Kevin, just how BAD are your groups? I once bought a 30-06 that" wouldn't group inside an inch" according to the owner. I shot a couple deer with it at 100 to 150 yards. Another friend paid me what I had in it plus a small profit! Another club member was about to beat his Rem 700 against a steel pole because it was NOT giving him "decent" groups. I cooled him down and found I could pick the gun up by the trigger. We lightened it to about 3 pounds and he was happy with subsequent groups. IF your .280 still shoots factory into 3/4" and handloads into patterns, SOME thing is wrong! Damage to the crown, loose scope/ mounts or other things. With MY 7-30 contender, I was pushing the bullets to hard. Slowed to the velocity of the FACTORY stuff, it was a LOT better.