Thread: 284 win vs 280ai

Make it or break it time lads. I have a sako 75 long action and a 24" proof barrel in 7mm. I was dead set on a 284 build but my smith is pretty sure it wont feed and recommended 280ai. Is the barrel long enough? Thoughts appreciated.

Had the same tough call to make! Ended up going 280ai and love it! 22” barrel pushing the 162amax at 2870fps with 1 hole groups. Could get more speed if needed as no sign of pressure but accuracy over velocity wins for me..



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What a waste of a target! All that space and you're only using one tiny bit.

Originally Posted by canuck hunter

What a waste of a target! All that space and you're only using one tiny bit.

Only have one target, remains as new...my groups are so goddam tight so as all the holes completely disappears.

Should not be an issue with feeding, you might have to open up the lips on the mag slightly for284 but not a show stopper. I’m not a gun smith but I’d be asking another Smith for a 2nd opinion.
284 vs 280ai very little in it and really depends on what bbl length you want to run. To get best out 280ai you need 24in and some would argue longer. 284 as you know will tolerate shorter bbl. I’ve built 3 284s two at 20in bbl one at 22in. With 160 TMKs or 162 AMAX I get 2830-2850 FPS in 20in and 2930 FPS with 23 in. This with RL17 or Superformance. With 24 in 280ai and 24in bbl I get 2980 FPS. All built pretty light. Recoil on 280ai is sharper and harder than 284s

You'll be happy either way. I'm not sure how one would feed better over the other, but i believe its no biggy to change the feed rails a bit. My 284 doesn't like feeding eldms, but it feeds everything else. That's on a sako 75 long action.

284 feeds perfectly from Tikka mags. Can't imagine a Sako would be worse. I get identical performance to chainsaw - 160's at 2850.

Originally Posted by cameronjackwhite

Make it or break it time lads. I have a sako 75 long action and a 24" proof barrel in 7mm. I was dead set on a 284 build but my smith is pretty sure it wont feed and recommended 280ai. Is the barrel long enough? Thoughts appreciated.

Not sure why your gunsmith thinks the 284 won't feed well....it will.
For both the 284 and 280ai a 24" barrel is absolutely fine.
From memory (might pay to check), the 280ai holds about 5 grains more powder than the 284 and can give 100-150fps more velocity. Some consider that worthwhile....I don't due to the hassle of fireforming. Yeah fireforming is simple but I just find it an extra unnecessary step if the 284 is an option.
However saying that...based on the availability of brass alone, I would go with the 280ai as one can use 30/06, 25/06 and 270 cases if need be.
If 284 brass is available and priced right though, then I would stick with your initial idea of a 284 in the long action Sako (long throat reamer) as I just can't be assed with fire-forming.

Never encountered a feed issue with my 284

You can get 280ai brass now I think

As said, if you want a shorter barrel to accommodate a suppressor then 284 be the go. If running bare or braked then 280ai will have a performance edge

If you're a long pointy plastic tipped bullet fan then 284 all the way.

284 brass is available from Peterson via Workshop Innovations.

284 will give you the room to seat long pointy bullets out without running out of mag space too quickly. Though you may still do so if the siren song of the 180s gets a hold on you...

Many pros for the 284 - only con I can think of is you may lose one round of capacity in your mag. I have a friend who rebarreled a 75 from regular 280 to 284. As far as I'm aware it is performing brilliantly. I'll check with him on the feeding and mag capacity questions.

Originally Posted by Steelisreal

If you're a long pointy plastic tipped bullet fan then 284 all the way.

284 brass is available from Peterson via Workshop Innovations.

284 will give you the room to seat long pointy bullets out without running out of mag space too quickly. Though you may still do so if the siren song of the 180s gets a hold on you...

Many pros for the 284 - only con I can think of is you may lose one round of capacity in your mag. I have a friend who rebarreled a 75 from regular 280 to 284. As far as I'm aware it is performing brilliantly. I'll check with him on the feeding and mag capacity questions.

This, will give you way better flexibility for loading while remaining at mag length

I’m a big fan of the .284 having had one with a 16 inch barrel and now a 20 inch & love it even more.

I also had a .280 rem for a while and can also attest the recoil is more than a .284

Not meaning to throw a spanner in the works but as you have a long action, a 24 inch Proof barrel... not sure it that’s one of their carbon or steel barrels BUT another calibre I’d seriously consider is a 7mm Blaser!

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....um-info-42743/

Originally Posted by Seventenths

I’m a big fan of the .284 having had one with a 16 inch barrel and now a 20 inch & love it even more.

I also had a .280 rem for a while and can also attest the recoil is more than a .284

Not meaning to throw a spanner in the works but as you have a long action, a 24 inch Proof barrel... not sure it that’s one of their carbon or steel barrels BUT another calibre I’d seriously consider is a 7mm Blaser!

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....um-info-42743/

so just to clarify a 284 will be ok in a short action ? just pondering something at the moment