Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 7mm-08, 280, or 280 AI

I had not heard that either...but then again, I've not been listening..

At any rate I wouldn't doubt it, we had issues with every Kimber 7-08 to go through the shop.....


Ingwe

I was getting ready to build a 280 AI back in the early 90's and the only person I could find that knew much was a benchrest legend from around home. He had one and told me "do yourself a favor and just buy a 7 mag. " Of course I didnt listen and built the 280 AI fired a bunch of loads to fireform my brass, trying to figure out what I wanted to shoot in it, got busy and kept hunting with regular .280's in my AI. Killed about 12 deer with .280 in AI form, longest was 375 yds.

Got to thinking about what he said. 24" bbl(same as 7 mag), No fireforming + to the 7 mag, Killing deer with the .280 I would be shooting with the .280 AI, why go through all the trouble? I had it switched back to a regular .280 and it is still there today.

Just my .02
KLM

If I had to pick just one--the AI hands down.

The 7-08 and 7 mag make a nice pair...or just the AI, if you can't have or don't want both.

The 280 Rem was forever dumbed down by low pressure via SAAMI specs, to protect the 270 industry. With brass available and rifles chambered, why bother with a 280? Get a real 280--buy the AI...:)

Why would Remington want to "protect" a Winchester product?

I sorta doubt that was why they loaded the 280 Reminton to lower pressures;IIRC it was to chamber the 280 in semi-auto's...

Remington nailed the coffin on the 280 itself....at least in bolt actions with the 7 Rem Mag. But neither the 280,nor the 7RM,nor the 280AI for that matter, could put the 270 to sleep.I know this drives 280 afficianado's nuts.....

The 280AI is a rifle nut cartridge;it is never going to be very popular.The AI has been around since the 50's I think...it never went anywhere from a popularity perpsective.The 280 IS the "real" 280....nothin'uch really new.

My last tag isn't good till the 20th so I'm sitting on my ass and thought to troll a bit for the Crypt Keepers rather than go down and clean rifles.

I knew you come out...:)

It certainly is a better explantion than the oft-given statement that the rifle's action wouldn't handle pressure in the 270's class...

As for rifle nuts and lunatics-there are plenty around here.

What, no 7mm-08 AI on your possible list?

Or 7x57 or 7x57 AI, or .284 or .284 AI, or 7mm SAUM or WSM, or 7mm BS or B-28?

Or whatever micro-managed 7mm just flew into one ear of a rifle loony?

You're abandoning dozens of rounds without even giving them a chance at their 15 minutes of fame.

and some mildly jaundiced ones....

A 7mm-08 is a fine cartridge since it essentially duplicates a 7x57. Of course, one can have a real 7x57 instead of the imitator and will be steeped in class as a result.
A 280 AI is a waste of time if real results are of any consequence. The standard 280 will do as much and do it with no real fuss.
Having said that, I think you should keep your 308 just because everyone should have at least one. It will do anything the others will do and more. Your collection lacks depth. you need to build something bigger. Maybe a 35 caliber of some sort. GD

Hold on now. If we are going to talk rifle loony ideas,it's no fair using logic. If you want logic, buy a 30.06 use 180 Nos.Partitions for everything, stop talking guns, stop reading gun magazines, just be boring.

I have had three 280 AI's and, loaded to the same pressures, gained about 35-45 fps over the standard 280 Rem/7mm Express. Just not worth the trouble if you are into using the rifle rather than admiring the sharp shoulder. From a feeding point of veiw, the std 280 Rem always works a lot to a little better; the differnce depending upon which action you use.

All fine and dandy ... BUT I do believe this fella is looking to buy a Kimber ... does Kimber chamber the Mouser??

It's really hard to disagree with a single word in that post.

Not stuck on a Montana. I do, however, like the weight, synthetic stock, and stainless barrel. I like the Cooper Excaliber, but those are some serious coin, and a full pound heavier. Looked at the Remmy TI, but those are serious coin too.

I have the 280AI in an Excalibur. The Excalibur and the Ti are two totally different rifles. Handle and feel totally different. I would try and narrow down what I wanted it for before dropping the $ on either one of these. Both fine rifles but you could be totally disappointed in either if your idea of a great rifle is not close to what their specs are.

My Excalibur is what I use for whitetails if I am sitting in a stand with longer shot opportunities. I like it but I am not sure it would be the one I would take for a western hunt where I could do some serious walking.

7x57 or .284 not your run-of-the-mill and yet will still get the job done

Again, I'm thinking "all-around" mid-range (300 yards or less) shooter that I can grab for just about any animal, any hunt style, any weather conditions, and just go. Something "different" isn't a must, but intriguing. My 300WM fits this bill, but for longer ranges (400 yards+).

I sure like my pre 64 M70 280 AI

With these parameters you are heavy in 7mm-08 territory and many rifles out there will give you what you want.

OK, you flushed me....now go clean the rifles.....

I got the 7x57 done. That leaves a 7mag, 06AI, and the 7-08s...

There certainly is no redundancy in that group.