Author Topic: .280 rem.  (Read 766 times)

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Offline jeeper123_2000

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.280 rem.
« on: September 20, 2003, 05:41:39 PM »
Hi all. I'm new to this forum and hope you guys can help me. Can I fire form  .280 brass from 30-06 brass? I'm sure I can, but don't want to  blow myself up. Anyone have a suggestion for a load using Nosler ballistic tips. I bought a Tikka WH in .280 Rem today and don't have any brass yet.  Do I need to seat the bullet long to prevent neck seperation? Thanks for any and all feedback.
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Offline John Traveler

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.280 Remington
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2003, 06:17:26 PM »
Hi, Jeeper!

The .280 Remington/7mm Remington is basically the .30-06 case necked to take a 0.284" (7mm) bullet.  It is the ballistic twin of the .270 Winchester, but does not have it's established 70-something years of popularity.

Yes, you CAN size .30-06 cases to make .280 Remington cases, BUT with a condition:  

The .280 case is intentionally longer in the head-to-shoulder ("headspace") dimension than the .30-06 for safety reasons so it can't be chambered in a .270 W by mistake.

You need to do one of two things to make safe, useable once-fired brass from .30-06 cases:

1.  Expand the .30-06 case neck to the next larger size (8mm or .35 caliber) using an expander plug.  Full-length size to maximum .280 dimensions by carefully adjusting the sizing die in your press until the formed cases will barely chamber in your rifle.  Trim to length, deburr, and load.

2.  Full-length resize .30-06 cases to .280 maximum dimensions by carefully adjusting the sizing die in your press until the formed cases will barely chamber in your rifle.  Trim to length, deburr, and load.

USE STARTING LOADS ONLY (always refer to a standard loading manual for primer, bullet, and powder combinations).  Seat your bullet LONG so that when chambered, the bullet presses right up to the leede in the chamber throat.

MAKE SURE THESE ARE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM STARTING LOADS.  SEATING THE BULLET OUT WILL INCREASE CHAMBER PRESSURES.

Of the two methods, (1) is more work, but is much preferred, as it is safer.  Case form and load as described, and the case will be properly and safely supported for that first firing.

HTH
John
John Traveler

Offline jhm

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.280 rem.
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2003, 07:09:17 PM »
John T :  I was looking at the 270 / 280 / and the 30-06 cases and was wondering if it wouldnt be as easy to take the 270 cases out to the 280 size instead of the 06 down to the 280 cal, have you tried it as I am looking for a 280 in a way and had alot of the 270 better brass on hand.    :D    JIM

Offline Dave in WV

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.280 rem.
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2003, 03:10:47 AM »
As inexpensive as brass is why not wat until you can get 280 brass? Sounds like a lot of work. Dave
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Offline snuffy

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.270 to .280, nope
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2003, 04:45:48 AM »
Unless you can seat the bullet hard into the throat. Been there, tried that, had to pull 'em apart! In my Ruger .280, the throat is so **** long that I couldn't touch the rifling! As John T said, the 270 is shorter, so there's no shoulder to establish head space from.
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Offline jeeper123_2000

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.280 rem.
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2003, 05:21:00 AM »
Thanks for evervone's input. I just bought the rifle yesterday and wanted to break it in so that when I got the .280 brass i could work up some  loads and start testing. The gun shop where I bought the gun forgot to order the brass, it's on order now. He had the gun for four years and couldn't sell it, nobody wanted a .280. Its the first Tikka I've owned and I really am impressed with it. They should have made a staggerd clip to hold more than two shells, imo.
So many guns, so little time.

Offline Dave in WV

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.280 rem.
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2003, 06:19:05 AM »
jeeper, Tika sells a five round mag for your rifle. It will extend below the stock though. Good luck with your new rifle. The 280 is a good round. Dave
Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means
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Offline jhm

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.280 rem.
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2003, 08:48:35 AM »
Dave in WV :  It wasnt a cost issue it was mearly a question about size the measurements on all 3 are vary close, I have a set of dies but havent located a gun as yet and if I do was just wondering (what if I used) type of question as I have lotsa brass for 270 and 06. :D    JIM

Offline Dave in WV

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.280 rem.
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2003, 09:14:55 AM »
Jim, I guess I'm overly cautious. Using brass with a different head stamp can lead to problems. I know there are times it's a must. If you have lots of brass and don't have a 30-06 it's a no brainer. I have a 16 ga and a 12 ga shotgun. I buy red hulls for the 12 and green for the 16 so I don't have to make a trip back to the house because I picked up the wrong shells. BTW, with a new firearm I like to use factory ammo because if there's a problem my loads can't be blamed. After a box of so of ammo I switch to my loads. Dave :D
Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means
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Offline John Traveler

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making .280 Remington brass from .270 or .30-06
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2003, 12:09:05 PM »
Jhm,

Yes, you can use .270 Win brass as a starting point too.
However, the .270 and the .30-06 share the same head-to-shoulder cone dimension (same headspace dimension, in other words).

So, you STILL need to open up the neck to 8mm or .35 caliber as described, and then size down the case to position the .280 Remington shoulder.  Trim to length.  Firing with that first bullet seated out to touch the lands is important to prevent your new cases from getting head separations.

Yeah, I KNOW it's a lot of work, but that'w what needs to be done to get good .280 Rem cases.

John
John Traveler