I own and load for 7-08, 7-08AI, and 284 win - all in bolt action rifles. Have for several years. You can safely get about 50 fps over a std 7-08 by going AI. You can safely get another 70-100 fps over that by going to a 284 win. I think MD is being a little conservative with his 4%, but that is close. Based on my experience with all 3 cartridges, I personally like the 7-08AI best. It seems to be a very efficient cartridge. Even moreso than the std, and is close enough to the 284 win/280 rem that it is moot. My wife took a decent 5x5 bull at 318 yds with a 7-08AI using 140 gr TSX in 2009. MV was around 2950 fps. One can safely and easily add 100 fps to that in a 284 win. But it takes about 8-10 more grains of powder to get that. All 3 will do anything I will ever demand from a cartridge and then some.
Last edited by bludog; 02/22/15.
