280 AI replacement for 270 Win.

bonefisher · #1 06-26-2009, 12:14 AM

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 · #2 06-26-2009, 02:00 AM

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 · #3 06-26-2009, 07:57 AM

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 · #4 06-26-2009, 08:54 AM

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 · #5 06-26-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · #6 06-26-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmerdeer

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 · #7 06-26-2009, 03:14 PM

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