284 selection

[Dr Ray]

Anyone have any thoughts on 284 class cartridges? My only "no" is 7mm Rem Mag - just not a fan of most magnum cartridges, plus this will probably end up being my wife's rifle, so I don't want to crush her with recoil (not a lot of shooting experience).

so... 7mm-08 vs 280 Rem vs 7x57

I know what the published data is (I have 2 Hornady reloading manuals, a Berger manual, and a Barnes manual, plus I'm a member at loaddata.com), I'm looking for folks with RL experience.

From where I sit, it looks like the 7mm-08 may be my best option - short action cartridge without giving up a lot of velocity, and very widely available in lots of different makes and models (as is the 280 Rem).

What would you be hunting? Personally I would suggest the 270 Winchester with a good 130-140 grain bullet if you're after deer or similar sized animals.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Anyone have any thoughts on 284 class cartridges? My only "no" is 7mm Rem Mag - just not a fan of most magnum cartridges

Just not a fan of 270.

 

[sgt_zim]

View attachment 200258

270...I don't see a point. not a big bullet selection in .277, and there's a huge selection in both .264 and .284.

7 Rem Mag...inside 300 yards, there's no appreciable difference between it and a 280, and while there's a difference between 7 Rem Mag and 7mm-08, deer and pigs seem to be indifferent to it.

non-mag ammo is cheaper and easier on barrels, and I shoot (and reload) a lot.

i expect that if i ever buy any magnum, it'll be at least a 375.

 

[Nosler guy]

My two bits on .284 /7mm's - we've had bunch of them couple of 7-08's. 7X57. 280. 7mm SAUM. and 7mm Weatherby - they are all great hunting cartridges, you can't really go wrong.

The only thing I would warn you about is that in my opinion, the overall performance in the short barrelled (18 and 20's) compact 7-08's is considerably less than what you get from the full length full size barrels. Almost like two different calibres. Right now we have a Model 7 - short barrelled compact and a Model 700 Mountain rifle with a 24 inch barrel, we shoot the same bullets in both, slightly different loads, and we have always have been dissapointed in results from the compact rifles.

I noticed that you posted your wife is a smaller person, so chances are a compact rifle would be ideal, but I wouldn't look past going for a lightweight full size and altering / shortening the stock.

As for recoil - the 7-08 undoubtably is the winner - but using reduced loads in a 7x57 or 280 will do the same thing, and then you always have the option to use heavier loads once/or if she gets to be more comfortable

 

[sgt_zim]

My two bits on .284 /7mm's - we've had bunch of them couple of 7-08's. 7X57. 280. 7mm SAUM. and 7mm Weatherby - they are all great hunting cartridges, you can't really go wrong.

The only thing I would warn you about is that in my opinion, the overall performance in the short barrelled (18 and 20's) compact 7-08's is considerably less than what you get from the full length full size barrels. Almost like two different calibres. Right now we have a Model 7 - short barrelled compact and a Model 700 Mountain rifle with a 24 inch barrel, we shoot the same bullets in both, slightly different loads, and we have always have been dissapointed in results from the compact rifles.

I noticed that you posted your wife is a smaller person, so chances are a compact rifle would be ideal, but I wouldn't look past going for a lightweight full size and altering / shortening the stock.

As for recoil - the 7-08 undoubtably is the winner - but using reduced loads in a 7x57 or 280 will do the same thing, and then you always have the option to use heavier loads once/or if she gets to be more comfortable

"Smaller" being a relative term. She's smaller than I am, but so is everybody (6'6" and 240#). She's a skosh under 6' and maybe 155. She just hasn't shot much besides a 22LR, and I want to introduce her to centerfire gently. Might even go down to 257 Roberts.

I only own 2 rifles with barrels shorter than 22" - 1895G and an AR-15.

 

[lcq]

270...I don't see a point. not a big bullet selection in .277, and there's a huge selection in both .264 and .284.

7 Rem Mag...inside 300 yards, there's no appreciable difference between it and a 280, and while there's a difference between 7 Rem Mag and 7mm-08, deer and pigs seem to be indifferent to it.

non-mag ammo is cheaper and easier on barrels, and I shoot (and reload) a lot.

i expect that if i ever buy any magnum, it'll be at least a 375.

7mm-08 is easier on barrels but up here it ain't so easy on the wallet, way more expensive than 7mm mag

 

[Hogpatrol]

"Smaller" being a relative term. She's smaller than I am, but so is everybody (6'6" and 240#). She's a skosh under 6' and maybe 155. She just hasn't shot much besides a 22LR, and I want to introduce her to centerfire gently. Might even go down to 257 Roberts.

I only own 2 rifles with barrels shorter than 22" - 1895G and an AR-15.

I'm a skosh over that, a beanpole all my life, and I'm shooting a 28 Nosler in a Tee shirt. The brake helps. I'd have a can on it but they are illegal in my state. For your purposes, a heavy caliber with a supressor may be the ticket.

 

[sgt_zim]

suppressors are legal in Texas, but you still have to get the Class III to be able to buy one. most of the deer and pigs that I have access to are no larger than 150#, and generally closer than about 200 yds. I've got the medicine for long range shooting, but those are "rugged" hunts that I wouldn't bring her on anyway. Remember, this is to be the wife's rifle, and I'll only use it as option if she decides she doesn't really like it.

 

[sestoppelman]

A Ruger No.1 can be had in 7-08, 7x57 and .280 Rem. My personal favorite of all the 7's is probably the 7x64, but I have a super shooting CZ 550 in the cal. The .280 Rem was my favorite for years and of course those two are peas in a pod. Love the 7x57/.275 Rigby. Fired a half inch group today out of my .275 No.1 with 175 gr RN bullets and Re22 powder. Great rifle. Did have a 7-08 briefly but frankly it didn't do it for me, no charisma! We just used a .284 Win in Africa for the second time. Same rifle I took my first two deer with in the 60's, now its my sons rifle and he shoots it well. It loves 140gr Barnes Tripe Shocks at just over 3000 fps.

 

[sgt_zim]

A Ruger No.1 can be had in 7-08, 7x57 and .280 Rem. My personal favorite of all the 7's is probably the 7x64, but I have a super shooting CZ 550 in the cal. The .280 Rem was my favorite for years and of course those two are peas in a pod. Love the 7x57/.275 Rigby. Fired a half inch group today out of my .275 No.1 with 175 gr RN bullets and Re22 powder. Great rifle. Did have a 7-08 briefly but frankly it didn't do it for me, no charisma! We just used a .284 Win in Africa for the second time. Same rifle I took my first two deer with in the 60's, now its my sons rifle and he shoots it well. It loves 140gr Barnes Tripe Shocks at just over 3000 fps.

What did you use on that giant bull eland?

 

[sestoppelman]

Started with my '06, ended with PH's BRNO .375 mag. Poor shooting on my part, no fault of rifle or load.

 

[James Cook]

Anyone have any thoughts on 284 class cartridges? My only "no" is 7mm Rem Mag - just not a fan of most magnum cartridges, plus this will probably end up being my wife's rifle, so I don't want to crush her with recoil (not a lot of shooting experience).

so... 7mm-08 vs 280 Rem vs 7x57

I know what the published data is (I have 2 Hornady reloading manuals, a Berger manual, and a Barnes manual, plus I'm a member at loaddata.com), I'm looking for folks with RL experience.

From where I sit, it looks like the 7mm-08 may be my best option - short action cartridge without giving up a lot of velocity, and very widely available in lots of different makes and models (as is the 280 Rem).

Have all 3 calibers. From a recoil perspective - 7x57 in Ruger #1 is lightest recoil (and it's fairly mild), 280 rem in model 700 cdl has the most recoil (and it's near a 7mm mag), 7mm-08 in the synthetic mountain model is the betweener - but closer in recoil to the 280 than the 7x57. all very capable of taking pg with a quality bullet.

 

[Ryan]

7mm-08 is easier on barrels but up here it ain't so easy on the wallet, way more expensive than 7mm mag

Really?
Odd, I have one and it's definitely cheaper on the wallet than the mag. Barnes Vor Tx ammo is almost $8 higher for the magnum from what I've seen.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Chuck Hawks has a good article covering the 6.5mm, 270, 7mm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/6-5mm_270_7mm.htm

 

[JakeH]

Chuck Hawks has a good article covering the 6.5mm, 270, 7mm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/6-5mm_270_7mm.htm

For the TL;DR crowd, they're all pretty damn good. Just pick one.

 

[lcq]

Really?
Odd, I have one and it's definitely cheaper on the wallet than the mag. Barnes Vor Tx ammo is almost $8 higher for the magnum from what I've seen.

I'm in Canada who knows why but 08 is costly

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

and now, a word from one of our sponsors.............

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/270-winchester.39963/

 

[JakeH]

and now, a word from one of our sponsors.............

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/270-winchester.39963/

And for me, there's never been enough difference between the .270 and the 7mm mag to justify the extra $10 a box for ammo and the 20% more recoil. And the availability is way better than that of the .280.

Honestly, any upgrade in power over a .270 is minimal until you go to a .300WM or a medium bore. For me, the .270 is damn near perfect.

 

[Rick Cox]

Craig Bonnington wrote an article recently on this very topic. His conclusion was that the 7-08, and 7x57 were very similar (differences stated above) but that the .280 was a definite step up in power. Going with the .280 gives the option of more load flexibility and perhaps reaming to AI configuration at a later date.

 

[Mort Hill]

I have the sweetest shooting .284 Winchester and still one of my most favorite guns. I do not reload as I have so many friends who do, but if anyone has a good line on an ammo supplier, custom or other, with cartridges for a .284 Winchester, pls let me know. They are as scarce as hens teeth.