Hi Folks,
I have been pillaging around the reloading stuff today and I have found an abundance of .284 (7mm) stuff.

Since I have a lot of bullets and several empty cases (mainly .280 Remington) just collecting dust, I need a rifle to shoot them in.

Now the question is which flavor. I have ruled the 7mm magnum class rounds out because I have finally gotten the kinks worked out of my .300 Ultra Magnum ( 94.0 grains of Rl -25 and a 180 grain Nosler BT at 3249 fps is consistently cutting half inch or slightly less groups)and the 7 mags. would be a near duplicate in performance.

What I am looking for is a more general purpose hunting rifle. The specifications I have in mind are: 1) The Custom Route

Winchester Model 70 CRF action ( the .300 Ultra has really weined me off the Remington 700)

23-24 inch K&P barrel in standard factory M-70 contour.

Boyd's Laminate Stock, Blind Magazine ( I really dislike floor plates) 2.5lb trigger.

2x7 Leupold scope and Talley mounts.

Estimated Total Cost of Rifle: $1,100.00 (400.00 action, 450.00 for barrel and install work, 250.00 for stock and trigger job.)
Optics and mounts: $300.00 maximum (2-7 Vari X I 200.00 + 100.00 alloted for mounts)

Total Project Cost: approx. $1400.00

2) Semi-custom Route:
700 Remington, Model 70 Win, or Ruger Factory (CZ -550 is also a possible option) Barrelled action $450-525.00

Trigger Job or Replacement as needed: $35.00-100.00
Boyd Stock: $ 150.00

Optics and Mounts: $ 300.00 Maximum

Total Cost : High estimate: approx. $1100.00
Low Estimate: approx. $950.00

(Really, not a tremendous savings over the low-end custom route)

Now which caliber choice? The candidates I have in mind are:

.280 Remington
7x57 Mauser
.284 Winchester
7mm/08 Remington

The 7x64 Brenneke is also a possibility although components and ammo would be somewhat of a problem. Based on previous experience I am leaning toward the .284 Winchester or .280 Remington.

What do you folks think ?

Thanks for the input,

HBB

My opinion to myself? Kimber 84 in 7mm-08. To you a .280 Ackley however you choose to do it? Sean

hillbilly, glad to hear you got your 300 ultra running. Those are hard choices, though I would off the top eliminate the 284 for a variety reasons. My first centerfire was a 280, and though its a great cartridge, I now shoot a 270 in its place. If I didnt own a 270 I would pick the 280 first, followed by the 7X57, then the 7mm-08. If I had no concern of nostalgia, I would pick the 7-08 over the 7X57. Any of those three choices a guy cant go wrong, but thats oftan what makes the choice so hard.

I'd have a hard time choosing between the 7x57 and the 7mm-08, but I'd go with the 7x57.
Actually, with that kind of money, I'd have a hard time not making my 7mm wildcat.
he 280 Rem is obviously the best performer of the bunch, cheap and available brass/dies, all the rest. It makes more "sense," if you like that.

Go the 7x57mm Mauser and don't look back. I'd go with a 1x10 or a 1x9.5 twist barrel for the 140 grain bullets because you already have something that pukes out 180 grain type bullets. A euro-twist is nice for the 160 grain bullets, but like I said, you already have something in that class.

Of the calibers you listed the 284 Win. would be my choice hands down, but I would choose the 7MM WSM if the choice was open to any 7MM.

Anyone who has read half my posts knows that I am a fan of the 7-08. With 1,400 to sink into this project the accuracy potential should be astounding not to mention the versatility.

Between that and a 300 Ultra there should be little ground you can't cover.

BTW, how did the 300 Ultra wein you off the 700?

You seem to have the most componants for the 280 Rem (simply the old wildcat 7mm-06) and it is the best performer of the bunch, because of it's availability, and cost of shooting, as well as it's balistics, and selection of fine bullets for many different animals you might want to hunt!

I have never seen what anyone sees in the 7x57 Mauser, when the 7x64 was available in the same rifles! The 284 Win has some drawbacks I don't like, a rebated rim, a neck that is too short, with bullets seated too deep, and in custom rifles not easy to make feed properly! Like the 7X57, I've never been enamored with the 308 case for anything bigger than the 243 Win, and the 30-06 case of the 280 Rem makes far more sense, for a 7mm rifle.

Smallfry, why would go to a 270 over a 280 Rem? The 280 is the same case (30-06), but has a far better range of bullet selection, than the 270. It will handel bullets as light as the 270,on the bottom end, but will handle bullets far heavier than the 270 on the top end, and produce the same accuracy. The larger forntal area of the 7mm (.284) over the 270's (.277) @ the same speeds, is a plus, IMO! I suppose it is simply a matter of choice on your part, but the numbers do not support that choice!

A 200 dollar scope in a 100 dollar set of mounts???????? Ain't that kinda like putting a parade saddle on a 100 dollar horse so you can ride him to the dog food factory?

Factory rifles:
M70 ftrwt. .280
CZ550FS 7x57 (very classic)

If you are going custom, one of the .280imp. rounds like the AI or JRS would let you use your brass & get you very, very close to a 7mag in perf.

I went classic; M70, 23"bbi. nice wood stock on the ftrwt. lines w/ euro cheek piece, skeleton grip & Neidner butt plate. (3) shots under an inch every time, total wt. w/ 3-9comp. is just over 7 1/4#. Frank N. hates the fact I hunt w/ it, it's very pretty, but I still hunt w/ it.

[ 09-28-2003, 18:48: Message edited by: fredj338 ]

I have to jump on the .280 bandwagon also. I'm not crazy about the .284 Win, unless it is in a lever gun like the old Savage. 7X57 is good too, but is beaten hands down by the .280 Rem. As for the others, short cartridges don't do anything for me unless they are in short rifles.

Not quite as versatile as the -06, or as specialized as the .270, the .280 Remington may be the best of both worlds. You had me hooked with the .280 Rem, and 24" barrel from the get-go!

Easy for me! I'd do a 7X57mm with a 1/9" twist or faster, because it's a classic which goes with a fine rifle. However, ballistically the .280 Rem. will beat it, of course. The 7X64 is so much like a .280 Rem. I'd opt for the 280 Rem. because components are easier to get here. Both the .280 Rem. and the 7X57 feed through a bolt action a little more positively with less work than the .284 Win. does, unless you want to use a short action. Of course, the .284 Win. is a great case design! Since I now use single shot rifles, case shape and size is of little consequence to me!

MacD37... My reasons for choosing the 270 over the 280 first came about when I got a hold of a friends, very accurate, very attractive 270, and bought it. At the time I hunted alot with the 280. I see no difference in how far animals travel, after being shot with a 270 opposed to a 280, or 7mag, and have NEVER seen a difference in penetration from 277/150s and 175/7mm, where the 7mm had a conclusive gain. Bullet selection for me is a moot point, because I usually only care about one or two weights, and though the 270 has fewer weights to choose from, it has every manufactures attention and style of projectiles they offer. To me the 270 is the lowest(smallest?) representation of many cartridges in the 2.9-3kfps a guy can choose from and not compromise preformance from the others. Example of others 280/7mag etc.
Really my choosing the 270 over the 280 came out of "love at first sight". It is ashame the 280 isnt more popular than the 270 because to me it makes more sense.

The 280 AI gives you the most flexibility in terms of range and types of game, and the marginal cost of going this route is the same as the other rounds, since you are starting from scratch.