280 AI vs 30-06

[Bado20]

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?

I’ve moved to an area where I can get a mountain goat tag every year for a spot that’s a 20 minute drive from my house to the start of my pack in. Up in the alpine scouting I’ve seen goats several times where I would have liked something that bucks the wind a bit better than my 30-06. I could make it happen with the 06, but I’m wondering if it might be a bit easier with the 280AI

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

I’ve moved to an area where I can get a mountain goat tag every year for a spot that’s a 20 minute drive from my house to the start of my pack in. Up in the alpine scouting I’ve seen goats several times where I would have liked something that bucks the wind a bit better than my 30-06. I could make it happen with the 06, but I’m wondering if it might be a bit easier with the 280AI

Would recommend playing with a ballistics calculator to get an idea on wind's impact.

For example, commercial ELD-X in the 280 AI will deflect 12.5 inches at 500 yards with a 90 degree crosswind at 10 mph. Commercial ELD-X in the 30-06 will deflect 15.6 inches at 500 yards with a 90 degree crosswind at 10 mph. You save 3.1" which may or may not matter depending on how you deal with the wind; reticle, dialing, ignore the wind, Kentucky windage, etc.

Not knocking the 280 AI nor the desire to get something new. I want something new and a 280 AI is on my short list.

 

[Harvey_NW]

I’ve moved to an area where I can get a mountain goat tag every year for a spot that’s a 20 minute drive from my house to the start of my pack in.

Need a roommate?? I'll bring my 280, you're first shooter

 

[ericwh]

If you're reloading long slippery bullets, you don't really want a long action cartridge in a tikka. No room in the mag.

If you want to change the bolt face do a 7saum or 7wsm
If you don't want to change the bolt face go 284 win.

If you aren't that concerned about COAL do the 280ai

 

[Bado20]

If you're reloading long slippery bullets, you don't really want a long action cartridge in a tikka. No room in the mag.

If you want to change the bolt face do a 7saum or 7wsm
If you don't want to change the bolt face go 284 win.

If you aren't that concerned about COAL do the 280ai

I'm thinking I'll go 280AI or call my gunsmith about altering the bolt face for 7 SAUM. I'd rather not take the velocity hit with 284 Win

 

[35WhelenAI]

Yeah I absolutely agree the '06 is good with its aero bullets out a considerable distance.

I would resist cutting the bolt face unless you know you never wanna go back.

 

[Brucebarker024]

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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I’d go 1:8. I shoot 140s to 180s out of my 1:8 26 inch 280ai.


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[Newtosavage]

I'm thinking I'll go 280AI or call my gunsmith about altering the bolt face for 7 SAUM. I'd rather not take the velocity hit with 284 Win

I'd go .280 AI and not look back. Solid, proven cartridge that uses (IMO) the best hunting bullets available. less recoil than the '06 and better downrange performance.

 

[Trogon]

One word of caution, the high BC bullets that are drawing your attention to 7mm may not be the best choice for 280ai. Either they will be too long for your mags or stuffed way down in the case. The latter not being the end of world, but some of those bullets are loonnggg.

I shoot a 145 lrx, which is a stump compared to a 175 Berger:


Which is why folks are suggesting 7saum or 284 win. Just something to chew on.

 

[35WhelenAI]

I'm seeing the main detriment to the 280AI is the OAL because of the magazine.

For the OP, are you having that issue with the rifle as it exists right now as an '06 with your hand loads and bullet(s) of choice?

With a Tikka, what is the maximum functional overall length cartridges can be?

 

[Gorp2007]

With a Tikka, what is the maximum functional overall length cartridges can be?

3.33" internal length on my factory mags, 3.39" with the Mountain Tactical.

 

[handwerk]

My model 70 280 AI feeds just fine, it loves the barnes 145 LRX/RL16.

 

[rootacres]

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.

Do you reload?

 

[35WhelenAI]

I am able to run my 35 Whelen AI (M98 action, aftermarket bottom metal/mag, not a Tikka rifle) at 3.390" with any bullet. Could go out to 3.420" but cartridges hang up in the mag.

Given that feeding needs to be reliable, with the 3.390" of the Mtn. Tactical mag, is that a functional length for rounds or do they need to be seated a bit shorter to ensure reliable feeding out of the mag?

What OAL do guys run with the heavier long range bullets, say 160 to 175 gr, with a 280AI? There is a absolute max length some guys may run but what is a practical expectation?

 

[ericwh]

Here is a 7mm RM with a 162 eld-x loaded at tikka mag length (3.340" coal) vs having the bearing surface at the neck-shoulder junction (~3.540").

.280ai junction is .110" further back than 7mm RM so youd want to be around 3.430" with this bullet.

 

[Bado20]

Do you reload?

Yep

 

[rmarshall]

I built a 280 ai off a tikka t3, 25” barrel 1-8 twist., I use factory mags and it’s a dream ti carry, shoot and functions awesome. I’d do it and not look back.

 

[rootacres]

Yep

Of the two you mentioned Id go 280 AI. But since you reload, Id look at a 7 SAUM. Marginally better performance than the 280 AI and since you're on a longer action you can run the longer high BC bullets without magbox issues. I have an 8.4 twist Proof prefit chambered in 7 SAUM. From 143 hammers to 168 VLDs (so far) its 1/2 MOA without too much messing around.

just my 2 cents, good luck.

 

[FCCDerek]

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.

View attachment 355571

A properly built and chambered 280AI will chamber just fine. I've chambered and fired hundreds of rounds in mine with no failures to feed at all.

 

[FCCDerek]

I am able to run my 35 Whelen AI (M98 action, aftermarket bottom metal/mag, not a Tikka rifle) at 3.390" with any bullet. Could go out to 3.420" but cartridges hang up in the mag.

Given that feeding needs to be reliable, with the 3.390" of the Mtn. Tactical mag, is that a functional length for rounds or do they need to be seated a bit shorter to ensure reliable feeding out of the mag?

What OAL do guys run with the heavier long range bullets, say 160 to 175 gr, with a 280AI? There is a absolute max length some guys may run but what is a practical expectation?

I'm shooting 180 Bergers out of my 280 AI and the overall length is 3.46". I had the chamber throated long for them. They're clipping along at 2900fps. They're my target load. Hunting load is a 155AH at 3100fps.