What do you mean Wasn’t IMPRESSED by it ? Do you hand load or only shoot factory ammo ?
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New Flat Land Hunting Rig
- Thread starter hunter-4-life
- Start date
That's the exception, not the rule. Generally, more case capacity and a longer barrel gets you higher velocities. - danI’ll never run out of STW brass in this lifetime, but I’ll also never run out of 300 Win brass. When I was talking about expensive and hard to find brass I was thinking more of my 28 Nosler and others of that ilk.
Right now I use the same bullet in my 7-300 and one of my STWs. The shorty 7-300 matches the velocity with 4 grains less if the same powder and 2 inches less barrel. The standard length cartridge in a. Mag length magazine gives freedom to ise practically any high BC bullet and still have a magazine, plus lots of room to chase lands; which would matter more if they ever budged, but after 2000 rounds of what anyone would describe as abuse the Hart barrel refuses to migrate
That’s true; but so
In the field I don’t see any meaningful differences between the the 7-300, STW and 28 Nosler.
An STW can still be used as proof of Saskatchewan residency though; so there’s that
That’s true, bit so are my thoughts on magazine friendly. In the end there’s only si much powder you can push down a hole, and it hasn’t completely escaped my attention that on many of my STW loads the case isn’t full anyway. I like the STWs, been shooting them since ‘89 I think. Makes me feel old
In the field I don’t see any meaningful differences between the the 7-300, STW and 28 Nosler.
An STW can still be used as proof of Saskatchewan residency though; so there’s that
STW - Saskatchewan truck weaponThat’s true; but so
That’s true, bit so are my thoughts on magazine friendly. In the end there’s only si much powder you can push down a hole, and it hasn’t completely escaped my attention that on many of my STW loads the case isn’t full anyway. I like the STWs, been shooting them since ‘89 I think. Makes me feel old
In the field I don’t see any meaningful differences between the the 7-300, STW and 28 Nosler.
An STW can still be used as proof of Saskatchewan residency though; so there’s that
Still isn’t anything better for that
My wife’s father hunted Sask with a .303british and a 30/30 lol.Still isn’t anything better for that
It’s a varied place; for some areas thats still OK. In others the horizon is considered a target holder and you can shoot as far as you shoot.
Oh I know, we camp out that way with her family every summer. I live in eastern AB and it’s pretty flat here too. Not nearly as flat as Sask but the area I have access to your lucky if you can get within 200m of game. Usually it’s a fluke because you crest a draw and they are right there; damn near trip over them.
This has nothing to do with not getting it done haha this is just me wanting to build another rifle is all. But something little different and not so mainstream like the 7 PRC/6.5 PRC that’s all.
I was in a similar situation about a year ago, needing a "prairie gun", and something not real common. I feel the itch was sufficently scratched (for now) by the French walnut & blue Win 70 supergrade in .264 Win mag I ended up with.
Its not exactly a lightweight though.
Its not exactly a lightweight though.
My 280AI does everything I ever needed it to do and is so versatile it was my only hunting rifle for a number of years. I shoot a 145 LRX at 3,050, 24” tube. Don’t really need it faster but could squeeze a bit more out of it. Mines on a tang safety Ruger, holds 4 down below.
Id feel awful carrying that thing and getting a scratch on it. I love those Super Grades!
Honestly, your 270 WSM will do most of what you are looking for...but with an itch to build a new rifle in a 7mm is hard to ignore, and you will be forever second guessing yourself for not going this route if you don't.
The 280AI is a great round...just being a little more than my favourite 280 Rem that is underloaded in factory form. I have thought about getting one, but like my 280 enough not to go there...yet. (And the Fierce Carbon Rogue wasn't available in left hand, and the 7mm PRC was)
I am finding that most of the 6.5 PRC and 7mm PRC ammo is slower than factory specs indicate, but there are a few makes of ammo that are providing the expected velocities in my 24" barrels on both rifles, and the accuracy is sub-MOA. I am liking what I am getting out of these rifles with these loads. I hope to improve upon them with tailored handloads.
While I have always liked the regular 7mm Rem Mag (and there's a reason why it is still very popular; it just plain works!), even if it isn't the latest and greatest. I ended up with a 7MM STW because I found a custom left handed rifle at a price I couldn't pass up, and it has taken more game than any other rifle in my battery over the past 28 years. It really works!
I have the new 7mm PRC as I like the big sevens and want to play with this cartridge, but need to take some game with it to see how I will like it in the end. I am pretty confident that it will perform just as well as the Rem Mag and STW have for me over the years.
The higher BCs and SDs of the 0.284 caliber provide better retained velocities and energies at 500 yards than the .277 cal, and will provide better penetration characteristics. A huge consideration for me when talking about hunting elk. I also like the additional case capacity of the big sevens for providing that 2000 ft lbs of retained energy at 500 yards (or very close to it) that the experts used to recommend for elk. Today, many recommend 1500 ft lbs of retained energy, but I believe that this has more to do with our better bullets today (bonded and/or mono-metal) and their higher BCs for more reliable expansion and retained energy at the animal, and better penetration, than the earlier cup and core bullet designs.
Our better rifle designs, and tighter machining tolerances with better materials are producing rifles with more inherent accuracy that what the old gun writers had available to them, along with better optics and range finders which are enabling us to be more capable of accurately placing these projectiles in the vitals of our intended game, with practice and good shooting form.
Look forward to your new build and how it shoots when completed. Best of luck in your quest!
The 280AI is a great round...just being a little more than my favourite 280 Rem that is underloaded in factory form. I have thought about getting one, but like my 280 enough not to go there...yet. (And the Fierce Carbon Rogue wasn't available in left hand, and the 7mm PRC was)
I am finding that most of the 6.5 PRC and 7mm PRC ammo is slower than factory specs indicate, but there are a few makes of ammo that are providing the expected velocities in my 24" barrels on both rifles, and the accuracy is sub-MOA. I am liking what I am getting out of these rifles with these loads. I hope to improve upon them with tailored handloads.
While I have always liked the regular 7mm Rem Mag (and there's a reason why it is still very popular; it just plain works!), even if it isn't the latest and greatest. I ended up with a 7MM STW because I found a custom left handed rifle at a price I couldn't pass up, and it has taken more game than any other rifle in my battery over the past 28 years. It really works!
I have the new 7mm PRC as I like the big sevens and want to play with this cartridge, but need to take some game with it to see how I will like it in the end. I am pretty confident that it will perform just as well as the Rem Mag and STW have for me over the years.
The higher BCs and SDs of the 0.284 caliber provide better retained velocities and energies at 500 yards than the .277 cal, and will provide better penetration characteristics. A huge consideration for me when talking about hunting elk. I also like the additional case capacity of the big sevens for providing that 2000 ft lbs of retained energy at 500 yards (or very close to it) that the experts used to recommend for elk. Today, many recommend 1500 ft lbs of retained energy, but I believe that this has more to do with our better bullets today (bonded and/or mono-metal) and their higher BCs for more reliable expansion and retained energy at the animal, and better penetration, than the earlier cup and core bullet designs.
Our better rifle designs, and tighter machining tolerances with better materials are producing rifles with more inherent accuracy that what the old gun writers had available to them, along with better optics and range finders which are enabling us to be more capable of accurately placing these projectiles in the vitals of our intended game, with practice and good shooting form.
Look forward to your new build and how it shoots when completed. Best of luck in your quest!
Thanks guys. Prophet River had a "used" Remington 700 thats trued up, spiral fluted bolt, TT trigger chambered in 280 AI with an 24" IBI spiral fluted 8.5t pipe and wildcat stock. Weighs 6lbs on the nose, should be a nice rifle, it checked very box I wanted it to as far as weight, twist rate and aesthetics. It worked out good a buddy was rolling through there today anyway so he was able to pick it up for me, I should have it in my hands tomorrow sometime.
I also had him pickup a box of Federal 155gr Terminal Ascent and a box of Federal 168gr Berger factory ammo to sight in and just see what it likes. Hopefully it shoots good.
I also had him pickup a box of Federal 155gr Terminal Ascent and a box of Federal 168gr Berger factory ammo to sight in and just see what it likes. Hopefully it shoots good.
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Just sort of a side note to my last post. While coming up with the load, the 100 yard groups were around an inch or just over. Thought I’d empty out the rest of the loaded rounds as this wasn’t up to my expectations. Fired them at 300, inch or less. After confirming, this became my load. Guess they settled down?
