Talk me out of rechambering my 7mm-08

[Wrench]

Add 4 clicks to your dope and rock the 708. Use the cash on bullets and the velocity difference won't make squat.

It'll take the rest of your life to shoot out a 708 barrel.

 

[elkduds]

Another question I wanted to ask is whether that 22.5" Tikka barrel length was better suited to any of the three calibers (7mm-08, .284 or .280 AI)

Not by much. It is long enough to not handicap the higher velocity chamberings.

 

[rayporter]

ok just me here ----forget the nut -get a shouldered barrel made by your smith. no muss no fuss and fits right everytime you screw it on.

 

[Brush Buster]

Keep the 7-08! Accuracy, low recoil, barrel life and modern bullets and powders breathe new life in the ol short action calibers. Not much a 7-08 can’t do with 140-150s.

 

[Newtosavage]

The 7/08 is a great round. One of my T3's is the same chambering and does everything I would need. I would pass on the 284. My last comp gun was 284 and brass is a pita to find. When someone makes some, you need to buy all you can. Most of the time 284 shooters were resizing 6.5-284 Lapua brass; expensive and took a lot of work to avoid neck "donuts." I always ran Win brass but when Win stopped making it, I stopped shooting 284.

You could play around with the numbers on a 7/08 ai. Should get you around 150 fps more and you can switch to a la Tikka mag for longer seating depths.

If you need more, the 280 ai is where it's at if you really want to sling some 16x bullets with decent velocity.

I've already done the magazine and bolt stop mods on mine to get my 162 ELD-X's to reach the lands (2.96"). It's basically a "medium-long action" rifle now. I seat my ELD-X's at 2.90" currently.

Thought about AI'ing the 7mm-08 but I have heard mixed opinions on whether that's worth it.

I had a .280 Remington for a while, and really liked it, which is why I'm leaning toward the .284 or .280 AI

 

[Newtosavage]

Add 4 clicks to your dope and rock the 708. Use the cash on bullets and the velocity difference won't make squat.

It'll take the rest of your life to shoot out a 708 barrel.

I'm sure you're right, but I'm one of those guys who (unfortunately) gets bored easily by shooting the same caliber all the time. The switch barrel sounds pretty interesting to me. I could keep the 7mm-08 barrel I have (because it's paid for, and a known quantity) and switch to a .280 or .280 AI if I have the chance to go on a once in a lifetime Moose, Caribou or Sheep hunt someday.

 

[elkguide]

I'm sure you're right, but I'm one of those guys who (unfortunately) gets bored easily by shooting the same caliber all the time. The switch barrel sounds pretty interesting to me. I could keep the 7mm-08 barrel I have (because it's paid for, and a known quantity) and switch to a .280 or .280 AI if I have the chance to go on a once in a lifetime Moose, Caribou or Sheep hunt someday.

That my friend is why they build gunsafes for 30+ guns.


The old question that often gets asked...…..

"Is the glass half empty or half full?"

But neither of those are the right answers.

The correct answer is...…..





"THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE!!!!"

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Just keep in mind your COAL is a bit limited in the factory mag if you go to 280AI esp. with any of the longer bullets unless you change out the mag system to the extended COAL setups. But its not the end of the world to seat deeper as long as you find a good load with the jump to the lands. Just something to keep in mind.

I'm with the guys saying set up another barrel before spending $300 to ream a factory barrel.

 

[LINK83]

Don’t do it. 3

 

[Newtosavage]

Well, another rifle isn't really in the budget, but a rechamber or new barrel is. I honestly don't see the point in buying a

Just keep in mind your COAL is a bit limited in the factory mag if you go to 280AI esp. with any of the longer bullets unless you change out the mag system to the extended COAL setups. But its not the end of the world to seat deeper as long as you find a good load with the jump to the lands. Just something to keep in mind.

I'm with the guys saying set up another barrel before spending $300 to ream a factory barrel.

Mag and bolt stop swaps are a piece of cake with the Tikka. Less than 5 min. job. Unless you're saying the factory Tikka Long Action magazine would be limiting in the .280 AI ?

 

[Newtosavage]

Sent an email to my local smith to see if he'd be interested in building me a switch barrel .280 AI. Will let you know what I learn.

I've been swapping Savage barrels for a couple years, so having a switch barrel Tikka really appeals to me more than rechambering my 7mm-08 barrel that I already know is a shooter. And It probably won't cost me a whole lot more in the long run, but will still be 1/2 the cost of a new rifle.

 

[tt_johnsclist]

I could be wrong, but I think I looked into this before and 7-08 can’t be rechambered to 280 because the shoulders on a 7-08 are wider than the 280 case at that same point. Not sure if that applies to the 280AI. Like I said I could be wrong but I do recall looking into this very idea a few years ago. I just bought a new gun - switch barrel like others have said.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Mag and bolt stop swaps are a piece of cake with the Tikka. Less than 5 min. job. Unless you're saying the factory Tikka Long Action magazine would be limiting in the .280 AI ?

Yes I'm saying the factory LA mag isn't a very long COAL (its only ~3.34") for the 280AI with long bullets seated out long. There are some after market solutions to a longer COAL setup if desired though. Or just seat the bullet deeper and work up a load accordingly. Probably not a huge issue with lead core <160s and monos <140s, but would creep up if trying out some of the newest long/sleek heavier bullets.

 

[Newtosavage]

Yes I'm saying the factory LA mag isn't a very long COAL (its only ~3.34") for the 280AI with long bullets seated out long. There are some after market solutions to a longer COAL setup if desired though. Or just seat the bullet deeper and work up a load accordingly. Probably not a huge issue with lead core <160s and monos <140s, but would creep up if trying out some of the newest long/sleek heavier bullets.

Okay, thanks for that clarification. I probably won't pursue any aftermarket mags, so I'd have to deal with the limitations of the factory LA mag. One of the appeals to me of the .284 Win is that I'm already set up for that with my current magazine and bolt stop mods for the 7mm-08. I can seat to 3.00" if I want. Losing a round in the magazine does not appeal to me however.

I do like the added punch of the .280 AI over the .284. If I'm going to "supersize" my 7mm-08, I may as well go full .280 AI. I can always load it down if I want but it would be nice to have that option for the big stuff.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Just wanted to make sure that data point was known.

Are you sure you'd loose a round with the 284win? The magnums can fit 3+1 so I don't readily see why (3) 284win wouldn't fit? I think the 284win is running right up there with the 280AI in terms of velocity off hand isn't it?

If it was me and I own a 280AI I probably would look hard at the differences and also current 284win brass availability. I recall a while back bertram had it, if so I'd be inclined to buy a couple hundred and go that route if redoing a T3 (https://bertrambrass.com/product/284-winchester-unprimed-brass-100-count/)

My 280AI is on a Tikka M695 which has a longer COAL. Owning a 280AI I can tell you its not like brass for it is wide spread or affordable vs the 284win. Nosler is damn proud of their 280AI brass and reportedly the hornady intro into that caliber sucks. I personally blow out 280rem brass (old stock better quality stuff) but that takes time and it certainly sucks if you either loose the brass or load it too hot and stretch the primer pockets trashing the batch... I've done the latter and my hunting partner almost lost 45rds of loaded ammo of mine a bit back so I would have had to form more brass again.

But the 280AI is more popular so a bit more factory ammo offered (at a premium). The 280rem isn't that popular though so the fall back to run 280rem ammo in a pinch isn't as strong of an argument in this caliber vs a 30-06AI or something. Sure a cabelas or such will have you covered but not likely a ma-pa shop.

 

[Lawnboi]

Sounds a lot to me like you just need another gun

 

[Newtosavage]

Sounds a lot to me like you just need another gun

I'm not really that much of a "gun guy." I grew up bowhunting and do most of my hunting with a bow. But I do enjoy and appreciate a good rifle hunt too. I also enjoy working on my equipment - guns included. So the idea of having a .280 AI barrel for my Tikka with my trusty 7mm-08 barrel "in reserve" really appeals to me. I can only shoot one at a time anyway.

 

[Newtosavage]

Ouch! A true switch barrel is gonna run $750. Might as well buy a whole notha' rifle for that amount.

I think I'll take the barrel nut for half that.

 

[Newtosavage]

Sounds a lot to me like you just need another gun

But that's just it. I don't WANT another gun. I like my 7mm-08. I just sometimes wish it had a little more "umph" is all. Maybe I'll just have it AI'd

 

[cjl2010]

You don’t want another gun but you want yours to fill a 2-3 gun void?

No way I would spend $300 to rechamber a factory barrel. Save your pennies and buy a good barrel and chamber in what you really want... then sell your bow and build another rifle lol

Before making too many plans with that factory barrel I’d make sure your smith can even get it off without machining a relief in it anyways.