Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Why or Why "NOT" a 284 Win. over a 7mm-08 in a custom short action rifle?

Why not do a 284 Win. over a 7mm-08 if building a short action custom rifle?

I have played with both, and .284 offers maybe 100-150 fps advantage. 7-08 is less demanding to load for in terms of OAL and 2.8" magazine box. Feeding is probably easier in a 7-08. Brass and factory loads easier to come by in 7-08.

.284 is much more a loony's cartridge.

A few extra fps don't change what one can do with a 7mm, so I might as well factor in cost, logistics and the ability to push another round in the belly.

I've had both. The 7-08 will not touch the 284, all things equal.


Do you lay in bed at night wondering what questions to ask the following day?

I love the .284 Win, but in a 2.800 mag well like the 700 SA, my pic is the 7-08AI. In a 3.00 mag well, like a NULA, .284 gets my nod.

If I was going to build a short action 7, it would definately be a 284. I don't think I could ever be happy with the speeds a 7/08 would give me but in all reality if I ever build a 7mm anything it will probably be a 7STW or RUM so my thoughts might be a bit skewered.

2900-2960 fps w/139-140s in factory 7/08s w/chopped 21" bbls.

If I needed more in a SA rifle w/my preferred hunting length bbl (22-23 max), I'd go to the 7 WSM, but the 284 in a 24-26" is in it's own right also a fine round, esp. using 160-162s or heavier IMHO.

For deer thru elk to 400 yds, I'd be very happy w/an accurate 7/08 loaded with good bullets, and not choose any 7mm larger, but that is just me.

That said, there are no flies on a 284, just less brass and ammo options and perhaps one less in the mag, and to some folks those things matter.

I would not build another 284 in Rem SA. Built one on a LH Rem 700 SA. IMHO the 7-08 is better suited to a 2.8" OAL. If you had a 3.1 OAL like the MRC SA or somthing similar it would be a better fit.

I chose a 7mm-08AI in a Remington 700 short action ... had the smith chamber it with a short throat and a tight no-turn neck and it feeds perfectly as it did when it was the SAAMI parent, and I get an easy 3150fps out of it w/ the 120g bullets ...

FWIW, I went with the AI version mainly for the case life and lack of having to trim cases...

If I want(ed) more than what the 7mm-08AI offers, I'd opt for a 7WSM ...

The 7 WSM or the 7 SAUM would give you room for play more so than the others you cited. I think the SAUM would be a perfect short action cartridge. It equals the 280 AI and is easy to get along with.

284 Win sure seems that it would make the most of a SA, non-magnum bolt face. Could always load it down to 7-08AI speeds if you found it too fast. Is it NULA that loves this round so much? May be one of the other FlyWeight builders that is Ga-Ga over it.
Anyway, get one.

I have both calibers and have used them extensively, I count on 2850fps w/ 140 Barnes TSX out of my model 7, I have custom model 7 7mm-08AI that runs around 2950 fps with 140 TSX and a 21" tube and 3200 fps w/120 TTSX. My Brno 22 with a 22" tube in .284 and a long throat spit 140TSX out at 3187fps with RL17. Also my 26" 7mm Weatherby runs 3300fps with 150g TTSX. I am in the process of converting the 4 guns to 2 and the 284 will be one of them that survives the downsizing. Actually have a NULA 24 on order in 284 from Melvin, this will be my go to gun if she shoots anything like his past builds. Anyhow if you like the 284 I have rechambered many 7mm-08s' and gained performance that I was happy with. Used Wyatt boxes and extended the OAL of the cartridge. Actually extended factory 700 SA's to 3.2" mag box. The action looks like a lengthened model 7 when finished. If you do not want to go through the trouble then the factory 7mm-08 is a great number as is. Hell as long as there is a 7mm in the name somewhere you can't go too far wrong!

7mm-08AI


7mm Weatherby

What are you guys loading your 284's to for OAL?

I've loaded for the 284 but all my reloading gear and note books are packed up right now for home reno's...


reason I ask is, I have a Ruger M77 tang safety in 30-06 and a Douglas 7mm blank....can't decide if I should chamber it in 280 or 284......the Ruger mag box is only 3-3/8"....not overly long for a 284 depending on throat length...I don't think I can touch the lands with the 280 and fit the box...

Rick, my short action M70 284 was about perfect. I loaded to 3.05" or so and didn't want more mag room. Might be a great way to go in the standard 77.

Won't run with a Sako 300 but it won't be bad!

Hey Rick that Ruger would make a dandy 284. The bullet below is a 140 Barnes TTSX seated so the base (straight shank portion) is a few thou above the donut in the brass.

Have both.
Love both.

Funny how those two chamberings keep popping up as "best of a lot of world's" solutions yet they're already near (or are) obsolete in factory chamberings. I love the SAUM.

With all the options out there, it sure pays to ask a lot of questions prior to jumping in head first on a build.

;-)

Remember, no one ever marries a bitch or a bastard but they all divorce one.

thanks Mitch,......that's exactly what I was thinking...wonder where a 140 and 160 Accubond would sit with the base of the bullet at the base of the neck...?..probably pretty close to the TTSX you pictured....

this Ruger might be a better deal in 284 than 280....and I might have time over the holidays to get it done....