280 AI vs 30-06

[Bado20]

I have a Tikka T3X Lite in 30-06 that I'm thinking about dropping in a mcmillan stock, changing out the bottom metal, and putting a proof research or IBI prefit on. I'm trying to decide if when I rebarrel I should stick with 30-06 or rechamber to 280AI. I hunt everything from blacktails to moose, but I usually take a 338WM for moose.

 

[Tim in Wa.]

I'm thinking about the same thing.FYI proof doesn't offer a 280AI prefit

 

[83cj-7]

My .280 was a 30-06, and I’d never go back. I love the .280. AI is good, but it won’t feed as reliably as the vanilla .280 Rem.

 

[Bado20]

I'm thinking about the same thing.FYI proof doesn't offer a 280AI prefit

Good to know. I know IBI does and since I'm in canada they're easier for me to source anyways.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

If you handload I'd recommend opening up the boltface and going 7 saum in a tikka vs 280 ai.
Put a mountain Tactical magazine in and you're set

 

[eroksolfe]

Considering doing the same to my X-Bolt 30-06 as a bit less expensive way to upgrade the power without buying a new gun. That said, this process is a bit new to me. Once the gun is rebarreled into a 280 AI, can it be brought back to “factory” and shoot 30-06 again? What other work / changes are typically involved?


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[menhaden_man]

7 RM would be my choice, but I thought hard about a 280 but stuck with 7 just because I’ve got brass and a non standard caliber isn’t a good idea these days.

I have two 7RM, one is from the 70s, the other is a Hells Canyon LR with the 26” barrel and brake with 1/8 twist. I can promise it’s less kick than most of my rifles and drops 1/2” groups easy with 168 VLDs at 3100 FPS.

But I’d take a 280 over a 30-06 (got one of those too). Check out the ballistics. The 0.284 is the OG high BC.

Bullet Ballistics Comparison Calculator

A ballistics calculator for comparing wind and drop performance of two bullets.

bisonballistics.com

 

[bobinmi]

Considering doing the same to my X-Bolt 30-06 as a bit less expensive way to upgrade the power without buying a new gun. That said, this process is a bit new to me. Once the gun is rebarreled into a 280 AI, can it be brought back to “factory” and shoot 30-06 again? What other work / changes are typically involved?


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With a bolt gun it's just a barrel change as long as the calibers share the same bolt face.

 

[Centralcoastca]

My .280 is my favorite rifle for sure. It hits a sweet spot, a little heavier than .270 and flatter and less recoil than 30-06. Nothing wrong with 30-06, but if you’re wanting something different it would be a good move in my opinion. .280ai has been gaining popularity the last couple years so pretty much everyone seems to make something chambered in it and I seem to see ammo on the shelf way more than I used to. Just popular enough that they stock it, just odd enough that they don’t sell out immediately.

 

[DRUSS]

I voted 280AI. I really like mine, but my dad has a 30/06 AI that is a hell of rifle. I enjoy shooting them both.
280AI
-140s 3200
-168s 2900 with H4831, 3000 with RL-26
-180s 2830
30/06AI
-165s 3000
-180s 2875

 

[Bado20]

Considering doing the same to my X-Bolt 30-06 as a bit less expensive way to upgrade the power without buying a new gun. That said, this process is a bit new to me. Once the gun is rebarreled into a 280 AI, can it be brought back to “factory” and shoot 30-06 again? What other work / changes are typically involved?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

between the 280AI and the 30-06 it is just a barrel swap. I don't know how the barrel change process is for Xblts but for a lot of rifles with the right tools its like a 10-15 minute job to swap barrels. If you want to swap bolt faces to a magnum bolt face you would need to have your bolt face milled out and it wouldn't be reversible.

 

[Bado20]

7 RM would be my choice, but I thought hard about a 280 but stuck with 7 just because I’ve got brass and a non standard caliber isn’t a good idea these days.

I have two 7RM, one is from the 70s, the other is a Hells Canyon LR with the 26” barrel and brake with 1/8 twist. I can promise it’s less kick than most of my rifles and drops 1/2” groups easy with 168 VLDs at 3100 FPS.

But I’d take a 280 over a 30-06 (got one of those too). Check out the ballistics. The 0.284 is the OG high BC.

Bullet Ballistics Comparison Calculator

A ballistics calculator for comparing wind and drop performance of two bullets.

bisonballistics.com

I reload and brass availability isn't a huge concern for me. For whatever reason my local gun store always has 280 Rem so in a pinch I could just fireform that.

the high BC 7mm bullets are what drew me to the 280. I love my 06 but after doing some research hot damn there are some slippery bullets in 7mm.

 

[Bado20]

If you handload I'd recommend opening up the boltface and going 7 saum in a tikka vs 280 ai.
Put a mountain Tactical magazine in and you're set

Do you have any experience with the MT magazines and bottom metal? I despise the plastic bottom, I'm planning on rebarreling, have a Mcmillan Game warden on the way, and am trying to pick an actual metal bottom metal and mag.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

Do you have any experience with the MT magazines and bottom metal? I despise the plastic bottom, I'm planning on rebarreling, have a Mcmillan Game warden on the way, and am trying to pick an actual metal bottom metal and mag.

I use their magazine but have no issues with the Tikka bottom metal so thats what I run

 

[35WhelenAI]

280AI for the win. My father shoots a 280 Remington and it's the best of both worlds in my opinion. As has been said, heavier bullet weights than the 270 and with the higher sectional density, all things equal better long range performance than a 30-06 or 30-06 AI. Easily change back to the '06 or to any other cartridge that uses the same bolt face down the road by swapping barrels. Go messing with the bolt face and then you're stuck.

I cannot speak to the 280 AI however my 35 Whelen AI has chambered every round coming up from the magazine flawlessly for 20 years. It took simple fine tuning of the feed rails but there's no reason it cannot chamber just as reliably as the standard cartridge. Feeds 35 Whelen factory loads or brass for fire forming flawlessly as well.

 

[eroksolfe]

Thanks all. Now any recommendations on barrel brands and twist rates I should be looking for? Seems the “slippery” high BC 7 mm need 1:9 or even 1:8.


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[Harvey_NW]

If you're looking to get all you can out of a load I would think twice about going 280ai in a Tikka build unless you plan on investing some money into getting a mag situation figured out. In my personal experience I bought an aftermarket AICS bottom metal conversion and a 300WM accuratemag, and although it was advertised as such, it unfortunately does not work without machine work to the action. The mag COAL capacity exceeds the edge of the action port, and the tip of the bullet will get hung up when feeding.

That being said, I have a custom 280ai built on a Tikka with a 24" 1:9 Bartlein, and it's an animal. Factory mag and bottom, I load at mag length (rough guesstimate .100" off the lands) and a mild charge pushes 162gr ELD-M @ 2800fps, and it's extremely consistent.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

What is your 30-06 not doing that the 280 AI will do for you?

Are you wanting to kill game further than what the 30-06 is capable of doing?

 

[35WhelenAI]

The OP shared the high ballistic coefficients of the 7mm bullets are what is drawing him that way. Leads me to believe longer range may be in his future.

A 168 or 175 grain bullet out of the 280 AI can be pushed meaningfully faster than a 210 gr. bullet out of a 30-06. Those bullets compare pretty close with respect to sectional density and the ballistic coefficients favor the 7mm. Better ballistic coefficient and more velocity, seem to be a good combination.

The 280 AI gives up nothing at shorter range with the right bullets for the job and seems to outshine the venerable 30-06 quite a bit at longer ranges.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

The OP shared the high ballistic coefficients of the 7mm bullets are what is drawing him that way. Leads me to believe longer range may be in his future.

A 168 or 175 grain bullet out of the 280 AI can be pushed meaningfully faster than a 210 gr. bullet out of a 30-06. Those bullets compare pretty close with respect to sectional density and the ballistic coefficients favor the 7mm. Better ballistic coefficient and more velocity, seem to be a good combination.

The 280 AI gives up nothing at shorter range with the right bullets for the job and seems to outshine the venerable 30-06 quite a bit at longer ranges.

Saw that too but unless he’s wanting to start killing past 600+ yards (depending on his specific rifle and ammo), he’s still good with the 30-06.

I’m good with wanting something new. Just wanted to ask since I did not see the OP specifically state why he was considering the 280 AI; not all 7mm bullets are “slippery”.