speed. Both are tach drivers. I have both, and it's more comfortable to shoot the 280AI at any range with the 162's.