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Which is Better, 280 Ackley or 7mm Rem Mag
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I was sittin on the thrown( I know I aint the only one) reading a magazine article about the perfect 7. Which was the 280 Ackley, saying that it could out do the 7 mag with lesser powder. Is this true. Chub Eastman wrote this article, Figured you guys would know as I never had eithor.
 
Posts: 533 | Location: S.E. Oregon | Registered: 27 January 2009Reply With Quote
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I have owned and used a few 280 Ackleys and they are a racehorse for sure. I know I always read where they approach a 7mm Rem Mag, but have never shot a 7mm Rem Mag if you can believe that......I am not a Remington fan other than 223 Rem.


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Posts: 1632 | Location: Potter County, Pennsylvania | Registered: 22 June 2005Reply With Quote
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I use a 280 A.I. and love it, but the 7 Mag. is still a little more of everything (More powder, recoil, noise,blast and speed) but not much or enough for me to switch.


Political correctness offends me.
 
Posts: 668 | Location: Hastings, Michigan | Registered: 23 April 2007Reply With Quote
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I used a 7mag for many years as my only rifle for all my big game hunting and it worked great. I got rid of it when I moved away from Montana...used a standard 280 instead.

Recently I built a couple of 280AIs...and have been pleasantly surprised by their performance...they are accurate and fast..and pleasant to to shoot even in a light rifle. That being said they are not the equal to a 7mag...the 280AI does get into the low end of the 7Mag velocities if you look at the manuals and compare the two cartridges, but it can not match the 7mag powder capacity or top velocity.

I really like my 280AIs, and won't be going back to the 7mag or standard 280 anytime soon..

Z
 
Posts: 506 | Location: Arkansas Delta | Registered: 01 November 2004Reply With Quote
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I own The Rem. 7 Mag. That rifle will shoot a long way. I was shooting at a 600yd range and hitting my target. I have a Burris Blistick Plex
scope on it.
 
Posts: 2209 | Location: Delaware | Registered: 20 December 2002Reply With Quote
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Have and shoot both, rifles are almost identical, weight, etc. Fire forming gets old but brass lasts a long time in my ackleys and less trimming than with the 7RM. Basically no difference other than with the heavier bullets the 7RM pulls ahead. I like 175 gr. Barnes for elk and here the 7RM is clearly superior.
 
Posts: 206 | Location: Tucson, AZ, USA | Registered: 26 December 2001Reply With Quote
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this article was in gunhunter magazine, winter 08-09
 
Posts: 533 | Location: S.E. Oregon | Registered: 27 January 2009Reply With Quote
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I've owned and tested the 280, 280AI, 280JRS, and my own 280PDK(gibbs+)In a good barrel a 280AI "might" get close to factory 7mag loads. My case has twice the gain of an AI and I have no trouble beating factory loads even with the heavier bullets. That said when I hadload the 7mag it pulls away from even my wildcat. Is the AI more efficent sure but it can not make up for the larger case.

At best factory 7mag is only loaded to a max of 61,000. I doubt many AI reloaders stop until they have pressure signs which would be a lot higher.


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
 
Posts: 12881 | Location: Mexico, MO | Registered: 02 April 2001Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Gary Surko:
I use a 280 A.I. and love it, but the 7 Mag. is still a little more of everything (More powder, recoil, noise,blast and speed) but not much or enough for me to switch.


+1


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Posts: 4594 | Location: TX | Registered: 03 March 2009Reply With Quote
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You will find 7mm Rem Mag ammo everywhere in the world. You may struggle to find 280 Remington ammo. That's a bad thing, IMHO, but it is as it is.
 
Posts: 6824 | Location: United Kingdom | Registered: 18 November 2007Reply With Quote
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the .280 improved is one of the "rare" ackley rounds that does actually show an appreciable improvement in velocity with most bullet weights. it's somewhat untypical of what ackley originaly developed the "improved" cartridge design for, more or less a "bonus", along with the roberts and the 7x57.
that said, the 7mag will still edge it out with the heavier bullets, but the price is more powder, blast and recoil, all typical of more case volume.
in retrospect, the .280 ackley might be considered the perfect 7.... it's not far enough behind the mag with most of the typically used bullets weights to justify the mag's powder appetite and shooting comfort level to make the mag all that necessary.
for my hunting, mostly northern WI. deer hunting the perfect 7 is the 7x57 ackely.
 
Posts: 415 | Location: no-central wisconsin | Registered: 21 October 2008Reply With Quote
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I love the 7mm. I think it is the ultimate smaller big game caliber. I use the 7 STW. I like the 280 AI from a case design standpoint. It is a handloader's cartridge. the 7mm Remington Magnum is the most popular magnum cartridge in the world for a reason. The 280 AI is not the equal of a 7MM Rem Mag.

If I need more than the 7 STW I go to the .375 Weatherby.
 
Posts: 2627 | Location: Where the pine trees touch the sky | Registered: 06 December 2006Reply With Quote
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To keep this simple....the 7 Mag is better.


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Posts: 7361 | Location: South East Missouri | Registered: 23 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Ted may be right, but the 280 AI is way cool! As Buliwyf said, it is a handloaders cartridge.

Chubb Eastman is also right, especially is you are comparing equal powder charges, the AI is more efficient--but the difference is you can
(and probably should to maximize it) put more powder into a 7 mag case! If you like high speeds that a AI offers with the light to mid weight bullets in 7, than the 280AI becomes even more your cup of tea!

I have both, and with the bullets I like, 150-180 zone, my AI's are quicker than either of my 7 mags (2) with equal powder charges.

If you are one of those who wants to be able to find ammo anywhere you go--silly IMO, you can forget the AI, or even 280 ammo in a pinch.

I'd go the 280 AI in a second again, I like it a lot, and the Nosler 280 AI brass is great!
 
Posts: 3563 | Location: GA, USA | Registered: 02 August 2004Reply With Quote
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I do agree the .280 AI is a cool case but for the money it has small benefits over the .280 Rem. and if I want a realy hot 7 I'll take my 7 Rem Mag but 99% of the time I pack a 7-08.

This being said I would buy one (.280 AI) if the right rifle ever came along. They are cool and the Nosler brass.....got to love the headstamp if you are a .280AI guy.


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Posts: 7361 | Location: South East Missouri | Registered: 23 November 2005Reply With Quote
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7mm Rem. Magnum is better because you can get Deluxe Neck, Full and Seater dies for $27.00:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eprod...id=578516&t=11082005
 
Posts: 1274 | Location: Saskatchewan, Canada.  | Registered: 22 August 2006Reply With Quote
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7mm Rem Mag for me. Every time I think of buying a .280, I end up with a 7mag because if some is good, then a bit more is better, and even then it still kicks like a pussycat.


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Posts: 539 | Location: Winnipeg, MB. | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
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The main advantage the 7MM Mag has over the 280 ro the 280 AI is that hyou can find factory 7mm Mag ammo most anywhere big game is hunted.

In todays political climate that may be a big plus.

Stock up now, while you can.


DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY
 
Posts: 16134 | Location: Texas | Registered: 06 April 2002Reply With Quote
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I had an early Jarette 280AI but sold it because I did not find the effprt to form cases was worth the output. I still have 4 7RemMags & 3 280 Rems. It is impossible to find 280 Factory ammo locally.
 
Posts: 1125 | Location: near atlanta,ga,usa | Registered: 26 September 2001Reply With Quote
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I own a 7mm Rem Mag. Very happy. Most of the guys at the range are shooting .280, but have no Idea what they are doing. I'm shooting from 130..160gr now. 175gr was on the menu untill I started reloading Barnes 160gr Solids.
 
Posts: 447 | Location: NH | Registered: 09 May 2008Reply With Quote
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This is a toss up for me. The 7mm Remington Magnum is simply an outstanding and very accurate caliber. I can shoot one all day with no soreness, but I do have a decelerator pad on it. As far as function, it is simply an excellent workhorse.

The 280AI is a cool "wow" factor caliber. Now that Nosler makes brass in this cal, you could buy 500 pieces and be set for life if you shoot moderately. (Though, I'd buy 1000).

I'm actually going b/w these exact 2 calibers, trying to decide, b/c I have a stainless Krieger sitting in my safe, begging to be used soon. Since I do not own a 280AI, that keeps me on the fence. But, since I already have all the stuff I need for another 7mag, I'm 51% sure I'll go that route.....that is until I go sit on the thrown and think about it more. Big Grin


Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns
 
Posts: 7906 | Registered: 05 July 2004Reply With Quote
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Both calibers work well, when reloaded and shot accurately. If you have a 3006 action or the like and you want a 7mm then the getting it rebarreled in 280 AI would be a smart move. The advantages of a 7mm Rem Mag over the 280 AI are mild.

If you want a real magnum - something to take to Africa or shoot elk at 600 yds - and you're in the market for a new gun, I'd go with a 338 Lapua Mag or 338 RUM. The bullets now available in 338 caliber are awesome. 338 Lapua Mag has a reputation for being very accurate.
 
Posts: 3720 | Registered: 03 March 2005Reply With Quote
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Posts: 7906 | Registered: 05 July 2004Reply With Quote
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I've got a 7mm Magnum that is just flat accurate. With the MacMillen hunting stock I have on it, I can shoot with ease from the bench testing loads. The rifle delivers three shots into a 1/2" group at 100 yards using 150 grain Nosler partitions.
The rifle has served well for 25 years, and it has put lots of meat on the table, so I just can't get all wound up about a 280AI. I do have a 284 also. My bases are pretty well covered in the 7mm chamberings with 7x57's, a 284 and the wonderfully accurate 7mm Mag, for now anyway.

Don




 
Posts: 5798 | Registered: 10 July 2004Reply With Quote
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Hey Don, you loading those primers? Looks like we made excellent timing on that! NOBODY has primers right now! (except us) Cool


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Posts: 7906 | Registered: 05 July 2004Reply With Quote
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