Author Topic: .280 in NEF (Read 1450 times)

RussB · « **on:** September 18, 2004, 03:03:23 AM »

I've been looking through the archives trying to find an answer to my question but I haven't had much luck. Maybe someone can help.

My son in law just sent one of the grandkids rifles back to the factory and had a .280 barrel installed. (he had a 30-30 on a SB2 prior to this) As it turns out, my grandson is complaining about the weight.
The rifle weighs in at 9lb. 4oz. w/scope and is, in all honesty, a bit on the heavy side for a 13 year old. Although I'm sure the weight is benefical to the kid in regards to recoil, the kid doesn't want to hunt with it because of the weight.
I have an SB2 with a 45-70 bbl. and my son-in-law said he would let me have that barrel, (the.280) if I was interested. I like the .280 and will snatch it up as soon as I can.
However, I started wondering if there was any possibility of encountering any problems with pressures since my rifle came originally as a 45-70, and the SB2 receivers appear identical.

Also, I don't see many threads on the .280. Has it somehow fallen from grace, with no following lately? It would appear the .280 NEF, with it's 26" bbl would be a caliber of choice for those needing the power and range of a 7mm bullet.
Any thoughts on this? Actually a two part question, but any information would be appreciated.
Respectfully, Russ

MSP Ret · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2004, 03:34:26 AM »

RussB, nice to see your name up here again. The .280 is a fantastic hunting caliber and your right, the .280 and the 26" barrel make a wonderful long range gun. Regarding the .280 barrel on the 45/70 receiver, it all depends when the receiver was made. Check with H&R customer service and ask them if they would put a .280 barrel on your receiver (by serial number), that should answer your question. I would not suggest you tell them you are going to fit it yourself, they don't like that, but if you do, just tell them since the big price increase of the new "fitting fee" many are doing it, also tell them that instead of guys just sending in and buying new barrels from them they are losing sales to customers buying and exchanging used barrels and fitting them on their guns themselves. I think to company "shot themselves in the foot" with the added "fitting charge". The guns are still a pretty good deal but getting additional barrels is a bit more pricey than it was. Overall if they were going to have to increase the price of the initial purchase of the gun or of the price of addittional barrels I for one am glad they increased to price of the addittional barrels, and left the cost of the guns low...<><.... :grin:

safetysheriff · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2004, 05:31:48 AM »

No offense, but somebody should put the grandson's .30/30 barrel back on the rifle to limit the recoil and still provide a (potentially) very accurate cartridge, a breeze to handload, and cheap to buy from the factory. It would also be of reasonable weight. It could be chopped to 18" for length and still be a deer killer.....with a good crown put on the muzzle, of course. The balance with the shorter barrel would be even better, I'd think.

Sure, it's easy for me to say put the .30/30 back on and quit playing with a good rifle, but that's exactly what I'd do for a 13-year old who finds a rifle too heavy. Teaching him to handload a .30/30 would also help him learn one of the best hobbies on this planet, (since he's too young for #1 which is "chasing momma!") and it would be a life-long lesson to him about how his schooling in arithmetic and reading have now opened up the study of a hobby to him. He'd hopefully appreciate the ability to use his schooling from this.

Take care. :wink:

buckslayer · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2004, 12:03:05 PM »

take the steel bar out of the butt-stock. it weighs about a pound and 3/4.

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2004, 01:23:29 PM »

RussB; I think you will love the 280,and it will be your favorite barrel soon enough. It is heavy (more like a varmit weight) but its more fun to shoot that way. I was totallly amazed when I ran the Rem. 150 corlokts through the chrono at 2975 fps. and 1.25" groups at 100 yds. Its prety close to my 24" 7 mag. BAR Browning in velocity. Digger

Donaldo · « **Reply #5 on:** September 18, 2004, 05:28:37 PM »

Well there is no doubt the 280 is one of the best rounds ever concieved. Right in there with the 270 but a bit more powerful. However, I agree with the sheriff, for the grandkid, why not put the 30-30 barrel back on it. It is plenty of grunt for deer. Probably more deer taken with 30-30 than any other round. A lot of these young kids are sensitive to recoil, as well as a bunch of older folks.

Duce · « **Reply #6 on:** September 19, 2004, 04:08:39 AM »

RussB: I agree that the .280 barrel is one honkin big piece of iron to carry around. Any SB2 action should handle the pressure, but if you fit it yourself, your pretty much on your own.
SafetySherrif had the best idea, put that 30/30 barrel back on your grandson's rifle. If you'll do a search there should be plenty of reloading info that peps it up quite a bit, you can use spitzer bullets, you're not limited by a tube magazine.
Shoot I've been trying to find a 30/30 nef used for about 3 years.
Good Luck:

Duce:

RussB · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2004, 04:46:10 AM »

Good morning Folks,
I guess I should have explained the situation a bit better. My grandson's rifle in 30-30 is just fine. He does reload, and he reloads "spitzer" bullets in the 30-30, with some that are ballistically equivalent to the .308. However, he drew his first Elk hunt this year, a "cow" in the Umtanum area of Eastern Washington. Both his dad and I thought a .280 would have been a more appropriate caliber for Elk.
As many of you know, hunting Elk ain't no picnic. You are going to be walking in some really rough terrain that is quite steep, and makes for some real tough going, even for an adult.
There's plenty of Elk rifles in my own gun safe, one particular SAKO in .338 is actually almost a pound lighter, but the recoil is quite substantial...even for me. Neither my son-in-law, or my self, had any clue the .280 bbl was in a "varmint" configuration (probably close to a #5 sporter) and was as heavy as it is. And we were not thoughtful enough to ask the question before getting the barrel.....it's our own fault.
It seems, at this point, my grandson will be hunting with his own rifle in 30-30 loaded with 165gr noslers. Not only is he familiar with this gun, it handles quite nicely for a youngster his age.
This .280 barrel is EXACTLY what I want as an addition to my own NEF, now that I've seen it......that is, if it will fit okay without having to go back to the factory! I guess that was really the meat of my question. Will the SB2, originally barrelled for a 45-70 be ok for the .280???? We'll see.
Thanks for the responses.
Respectfully, Russ

Sorry, Umtanum is in Eastern WA, Not Western WA.

RussB · « **Reply #8 on:** September 19, 2004, 04:55:51 AM »

Quote from: Duce

RussB: I agree that the .280 barrel is one honkin big piece of iron to carry around. Any SB2 action should handle the pressure, but if you fit it yourself, your pretty much on your own.
SafetySherrif had the best idea, put that 30/30 barrel back on your grandson's rifle. If you'll do a search there should be plenty of reloading info that peps it up quite a bit, you can use spitzer bullets, you're not limited by a tube magazine.
Shoot I've been trying to find a 30/30 nef used for about 3 years.
Good Luck: :D Duce:

Thanks Duce....I didn't see your post. We must have been "talking" at the same time. :lol:

I think both you fellers are right, and I just might go to the factory for that .280 bbl. After seeing it, I just gotta have it type thing. Know what I mean?
Respectfully, Russ

Mitch in MI · « **Reply #9 on:** September 19, 2004, 07:19:08 AM »

Russ, if your barrel will latch solidly on the kid's frame and his 280 barrel will latch on yours, I'd consider the two guns interchangeable. I have one such pair among my four SB2 frames.
Fortunately, the .223 barrel I bought from BBF seems to be a match for them, so I now have three barrels I can put on those two frames.
I've been thinking about buying a 17HMR and seeing if its barrel will fit one of my SB2 frames, but the cost of .17 hornet dies is holding me back, and I do not want a 17 Remington, especially with just a 22" barrel.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #10 on:** September 19, 2004, 07:46:43 AM »

Mitch in MI, I realize you don't like police but perhaps this ex-cop can be of some assistance to you. Your mention of thinking of buying a .17 HMR barrel and seeing if it would fit on one of your SB2 frames is not feasible. The SB2 frames are centerfire and the .17 HMR you speak of is a rimfire. Also you cannot reload rimfire .17 HMR's with .17 Hornet dies. I do hope you accept this bit of friendly advice from an "a* hole" retired cop in the light it was intended, to help....<><.... :grin:

Mitch in MI · « **Reply #11 on:** September 19, 2004, 11:20:54 AM »

MSP, this week's politics aside, (and I really wish you hadn't drawn them into this thread), you've been among my ten favorite people here for quite some time. You also should remember that I like to rechamber barrels, and I believe I've mentioned a few times that I'd like to get my hands on a HMR barrel to make a k-hornet or Mach 4 from.
And when you say who I do or don't like, it shows that you don't really know who I don't like.

Mohawk · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2004, 10:27:19 PM »

I have a SB2 Limited Edition in .280 Remington. Recently went on a hog hunt and that gun harvested 4 hogs, cleanly. All shots were through and through and I could not have been happier. :grin:

Rogmatt · « **Reply #13 on:** September 22, 2004, 01:25:40 AM »

Please forgive my ignorance, as I am more of a shotgun guy than centerfire rifle. How is the 280 superior to the 270 when they seem almost identical in cartridge and bullet grain? What gives it longer range?
Thanks for any replies.

etothepii · « **Reply #14 on:** September 22, 2004, 02:46:48 AM »

Found this info about .270 and .280 on Chuck Hawks' site:

Ballistics
Cartridge       (Wb + type)    MV (fps)    V @ 200 yds    ME (ft lb)    E @ 200 yds
.270 Win.    (130 Sp)       3060       2639       2702       2009
.270 Win.    (150 Sp)       2850       2183       2705       1587
.280 Rem.    (140 Sp)       3000       2528       2797      1986

Trajectory
Cartridge    (Wb@MV)    Bullet BC    100 yds.       200 yds.    MRT@yds.    MPBR (yds.)
.270 Win. (130 Sp at 3140)    .416       +2.5"       +2.4"       3"@150       305
.270 Win. (150 Sp at 2900)    .481       +2.6"       +2.0"       3"@138      287
.280 Rem. (140 BT at 3000)    .485       +2.6"       +2.2"       3"@150       298

Sorry if it's hard to read, but it didn't cut and paste too well.

Rogmatt · « **Reply #15 on:** September 22, 2004, 04:02:31 AM »

It looks to me that if you put a 140 Gr. bullet in 270 cartridge you have the same thing as 280. The 280 140 gr is just a 270 in 140 Gr.

handirifle · « **Reply #16 on:** September 22, 2004, 09:49:23 AM »

Me and two buddies are going elk hunting next month. I have a 30-06 and they bith have 270's. On buddy was acting like the 30-06 wasn't flat enough for elk?

??

They got one last year at about 100yds. I asked how flat he needed it? He said like the 270.

I laghed and said OK, let's go to the Remington ballistics site and see what factory loads are like.

Depending on what bullet you choose they are virtually IDENTICAL in trajectory, with the 30-06 having more energy in almost all cases out to 300yds.

With that I said the 270's advantage comes at 400 and beyond. I said it he want to go after deer at 400 be my guest. I did say don't use either on an elk that far out. I have no dreams of chasing a wounded elk all over New Mex.

These three are so close it's laughable to me. Is it any wonder the 30-06 is one of the all time top sellers in ammo?

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #17 on:** September 22, 2004, 10:27:42 AM »

What makes the 280 superior over the 270 is the 22" 270 or the 26" 280 with probably about 200 fps faster with the same weight bullet. The 280's case it longer in the body by .050 according to one book I read so it would not chamber in the 270. A little more case capacity,and a longer barrel makes the 280 the winner in my case. Digger