280 AI replacement for 270 Win.

[bonefisher]

I have shipped my 270 win. to gunsmith as basically a donor 700 action. Now planning to do 280 AI. Considered 2 guns for deer to replace 270, 25-06 and 7RM. This years household economics make one gun a much better idea. Also considered the 6.5-06. I am no expert. Did not find great deal of online ballistics for the 6.5 or the 280 AI. Have to commit to the chambering pretty soon. Obviously could buy a magnum donor action and go with the 7RM. Understand the factory vs. handload issue between the 7rm and the 280AI. Any reason this will not be a better replacement for my 270 Win. and a good whitetail/ mule deer gun? I would love to have more centerfire rifles in the future, but now need a deer gun. My current rifle battery consists of a 17HMR and a deer rifle. Elk and moose are not in the near future. Have over thought this process. I am sure the deer will not like whatever hits them. Thanks

 

[MontanaRifleman]

The bigger the hole, the more efficient it will kill...

The 7mmRM and and 280AI are nearly balistic twins. Nosler makes the brass for the 280 AI, but you want tp make sure that your smith is on the same page. Or, you could fire form your own... Lapua makes .06 brass. Not really much else to say. The 280 AI is a *cool* cartridge,

Whatever you choose, I'm sure ot will work well for you.

-MR

 

[Jamie6.5]

After 20 years with a .270 I built a 6.5x.257AI for varmints and deer. Better downrange than the .270 but a little light for elk.

.280AI barrel will be on my model 700 when the .270 comes off. The brass can even be converted over!

.280AI gets my vote.

 

[toddconley]

I just built a 280 Ai. Runs these numbers 162 amaxes @ 3140 with 53 gr of RL 17. 21 moa @ 1000. Also no recoil.

 

[elmerdeer]

I just built a 280 Ai. Runs these numbers 162 amaxes @ 3140 with 53 gr of RL 17. 21 moa @ 1000. Also no recoil.

Wow thats fast for a big bullet, how long is your barrel? And have you worked up any other loads with RL-17 that you can share with us? Rl-17 sounds fast, thats what speed i am getting with RL-22 63.5 grs and the 140 acuubonds.
Thanks

Elmer

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Wow thats fast for a big bullet, how long is your barrel? And have you worked up any other loads with RL-17 that you can share with us? Rl-17 sounds fast, thats what speed i am getting with RL-22 63.5 grs and the 140 acuubonds.
Thanks

Elmer

You beat me to it... I was thinking and wondering the same thing.

I got 200 fps more with RL17 than H4350 in my 300 WSM shooting 180 E-Tips. I wasn't real sure how it would work in a cartridge like the 7 RM or 280 AI. The best I could do with my 7 RM was about 3000 with 160 gr NPT's.

On recoil... Not that I dont disbelieve the report of no recoil, but I know that my 7mm RM kicked pretty good shooting 160's at 3000 fps. Kind of hard to imagine an 280 AI not kicking shooting 162 A Max's @3140 fps.

-MR

 

[loaders_loft]

I guess if your gun weighs 25Lbs with a muzzle break and a 30" barrel, you might achieve those claims, but I'm not sure this is what bonefisher is looking for in a deer rifle... Maybe I'm wrong?

about 2900 is max velocity from the 280AI nosler data, probably not the "accuracy" load though...

6.5-06 would be wonderful and that is actually my vote. its going to be flatter shooting than the 280AI, probably less recoil too unless you shoot light 7mm bullets in the 280AI.

Go 6.5-06

 

[toddconley]

You beat me to it... I was thinking and wondering the same thing.

I got 200 fps more with RL17 than H4350 in my 300 WSM shooting 180 E-Tips. I wasn't real sure how it would work in a cartridge like the 7 RM or 280 AI. The best I could do with my 7 RM was about 3000 with 160 gr NPT's.

On recoil... Not that I dont disbelieve the report of no recoil, but I know that my 7mm RM kicked pretty good shooting 160's at 3000 fps. Kind of hard to imagine an 280 AI not kicking shooting 162 A Max's @3140 fps.

-MR

Believe me I understand your concerns. Not to hijack the thread but that was the reading yeterday. The rifle is a savage long action. Rock cut barrel 8 twist at 28 in. The Rig sets in a Mac Stock. So I guess it is about 14 lbs with the NF 5.5-22X56. I had been running rl 22 @ 56.5 with really lack luster results. On a wild hair I switched to 17 and man am I happy. This rifle was built by Harrold Fred. My veolcity has been running from 3120 to about 3160 so I am in the process of switching to small rifle primers to tighten up the velocity spread. We shall see. Sorry for the hijack.
T
Forgot to answer you recoild question. 7mm Rem Mag and 280 AI both with the same velocity not even in the same catorgory in recoil. Someone will probably show some kind of chart that say they are the same but the felt recoil is way less in the 280 AI. I have both
T
One more edit. This is my 1st time with the powder. Used a 280 REm load went up 1 gr and started going up. The gun shoots pretty good @ 53. The Velocity is way better than I would have thought SO I will stay for awhile. Gonna work with primers and seating depth. Most likely I will stay with the 162 amax just cause they are cheap and I like them for deer and steel.
T

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Believe me I understand your concerns. Not to hijack the thread but that was the reading yeterday. The rifle is a savage long action. Rock cut barrel 8 twist at 28 in. The Rig sets in a Mac Stock. So I guess it is about 14 lbs with the NF 5.5-22X56. I had been running rl 22 @ 56.5 with really lack luster results. On a wild hair I switched to 17 and man am I happy. This rifle was built by Harrold Fred. My veolcity has been running from 3120 to about 3160 so I am in the process of switching to small rifle primers to tighten up the velocity spread. We shall see. Sorry for the hijack.
T
Forgot to answer you recoild question. 7mm Rem Mag and 280 AI both with the same velocity not even in the same catorgory in recoil. Someone will probably show some kind of chart that say they are the same but the felt recoil is way less in the 280 AI. I have both
T
One more edit. This is my 1st time with the powder. Used a 280 REm load went up 1 gr and started going up. The gun shoots pretty good @ 53. The Velocity is way better than I would have thought SO I will stay for awhile. Gonna work with primers and seating depth. Most likely I will stay with the 162 amax just cause they are cheap and I like them for deer and steel.
T

The 28" barrel explains some of the velocity. RL17 does seem to be a good powder, I'll have to try it in my 7RM. And a 14 lb rifle will absorb a good bit of recoil... I never shot a 280 AI so I wouldn't be able to comment on recoil from experience. Sounds like a very interesting cartridge.

 

[loaders_loft]

small rifle primers in a large rifle primer pocket??????

Good luck with that....

 

[Pdvdh]

I get about 3050 fps with a 7mm Rem Mag in a 24 1/2" barrel, so bonefisher, don't expect 3150 with a 280 AI. I also own one of those and it doesn't keep up with my 7mm Rem Mags.

The 3150fps with a 160 gr bullet from a 280 AI is not the norm.

 

[AJ Peacock]

I get about 3050 fps with a 7mm Rem Mag in a 24 1/2" barrel, so bonefisher, don't expect 3150 with a 280 AI. I also own one of those and it doesn't keep up with my 7mm Rem Mags.

The 3150fps with a 160 gr bullet from a 280 AI is not the norm.

+1,

My 7mmRM with 24" barrel gets 3015fps with 160gr Accubond. I could likely push it a little harder put not much.

AJ

 

[AJ Peacock]

small rifle primers in a large rifle primer pocket??????

Good luck with that....

He probably meant non-mag primers.

AJ

 

[toddconley]

Your correct reg large rifle primers. i was very surprised with the velocity of the loading. Made huge jump from the previous loading. I have 20 loaded now just have not made it to shoot them yet. We will see if the chrono was telling lies or not. I think it is gonna be the powder. Lots of people were making some big claims with this stuff and I was very hesitant. It might be true though if you have a caliber that fits the powder. I went to 54 gr and still have very tight primer pockets. Spreads opened up alot when I went to 54 on the 1st set of loadings. As there is already some spectulation on the accuracy of my statements I am not going to elaborate on the numbers I got @ 54. I will let you know if the spreads get tighter with the reg large rifle primers. If this doesnt work I am going to start playing with the seating depth.
T