Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Want to get a 280 AI?

Thanks for the thorough explanation JB.

If I ever want to impress a chronograph I would get a Ruger #1 with 26" barrel and chamber it in 7mm Magnum.
whelennut
I'm betting a 35 Whelen loaded to 65,000 psi would leave a mark though. Just sayin.
whelennut

what is funny is I went over to nosler's site and looked at their 280, 280 ai and 7 mag data.

the 280AI lists the fastest loads of all 3, EVEN the 7 mag, the top end load with a 140 fired from the 280AI is listed as 94 fps faster than the fastest 7 mag 140 load!!!!

compared to the regular 280 the AI version has loads almost 300 fps faster with a 140.

so the myth of the 280 AI is busted!!! the reason being is people are comparing lower pressure anemic book loads to higher pressure slightly more compacity AI loads. there is no magic here.

After the 7mm Rem Mag was in the market long enough for others to load ammo, folks observed that full loads often showed pressure spikes. The result was a reduction in load maximum pressure to accommodate any potential pressure excursion.

jim

I have heard about the "pressure spikes" with the 7 RM and find it hard to believe. I can't see that it is innately worse than any other similar cartridge. We never hear complaint about the 257 Wby, 264 Win, 270 Wby, 7 STW etc.

I remember when the 7 RM was introduced. Most of the early adopters used military 98 mauser actions and 1917 Enfields. At that time the M700 was considered only a slight step up from the 110 Savage. Neither were well loved. The rifles were built by all sorts of back yard gunsmiths and there were many different throat configurations on the reamers. Hardly anything was standard. Remember those old rifle are still out there being used with factory ammo. Today most agree that a 160 @ 3050 is about all you can get with a 24" barrel. I knew guys who would add powder until they got 3200-3250 and then quit. Those loads were HOT.

The magic is that the 280AI is SAAMI certified for 65Ksi whereas the 280 is 60Ksi and the 7RM is 61Ksi.

All this means is that there is load data out there that reflects these limits and for those who are not comfortable with over book loads the 280AI makes a pretty desirable package with regard to velocity achieved per powder expended.

There's is so much truth to this.

Although it's often difficult not to pick a cartridge on on one's collective bias, more and more it seems to me that picking a bullet for the job at hand and a rifle that you like very well make much more sense.

For example, for deer, let's say a chap is comfortable with a bit heavier bullets in the 150 - 180gr range. The guy needs to find a rifle that he likes and that suits his hunting style that will throw 150 - 180gr bullets at deer-killing speeds. The cartidge, whether it's a 7mm-08 or a .300 WSM or a .30-06 or a .280 AI, doesn't really matter all that much. All will do the same job with nearly equal results.

Rick,

Actually, there is a little truth to the "pressure spikes" in the 7mm Remington Magnum. I have gotten the story straight from some of the guys in ballistic labs.

For some unknown reason, the 7mm RM's pressures do vary more than in some other cartridges. You really can't call them pressure spikes, as in all of a sudden a case blows a primer or something like that. But the pressure do vary enough, especially with certain powders, that the SAAMI pressure standards were reduced somewhat from the original levels. And that's why the SAAMI average pressure is 61,000 rather than the 64-65,000 of most other belted magnums.

John,
Before long I will need to order a 257 Wby from Mel.
Thanks
Rick

I need one to fill the gap between my 7-08 and 7WSM.

Thanks folks for all the good info folks, lots of valueable insight...me, I'm still quite happy with my 280 AI, not that I don'y also like my.270(s), 30'06 or 300 H&H's any less.... as per usual it's as much or more about the rifle...and the memories!

CC beings no one else will call your BS I will, you will duly note on page 307 of NOSLER #6 THAT 3152 FPS is the highest vel load listed for the 280.On pg 314 the highest vel load for the 280 AI is 3266fps. On page 335 for the 7 mag is 3340 fps. Even more interesting is that both the 280 and the AI version had 26" barrels while the 7 mag was tested with a 24" barrel. you want to quote gack get it right. Magnum Man

MM: Thought something was funny there.....thanks for clarifying.

So do I!

I was looking at data on the website from nosler.

65k psi how much CUP is that, and is there a way to extrapolate velocity with CUP the same way it was done with PSI in another post by muledeer.

I called Jarrett's a couple of years ago and got into a discussion with a young man who I think was Kenny's son. I asked him about the 280 AI and he said he would just get a 7RM. More velocity and simpler. He thought Kenny had done well marketing the business thru the 280 AI but he personally thought is was not the best choise. Funny.

Good grief!

The drawings in Savage 99's post above beg a few questions :

What are the implications of the .014" reduction in headspace in the SAAMI version from the Standard AI version.

Will factory .280 still fireform in a SAAMI chamber ?

Will brass fireformed in a Standard chamber fit in a SAAMI chamber ?

I ask because I have a 700KS in .280 that is whispering to me.

I had my .280 AI set up to use Nosler brass. It worked fine when fireforming from standard .280 brass.

What problems or peculiarities would result from firing Nosler brass/ammo in the longer Standard chamber ?

Thanks