Why not the .284 Winchester?

[GooseGestapo]

Oddly enough, I originally got my RemM7 in 7-08 to rechamber to .284win.
The shop clerk "graciously" threw in 3boxes of PMC 139gr ammo they had on the shelf. Only 7-08 ammo they had.

I made the mistake of shooting it through a chronograph while sighting the rifle in, planning to hunt with it till the 60rds were exhausted.
The ammo chrono's 3,000fps from my 20" bbl.
I quickly decided that since it was already meeting my goal of 3,000fps with a 139gr (which is claimed velocity for .284win), why go to expense of recutting the chamber.

Now, Im thinking of rebarreling my MkX in .338/06 to either .284 or .280 AI.
TOO many toys in the box already, though....

 

[old heeler]

Exactly my intent. I can run 140's pretty hot out of my 7mm-08's already. 160 is where they get sluggish. And there are a lot of critters you can chase, at realistic hunting distances, with a 160 grain (or 168) 7mm projectile.

A 7mm 160-grain high BC bonded bullet, running at 2800 fps. MV is in my view the perfect all-around deer and elk caliber, combining great ballistics, terminal performance and recoil management. Guess that's why I like the .280 so much.

I get on the accurateshooter.com site and every so often see post about 7-08 and 7-08AI. There all good cases

 

[LoonWulf]

For the unusually long short actions (or intermediate actions) like the Savage, and some of the others that allow a 3" (or nearly that) overall length i think the .284 is a great choice, especially in a hunting rifle where even the heavier bullets can be seated out fairly far.

My father inlaw has a savage 99 in .284...ive always wanted to try it.

 

[Varminterror]

A rebuilt Savage in 284 shehane is one of my favorite long range rifles. It started life as a 284win, was rebarreled to 6.5-284, then rebarreled again to 284 Shehane. Much greater barrel life, but capable of slipping into the 2950 node with 180's without needing a mallet to open the bolt.

 

[Newtosavage]

So if a guy takes his 7mm-08 in to have it rechambered to .284, is there anything he should look/ask for?

 

[horsey300]

So if a guy takes his 7mm-08 in to have it rechambered to .284, is there anything he should look/ask for?

Well, I wouldn't want my fast twist to be limited to faster 140s because a 160/175 gr accukinglock was too long and into the lands at a proper seating depth..... would ruin my Christmas that would

 

[Varminterror]

The 7mm-08 wants for mag length in a true short action, and with about a 10th longer case, the 284 REALLY wants for mag length. Personally, I wouldn't go straight 284win. Run the 284 Shehane (284 Improved-ish), and have it throated for the 180 Berger. Feed it a buttload of 4831sc, or RL17, and give it enough barrel to get a good burn done, and life is grand.

Then again, part of me thinks - blow out the 7-08 to Improved, stay below 160grns, and load necked & turned Lapua Palma brass... OR, stay with a short case, open up the bolt face to 7RSAUM and stick about 32" out in front to see what a short action can really get done... And of course, I cut my teeth on a 7x57mauser in a Rem 700 long action, so part of me gets nostalgic and thinks about a 7x57 improved in a midlength action and burn down the barn... About the only one I don't really enjoy is the 280rem, not completely certain as to why, since I do enjoy the 6.5 A-Square thoroughly, and the 30-06, 338-06, and /35 whelen.... And then again, maybe I should find a bed at this hour...

 

[FN in MT]

I had a Win 88 in .284 and foolishly sold it...as it had achieved collector value along the way. I recall using either 140 or 150 gr factory ammo and the accuracy was not stellar. Shot a deer with it and I thought it was more than needed for a deer at 100 yds. Bloodied a lot of meat. The .284 Win is a neat round, especially for it's time, but unfortunately not supported very well now. Now we have a few short action 7 mags too. Or if You go long action, do a .280 Rem loaded to proper pressures, or better yet, the .280 AI.

Have a 6.5-.284 Norma in a bolt gun and it's a nice LR hunting rifle. I have several friends shooting the same round, with quick twist barrels and heavy match slugs at LR steel. Barrel life.....I should say...Accurate barrel life IS short...or at least it IS with my shooting buddies. 1K rds and it's showing deteriorated accuracy.

 

[cdb1]

The .284 has never interested me but a 6mm-.284 in a long action shooting 115 grain Bergers is on my bucket list.

 

[LoonWulf]

The .284 has never interested me but a 6mm-.284 in a long action shooting 115 grain Bergers is on my bucket list.

I have a 6-284, that ive only run a few 100gr sierras and hornadys, and 95 fusions from, its a 1-10.
It delivers the fusions @ 3350 with no pressure signs, scratches 3400 but primers are starting to flatten at the edges. My coal is only 2.68 if i remember correctly, ill have to check. In a 1-8 with a long throat those 115s would scream.

After it burns out i think ill try a standard .284 or the .284 Shehane as VT suggested.
My Arisaka is already set up for savage centerfeed and the .284 parent case, tho to take advantage of the longer action i may need to modify the magazine as it only take about a 3" oal.

 

[cdb1]

According to Berger a 1:7 twist would be best for 115 grain bullets so that’s what I’d probably go with.

 

[Newtosavage]

Well, I wouldn't want my fast twist to be limited to faster 140s because a 160/175 gr accukinglock was too long and into the lands at a proper seating depth..... would ruin my Christmas that would

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I already have a (Stevens) 7mm-08 that pushes 139 SST/Interlocks beyond published velocities with ease, and max loads show no pressure signs at all. So I'm only thinking of rechambering the Tikka to .284 because of it's faster twist and ease of conversion to a mid or long action. Should be able to seat those 160 Accubonds WAY out there if its chambered correctly.

 

[old heeler]

This was build before my 284
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek095.html

If you look at loading data using 160gr AB with R-17. There is one load at 53gr/R17 @ 2975fps fps. That same load my 284 is 3068fps and I'm not going to post anything higher.

The 7mm-08 wants for mag length in a true short action, and with about a 10th longer case, the 284 REALLY wants for case length. Personally, I wouldn't go straight 284win. Run the 284 Shehane (284 Improved-ish), and have it throated for the 180 Berger. Feed it a buttload of 4831sc, or RL17, and give it enough barrel to get a good burn done, and life is grand.

Nothing against Shehane but it has less body taper .010" and you gain case capacity (3.3gr) same as some using Shehane reamer but with 40 degree should gain little more case capacity. Right If I was going to build wildcat off 284 case, I do the Shehane with 40 shoulders. I've got friend shooting that F-Class.

 

[Newtosavage]

Thanks Old Heeler. Great reading there. Pushing a 160 Accubond to over 2900... impressive.

I'm only looking for 2700 with that bullet though. Still won't be sure I need the .284 until I have some time with RL-17 in my -'08.

Nice to see the .284 just might be making a comeback though.

 

[d2wing]

Just as a note, my long time hunting buddy had a Winchester lever action, model 88 in .284 . He made some fabulous long range shots with it. Including a one shot kill at a running buck at a 1/4 mile, offhand. And much longer standing shots. Awesome man and rifle, R.I.P. Jody.

 

[stiab]

I found 3 boxes of factory ammo two years ago, searched for a rifle, couldn't fine one, so traded the ammo for 3 boxes of .358 factory. Then I found a Ruger 77, a Browning bolt action, and a Model 70, and a Savage 99 in .284, all of which did me no good. Now I have found 5 more boxes of the .284, and again am on the hunt for a rifle.

 

[Varminterror]

I found 3 boxes of factory ammo two years ago, searched for a rifle, couldn't fine one, so traded the ammo for 3 boxes of .358 factory. Then I found a Ruger 77, a Browning bolt action, and a Model 70, and a Savage 99 in .284, all of which did me no good. Now I have found 5 more boxes of the .284, and again am on the hunt for a rifle.

I can't recall that I've ever fired a factory round out of any of my 284's. If I have, I don't remember when or why I would have done so.