I have a Persian mauser action, and I want to make it in one of these three calibers.

Will it be a pain to get the 280 AI to feed?

Leaning slightly towards the 7x64. Have to pay a little more for the reamer, but I have found brass and already have the dies.

Any advice?

I'd go with Europes's 30-06, the 7x64, just because I like different!

Restore it back to military configuration and get another action to build it on.

280 is easy to make feed; I have built several of them.
For most, 7x64 ia a no because of brass availability.

Of course I'll be the one that says 7x64 - and the hornady ammo is pretty accurate

unlike the 9,3x64, you can make brass from the 30-06 family

I have three .280's and two .280AI's. All are good but the Rem's with the same barrel length will do within 100 FPS of the AI's with some powders. For me I second guess whether the AI is worth the trouble. On the other hand lately it has been easier to get AI cases than Remington.

I am never worried about velocities when they are so close. Important thing is how cool it will be to your hunting buddies.

Right now Grafs has 7x64 brass and no 280 brass!

you might consider the twist , as that's the actual major difference between the 280 and 7x64 - with the x64 having a faster nominal twist to allow for heavy for caliber bullets --

which leads to bullet selection - both will likely shoot 140s well, but when you get into the 160s and up, the faster twist will come into play.

30-06 for me but I have one so Id go 280 std or Imp or a 7x57 but Ihave one of those also.Great action and no problems feeding

If you have the action only and not the complete military rifle, then have at it. I vote for the .280 factory chambering. I will do whatever you require of it. If you have an original rifle, they are worth far more as collector pieces.

Thanks for all the input. Yes, regardless of caliber, need to get a 1:8 or at least 1:8.5 twist.

Almost seems easier now to find 7x64 brass than 280. 280AI seems to be split between Nosler's Sammi version and the traditional version, though there is Nosler brass for the new version. Most dies seem to be traditional version.

quote:

Originally posted by skl1:
Thanks for all the input. Yes, regardless of caliber, need to get a 1:8 or at least 1:8.5 twist.

Almost seems easier now to find 7x64 brass than 280. 280AI seems to be split between Nosler's Sammi version and the traditional version, though there is Nosler brass for the new version. Most dies seem to be traditional version.

New reloading dies are made to current SAAMI specs. Offered NEW brass is made to current SAAMI spec. The only way I am aware of to get "traditional" .280 A.I. brass is to fire form .280 Remington cartridges in a "traditional" .280 Ackley Improved chamber. SOME .280 Remington ammo, and SOME .280 Remington brass will 'crush fit' in a current .280 A.I. (SAAMI spec) chamber, some will not. I think it is on Redding Reloading web site that has a decent explanation of the differences. I have a couple of bags of Win head stamped .280 Rem brass that will not 'crush fit' into a Sammi .280 A.I. chamber. But, I also have a couple of boxes of Remington brand .280 Rem cartridges the WILL crush fit in a SAAMI .280 A.I. chamber. If you're a reloader there are safe ways to fire form .280 Rem to SAAMI A.I. , but I won't get into that in this post. It is not worth over thinking .280 A.I. SAAMI verses "traditional".

I have a 280 AI, I built many years ago; before brass was made.
Use the jam the bullet into the rifling with a moderate load fire forming method.
I never had z 280 made to any spec.
It works.