Author Topic: 280 rem. (Read 2191 times)

billy · « **on:** January 05, 2004, 10:28:54 AM »

Why is this wonderful caliber not more popular? I use in it in a m77 and love it a real deer gun with 150 partions.

PA-Joe · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2004, 11:05:03 AM »

7mm08 uses a short action making for lighter rifles.

HogFan · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2004, 12:11:55 PM »

Billy,

I could not tell you. I have a .280 and a 7mm-08 and love them both, but the .280 is tops.

Hudge

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2004, 12:38:25 PM »

Ah a cartridge near and dear to my heart. But sadly one I've never owned. Way back in the 70s a local dealer was going out of business and had several of the then new R700 Mtn. Rifes he wanted to let go of at a real bargain. I told him I wanted a .280 as that was one of the few rounds it was chambered for. Said he'd already promised the only one he had. I took a .270 Win. and while a wonderful round it just one more time kept me from getting a .280. Kinda got a weak spot for the 7MM bore.

I love my 7-08s but sure do long for a .280. I have a hard time tho deciding if it should be a standard or AI. Guess when I finally break down and get one I'll have to make the decision. Until then I just keep debating it with myself.

GB

onesonek · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2004, 01:17:36 PM »

The .280 was initially chambered for the autoloader. At 48,000+ cup, it couldn't catch up to the .270. In a good rifle handloaded (.280), it's better than the .270. Just my opinion 270 fans, don't have anything against the .270.
I've had 4 .280's over the years, three were AI'd. I sold my last one alittle while back. Kept the dies though, just never know when I'll want to build another.

Catahoula · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2004, 02:54:37 PM »

Always been one of my favorites as well. My wife just picked up a Ruger 77 in 280 for an upcoming bear hunt. Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but brass and dies are on the way.

ms · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2004, 05:08:35 PM »

The 270 over shadowed the 280. end of story

JOE MACK · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2004, 11:57:31 PM »

I used to shoot the 7mm Remington Magnum. Then, as I got older and wiser, I decided I didn't need the shock and awe all the time. I've got a .280 Remington in a Ruger #1 and just love it. I handgun hunt 99.95% of the time, but when I need to use a rifle this is the one I reach for first. I think the only reason the .270Winchester is more popular is a guy named Jack O'Connor.

razmuz · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2004, 04:13:49 AM »

Go to Antoine, Arkansas and try buy a box of 280's. Their also hard to sell. Otherwise, it's a great round. Keep in mind that only a machine can tell it's difference from a 270. Most folks on this forum are gun nuts and reload, myself included. But, take a poll at different deer camps and you won't find any 280's. OK Guy's, I said it was a great round.

Ron T. · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2004, 07:42:49 PM »

What Razmuz sez is true even tho I frankly would prefer to own a .280 Remington compared to a .270 Winchester due to a wider variety of bullet weights available to the reloader in .284 (aka 7mm).

Id be the first to admit that there are FEW (if any) better deer rounds than a .270 Winchester shooting a 130 grain bullet. I used such a combination in a pre-64 Model 70 Winchester to make an instant kill @ 100 yards on a tender forkhorn mule deer.

But Ive often wondered if there is a significant difference since there is only .007 of an inch difference in their bullet diameters (.277 vs. .284) and they BOTH use the SAME cartridge case (a .30/06 case). As was said in a previous post, it is very possible that only a machine could tell the difference.

YET theres something about a .280 Remington (sigh)

Strength & Honor

Ron T.

HogFan · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2004, 01:20:23 AM »

I don't know where Antoine, Arkansas is, but I am from Central AR, and can assure you that I could go to a couple deer camps in AR, and find a .280. Heck, if I was there, one would be mine, and I don't reload. I will admit, I have never seen them as popular as they are here in MT. I hunt with mine 85% of the time, and always here of other guys that use nothing but a .280 here. I really like mine, and think they are the ideal deer rifle.

HogFan

razmuz · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2004, 04:57:48 AM »

As I said before the 280 is a great round. BUT IT'S STILL AN "ODDBALL".

338-06shooter · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2004, 07:39:02 AM »

I agree with Joe Mack on the Jack O'Conner reference. He sang the praises of the .270 win as a 500 yard elk slayer, etc. it was well established before the 7mm Remington Express, er, .280 Rem, had established name recognition. I have always prefered the "under-hyped" .280 myself even though the difference is negligible.

shinbone · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2004, 11:11:02 AM »

i have several guns i take for walks during deer season.they range from a model 94ae win 44 to a rem 7mm stw but when im on a mission and plan to bring back some meat the 280 rem is what i reach for.its a good shooting gun and i feel i can rely on it .

longwinters · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2004, 02:53:07 PM »

I think typically, most hunters only pick up their rifles a week or two before season, hunt a week or two ,and then put them away. These kind of people are not going to go with a "low recognition" caliber like the .280. You wont see them shooting 7m-08, 7x57, 260, or a host of other good calibers. They are going to shoot the "regular" calibers like the 30-06, 270, 308, 300 win mag etc... Only in a place like this will a person hear about a lot of great calibers that you wont see in the local #mart store.

long

James B · « **Reply #15 on:** March 10, 2004, 05:27:32 PM »

I have a 280 in the 26 inch NEF handi rifle. Its a real shooter and its my third 280. Love the caliber.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #16 on:** March 11, 2004, 04:21:36 AM »

When i decided to build a light weight rifle for everything up to caribou and maybe moose, i chose the 7 express Remington. Over the years of hunting with both a 270 and 7mm's i made my mind up that the 7mm's are easily a better all around carteidge than the 270 win. is.

As i was liveing i Alaska, i wanted to take advantage of the way the 7mm will drive heavier bullets better than a 270 will. Through my own test on game, the 7mm is a better "bigger" game cartridge than a 270 so i chose the 7 express Rem. for the cal. in my new "light weight" rifle.

I used a left hand 700 Rem. action, with a Douglas premium bbl, and stocked it myself in a piece of New Zeland walnut. The completed rifle weighs about 7 pounds with a Leupold scope, and is a joy to carry.

I don't shoot it much these days, but over the years i've taken Sitka blk. tailed deer, whitetailed deer, caribou, blk. bear and other game animials.

As in most of my guns, in this 7 express i've settled on one bullet/load combination, and it is, handloading a full power load useing 145 grain Speer bullets. Although they are a bit fragile, (like a 270 with 130 grain bullets) i'll never use this rifle any longer on anything bigger than a deer, so they work out just fine.

These days, for deer sized game i could just as well have a 270 win, but my 7 express Rem. is a keeper, and i doubt i'll ever own another 270 win..

Drilling Man

MSP Ret · « **Reply #17 on:** March 23, 2004, 04:13:18 PM »

DrillingMan you seem the one to ask, but please, all you other knowledgeable and enlightened .280 Remington/ 7mm Express owners please jump right in with whatever info you have. I am looking for information or opinions on a load for a .280 with an 18" barrel. Yes I know most .280's have longer (26") barrels but I am waiting for an 18" barrel to arrive for my H&R single shot and intend to try to use it to build up a short and light woods rifle. I like the 7mm's and have a nice light 7x57 but this is going to be a labor of love/anguish (?). I have no loading info so far, my only thinking is this, I might use a faster burning powder to get it all burnt up in 18". I do not need a long range "thumper" to reach out 300-500 yards. This is going to be a lightweight working works rifle in 7 mm for shots averaging under 100 yards. I am working with what I have gentlemen so please lets skip the "you'd be better off getting a" or the "sell it and get a", lets try to think of working with what we have and how we can develop a load for it to make it work. Thanks, I hope it's not impossible, perhaps a faster powder thats not to "position sensitive" in the case, a heavy spire-point or roundnose bullet. All I'm looking for is about 2" MOA unless you can encourage me with some good loads...Thanks....<><....(this must be a good omen, this is my .284th post!!)

Drilling Man · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2004, 03:11:05 AM »

MSP,

I guess i'm now old enough to where i NO LONGER worry about getting EVERY foot per second out of my guns! A long time ago i decided that "if" i needed more, i should have bought something faster to begin with!!!

"If" i had your rifle, i'd just find a load with the "proper" bullet for what ever your planning to hunt. Then i'd load it for "good accuracy", and NOT worry if it's 50 or 100 fps under what you could "squeeze" out of it keeping everything at it's MAX pressure!!! MAX pressures just wears everything out faster, and IMHO isn't worth the little gain it gives!!

I've never shot an animial that i figured it would be any deader if i would have had another hundred feet per second at the muzzle!!!

Sorry if this isn't the answer you was looking for, but i'm just being honest here.

Drilling Man

MSP Ret · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2004, 06:26:30 AM »

Thanks DrillingMan, we definitely think alike. I must have given the wrong impression somehow. I like large slow-moving bullets for the most part and do prefer "old-fashioned" calibers. I have an avowed disdain for "magnumitis" and prefer proper single bullet placement rather than loud, recoiling, multiple shots. Just plain old fashioned myself. To try to explain, when my buddy and I went feral hog hunting in Texas we went with wooden longbows he made and handmade wooden arrows crafted by each of us, slept out in the thickets and cooked over a fire. Loved it and want to go back. Anyway, can you offer any suggestions on a .280 load that is not super fast, not super heavy, not super anything, just a super fun load which will do the job when placed in the right location....<><.... :grin:

Drilling Man · « **Reply #20 on:** March 26, 2004, 12:02:35 PM »

Hi MSP,

I can't recomend a load for YOUR gun, but i think the 150 Nosler partition would be "good for everything" bullet for up to, and includeing elk..

I worked up a load for my 280 many years ago useing 145 speer bullets, and that's all i shoot in it. You no longer can buy the powder i use so the load data would be of no use to you. I don't shoot my 280 much these days, and when i do carry it, it's only for white tails. The 145 speer, is a bit soft for anything but side shots, so i'd go with the nosler for all around use.

Check out any good load manual for what ever bullet you'd like to use, and you will find some good choises to pick from!

The 280 is a great cal, and should make you very happy!!

Drilling Man

MSP Ret · « **Reply #21 on:** March 27, 2004, 11:51:42 AM »

Thanks for the info and responses you did give Drillingman, I think I am going to have some fun developing a good whitetail and all around accurate shooting load for my short barrelled .280 "woods rifle"....<><.... :grin:

RaySendero · « **Reply #22 on:** April 11, 2004, 04:12:19 PM »

I'm a 270 fan but think the 280 is a really great round. Figure it got squeezed between the 270 win. and the 7mm Rem. mag and never gained the popularity it deserved.