Thread: 280 AI Tikka T3

Hi there,

I'm planning on getting a custom rifle built and rechambering my t3 in 280AI with a carbon barrel and carbon stock at the same time. Will still use the t3 action. I also have in the back of my mind 284 and 7mm saum.

Was just wondering if anyone has had any experience in this caliber with this action? Will the higher BC bullets that are longer be able to be seated out far enough to the lands but still fit in the mag? As at the moment with 7mm 08 I struggle and have had to go long action bolt stop and long action magazine to midigate this.

Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers Bryan

My 280AI on Tikka T3 action.

Mag feed 162 AMAX jump to lands but still shoot better than I can.

they all about the same ranging from 2800 fps upto just under 3000 fps just pick the one u like best the saum is on a magnum bolt face the other 2 standard cheers

I looked at doing this was going to do a 284win on my 7mm08 but decided to just get a 7rm and chop it back to 20"
Shoots the 162amax just under 3000 with silly small groups, there was a load going faster think kg said 3150 but that opened up to almost 1moa

I have a fluted bolt, carbon stug stock and dpt wears a vx6 2-12 in tellys
Its and is a dream to carry and shoot, the weight savings going from a t3 barrel to carbon is very little HRE told me there was around 80g in it and you can only run his suppressors

All comes down to what you want to spend at the end of the day, only reason i would rebarrel would to go faster twist and run the heavy 190grn+ bullets

Stick with the 7/08 mate - it's the only gun you need @Philipo - mine seems to do alright some of the time.

Haters gonna hate!

All good replys. Thank you very much. 199P was there any other reason to go carbon fibre barrel? Like accuracy or anything? or not worth it until you go bench rest shooting?
The only reason I am re barreling is my barrel has been cut down and want to get that longer again.

Originally Posted by George22

All good replys. Thank you very much. 199P was there any other reason to go carbon fibre barrel? Like accuracy or anything? or not worth it until you go bench rest shooting?
The only reason I am re barreling is my barrel has been cut down and want to get that longer again.

They claim it wont effect point of impact changes as the barrel heats up, but that's been disproven and proven so probably comes down to barrel difference itself.
Also its not a big deal for hunting as very rarely will you shoot a large group of shots.

What length barrel is the 7/08 now?

I've recently rechambered at t3 708 to 284 win. Fit a long action mag and bolt stop and you have plenty of mag room.

My barrel is only 17" long and I'm now running the 162g Amax at 2800 fps. A 22" barrel would do 2900 easy just with 2209.

Love the 284 case.

284 Win case with the 162g Amax seated out to the optimal position, this also gives max powder capacity (which gives 3.190" total ammo length)



This is the 284 Win with Amax seated at that length in a T3 Long action mag, perfect.



Im picking if you used a 280 AI case, being longer you would have to seat the Amax deeper, therefore reducing your powder capacity. The 284 Win comes alive when you run it on a long action like this.

@GWH what does that weigh all up?


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Originally Posted by sambnz

@GWH what does that weigh all up?


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It's by no means a super lightweight.

I have a photo of it sitting on the scales, think it was just over 3.5kg. Scope alone is 500 gr from memory. It's also a magnum suppressor (can get away with the smaller/lighter non magnum one)

I'll dig the photo out when back home.

Originally Posted by sambnz

@GWH what does that weigh all up?


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Here you go

And looks like custom rifle still using Tikka Rings. LOL cant be as bad as we led to believe eh ?

you wont go wrong with any of the 3 options - all are a significant step up in fps over 7mm08 (which is still a damn fine choice for most NZ hunting situations). I own all the above - 280AI is a sentimental fav & gets me to 800 yds, the down side is long action and you'll need a 24 in (or longer barrel) to ring the best velocity out of it. More of an open tops rifle than bush bashing & in light weight rifle its kicks pretty hard. The 284 seems to be an underrated calibre in NZ (no factory ammo), but those who own them or shot with them know how good they are & you can run short barrel & light weight rifle with really good performance. Recoil with a suppressor is super light ... like non existent. In my experience 284 speeds are slightly under the 280AI, but based on 20 in barrel with bare rifle weighing in at 5.6 lbs its damn nice rifle to carry on the hill, especially bush stalking (built on Weatherby MK5 ultralight). SAUM short action REM model 7, 22 in bbl in STUG stock weighs in just a sniff under 6lbs bare rifle, and 162 AMAX doing 2930fps 0.5 moa groups. Pretty hard to beat. You're spoilt for choice ! Only down side on Tikka's is fighting the mag length, but if you go 284 on long action that should not be an issue.

Originally Posted by Happy

And looks like custom rifle still using Tikka Rings. LOL cant be as bad as we led to believe eh ?

Yeah I've put the S/S screws in them and giving them a try, after hearing of others doing it and saying they were fine.

I have two T3's now and have these standard tikka rings on both.

Jury is still out, I'll see how they go and if no good will likely replace with talleys.

Hard case seeing you calling it a custom rifle, I don't think of it as that, but I guess it probably is. Just a t3 that's had a couple of things done, but nothing fancy at all.