No. 5 Accuracy

[Frederick303]

Because of the superior BC of the .280/30, the 7mm entered the transonic region (1226 fps) at around 780 yards, vs. 875~885 yards for the 7.62 NATO cartridge. 7.62 NATO out of a G3 is more like ~830 yards.

Once in the transonic region US M80 ball is horrible (fan shaped groups), whereas the L2A2 and Australian F4 seem to do quite well, so how well the .280 did in this region would depend on the bullet shape, specifically the boattail angel and the twist rate. But if it did not show the instability some bullets show to side winds, then the superior BC would mean final velocity at 1100 yards between the 7.62 and .280 would not be all that far apart.

As I said my regard came when playing with low recoil 7.62 NATO, the recoil level of the .280/30 just seems to be sort of a sweet spot. Along with the lower peak pressures it seems to me that this cartridge had some real potential, lost because the US just could not drop the 30-06 ballistics and so had to redesign the 1904 7.62 Mauser cartridge.