Short Barreled 280AI

[Ikmclean]

Are you using a short or long action? What powder are you using?

The 284 is intriguing if it can be done on a true short action. SAAMI spec is 2.8" OAL but with Hawkins hunter mags you can seat your bullets out a bit longer (2.98"max). It uses less powder (and I would think less recoil as well), standard primers, and more mag capacity than a 7saum.

51.5 grains H4350, 3.100" oal

I'm 2 grains below max on Hodgdon, they list 2.970oal

 

[Weldor]

Keep us posted. Are you shooting factory ammo or planning to load for it?

I have a savage 7mm-08 that has been cut to 16” and shoot suppressed. It is shooting factory 150 gr precision hunter between 2650 - 2700 fps.

This^^^^ My 08 load 150gr is at 2840,20 in bbl. I have a 280 ai 24" still messing with a load for it. With the lower velocities on the sb 280, might as well stay with the 08 for sure.

 

[Little Tunny]

I cut my 280AI from 22" to 18". 162ELDMs dropped from 2840 to 2720 using a modest load of H4831SC.

 

[HNTR918]

280ai 19'' barrel 2950 fps.
IMR 7828 SSC is THE powder!
168gr Barnes LRX and 168gr Berger VLD.

 

[Habs22]

I cut my 280AI from 22" to 18". 162ELDMs dropped from 2840 to 2720 using a modest load of H4831SC.

This is what i was thinking i would get. Didn't get a chance this weekend to shoot, but if i get these numbers, im happy!

 

[Habs22]

Keep us posted. Are you shooting factory ammo or planning to load for it?

I have a savage 7mm-08 that has been cut to 16” and shoot suppressed. It is shooting factory 150 gr precision hunter between 2650 - 2700 fps.

Finally got a chance to shoot this rifle. Used done factory ammo and reloads.
Factory 160 patition shot at roughly 2650 fps
Factory 162 eldx precision hunter was 2550 fps.

Reloads modest powder with staball 155 terminal ascents were roughly 2800 fps. May be able to pish more, but wanted 2750+ so probably not going to push it.
Reloads with modest powder h4831sc 155 terminal ascent was much slower. Heaviest load reached just shy of 2700 fps.
Must say i love sitting this gun so far. Will keep working on it when i have time.

 

[Vern400]

I have been looking around for a while and have not found any good information on if anyone has cut their 280 AI barrel short (less than 20") for a suppressor. I have a donor 7MM-08 Tikka that I have transitioned to a long action that already has a 16.5" Barrel. I dropped off my gun to the smith (yesterday, hoping to have it back mid FEB) to rechamber it to 280AI to see what velocities that I am going to get and see how well it works. Just figured that I would present the information to the group if someone else is looking into what velocities can be expected with such a short barrel in 280AI.

I was already planning on getting a Proof carbon barrel to 280AI for a lighted hunting rig and figured for the price it may be worth trying out. So, feel free to call me an idiot or such, but this is an experiment that will not cost too much to have real world information vs. just assumption that I have read online. I have seen in a couple of forum/websites that have shown short barreled 7MM rem mag, and 300 WM shortened that see to still work very well for hunting distances up to 500 yards.

I like to hunt suppressed as well as in tight timber area with my gun in my Eberle stock pack. A long barrel and suppressor sticking up that high gets caught on tree branches all the time.

I have already spoken with the suppressor company and the suppressor is rated to 16" and above with the 280 AI so that will not be an issue.

If you push the pressures up into the mid 70k range you have a 7mm backcountry. They're virtually identical to a 280 AI. Why not just buy a rifle instead of pushing the limits on something that may or may not be designed for that pressure?

You aren't going to be able to take advantage of any of the great powders for 280 AI with a barrel that Short. Once or twice I've had powder not burning completely, and had extreme spreads over 150 fps.
I used a faster burning powder and got 32 FPS.

I'm not trying to be adversarial or anything I'm just saying you're like the poster hunter for 7 mm backcountry.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

What is your maximum range you would use this rifle for hunting?

 

[Habs22]

What is your maximum range you would use this rifle for hunting?

Most likely a max of 500 yards. Where I hunt, there is not a ton of availability to shoot past 500-600 yards except a couple of locations, due to dense forest and minimal clearings.
Based on the calculations for the 155 Terminal ascent going 2750, Applied Ballistics and 4 DOF put this setup at 1990 FPS and 1,400 FT/LBS at 750 Yards. I don't see myself shooting that far as I have not been practicing enough as of recent.

 

[Habs22]

If you push the pressures up into the mid 70k range you have a 7mm backcountry. They're virtually identical to a 280 AI. Why not just buy a rifle instead of pushing the limits on something that may or may not be designed for that pressure?

You aren't going to be able to take advantage of any of the great powders for 280 AI with a barrel that Short. Once or twice I've had powder not burning completely, and had extreme spreads over 150 fps.
I used a faster burning powder and got 32 FPS.

I'm not trying to be adversarial or anything I'm just saying you're like the poster hunter for 7 mm backcountry.

All good. I was just seeing what I could expect (Real World vs. Theory). I had a donor rifle that the barrel was already cut down to 16.5". I was guessing that I would seem similar numbers to a 24" 7MM-08.
Most likely at some point I'll get a shorter suppressor and re-barrel to a longer length, probably 19"-20". I really do like the short set up.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Most likely a max of 500 yards. Where I hunt, there is not a ton of availability to shoot past 500-600 yards except a couple of locations, due to dense forest and minimal clearings.
Based on the calculations for the 155 Terminal ascent going 2750, Applied Ballistics and 4 DOF put this setup at 1990 FPS and 1,400 FT/LBS at 750 Yards. I don't see myself shooting that far as I have not been practicing enough as of recent.

If 500 is max, how about this:

.284 Cal-132gr Hammer HHT® - Hammer Bullets

AT THIS TIME TIPS ARE CONSUMER INSTALLED TIPPING BLOCK INCLUDED WITH EACH ORDER For those that want to run their 7mm's faster or for those slower factory barrels in 1- 9.5" and 1-10" commonly used, this 132gr lead-free bullet is plenty for any of your big game hunting needs.

hammerbullets.com

You would get these way faster (likely 200fps-ish) over the Terminal Ascent. You don’t have to be concerned about BC as much since you are shooting sub 500 and don’t have to worry about the lighter weight/penetration since it’s a fragmenting mono.

Hammers are insanely accurate and easy to load for.

 

[Habs22]

If 500 is max, how about this:

.284 Cal-132gr Hammer HHT® - Hammer Bullets

AT THIS TIME TIPS ARE CONSUMER INSTALLED TIPPING BLOCK INCLUDED WITH EACH ORDER For those that want to run their 7mm's faster or for those slower factory barrels in 1- 9.5" and 1-10" commonly used, this 132gr lead-free bullet is plenty for any of your big game hunting needs.

hammerbullets.com

You would get these way faster (likely 200fps-ish) over the Terminal Ascent. You don’t have to be concerned about BC as much since you are shooting sub 500 and don’t have to worry about the lighter weight/penetration since it’s a fragmenting mono.

Hammers are insanely accurate and easy to load for.

I appreciate the information. I was able to buy roughly 500 rounds of these (terminal Ascent) in bulk a while ago at discount. As my supply drops, I will be looking at other options and have only heard great things about these bullets and will probably start leaning that way.

 

[wyosam]

If 500 is max, how about this:

.284 Cal-132gr Hammer HHT® - Hammer Bullets

AT THIS TIME TIPS ARE CONSUMER INSTALLED TIPPING BLOCK INCLUDED WITH EACH ORDER For those that want to run their 7mm's faster or for those slower factory barrels in 1- 9.5" and 1-10" commonly used, this 132gr lead-free bullet is plenty for any of your big game hunting needs.

hammerbullets.com

You would get these way faster (likely 200fps-ish) over the Terminal Ascent. You don’t have to be concerned about BC as much since you are shooting sub 500 and don’t have to worry about the lighter weight/penetration since it’s a fragmenting mono.

Hammers are insanely accurate and easy to load for.

I shoot the 132 at 3025 from a 20” 7-08 AI. Was at 3270 from 22” 280ai. That bullet would be great in a short 280.


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[Habs22]

I shoot the 132 at 3025 from a 20” 7-08 AI. Was at 3270 from 22” 280ai. That bullet would be great in a short 280.


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Thats bad ass, I'll definitely look into this!