Remington M700 CDL-SF .280 Remington

[Graybeard]

I mentioned some time back that I bought a 2010 limited edition CDL-SF in .280 Remington. I have a Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9 with DOA600 reticle mounted on it using Leupold Dual Dovetail base/rings.

I've now taken it to the range twice. The first time out I got it sighted in using Hornady Super Performane ammo with the 139 SST bullet. I failed to pull the last target after getting it sighted in but I know two of the three shots were touching and I think the third was very close perhaps an inch or so but I'm guessing since I didn't pull the target that day and my BIL put his targets over mine and shot before I got back to pull the target off my stand.

Today I took it back out with five different hand loads all using Accurate Mag Pro powder.

My first two loads used the Hornady 139 SP bullet over 61.0 and 62.0 grains Mag Pro. That latter one showed some cratering of the primer even tho it's 1.5 grains below book max. I think I'll back down to the 61.0. The first of the two shot two touching and the third which actually was the first fired made it 0.9". The same happened with the second load but the group was an even 1" with it.

The other three loads tested used the Hornady 139 and 154 Interbond also with Mag Pro. Let's just say I won't be loading those loads again. The 139 gave me three shots in 4.1" and the two 154 IB loads turned in 1.8" and 3.4" groups. Needless to say it really didn't like those loads.

I have removed the walnut stock that came on this gun and replaced it with a synthetic stock I got many years ago for my original M700 Mtn. Rifle. It fits quite well with no movement that I can tell and the barrel seems to float except for a pad about an inch long and both sides seem to have even pressure. This stock is not the typical tupperware plastic stocks but a high grade stock that is very rigid and I think has a high graphite content. I cannot bend the fore end in any way with the stock in hand with no atction and nothing moves with it all bolted down. I'm not sure who made the stock as I've had it a long time. Bought it in the mid 80s I think.

I will reshoot groups with the 139 SP loads to see if it duplicates this performance and also begin working with other powders with the two IB bullets. The 154 IB is the one I am really wanting to use with this rifle but I'll let it tell me what it wants.

[NYH1]

I shot my 280 Rem. today too, 700 Classic.  I don't hand load and all I had were some Remington 165 soft point Core-Lokt's laying around.  I put a different scope on it and just wanted to get it close.  I usually shoot Remington 140 gr. pointed soft point Core-Lokt's.  They shoot real good in my rifle and work pretty well on deer too.  Your CDL-SF is an awesome rifle. . . . .and the 280 Rem. is an awesome cartridge! 

[Lloyd Smale]

If i had to pick one bullet to live with in 280s forever it would be the 145 speer hot core. I own 2 280s now and have owned to others and believe it or not it was the most accurate bullet in all 4 and how many times does that happen. Ive shoot probably 25 deer with that bullet out of 280s and it gets buisness done! Its contructed light enough that it opens well even out to 300 plus yards and its very rare even at short range that i dont get an exit wound.

[Lloyd Smale]

by the way im a big 280 fan. Its one of my favorite rounds. If a deal came up on a cdl when i could afford it id jump fast and a CLASSIC in one would proably make me run to the bank!!! Those rem classics have allways been my favorite rifle. Anyone know where i can find one in 300 H&H!!!!!!

[NYH1]

There is a CDL-SF 280 Rem. on Gunbroker.com right now.  Also a 308 Win. and 35 Whelen Classic's.  Wish I had some extra cash.  I'd take any of the three and be happy. 

[Lloyd Smale]

id love the 280 and even the .35 whelen but the gun budget is pretty dry right now. My dream would be if remington would make the cdl in 300 H&H. Ive got a hole in the safe right now that id sure love to fill with a 300 h&h of some sorts and the pre 64 winchesters are way out of my budget.

[Drilling Man]

If i had to pick one bullet to live with in 280s forever it would be the 145 speer hot core. I own 2 280s now and have owned to others and believe it or not it was the most accurate bullet in all 4 and how many times does that happen. Ive shoot probably 25 deer with that bullet out of 280s and it gets buisness done! Its contructed light enough that it opens well even out to 300 plus yards and its very rare even at short range that i dont get an exit wound.

  That's the bullet that shoots VERY good out of my light weight 280 too, but personally i find it a bit soft, even for deer, even though i took a blk. bear or two with it.  If i was going to use my 280 on any animal bigger than deer, or for other than "rib" shots, i'd switch to a 150 grain, and probably an NP.
 
  DM

[Graybeard]

With help from my 4 year old grandson Wyatt I pulled the bullets from the three loads that shot so poorly and then the two of us loaded up five or six more loads with two powders.

I chose only the Hornady 154 IB that I am hoping to use in this rifle for today's loading. I used both IMR7828SSC and Reloader 22. Best I recall I loaded three different levels with both powders. This time I loaded four of each. I need to clean the barrel before I shoot again.

Wyatt worked the handle on the press to pull the bullets then to seat the new bullets in the ammo we loaded. He said he sure does like to reload ammo and that it was fun. Perhaps for him but it took me about three times as long but it was quality time with him and I was in no rush.

He wanted me to go shoot what we loaded and to let him shoot his little Chipmunk .22 rifle. He likes doing that also. In fact there isn't much about guns and shooting that he doesn't like.

[rugerfan.64]

Well if I had to choose just one rifle that I were allowed to keep it would be my 280. Sorry fellas its a Browning. I've had really good luck with RL 22, I shoot the Sierra 140 GK. I dont see where a bonded or premium bullet is needed for whitetails so I've never developed anything else for it. It kills em dead as a hammer. Enjoy the time with the wee ones and pass our heritage down.

[Graybeard]

I totally agree premium bullets aren't needed. It's just the bullet I want to use. If it doesn't work out for me I'll go with something else. I have around 200 each of Remington's 140 and 150 grain Core-locts and a similar amount of Hornady's standard 139 SP. But they sent me a bunch of their IB bullets to try and I'd like to make one or the other of them work. I just like the idea of a 154 grain bullet for some unknown esoteric reason.

[Lloyd Smale]

I played quite a bit this summer and last with various bonded bullets and found them a stuggle to get to shoot well in my guns. I dont recall if my 280s were involved in that testing or not but my 7 mags sure were. One premium 7mm bullet that i have had good luck with is the nos etip 140. Its been accurate for me and has knocked down a few whitetails this year and has performed well. Id give it higher marks then the barnes tsx bullets ive used on game.

[NYH1]

With help from my 4 year old grandson Wyatt I pulled the bullets from the three loads that shot so poorly and then the two of us loaded up five or six more loads with two powders.

I chose only the Hornady 154 IB that I am hoping to use in this rifle for today's loading. I used both IMR7828SSC and Reloader 22. Best I recall I loaded three different levels with both powders. This time I loaded four of each. I need to clean the barrel before I shoot again.

Wyatt worked the handle on the press to pull the bullets then to seat the new bullets in the ammo we loaded. He said he sure does like to reload ammo and that it was fun. Perhaps for him but it took me about three times as long but it was quality time with him and I was in no rush.

He wanted me to go shoot what we loaded and to let him shoot his little Chipmunk .22 rifle. He likes doing that also. In fact there isn't much about guns and shooting that he doesn't like.

Quality time is what it's all about my friend.  They'll remember it forever! 
 
One of my grandfathers (my dads dad) was a mean old WWII vet who really had no use for us kids while we were growing up.  He could be flat out mean.  Did very little with us kids.  Not until we were grown and my grandmother died in '96.  Then he needed our help so we were alright to be around.  Of course we helped him.  Especially my wife who he really didn't like because we had a baby while we were young, she was 17 and I was 18.  Were now 36 and have been happily married 15 years, been together since we were 14 and have 3 kids.  My wife did more for him then anyone in the family until he died in '99.  My dad is getting like his father as he gets older and it sucks.  He gets more distant and wants less to do with all of us and my kids.  My older sister (39) still can't live by herself so her and her two kids live with my parents.  My kids pretty much have given up on doing much with my parents.  My wife's mom lives in Arizona and she's never had much to do with her dead beat father.  So my parents are really the only grandparents they have.       
 
My other grandfather was a goofball.  Always going out of his way to find us playing in the neighborhood.  He'd give my friends and I $5 bills every time he saw us.  Tell us jokes, show us karate moves, give everyone a ride if they needed one, just a good time.  Took me all over the place.  He lived with us for a while after he and my grandmother got divorced.  We shared the same room.  It was great.  He died on January 12, 1994 and I was absolutely devastated.  I was 19 and he was the first family member of mine to die.  My daughter was 10 months old.  The last picture of him was taken 18 day before he died on Christmas Day holding my daughter.  I have tears in my eyes as I write this last paragraph.
 
Sorry to be so long winded and get so far off topic.  Keep us up to date on your 280 Rem. progress Graybeard.  I really like the 280 Rem.  Some day I hope to hand load.  That won't happen anytime soon though. 
 
NYH1. 

 

[rugerfan.64]

WELLLLLLL ,if I read your post correctly GB, "they sent me" translates into free? If that be the case it'd change the equation completely with the answer being FREE is good. And I wouldnt blame you not one bit. I have a certian soft spot for unusual and esoteric,so indulge yourself with the 154's. Hope it shoots good!

[Graybeard]

Yes most all the major bullet makers except Speer sent me bullets for use in load testing and reviews same as they do the magazine writers. Some times stuff especially new stuff comes in without me evem reqesting it but they have been very good at supporting my specific requests as well.

I make an effort to use what I'm sent and post reviews and threads like this about them. I've not asked for any in a good long while now as I've not got caught up on what I've already got yet. Right now Hornady is the only one of the makers that I have 7mm bullets from as I've not been shooting reloads in that bore size much lately so haven't asked for them. These I think I did request some time back with plans to get a .280. My plans fell thru then as I wasn't able to get a dealer locally to locate and order me the Remington 700 LSS Limited Edition I was after. When I saw this one at the gunshop I brought it home that day so as to not miss another chance at a .280.

[Lloyd Smale]

bill a year ago id probably be hitting you up voluteering to test those bullets on deer for you but after the fiasco with the barnes bullets this year i think ill stick to bullets that have proven themselves to work. Ive never really bought into the premium bullet arguement on deer sized game as i figured theyd be no better then the old cup and core bullets that have worked so well for me in the past but this year ive been about convinced that the only thing they kill better is your wallet.

[Graybeard]

Totally agree premium bullets aren't needed on deer at least not in standard non magnum rounds. Barnes sent them to me to test tho and I'm bound and determine to shoot a deer or two with them.

I don't do all that much hunting these days and have no private land to hunt. Last season I saw one buck and wasn't able to get a shot at him. I didn't even see a doe on any of the hunts I made. I can't drag one very far so unless I have someone with me to do that I have to stay in places where the truck isn't far away. But then I'm not up to walking all that far back anyway to have to worry about a long drag.

I cleaned the barrel of the .280 this morning and now am ready to shoot it next time I go out to my range.

[Lloyd Smale]

Bill im kind of in the same boat. Dragging deer just isnt something i can handle much of anymore. I usually try to hunt with a buddy and when im at camp i have young nephews to do the dragging. they laughed at me last year. Ive mounted an atv winch in the bed of my truck and have  a ramp that makes loading deer much easier and usually take along a atv to drag them. Its hell getting old pal!

[poncaguy]

I try to shoot my deer in Oklahoam pastures or wheat fields where I can drive my Ranger up to them, have an electric winch I load them with. 70  now, bad back and wrists so I can't lift them any more.
 
Going out now and shoot my Model 7 223 and 700 308..........beautiful day here  , 80 and no wind...........

[RevJim]

 I always thought this CDL SF model would really benefit from rechambering to the 280 Ackley Improved. I played with two 280's in my short lifetime. My first one was a Ruger 77 , back in '76 and it was the first rifle I ever handloaded for, with a Lee Classic Loader, ha. I made my longest shot on a buck that year, 276 long steps down a pipeline ROW, Hornady 139 SP over IMR 4831. I traded that rifle off for a Colt Python, which was later traded for one of the first Remington 700 Classics in .257 roberts, which later became a .257 Roberts Ackley Improved, my first wildcat.
 When I moved out here to Utah, I traded for a Mod 700 Mountain Rifle, and had it rechambered to the AI. I only gained 50fps out of that 22" barrel, ha. It was very finicky and only shot two bullets very well. The Nosler 150 Ballistic tip and the Speer 160sp HotCor. I used R22 for both but the data escapes me now. I liked the 280 AI, but it needs a longer barrel. I now use my 7mm08 as a .280's replacement. If I need speed, I go all the way to my 7mm RUM. Overall, the 280 is a real killer, and that CDLSF is one gorgeous rifle!