280 AI FT +P vs 7mm PRC

[VLD Pilot]

I don't think you're giving up much to the 7PRC. Since you're already shooting 280ai I'd stick with it. Some additional info. My buddy runs 280ai. He had gone to 28N, but now back to 280ai. He has killed 3 elk, one with 280ai and two w/ 28N. I've killed one Elk with 280ai (gun he loaned me). Both our 280ai kills were with 168gr B / Classic Hunter. His at 704 and mine 480. Worked well. Both his 28N kills were with 175gr B / Elite Hunter, 528 and 902. Again, great results (single shots - dead), but he preferred the energy and BC of the 175s and recoil and barrel life of the 280ai. He looked at the data and determined he could run the 175's in the 280ai over R26. He settled on a 26" Krieger 1:7t, magnum contour, w/ 60gr of R26 under a 175gr Berger EH. Nosler brass. CCI primer. He is getting 2941fps @ 30deg. AB Chart is for this load at 30deg, 7000ft in NM. 5mph 90deg wind.

Should work great. Hope this helps.

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I'm running a 28" barrel on my long action 284 and achieving 2955-2970 with 180s and RL17. No way I can justify going into a magnum bolt face cartridge for the little extra performance that's possible with a 7PRC. That 284 parent case gets me a 25-284/6.5-284 and 284 currently. Considering a 30-284 in the future. I have a couple thousand pie es of Lapua brass so can't see making the switch. The 7PRC does sound nice tho

 

[Paladin300]

I don't think you're giving up much to the 7PRC. Since you're already shooting 280ai I'd stick with it. Some additional info. My buddy runs 280ai. He had gone to 28N, but now back to 280ai. He has killed 3 elk, one with 280ai and two w/ 28N. I've killed one Elk with 280ai (gun he loaned me). Both our 280ai kills were with 168gr B / Classic Hunter. His at 704 and mine 480. Worked well. Both his 28N kills were with 175gr B / Elite Hunter, 528 and 902. Again, great results (single shots - dead), but he preferred the energy and BC of the 175s and recoil and barrel life of the 280ai. He looked at the data and determined he could run the 175's in the 280ai over R26. He settled on a 26" Krieger 1:7t, magnum contour, w/ 60gr of R26 under a 175gr Berger EH. Nosler brass. CCI primer. He is getting 2941fps @ 30deg. AB Chart is for this load at 30deg, 7000ft in NM. 5mph 90deg wind.

Should work great. Hope this helps.

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This is what my calculations show. Some where around 3000 fps w/ 175gr pills give or take 50 fps. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[Wachsmann]

I'll probably buy me a 7PRC since the only other 7 I have is a 7mm-08. I run 162 and 168 out of it at 2650 to 2700fps. It get the job done on deer and it can do elk also but would like some more speed and distance. With the support that the 7PRC will have I cant see buying any other 7 out there. I do have a new 7Rem mag barrel setting around some where and I think its for a savage action but I let the 300win mag go to a friend years ago that I was thinking about putting it on. Maybe some day I do something with it once I find it.

 

[Magnum44270]

280 Ackley Improved fast twist with .25 of free bore. 195 Berger @ 2900, 175 ABLR @ 3000 - 3050 fps. Coal is 3.30 - 3.75.

Powder and load data for these speeds please? I plan on running the 175 ablr once i get all my brass fireformed.

 

[Paladin300]

Powder and load data for these speeds please? I plan on running the 175 ablr once i get all my brass fireformed.

How much free bore are you running and what twist? I am running .25 fb with a 1/7-1/8 twist in a 27" barrel. Nosler brass 210M primers and R23. 58.5 gr, in a Krieger barrel. I would start with a lower charge and work up. I have a friend who runs 42.5 grains of H4350 in a Creedmoor with no issues. I blow primers at 41.5. Every rifle is different. Have fun and be safe. Chamber tolerances, barrel throat and free bore all make a difference. You should be able to get to 2800 + with a standard 280 AI.

 

[leemiller24]

I've got both the standard 280AI and the 7PRC — in my experience/opinion- you can't go wrong with either. I'm watching this thread just for the info- great wealth of it on here.

 

[VO2MaxFF]

So I am have a Terminus Zeus switch barrel rifle built. So I don't have to change the bolt I went 22-250 AI fast twist, 308, and 280 AI fast twist with some free bore so I can load the bullets out and push the heavies. The 22-250 and 280 have 27" barrels. The 308 is 20". Tell me why I should consider a 7mm PRC over the 280 AI FT +P. The negative for me is brass and a $400+ bolt change. What does the 7 PRC give you the 280 in the above configuration won't? Just a curiosity at this point?

280 AI with faster twist (1:7) as mentioned will certainly stabilize a heavy (over 170) BUT the max charge will not be as great as the 7 PRC… this would automatically equate to lower muzzle velocity, as I'm sure you know. Based on that alone, for a "long range" rifle I'd vote 7 PRC. I have a 280AI with 1:9 and max charge for many powders is 5-6gr lower than my 7 RM (as expected) but MV are within 100fps and with reduced recoil than the 7RM. Your felt recoil will be higher with the heavier bullet and heavier charge in the 7PRC but long Lee range capabilities will be better with it. Sorry, stream of conscience thinking above

 

[Magnum44270]

How much free bore are you running and what twist? I am running .25 fb with a 1/7-1/8 twist in a 27" barrel. Nosler brass 210M primers and R23. 58.5 gr, in a Krieger barrel. I would start with a lower charge and work up. I have a friend who runs 42.5 grains of H4350 in a Creedmoor with no issues. I blow primers at 41.5. Every rifle is different. Have fun and be safe. Chamber tolerances, barrel throat and free bore all make a difference. You should be able to get to 2800 + with a standard 280 AI.

I went with a x caliber carbon fiber barrel but only at 22inches, 1/8 twist. Throated long for the eol

 

[VLD Pilot]

8 twist is plenty for any long heavy 284 bullet.

 

[Snowboy]

Let's see...My crystal ball says !!! If we only had that knowledge.

I might take a chance as I understand the new Remington Alpha 1 will exchange barrels quite easy.
Where is the best place to source Nosler PRC brass?

 

[VLD Pilot]

I might take a chance as I understand the new Remington Alpha 1 will exchange barrels quite easy.
Where is the best place to source Nosler PRC brass?

Gunwerks sells once fired Nosler 7PRC brass. Under 100.00 per 100. Good place to start. Sorry that could be Hornady brass.

 

[VLD Pilot]

Lapua will be making it eventually

 

[VLD Pilot]

Peterson is the way to go. Unknown munitions sells it. Much better than Hornady brass

 

[ImBillT]

My 27" 280AI is doing 2950fps with 180VLDs and N560. Anymore than that is hard on the brass. I got lesser results with RL-23 which I had hoped to use. I think N550 might actually be better. Normal free bore I assume. Borrowed the reamer from a friend, but as far as I know he just ordered the standard 280AI reamer that PT&G stocks.

Why does everyone think they need a twist tighter than 8" in a 7mm? Berger recommends a 9" for the 180 and 195. Since Lapua took them over, Berger has reduced their twist recommendations, and in my opinion they went too far on a few bullets, BUT, they recommend a 9". An 8" is just fine. Run it through a calculator and you'll see.