.280 vs 7mm mag

[redfox33]

Help me out here.  I shoot left handed so my options were limited and I was looking for a bolt action 7 mag(in an a bolt stalker).  I came across a used .280 in a Browning a bolt stalker that was produced in 1991(looks very clean).  On paper the ballistics look almost identical so now I'm torn.  Finding ammo wouldn't be a problem, so that's not an issue.  I want it for my primary deer rifle and hopefully for an elk trip west and Canadien whitetail trip in the future.  Thanks.

[Val]

I have a 280 Remington and it's a great round. You lose about 400 fps over the 7mm mag but the recoil is significantly less. It's probably one of the most underrated calibers out there. I use mine to drop deer and pigs with the 140 grain Nosler accubonds. Mine is in a Remy 700 Mountain rifle and I'm getting three shot .75" groups with it. I haven't chronographed the load yet but I'm getting an estimated 2800 fps with IMR 4350 powder. I would highly recommend the 280 Remington for a big game rifle.

[azmike]

I am also a lefty, and went with the magnum in part because I couldn't find a .280, in part because my dad had one too.  We were handloaders then, and noticed that the case life of the 7mm magnum was shorter then the 30-06's we were also using (all loaded near max, using Sierra manual data).  That may be a factor in your decision if you reload, as the .280 is a necked down '06, the case life should be similar.  IMO the .280 is more efficient as well.  The magnum burns a lot of powder.

Currently looking to replace my 7 mag with a 7mm-08 for general purpose deer/bear/elk at under 300 yards.  The 7mm-08 is a little slower than the .280, but it can still do the trick, plus, there seem to be more options for lefties in this caliber (I'm probably going with a T/C Encore, but I'll probably end up with a bolt action also).

Between the two calibers you mentioned, I'd get the .280. 

[Drilling Man]

  I'm left handed too.  For my lite mountain rifle, i chose the 7 express Remington cartridge...  (.280 Rem.)  I built it on a L.H. 700 Rem. action useing a Douglas premium feather weight bbl...

  It really shoots well, and i've harvested a lot of white, and blk. tailed deer, also caribou ect.. too...  For the most part i handload 145 Speers in it.

  The big advantage the 7 mag. has over the .280 is, it will push 175 grain bullets quite a bit faster for the biggest game.

  Drilling Man

[longwinters]

I have had all 3 of for mentioned calibers.  I love shooting the 7m-08, easy to load for, light recoil, accurate and IMHO the perfect deer rifle.  The 280 is also quite light in the recoil dept and a very accurate caliber.  To get the best out of it you will probably need to reload.  The 7mm was the one I got rid of.  Heavier rifle, much more recoil and kind of picky as to what I shot out of it.  Two of these rifles were Sako's and one ( 7m-08) a Browning Stainless Stalker.

I would go with the 280 for myself, if I had to pick one.  But only if I reloaded.

Long

[Coyote Hunter]

redfox33 –
I’ve been hunting Colorado’s elk for 25 years and have used a 7mm Rem Mag for all but the last two (when I used a .45-70 and .300 Win Mag).  You give up about 200fs with a .280 but even then you can push a bullet as fast (or faster) as I have been with my 7mm handloads.


Guess what I’m saying is there isn’t enough difference to worry about – either will take elk very reliably at range well beyond where most elk are taken.

[roper]

I've never shot an elk with a 280 but have with a 7Wby and 7mag and I later when to a 30cal mag.    You will give up 300fps  depending on how you reload the 280 vs the 7mag.  Don't get me wrong the 280 will take elk.   I shot a 7mm Express(280) for a number of years .  Val posted he was thinking 2800fps might be 2900fps if the barrel was longer with a 140gr bullet my 7mag get 3200fps plus with a full load of IMR-4350 which is appr 10gr more than the 280 uses so your not really comparing apples and apples and there is no way you can get around that case capacity difference.    With good powders like R-19 and R-22 and some of the others I had a 280AI build and might use that for a elk hunt this year.  I like both calibers and they keep trying to kill off the 280 but cann't get it done and heard that Nosler is going to start making cases for the 280AI.  Only difference to me once cases are bought is the amount of recoil and extra powder for the 7mag both should shoot pretty good and if you do alot of range work the 280 be better as to recoil.  Just my .02

[gldprimr]

I've used both a 7mm Rem mag and a 280 for deer hunting.  I much preferred the 280.  I did not have any trouble getting a chronographed 3000 fps muzzle velocity with 140 gr bullet in the 280.  I'm currently using a 7mm-08 as a house fire took the 280 (along with everything else) and haven't noticed that the deer are any less dead with the 7mm-08.  I also believe that it helps to be a reloader to get t he best out of your 280.  FWIW I'd get the 280, but that is just my choice.

[handirifle]

For a short time I had a Handirifle in 280 Rem.  Their version is a 26" barrel, and it's still shorter than many 24" bolt guns about the same as a 22" bolt gun.

I reloaded for it with 140gr bullets, well below top pressures and got 3100 from it regularly.  Never tried heavier bullets in it.

Very mild recoil from those loads.  Less than my '06.