7mm-08 or .284??
- Thread starter Hind and Sika
- Start date
As I said earlier, my concerns relate to the availability of ammunition and components. There are lots of excellent choices out there, but if you can't feed the rifle at a reasonable price, then what's the point in owning it?
Regards
JCS
JabaliHunter
Well-Known Member
It boils down to which bullet you want to shoot, how much energy you want to deliver, and how far away you want to deliver it?
I was of the same thinking , I had a 243 and was very happy with it until I got an invite on the hinds in Scotland from a good friend . After reading a few write ups / forum posts, I was concerned rightly or wrongly I would be " Under gunned". So I started looking for a larger calibre ending up going down the 7mm08 route, since then I have never looked back . I home load so ammo isn't a problem ,for Roe or Muntjac I use 120 Nosler BT Hunting with a mild loading and for fallow / reds 139 sst's at near max load although they can be a bit messy if you get it wrong. I find the recoil not a problem and the trajectory similar to the 243. There also seems to be plenty of non toxic bullets available and also a bit different to the 308 / 6.5 crowd
This, start with the bullet that you want and know will do the job. Then think of the cases and compare what velocity each will potentially launch that bullet. I have had a straight 284. I sold it because I preferred my 6.5-284, a bit less felt recoil, bullets done the same job and the straight 284 ended up too heavy to carry
Penyard
Well-Known Member
Whilst I have no direct experience of the .284, I have considered it in the past and looked closely at the ballistics. Undoubtedly, a .284 has the potential to deliver a bit more potential but with the challenges already mentioned of brass, ammo and rifle availability. I have shot with a 7mm-08 for the last 12 years and consider it a great chambering, it is an efficient case with plenty of bullet options (all of which can be fired in a .284 of course), plenty of factory rifle, brass and ammo options. With a 24" barrel mine has been mainly fed a diet of 120gr Nosler BT at 3,200 fps which is top end but also very accurate and no issues with pressure or brass life. I'm currently working up a load using 120gr Barnes TTSX which I think will be very effective if I can get the same accuracy at similar velocity and I'm not sure that any marginal increase in powder capacity from the .284 would deliver any real world advantages for me in my applications.
Malxwal
Well-Known Member
You're never going to find factory ammo for a 284 in the UK, never mind lead free stuff.
284 resurgence is really more a long range/ target thing, no manufacturers chamber their rifles in it, it's all semi customs often throated long to run 180gr bullets.
Whilst I've seen such a 284 used plenty on deer, and owned a semi custom one as per above, I'd be going 7-08 for regular deer stuff. However, I am not up to speed on the availability of factory lead free ammo for them.
284 resurgence is really more a long range/ target thing, no manufacturers chamber their rifles in it, it's all semi customs often throated long to run 180gr bullets.
Whilst I've seen such a 284 used plenty on deer, and owned a semi custom one as per above, I'd be going 7-08 for regular deer stuff. However, I am not up to speed on the availability of factory lead free ammo for them.
@theroedeerguy
Well-Known Member
Pretty easy to source factory lead free 7mm-08 ammunition but it is not a budget option
Fox ammo about £46 per box of 20
Hornady GMX about £50 per box of 20
Fox ammo about £46 per box of 20
Hornady GMX about £50 per box of 20
I would also vote 7mm08 - very pleased with mine. For the reasons outlined in most of the posts above!
I would be interested if anyone has first hand experience of the Fox and GMX bullets through a 7mm08 on Roe and Fallow. I am concerned that the GMX will not acheive good expansion especially for Roe given it is generally focused on deep penetration. The Fox bullets seem a good option but their BCs are a little disappointing.
I would be interested if anyone has first hand experience of the Fox and GMX bullets through a 7mm08 on Roe and Fallow. I am concerned that the GMX will not acheive good expansion especially for Roe given it is generally focused on deep penetration. The Fox bullets seem a good option but their BCs are a little disappointing.
More important than any of that, between the OP's 2 choices; 1 - whether you want to buy an off the shelf factory rifle or have one builts, 2 - whether you want to reload or not. If the answer is factory to either question then .284 is a non starter.
The correct answer, if the OP is happy to put a rifle together and reload is of course, .280 remington!
The correct answer
That is the same for pretty much any calibre, is it not? Lead free is a premium product currently.
Yes, I bought 2 boxes of Barnes 130gr TTSX cartridge's a few month ago in 308, £70 a box.
CH
A good few years ago I purchased a 7-08 to be that something a bit bigger culling in thick forestry on red and fallow over the 243. It shot well and killed everything fine . Now it wasn't in vogue then and I could only get remmington brass 140 game kings or 130 nosler bt . Factory ammo was impossible to get if you where in a tight spot ( yeah the man who has never run out on a trip just hasn't got enough going on in his life lol) .
It was no better than the 308 I later bought (and this was a massive amount easier to get components dies and ammo for ) with the 140 grain turning to 150 but with a massive amount of other stuff available.
I now no longer own either of tge above because I sat down and thought on , I never had a real life problem with tge .243 win . There is that saying " beware of tge man with one gun , he probably knows how to use it well
. " The 243 i still have but its just a barrel as the rifle now wears a 260 rem , Scottish legislation thing and tge fact 243 will not do 100 grain copper ! Can't wait to see if Scotland change thier legislation as mentioned to 80 grain start point
Now I am not saying buy this buy that the 30-06 however puts more ground between the two rifles and is definitely going to be easier to get components , tools or factory for . It also handles the bigger 180 grainnplus bullets better than a 308 ( the rest are even )
Phone a few dealers and ask what they have in in terms of factory ammo , brass and bullets in stock before you take tge plunge into buying a 7-08 , its not a bad round but like I say isn't as practical as 308 for which you can find almost anything fast . Perhaps the 30-06 and its extra welly with the 180 plus ( equal under that even down to 110 if required)
Your money your choice , just saying
They won't allow handloads anymore on the BASC Arran scheme so I was kind of backed into a corner.
CH
Seriously? They did that at the start then dropped it now its back ? Why oh why ?
Yes, a requirement driven by FCS I believe, not BASC. I can't understand it either, I've never had problems with my handloads, with factory yes, but never with my own.
CH
Ah ok this is thier general HS rule for contractors and staff , daft I know because competent handloads are way safer but then they have no yardstick
johnnyha
Active Member
If all you're planning on doing is stalking, then the availability of factory ammunition shouldn't be an issue. David Muir or Paul Carter will take your rifle for a couple of weeks and develop a custom load second to none (sub-5 SD) and load up any number of rounds for you. If you want trully widely available factory ammo, then .308 is a better choice, given the offerings of HPS and the like available at sub-£25 a box.
Personally (as the owner of a range of calibres including all of those mentioned) I would consider your prioirities. .284 or .284 shehane is an excellent choice for the long range target shooter, as you get the benefits of 7mm ballistics without the HME considerations you encounter at some ranges, and without the recoil (admittedly manageable of a magnum calibre), with reasonably good barrel life. These are not considerations for the hunter, and there are challenges, such as the need for a long action.
For the pure stalker, the 6.5-284 is an interesting option. Whilst a bit of a barrel burner, it gets the benefit of increased velocity 6.5 ballistics, and reduced recoil over the 7mm options. Also worthy of consideration is the 280/280AI, taking things a step up from the 7m08 with a similarly limited range of factory ammo.
Personally (as the owner of a range of calibres including all of those mentioned) I would consider your prioirities. .284 or .284 shehane is an excellent choice for the long range target shooter, as you get the benefits of 7mm ballistics without the HME considerations you encounter at some ranges, and without the recoil (admittedly manageable of a magnum calibre), with reasonably good barrel life. These are not considerations for the hunter, and there are challenges, such as the need for a long action.
For the pure stalker, the 6.5-284 is an interesting option. Whilst a bit of a barrel burner, it gets the benefit of increased velocity 6.5 ballistics, and reduced recoil over the 7mm options. Also worthy of consideration is the 280/280AI, taking things a step up from the 7m08 with a similarly limited range of factory ammo.
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