280 AI vs. 7 PRC
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noharleyyet
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Wind Gypsy
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Except for the tikka part, right?
Wind Gypsy
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I'd probably lean more towards 280AI personally but they both are fine. I went 7 SAUM in that realm which is kind of between the two. Definitely a handloader only cartridge. Agree that 7RM would be an attractive consideration as well.
Edit for clarification: I leaned 280 primarily because its less recoil and if its your only rifle the more pleasant to shoot the better. Also, I thought hornady was primary factory ammo option still for 7PRC and hornady ammo seems to have gone to shit. A quick look on ammoseek shows quite a few options from federal, norma, and even nosler and remington for the PRC as well though. I haven't shot my 7 SAUM in probably 2 years because I dont need that much cartridge but I also haven't elk hunted the last 2 years. 22, 6, and 6.5s are much more pleasant to shoot.
Edit for clarification: I leaned 280 primarily because its less recoil and if its your only rifle the more pleasant to shoot the better. Also, I thought hornady was primary factory ammo option still for 7PRC and hornady ammo seems to have gone to shit. A quick look on ammoseek shows quite a few options from federal, norma, and even nosler and remington for the PRC as well though. I haven't shot my 7 SAUM in probably 2 years because I dont need that much cartridge but I also haven't elk hunted the last 2 years. 22, 6, and 6.5s are much more pleasant to shoot.
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Hammsolo
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I love my Tikka’s, but holding and running the Seekins is next level. Tikka’s also need “tune ups” to get them to that next level, bottom metal and such. Not going to lie, I like nice shit. Given the choice I’d rather have fewer rifles of higher quality than more rifles of less quality.
The 7 rem mag is a great cartridge, but the prc is essentially the new and improved version. 270’s are amazing, but I want more pop, and heavier steel smacking potential.
The 7 rem mag is a great cartridge, but the prc is essentially the new and improved version. 270’s are amazing, but I want more pop, and heavier steel smacking potential.
Mustangs Rule
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Not that many years ago I bought a new Kimber hunter, stainless and synthetic stock in 280AI for just under $500. It weighed 5 1/4 pounds. This was during a period when Kimber was trying to erase their old Kimber Roulette reputation. Some shot great, others not so. Anyway, this Kimber was a tack driver that shot bullets way heavier than my .270 and weighed less. Also, the accuracy it was getting for the first three shots with it's 24 " match grade barrel, was simply amazing with the velocity just maybe 40'/sec less than a 7mm Mag with a whopping amount less powder and less recoil.
It was the dream mountain rifle of my life, even came with a real decent trigger pull and excellent stock design.
After shooting a few elk with it, having them drop in their tracks, i sold it.
It felt sterile. Was a bit too light offhand, the stock was real hard feeling and was kinda slick. It did not stay put in my homemade triple oak 48" x 5/8" dowel shooting sticks.
When reloading the case was susceptible to collapsing at the shoulder, lacking a graceful and strong taper.
I think I was 74 years old when I sold it. Now close to 78. At an age when every extra bit of weight is supposed to make a huge difference. Better to get the weight off of the belly and not worry about a rifle with a bit more weight.
For real sloppy wet weather, I have a Sako Finnlight carbine in 308, stainless and synthetic, but otherwise I felt so happy going back to hunting with either one of my dear old rifles, one a .270 1954 made model 70, or my Safari Grade Browning 30-06 I bought it as a college graduation present to myself in 1970.
I bought the 270 in a pawn shop when I lived in Wyoming almost 40 years ago. A widow brought it in; it was her cowboy husband's only forever, everything rifle. He bought it when he got out of the Army after the Korean war, bout the time they got married. I have two scopes for it. The Weaver fixed 4X for general use, that was on it when I bought it and for longer range a fixed Weaver 6x.
That turns it into America's First Modern Plains Rifle. Fixed power scopes have one less lens, so they are horse-tough and surprisingly bright. Even with the 6x scope, low rings work fine, and it still fits into my custom-made harness grade leather saddle scabbard. Yippee Kay Aye. I love looking at the excellent but not machine perfect hand checkering, really worn from handling and going in and out of a saddle scabbard. Probably could do a stock scraping and a DNA test for me and deeper for that old cowboy,,,maybe.
I felt like I was back home again using that .270 model 70 rifle after selling the 280AI. Looking at the history of the .270. it was pioneer back in 1925 when it was the first rifle designed for 65,000 pounds CUP. Add in modern Barnes 130 grain TTSXBT bullets, a max load of H4350 offering 3,200 '/seconds and my old .270 has "Bruce Lee" coming out of the barrel with every shot.
There is a Zen term "Oryoki". It means all needs are fully met, without unneeded excess. Like eating a meal, just getting that first full feeling and not going for seconds or thirds. I never needed a second or third shot with my .270. All my hunting needs were met.
Bye bye 280AI, "Back home again" with my .270 in a model 70, a tack driver too! Has an adjustment screw that goes into a under barrel lug to set for barrel harmonics.
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Mustangs Rule
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Sako's are amazing, had four over my lifetime, down to one now, They have features that most shooters/hunters are completely unaware of. For one, the bolt lift is lower allowing the use of ultralow vintage optilock rings. So fast. so close to the natural feeling of iron sight. Then if you are patient you will find on the used market the Sako peep sights..
I never will buy another firearm, just done at 77,,,,,but,,,,if I were going to do that I would but a vintage SaKo and re-bore it to some really cool caliber, or put a new stainless barrel on it, for which the 280A1 would be ever so cool
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His decision. I don't care for Tikka rifles. I think the 7 Remington is a solid choice. mtmuley
Which Sako rifle model to rebarrel?
Mustangs Rule
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I like the Guns International online sales site. If you search for Sako Rifles the list is very long. The rifle below grabs my attention for rebarreling or reboring if metal is thick enough and just just accept as is with blistered stock. The 6.5x55 is both a noble and very effective cartridge when loaded to full potential.
.
SAKO 85 FINNLIGHT 6.5X55MM SWEDISH
SAKO 85 FINNLIGHT 6.5X55MM SWEDISH for sale online.
www.gunsinternational.com
This one also grabs by attention to re-barrel.
Sako ~ A III ~ .270 Winchester for sale
Sako ~ A III ~ .270 Winchester for sale online.
www.gunsinternational.com
Whatever you do makes sure you only consider one with the classic Sako taperd scope mounting grooves milled right into the receiver, thus allowing the use of classic Sako Optilock rings and also the Sako peep sight which needs a front sight.
These can be switched around, scopes taken on and off with extremely little shift in POI.
I have had four Sako rifles, five really counting a very rare Colt rifle in ,223 made by Sako.
It is so cool to go back and forth between peep sight and scope without any trips back to the range.
My "Go-to" for everything is a Sako 75 Stainless Synthetic Finnlight carbine in 308 with a 20 1/4-inch match grade fluted barrel
Mostly it wears a trim Leupold 2.5 to 8 scope sighted for 165 grain Barnes TTSXBT going 2.900'/secs.
My spare scope is a 2-7 Leupold untralight, all sighted in on low optilock rings.
For super dense rainforest/jungle I have a real cool fixed 2.5 x Japanese Weaver ultralight scope on Sako ultra low rings,,,made possible by the lower bolt lift that Sako has. Fixed power scopes have one less lens and are tougher and great in dim light. This scope is sighted in for the long round nosed heavy all copper 170 grain Lapua Naturalis bullet.. What a killer and so kind to meat.
I also use this scope with cheap lead downloaded 30 cal bullets for a winter snowshoe shooting Biathlon course and small game.
Again, so convenient not to need to go to the range when switching scopes or Sako peep sight.
Happy Thanksgiving
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Wvhuntandfish
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I’ve been narrowing down my calibers over the last several years, but between the OP’s two options, I’d probably go with the 280AI
Brian in Montana
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280AI is a pretty impressive cartridge. Mine is built to be a bit more of a bench rifle, it's a little heavier than I want hump around in the mountains all day, so I'm now building another for that purpose off a stainless Tikka action. My personal opinion is there's really nothing I wouldn't hunt/shoot with 280AI under the right circumstances. That's just me. Big fan of it - 280AI gets my vote.
Of course I'm also a big fan of the 284 Winchester.
Of course I'm also a big fan of the 284 Winchester.
@Mustangs Rule.I like the Guns International online sales site. If you search for Sako Rifles the list is very long. The rifle below grabs my attention for rebarreling or reboring if metal is thick enough and just just accept as is with blistered stock. The 6.5x55 is both a noble and very effective cartridge when loaded to full potential.
.
SAKO 85 FINNLIGHT 6.5X55MM SWEDISH
SAKO 85 FINNLIGHT 6.5X55MM SWEDISH for sale online.
This one also grabs by attention to re-barrel.
Sako ~ A III ~ .270 Winchester for sale
Sako ~ A III ~ .270 Winchester for sale online.
Whatever you do makes sure you only consider one with the classic Sako taperd scope mounting grooves milled right into the receiver, thus allowing the use of classic Sako Optilock rings and also the Sako peep sight which needs a front sight.
These can be switched around, scopes taken on and off with extremely little shift in POI.
I have had four Sako rifles, five really counting a very rare Colt rifle in ,223 made by Sako.
It is so cool to go back and forth between peep sight and scope without any trips back to the range.
My "Go-to" for everything is a Sako 75 Stainless Synthetic Finnlight carbine in 308 with a 20 1/4-inch match grade fluted barrel
Mostly it wears a trim Leupold 2.5 to 8 scope sighted for 165 grain Barnes TTSXBT going 2.900'/secs.
My spare scope is a 2-7 Leupold untralight, all sighted in on low optilock rings.
For super dense rainforest/jungle I have a real cool fixed 2.5 x Japanese Weaver ultralight scope on Sako ultra low rings,,,made possible by the lower bolt lift that Sako has. Fixed power scopes have one less lens and are tougher and great in dim light. This scope is sighted in for the long round nosed heavy all copper 170 grain Lapua Naturalis bullet.. What a killer and so kind to meat.
I also use this scope with cheap lead downloaded 30 cal bullets for a winter snowshoe shooting Biathlon course and small game.
Again, so convenient not to need to go to the range when switching scopes or Sako peep sight.
Happy Thanksgiving
Sako 75 Finnlight or 85 Finnlight?
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