280 vs 280 AI

[stx]

I shoot both and have for many, many years with Barnes 120 & 140 TSXs & TTSXs, 145 LRXs, and 168 VLDs......now shooting 280ai with 131 Hammer Hunters @ 3308 fps and 280 Rem with 143 Hammer Hunters @ 3111 fps. Both accurate and fast......don't think anything I shoot will know the difference! That being said, I agree with several above that have suggested 7RM if you're not going to reload.

 

[Lefty G-gear]

Being that factory ammo is a requirement, it's no contest. 280 rem has never been easy to find, and is loaded to much lower pressures than 280AI.

Now that Hornady has joined the party Nosler is no longer the only mfg of 280AI ammo - better performance and availability makes the AI an obvious choice. Coupled with the fact one can shoot 280rem ammo in a 280AI, again, no contest

.280 AI factory ammo
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/280-remington-ackley-improved

 

[Lefty G-gear]

280 Remington factory ammo
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/280-remington

 

[Wild Monkey]

280 Remington factory ammo
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/280-remington

Prices on Ammoseek do fluctuate. Right now 7mm WSM is Purty darn Cheap for instance near buck, 7-08 is less than 60 Cents each and 7RM is 75 Cents each. 15 Years ago Remington introduced the Perfect Cartridge to replace the 280 & 7RM. ( INSERT 7MM- SAUM HERE ) Maybe in another 50 years it'll start to catch on... soon we'll see 7mm-PRC also. Next Month I'm introducing 7mm-07's based on Brass introduced by August Schüler... No need to mention the "7-KAM" as it's too efficient and a small Magnum for 3.3" Actions.

 

[KyCarl]

All that resizing fireforming trimming never interested me at all!
If it takes that much work..Find another caliber..

 

[Wild Monkey]

All that resizing fireforming trimming never interested me at all!
If it takes that much work..Find another caliber..

My point is the World is your Oyster in 7mm. 75 Cents each for 7mm Remington Magnum means there really is no reason to consider the .280 Ackley if you don't Reload. If 7RM is too much then 7-08 can kill it.

 

[Lefty G-gear]

There are slight differences between the 280 ai wildcat that i own and the nosler creation. Don't think it would work to fire either cartridge in the other rifle. As far as using a reamer myself, it only takes a few seconds to ruin a chamber. Best let a qualified smith do the work.

Well, I'll be...
.280 Remington Ackley Improved factory ammo:
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/280-remington-ackley-improved

.280 Remington ammo:
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/280-remington

.280 AI rifles:
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/cat...55.572994&pp=30&sortby=priceAscend&sortType=1

.280 REMINGTON RIFLES:
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/search.do?query=rifles .280 Remington&sku_instock_b=true

 

[Lefty G-gear]

All that resizing fireforming trimming never interested me at all!
If it takes that much work..Find another caliber..

Well, I'll be...
.280 Remington Ackley Improved factory ammo:
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/280-remington-ackley-improved

.280 Remington ammo:
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/280-remington

.280 AI rifles:
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/cat...55.572994&pp=30&sortby=priceAscend&sortType=1

.280 REMINGTON RIFLES:
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/search.do?query=rifles .280 Remington&sku_instock_b=true

 

[Lefty G-gear]

Well, I'll be...
.280 Remington Ackley Improved factory ammo:
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/280-remington-ackley-improved

.280 Remington ammo:
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/280-remington

.280 AI rifles:
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/cat...55.572994&pp=30&sortby=priceAscend&sortType=1

.280 REMINGTON RIFLES:
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/search.do?query=rifles .280 Remington&sku_instock_b=true

 

[Wild Monkey]

Well, I'll be...
.280 Remington Ackley Improved factory ammo:
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/280-remington-ackley-improved

.280 Remington ammo:
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/280-remington

.280 AI rifles:
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/cat...55.572994&pp=30&sortby=priceAscend&sortType=1

.280 REMINGTON RIFLES:
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/search.do?query=rifles .280 Remington&sku_instock_b=true

https://ammoseek.com/ammo/7x64mm

I'd bet it's possible to fire 7x64 in a 280AI chamber, I sure wouldn't have any issue with it. Depending on the Chamber of Course. .62 Cents!!

 

[KyCarl]

280 AI I have really been thinking about one..But if you don't like 140 Gr. Ballistic Tips or 162 Gr. Eld-X you are S.O.L.Nosler or Hornady..2 whole choices.
This is all that's holding me back?

 

[Hand Skills]

@KyCarl - 280rem ammo works in a 280AI also.

@Phoeniceltic - while theoretically possible, the case bodies differ enough that the practicality is questionable. The 7x64 is .466" vs .473" for the 270/280/30-06 at the head junction.

(Personally lusting for a 7x65R - THOSE are some strong case heads ... keeping primer pockets tight since 1917!)

 

[thinair]

280ai is hands down most versatile of all 7mms, and actually all calibers/cartridges. Sits right in the middle of 7mms. Very efficient cartridge, easy to reload (also shoots 280 factories), mild recoil, not to far away from performance of 7rm.

7mm08 with 140 accubonds flying at 2800-2900 kills many elk in US. Somebody mentioned moose and bear would need something better than 280ai. Really? Spit 160 accubond at moose or bear at ~3000-3100fps, and its bye, bye sleep tight. As been said, it spits 140s at 3200, 162s in mid to high 3000, and 180s in mid to high 2900. Choice of grains is huge... from 100 or 110 to 195s and of course 7mms has the best ballistic, not counting big boys such as 338 lapua etc.

 

[Alibiiv]

Can you just "run the reamer in" without affecting correct headspace for the chamber, I thought you had to set the barrel back to get it right?

You have to set the barrel back, .280 Ackley Improved is the only AI cartridge, as far as I know, where they made the SAAMI version of the .280 Ackley Improved .014 thousandths shorter than the parent case.