Rechamber/Ream a 7mm-08 up to 284 win? Worth added performance or waste of time and $

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98s1lightning

98s1lightning

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Suppose you reload and you don't consider obtaining brass for 284 a p.i.t.a.

Is it worth cutting a 7mm-08 gun up to 284 win for added performance?

The goal is to have the most efficient hunting rifle to shoot 150 to 165 grain bullets. With medium recoil similar to a 308.

I like the Browning A bolt Stainless Stalker, it would be 22" barrel 1 in 9.5 twist.

On paper it looks to be like the 284 is a significant upgrade from the 7mm-08. A couple hundred FPS in some instances.
 
You would get a couple 100 FPS and a barrel that won’t last as long. If both are loaded for max performance.

Really depends if you need the extra speed.

I wouldn’t do it but then again I download most of my 7-08 rounds to 7mm BR levels for medium game out to 200 yards.
 
i dont think u will gan to much fps with only the 22 inch barrel. u will have to make some dummy rounds and see if it feeds.and 284 brass is a pan to get sometime, i think that is what holds if back from getting popular again. i still think its a cool idea to do solong thinks work fine.
 
What are your intended uses/ranges?

You could also split the difference and cut it 7-08 AI and form from ready available brass.
 
the AI is a good idea but more work the reaming out to 284. a normal 7-08 is good for 500 yards on deer and 3 or 4 on elk. seen if the gun will feed the 284 first.
 
The abolts magazines could be made to work, but with how short they are I'd expect similar performance to an AI'd 7-08.
If I'm remembering your other post yours is a stainless stalker. If so, then you'll need to check your threading, as the fine threaded stainless Abolts are known to gall on initial installation, making a barrel removal, and install very difficult (and supposedly impossible at times).
To AI a barrel properly, it needs to be removed set back then rechambered.

I'm supposed to work on my buddies SS in .300 sometime next year, and it's got the fine threads. So if I do it soon I may have some suggestions for roving the barrel.....or I might be giving him one of my rifle lol.
 
From my reading, as a general rule if I remember correctly it takes an increase of about 300 FPS to flatten a trajectory 1". I don't remember the distance but I think 100 yds..

Is the modest gain in velocity worth the effort and expense?
 
That really depends, if you want that slight edge and to have something different.
Really tho your only likely to gain another 100ish yards of useable distance, it's not going to be a night and day difference in a modern cartridge.

Personally I happen to really like the way the AI'd rounds look, and even if you only gain 100fps, I'll still take it.
The big IF is cost, I wouldn't rework a 7-08 to AI, as cost would probably be in the 150-200 range. But on a new build I would chose it over the standard.
 
First off is 284 ammo or brass readily available,I suspect that both are made on a very limited basis. If you want more velocity why not just buy a 7 mm Remington/Weatherby and be done with it.
 
Only way to stay in a short action is 7mm 08, 284 win, or 7WSM (huge increase in recoil and powder capacity)

I figure if you really like the 284 win you could buy a couple hundred pieces of brass and dies and be set for a WHILE.

But 284 may have died off for a good reason idk. It's very interesting but if it has feeding probs that's no good for a hunting rifle....
 
According to Hodgdon, you’d gain about 150 fps with the fastest 150-grain loads at the same pressure and barrel lengths in each. That’s not enough to really notice trajectory or terminal ballistics differences at reasonable ranges. But if there is the chance the .284 won’t feed as reliably, then the decision is easy.


.
 
I shoot 284 and it feeds fine.

https://www.gunsamerica.com/931987417/Ruger-M77-284-Win-All-Original.htm

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/792741780

https://ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/mysterious-magical-284-winchester/

3 different bolt actions and they feed fine.

I paid gunsmith to install new barrel,chamber,new stock. I think biggest problem today is brass, Win made run no too long ago and I haven't seen any, mine was chambered with same reamer used for 6.5x284 Lapua / 7mm throating reamer. I can neck up 6.5x284 Lapua brass. Norma made 284 brass and Betram making it and it's expensive.

I shot 6x284 then 6.5x284 Norma so I like 284 case. 7-08 not bad case. I have 243 and 243AI and 243 is a Browning Safari. Forgot to mention
 
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I hunt and target shoot with my 7-08's..... grab the 7mag if it needs to be deader?
 
I’d stick with 7-08. I did.

I obtained a Rem Mod7 in ‘04 for the express purpose of building either a 6.5-284, or just .284.
Part of the deal was that the rifle came with 3 boxes of PMC 139gr factory ammo. (Has Hornady flat base 139’s). I made the mistake of shooting and chronographing the ammo. Ammo averaged just over 3,000fps, which was my original goal with the .284. Why bother with trouble/expense of rebarrel.

I easily get 3,000fps with 139gr Hornady BtSpt over equal amounts of either RL17 or H4350. 140’s run 2,900, 150’s 2800.
All this from the factory 20” barrel.
Only “fly in the ointment”, is that it’s mediocre accurate. 1.5” 3-Shot groups are the norm. 5 will be closer to 2” at 100yds. But, it’s absolutely a killing machine. Several dozen deer, couple of pigs and a 6x6 elk by my best friend in 2006.
It’s one of my favorite rifles.
 
JMHO Why mess with hard to find or expensive brass if you don't need a light compact short action gun? If you want a significant improvement over the 7mm-08 go to the 280 Rem. It's based on 30-06 brass and is close to 7MM mag performance loaded properly in a bolt action. The.280 Rem is a excellent round that was handicapped by factory loading to lower pressure to function in the Rem auto loaders. If the .280 was properly loaded in the beginning I doubt the .270 Win would be around today and would be right up there with the 30-06 as a all around cartridge.. IMO
 
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I bought new 284 winchester, Winchester brand, brass right at cabelas for a for a fair price. I picked up a set of Lee dies to get started. I held a short action a bolt at the GS. Being that I am only 5'6" the short action gun fit me WAY better, when I hold it up my forward hand falls right in the center of the checkering. When I hold up the long action my hand is between the mag and the checkering, less than ideal. I'm hoping to get a donor rifle and mag asap.
 
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