Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .284 Winchester Vs. 7mm-08

What advantages does one hold over another?

7MM-08 has easier to find brass. Other than that pick one and kill schit

Or make brass, and I believe you get one more in the magbox as well

I worked up loads for both. The 284 is my R77 with a Shaw barrel, the 7-08 was my nephews A-bolt. Both were sent to Blackstar for .0005" taper bore, bore polish and cryo treatment.
The 284 barrel is 19.5" the 7-08 is 22".

Both perform very well. The 284 gave 100-200 fps over the 7-08, but as we all know, you have to shoot the specific gun to know just what it will do.

JMHO---the 284 is way cool and very efficient. Only problems if not factory finished is that chambering can be an issue with 284, but there are those who can fix that. Also brass location can be an issue, but that is another story lately.

As noted above, both kill stuff.
Tim

I recently asked myself this same question and decided in favor of the 7-08 for two reasons already cited:

1) Feeding is easier
2) I had a ton of 7.62x51 NATO brass for forming where .284 is rarer than hen's teeth

They're both capable cartridges and the 284 has a significant edge in cool factor but performance gap wasn't (in my mind) sufficient to justify the two factors above.

The pros and cons have pretty much been listed. I have a 7-08 and like it a lot. If 284 brass were easier to find I'd like to have one. It's one caliber I think should have more popularity than it does. It was "short mag" before "short mag" was cool, and does it with a standard bolt face!

I have a couple 284's, and like them a lot. The argument over hard-to-find brass might make sense if you were a bench shooter..but as a hunter, I've been using the same 50 ps of brass since I did load development with it 8 years ago. I just buy it when I see it, I've got plenty to get me through the revolution.

I purchased a Savage model 11f chambered in 7-08 and had it rechambered to 284, with Rl 17 powder and the barnes 140 gr ttsx it will shoot groups as small as 1/2 inch.

What speed do you get out of those 140's Freddy?

Finding 284 brass is as easy as necking up 6.5-284 brass.Just as easy as necking down 308 brass to 7mm-08.I have both calibers and like them equally,but the 284 is faster than the 7mm-08 in equal barrel lengths.

I have both, but my 284 gets used more.

If I wasn't a handloader(or didn't have the 284) I'd lean 7mm-08. They both do close to the same thing, easier to find ammo and brass for the 7mm-08.

I am getting 2890 with 140 gr ttsx using 52.5 gr RL 17, I have a load using 54 gr of RL 17 using the no longer manufactured 140 gr xlc bullet that runs 2960.

I've got a good load using 54gr R19 with nosler 140gr BT I'm getting 2670fps. I need to get some more loaded so I might give R17 a try since I do have some. This is for my A-bolt

Your getting some real low numbers with that load, I would definitely try RL 17, you should be getting at least 2850 with your 284.

Heck, those velocities aren't any better than a 7x57. I get 2895 w/51.5 of RL19 in an old '95 Mauser 7x57. I thought the .284 was better than that. powdr

I will recheck it again when it warms up and before I try a different load.
I just checked my new sierra manual and with a test barrel of 26"
54.4 R19 and 140gr bullet the book list it at 2800. My barrel is 22", so that's a lot of 200fps difference. I will recheck it anyway.
New nosler manual is 2836 with 55gr and 24"

Its all relative to the specific gun. My 19.5" barreled R77 in 284 gets 2860 fps easy with 160NPs. That is a thumper. It gets 3200fps easy with 120BTs. That also does the job down range.
Well ahead of my 7x57s and nephews 7x08.
But then........
You gotta shoot em to know the numbers.
jmho
Tim

I have UNBIASED opinions on the subject.

IF you want 270-280 performance the 284 W wins the debate. The KOOL factor NOT factored in. However factory ammo AND brass for handloading are 'scarce'. Believe me I know.

IF that higher vel. advantage is not that important to you THEN the 7-08 is really worth considering. PLUS ammo and brass are MUCH easier to get/find.

ONLY you can make that choice for your needs and preferences.



edited to add:

On second thot - get the 7-08!! Then you will not be MORE competition for 284 brass.

284 Win. needs a 3.1" action to take advantage of different length bullets. IMHO based on one build.

kk -

You are correct, otherwise shorter actions mandate seating the bullets 'deeper' and EITHER requiring compressed loads OR reduced powder charges.

I'm currently finishing a 284 W on a 98 Mauser and the +/-3.1" action/magazine is just right.