280AI 175 ELD-X vs 7mmRem Mag 175 ELD-X

[Nyksta]

280AI 175 ELD-X G7 .347 at 2800fps

vs

7mmRem Mag 175 ELD-X G7 .347 at 2900fps

Are these speeds typical of hand loaders?

What do you guys think is better for handloading. Does the more tapered case of the 7mmRM better suit higher pressure loads vs the less taper of the 280AI? Is one cartridge less picky than the other for accurate loads?

[skidderman]

Only exp with 7mm. I could never get 2900 with pressure signs. Mine had 24 inch barrel. With a 26 it might make it. Unless there is another secret powder out there. Tried retumbo, IMR4831 & RL22. 2850 was about it.

[Kurt505]

Typically I think you'll see about 150fps difference between the two and about 6-10gr of powder difference. I suppose it's possible to get that much speed out of a 280ai but it seems a bit fast.

[Beeman3]

I think R26 out of a 26" barrel could get you there. Guy on LRH is shooting 175 gr out of a 26" PROOF at 2975 fps I believe. I'm sure that's gotta be a hot load though. This is with a 280AI.

[Nyksta]

Thanks for the info guys I dont have either cartridge and Im wondering what real numbers typically are with most peoples loads.

[Beeman3]

I run 168 Berger Classic hunters at 2890 fps out of my 24" Cooper. My Cooper is chambered really stupid and I have to seat my bullets deep into the case, so this is using up LOTS of case capacity. With a custom reamer and a 26" barrel I bet the 280AI will get a 175 moving along pretty good.

[Dick284]

No knowing the barrel length you’d be using it’s hard to predict the velocities.

The numbers you posted do seem a bit high from my experience.

And choosing the bullet before actually trying them is a bit overly optimistic as well.

[Nyksta]

Originally Posted by Dick284

No knowing the barrel length you’d be using it’s hard to predict the velocities.

The numbers you posted do seem a bit high from my experience.

And choosing the bullet before actually trying them is a bit overly optimistic as well.

Ive never dealt with either cartridge. I'm still curious if one cartridge is more inherently accurate than the other. Im also skeptical of the near straight wall of the 280AI getting stuck brass in the chamber.

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by Nyksta

Ive never dealt with either cartridge. I'm still curious if one cartridge is more inherently accurate than the other. Im also skeptical of the near straight wall of the 280AI getting stuck brass in the chamber.

If your not running crazy loads and have smooth properly cut chambers, stuck cases should not be a problem with either. Personally I think the 280 AI would be more 'inherently' accurate.

[Dick284]

Inherently accurate is a buzz term with little to no actual proof.

On any given day any given barrel made on the best day or not so best day the barrel maker may have been having, chambered by the gunsmith on his best or not best day, and mated to an action which may have been trued on the gunsmith’s best or not best day, and bedded into a stock, on the gunsmith’s best or not best day, is by far going to effect the outcome of your rifle chambered in the most “inherently accurate” cartridge.

Everybody is clambering about this cartridge vs. that cartridge. And this barrel vs. that barrel, when the majority of the clamber and attention should be spent vetting the guy who can make or break the end product.

I’d wager that all things being equal that if the same gunsmith built a 280AI, and a 7 RM on the same style of action using the same make of barrel, that you’d be hard pressed to have one rifle out shoot the other.

And straight wall vs. Tapered case design, pfffft, don’t load things to the nuts and stuck cases wont be an issue.

Will the 280AI surpass the 7RM in performance, not a hope in hell. It’s when you try making cartridges go beyond all practical necessity that you get issues like stuck cases.

100-50fps is SFA in the real world, a few MOA at 900meters is chump change when you consider that even moderate environmental changes could cause you to have shifts close to double that.

[Dean2]

You can get the 7 em mag to 2900 FPS with a 175 grain Hornady SP flat base, I have never tried the GMX in a 7 MM of any type, using 4831 or 7828SSC powder. You will not get a 280AI to that speed within pressure limits. If you want max speed with a 175 bullet get the STW or 28 Nosler.

The whole point of a 280 is NEAR 7 Rem mag performance with less kick, less powder and longer barrel life. AIing a hunting cartridge does not make sense to me because they just don't feed as smooth as the non-AI version.

[rem338win]

With RL22 and a 26" tube l would say 2800fps is possible in the 280AI.

I had 160ABs at 2920fps without issue in a 24".

RL25 or 26 would get over 2900 in the 7RM pretty easy given my experience.

[Zaprosper]

What about the hodgdon powders? What have people had success with for the heavier 7mm bullets in the 280ai? Never been a fan of the reloader powders but that could be because they can be harder to get. On topic, i imagine it could be a stretch to get those kind of velocities from the 280ai