280ai vs 28 nosler cant decide

[sheepaholic]

Hi everyone
im looking at buying the new cooper model 92 backcountry as i want a lighterweight do all rifle.
so i live in northern bc canada i hunt sheep, elk, moose, the occasional bear and if i ever get the draw a ellusive buffalo.
all hunting should be inside of 500 yards with eventually after much practice taking it out to 750 ish and ringing steel at 1000.
im looking for a caliber i can do all with without a huge magnum ive had a 26 nosler and loved it but the gun was too heavy to carry on hunts i like to do so this will replace it thats why im thinking a 28 nosler but ive also owned a 280ai and liked it but is it enough for my intended use?
thanks

 

[sheepaholic]

or should i just go back to a 26 nosler?

 

[stomp442]

The .280AI is one of my favorite 7mm cartridges. Plenty of gun for any of your intended uses or ranges. Mild recoil, not powder hungry, not overbore and very easy to tune loads for. 280AI gets my vote.

 

[Don A Parsons]

Good selection of bullets too choose from too.

That's a plus as modern bullets bring life back to cartrages of old.

Pals and I have had awesome luck with 270's and 30-06's with old school bullets in semi round nose seem to deliver good results on big game and critters.

Pal is Speer, I'm a winchester bullet person, and other pals pick Nosler and Hornady's.

We had some successes with Sierra's but up close they seem they blast on threw with limited expansion.

Don't under estimate the 280 AI as it too can send the package at thick skins here in Canada.

.280 Remington

Don

 

[MudRunner2005]

.280 AI will handle your needs with no issue, and is also one of my favorite cartridges. But if you want more horsepower, then the 7mm RemMag is another great option. The 7mm STW, and .28 Nosler are also good options, but might be a bit much for strictly inside of 500 yards hunting things smaller than elk. Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

 

[sheepaholic]

Well my decision just got easier the gun I'm looking at getting(Cooper model 92 backcountry) doesn't come in a 28 nosler

 

[Don A Parsons]

Question Sheepahualick.

What barrel twist do you have on your 280AI ?

And what bullet brands have you used ?

Don

 

[WildRose]

or should i just go back to a 26 nosler?

With big bears and buffalo on your menu I think I'd stick with either a 7mm Rem, 7mm STW, or 28 Nosler.

You'd probably have a very hard time ever talking a professional guide into letting you shoot a buffalo or bear with the 280 AI. It's a neat round but it's pretty light in the pants for any sort of large, dangerous game.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Speed kills. So I pick the 28 Nosler. Better point blank range so close range shots can be handled without compensation to a further distance. Should give you pretty close to 400y with a 300y zero, just aim in the middle. Faster impact velocity will give more terminal performance.

Steve

 

[sheepaholic]

Question Sheepahualick.

What barrel twist do you have on your 280AI ?

And what bullet brands have you used ?

Don

I don't have a 280ai yet thinking about getting one

 

[WildRose]

I don't have a 280ai yet thinking about getting one

Just curious, the 7mm Rem is obviously right between the two so is there a particular reason for not considering it?

 

[sheepaholic]

No I am starting to consider it I'm in no rush to get this new gun so I'm considering all options in the .284 caliber I want a do all kinda gun but the Cooper I'm looking at the 92 backcountry won't come in 28 nosler so now I'm thinking maybe a 7stw

 

[6point5x284]

I saw a buffalo shot with a regular .280 that didn't go 20 yards. Bigger animals have more blood in their body, and can take longer to lose consciousness due to having to drain more blood. If I recall correctly the buffalo guide said it had to lose at least 16 quarts of blood to lose consciousness. That takes a little bit even with a shot through the heart. A bigger caliber won't drain blood much faster, but allows you wiggle room with poorer shots, sever angles, penetrating bone, etc... That being said, for the ultralight model you are talking about I would get the AI and not think twice about shooting anything I wanted. Shooting a huge bodied animal is probably the exception, not the norm. If it was a gun with an intent more geared towards longer shots or only shooting very large animals, I would look at the 28 or 30 Nosler, (actually .300 Win Mag) etc.. Any guide that has a problem with you using a 280 AI either hasn't been or won't be guiding very long.

 

[Don A Parsons]

The factory 280 can almost push the limited of the 7mm Mag, the 280 AI can match it.

Custom 280AI with 26barrel 1:9 twist will stabilize the longer 175 and 180gr's too long range, there are lots of quality bullets too choose from for the reloaders.

The 165/168 gr's are able to put 2100 + ft-lbs out too 300 yards,,, 2200 ft-lbs with the AI case.

All this is in the Terminal Ballistics Web Forum that I posted a while back.

So with that said, one might be interested in viewing what suitable ft-lbs bear and Buffalo require for clean take down.

Much of this has changed with the interduction of new style bullets on today's market.

Just ideas

Don