.280 question

[fireman 108]

Hey Guy's prior to me looking up the spec's on line thought I would get some first hand info on the .280 I don't know too much about the calibre or ballistic's. I was hoping some of you seasoned shooters could share what you know about the rifle and it's use in the hunting community. Thanks Fireman 108

[mcwoodduck]

The short answer is it is a 30-06 necked to .284 (7mm)  Any standard lenght action can be used to make one.
When they first came out with it it was 7mm-06 then got a name change to 7mm Express, but that was confussed with the 7mm Rem Mag and 7X57 was also confussing the mix of 7mm's and later was finally kept to 280.
Neat round will do what 30-06 will do but with a slightly smaller in diameter bullet.
Some here will tell you to skip it and go 7mm Rem Mag instead, others will tell you to ditch it for the short action 7-08
Same arguements of 300 win mag / WSM Vs. 30-06 Vs. 308 all have their advantages, disadvantages, and supporters.
Why do you ask?

[kynardsj]

Good round that never really caught on. It's a 30-06 case necked down to a 7mm. It's little brother the 7mm-08 is a 308 brass necked down to 7mm and is very popular.

[flintlock]

My brother bought one back in the 80s...Has killed about 150 deer with it from NC to Texas to Canada...Great round...

[Graybeard]

It's a fat .270 Winchester. Uses .284" vs. .277" bullets. Set a .277" bullet beside a .284" bullet of same weight and it's darn hard to visually pick out which is which. They are peas in a pod.

[mcwoodduck]

Bill,
I thought for sure you were going to be one of the ones to tell it was a streached out 7mm-08 and to get it instead.

[Graybeard]

Well that is what I've always done even tho I've wanted a .280 for at least 35 years I guess I've never come closer to doing it than a 7-08 and .270 Win. I do have a set of dies and 100 new cases setting here just in case I ever break down and get one.

When Remington made the limited edition LSS in it a couple or three years back I bought the stuff and put a rifle on order. I never got the rifle but still have the dies/brass just in case. Perhaps some day I'll own one. Tho in reality if you have either one of the three there is no need for having the other two. But then what does NEED have to do with anything?

[mcwoodduck]

Need has nothing to do with it.
If it did we would have about 6 calibers and cases and that is about it.
Small game,
Varmints
Big game,
Large game,
dangerous game
Pistol.
And toss in shotgun.

[Graybeard]

I've got all those, multiples in fact except dangerous game. The best I can do there is a .30-06 or .44 mag. My shoulder just won't take more recoil. Heck I've even stopped shooting the 12 gauge shotguns I have.

[mcwoodduck]

Sorry.
If you need anything dangerous stopped.
Call I have a 375H&H.  or get Altlaw to show up with his 45-120.  He is closer.
I was going to make a wise butt remark but if you go get the surgury done now one will need to shoot the guns for you.
But now we are way off topic of the 280.

[billy_56081]

I believe looking at cartridge drawings that the 280 rem has a slighley different shoulder than the 270 or 3006, otherwise it is just a 3006 necked down to .284. THere is a great selection of bullets for it around. Very high BC in the bullet selection.

[fireman 108]

I think my other posts made it if not I've got a set of dies and was think about getting another rifle .280 will take just about any animal in North America!!!

[jasonprox700]

I believe looking at cartridge drawings that the 280 rem has a slighley different shoulder than the 270 or 3006, otherwise it is just a 3006 necked down to .284. THere is a great selection of bullets for it around. Very high BC in the bullet selection.

Due to the different shoulder, the .280 has slightly more case capacity than the .270 or .30-06.  This equals slightly higher velocities.  I think the .280 is the best of both worlds when comparing the .270 or the .30-06.  It has more energy than the .270, and shoots flatter than the .30-06.  With the .280, you can load up to a 175gr bullet.  Some say, well with the .30-06 you can load 200gr and more.  But I say, what will the 200 grain due that the 180 doesn't?  

I am partial to the .280 because I own one, but it is a very versatile round.  I say as versatile as the .30-06.  You can load the .30-06 heavier, but why?  I've read reports that once you get over 180 gr bullets, the velocities start to drop off enough that you get unreliable expansion.  

The thing that the 06 has going for it, is factory ammo.  You can pretty much by it anywhere.  Not so much with the .280.  I think the .280 really shines with hand loaded ammo.

[Coyote Hunter]

Fireman –

The .280 Rem is a great round.  One advantage it has over the .270 Win is the bullet selection is better, especially if you’re looking for a long range rifle (thinking Berger bullets here).  It can also handle bullets up to 175-180g.  It is best as a handloader’s cartridge as factory ammo is less common than the .270 Win or .30-06 in terms of availability and selection.

If I had one I would use it on everything up to elk and maybe moose, just like I would my 7mm RM.