280 Remington...all around Rifle/load combinations?

[rimfire]

Looking to build a long range Encore.

I am looking at the 280 for a few reasons.  I already hunt with a 7-30 Waters Contender.  I thought that with a 280 Remington I could load some of the 120 NBT in front of a very light powder charge and duplicate the performance of my Contender 13" barrel and these same bullets...last year 3 shots...3 deer...none took a single step at the shot...35 gr Win 748.

Thought this would be a great combo for my daughter learning to hunt with a rifle and I could load it for me with heavier fodder for my Antelope/Mule Deer forays...maybe even Elk one day.

Can I load down the 280 Rem enough with a 120 grain bullet out of a 26" barrel?

Seems this would give me a combination that covers the 7-30 Waters, 7mm08, 280 Remington, and maybe even push the 7MM Rem Mag if I pushed a hot load out of this long barrel.  Sounds like a heck of a combo and am thinking someone else here may have put together something similar in the way of gun/loads.

Any comments appreciated.

[ENCOREROOKIE]

rimfire, I had the same thinkings as you but i think im gonna take it one step further and get the 280 AI.just a little more uuummmpphhh but you can still load it light...just my thoughts..let me know if you get it and how well it shoots...thanks encorerookie

[tom ga hunter]

i have and use 4 custom 280 rifles but they are not as flexable as they look, each really only shoots 1 bullet range ie 150-154gr or 139-145gr well and none safely come close to the velosities you see written on the internet. i have had a jarette 280ai and sold it simply not worth the effort for a few extra safe fps..i also use a 7-30 carbine and a 7x57. they all have their own place but there is simply no such thing as a do everything rifle.  keep your 7-30 and get something bigger a 35whelen or 338wm or something small like a 223..

[WW1]

I personaly like the 280 very much....have one custom on a savage 110 action that is very accurate, plus a Ruger #1 that I really love...not sure on the loading up and down, all I know whith the 140 I have done well...never had the cal in a TC and wish you well if you go with it...I just hope when I start playing with my 7mm-08 I dont run into all the problems I am reading about...if it wont do 1 1/4" or less it wont be around long.....anyway thats my 2 cents worth on the 280....Rob

[sjf]

The 280 can shoot reduced loads quite effectively, I was concerned about recoil for my daughter who is a beginning shooter and is fairly lighlty built.
My thought was if I could come up with a load that duplicated my 7x30 water 14" it would work well.

35 gr of IMR4198 with a 120 Nosler BT overall lenght 3.29 conistently puts three shots into .75 or less at 100 yds, from a 22" rem mtn rifle.

My daughter shot a nice 4x4 whitetail at 150 yds down hill angling  towards us, struck him at the base of the neck and angled down into the chest cavity, dumped him right there, bullet expansion was good and penetrated well.

[rimfire]

SJF,

Any idea of the velocity you were getting out of that Mtn rifle with that load?

That bullet is exactly what I use and love out of my Contender at 2222 fps from a 13" barrel.  Would think it would kick hardly at all from a .280 if I could load it down that far and would do the trick on a Whitetail assuming any decent shot placement.

Of course, I define decent differently than many...I expect to hit what I shoot or I do not take the shot.  Last time I shot at and missed a deer with a firearm was 1991.  Got excited and completely missed a doe who ran by at 40 feet.  I have not shot at a running deer since with a rifle or pistol.  Don't expect I ever will again unless I am chasing down an injured animal...and I do my damndest to make sure that never happens.

Sorry to ramble.

Barry

[sjf]

I have not chrono'd that load but according to the manual I pulled from it should be doing 2500 fps more or less. The performance of the 120 Nosler BT has been great at the reduced velocities, I have used the BT's in other rifles at high velocity and have not been impressed. I just recently got some of the new Hornady 120 V-Max which is supposed to be a replacement for lthe old Single Shot pistol bullets. I hope to give them a try in my contender this year.
Sorry about not replying earlier, just got back from a fishing trip in Northern Sask.