I'm buying my wife a new Weatherby Camilla Ultralight from Eyeguy in the next few days and am trying to decide between chambering in .280 Ackley improved or the 6.5 300 for her. I've never shot either round and would like to know how much recoil each have. The Camilla from Weatherby is set up with a phenomenal muzzle break that they developed and the wife is really excited about this rifle wants it to use on all game animals including elk

My 280 AI (Thompson Center Encore Pro Hunter, custom Match Grade Machine barrel) is quite pleasant to shoot (Barnes 140 MRX (no longer available) over 58.7 gr of IMR 4831 @ ~3100 fps) - a little more kick than my 7-08 but much milder (and less noisy) than my 7 STW. I love all three of the 7's, especially the brute power of the STW, but the 280 is probably the best of the bunch overall in terms of power vs comfort. ...don't know anything about the 6.5 300.

FYI

280 and about 100 fps slower than the 7mm Remington Magnum. As cartridge efficiency goes, velocity generated by each grain of powder in the three was 55.3, 51.8 and 50.2 fps, respectively. Recoil in nine-pound rifles would be 15.1, 17.2 and 19.5 ft. ... 280 AI with a 140-grainer delivers about 150 ft.Oct 30, 2012


At the same time, in a 9-pound rifle, despite its awe-inspiring powder charge, the 6.5-300 generates only 21 foot-pounds of recoil, which is about the same as a 7mm Weatherby magnum, and readily manageable by anyone who has done a little shooting.Aug 11, 2016

Thanks the rifle we are getting is a 5.9 pound rifle before scope and rings

280 AI. My wife has a 7mm-08 that she hunts with here on the ranch. She uses the 280AI when in West Texas for Mule Deer and in Colorado for Elk. She says not much different to her in felt recoil. For what it is worth.

I have a 280 AI Mountain Assent from Kimber. It's my elk rifle for the mountains. Real lightweight and recoil seems to be about the same as my 243. Good luck with whatever you choose.

chuckr70 said:

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I have a 280 AI Mountain Assent from Kimber. It's my elk rifle for the mountains. Real lightweight and recoil seems to be about the same as my 243. Good luck with whatever you choose.

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Perfect that's what I needed to hear especially since she only has a 243

Are y'all reloaders?

Mowdy not to derail but do you love the encore? I have been thinking about getting that exact set up (if yours is ss and in a laminate stock we might have to be best friends). Another thought I've had is to do the same with 25-06. Then you mention 7stw. 7stw in an encore would be awesome! Really any overbore that needs a long barrel...

op if ammo availability is a consideration of course do the 280. As you probably know you can shoot standard 280 from a 280ai. They may even make reduced recoil 280 that she could try with the brake removed for a more hearing friendly option

NRD09 said:

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Mowdy not to derail but do you love the encore? I have been thinking about getting that exact set up (if yours is ss and in a laminate stock we might have to be best friends). Another thought I've had is to do the same with 25-06. Then you mention 7stw. 7stw in an encore would be awesome! Really any overbore that needs a long barrel...

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I do like the Encore - a lot. It shoots very well and I attribute that to the MGM barrel (28") and my load workup (a very rigorous ladder test with multiple trips to the range to optimize). Sorry but mine's blued with the Flex-Tech synthetic stock... ...but the stainless Encores and laminated stocks do look great. My 7STW is a Ruger No. 1 (stainless with laminated stock). I'm obviously a single shot fanatic (I also have three other No. 1's). I did the same ladder testing with the STW load workup, again with very good results. I've heard both the Encores and No. 1's criticized for poor accuracy but I know that both can be excellent (.5 MOA or better) with the right load. I do not know how the break action Encore would handle the pressure, recoil, etc. of the STW but I do know that I would not want to be the one to find out! I think it might be a bit much for that frame.

Cool thanks I knew the oversize hinge pins were a popular upgrade but didn't know there were accuracy or strength issues beyond that. I'm enamored by the idea of a long barrel in a normal sized rifle overall