.280 rem

C

CamV

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Smithers, BC
I've been thinking about selling off some rifles and going with one rifle instead. What are your thoughts on .280 rem? Why should(n't) I go with it?
Is this the excuse I need to start reloading?
Any thoughts from you guys that own or have owned one?
What are the current offerings of .280?
What would you recommend and why?
Anything to stay away from?

I would be using it on coyotes wolves black bear possibly mule deer whitetails and even moose. Also I'd like to become more proficient in the long range target game
Again any reason why not?
Thoughts?
 
It is an excellent cartridge with an excellent choice of bullets if you reload. It is capable for all of your North American hunting. If you want to shoot factory ammo there are better cartridges. The 7mm Remington Magnum being one of them... it is also the most popular Magnum cartridge in North America as well.
 
Great cartridge. But look at the 270 Winchester too, it makes more sense if you're shooting factory ammo and factory rifle selection is much better. or 7mm Rem Mag
 
guntech said:
It is an excellent cartridge with an excellent choice of bullets if you reload. It is capable for all of your North American hunting. If you want to shoot factory ammo there are better cartridges. The 7mm Remington Magnum being one of them... it is also the most popular Magnum cartridge in North America as well.
Click to expand...

Interestingly Dennis, my first trip to Alaska, I entered several gun shops expecting to see 375's and 338's of all types and descriptions,,wow was I surprised when I found that 90% of the rifles in any shop I entered were chambered in 7mm Rem Mag,,,the odd 30-06, but almost all in 7mm
 
I say go for the 280 if you reload as you will need to most likely at some point, only a few hundred FPS behind the 7RM, you get more in the mag (5 vs 3) and bullet range from 90gr-180gr.
If you aren't going to reload go for the 7RM or the whimpy 270Win. Every shop has that in stock.
 
Agree on a few points here.

First, the 280 is "cool" - seriously though, it's less common and I personally like things that are less common.

It's a 30.06 that shoots a 7 mm bullet - what's not to like about that? And unlike the 7.08, nobody calls the 280 a woman/youth gun (I don't care, I shoot a 7.08 and love it).

And as far as what rifle? I would go with a Browning X-Bolt. They chamber it in the Hunter model if you prefer wood or in the Stalker and Stalker stainless if you want plastic. Top that off with a decent scope and you would never need another rifle :)

But yes, you are better off reloading for the 280. The "off the shelf" ammo options are limited and scarce.
 
todbartell said:
Great cartridge. But look at the 270 Winchester too, it makes more sense if you're shooting factory ammo and factory rifle selection is much better. or 7mm Rem Mag
Click to expand...

The strange little man has a very valid point. But if you want to start handloading the 280 is a great reason to do so. Just be aware of the limitations of finding a factory rifle in 280. There aren't lying around everywhere.
 
galamb said:
Agree on a few points here.

First, the 280 is "cool" - seriously though, it's less common and I personally like things that are less common.

It's a 30.06 that shoots a 7 mm bullet - what's not to like about that? And unlike the 7.08, nobody calls the 280 a woman/youth gun (I don't care, I shoot a 7.08 and love it).

And as far as what rifle? I would go with a Browning X-Bolt. They chamber it in the Hunter model if you prefer wood or in the Stalker and Stalker stainless if you want plastic. Top that off with a decent scope and you would never need another rifle :)

But yes, you are better off reloading for the 280. The "off the shelf" ammo options are limited and scarce.
Click to expand...

You forgot "men of weak constitution". ;)
 
I've noticed a lot of shops have rifles in 7mm mag down here, too. When everything else is sold out, there seems to be one or two in 7mm. I take that as a sign of unpopularity, not popularity.
 
CamV said:
I've been thinking about selling off some rifles and going with one rifle instead. What are your thoughts on .280 rem? Why should(n't) I go with it?
Is this the excuse I need to start reloading?
Any thoughts from you guys that own or have owned one?
What are the current offerings of .280?
What would you recommend and why?
Anything to stay away from?

I would be using it on coyotes wolves black bear possibly mule deer whitetails and even moose. Also I'd like to become more proficient in the long range target game
Again any reason why not?
Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I have had a Remington 700 SS 280 since '98 and it is my go to rifle. I reload the Barnes 140 grain TTSX to 3000 fps.
It makes reloading virtually mandatory as you will find very little offerings in gun stores.
Until you are committed to reloading check the availability of loaded ammo at your LGS.
The most commonly stocked is 30-06, 270 and 7mm Rem. Mag . . . so I would concur with guntech.
 
CamV said:
I've been thinking about selling off some rifles and going with one rifle instead. What are your thoughts on .280 rem? Why should(n't) I go with it?
Is this the excuse I need to start reloading?
Any thoughts from you guys that own or have owned one?
What are the current offerings of .280?
What would you recommend and why?
Anything to stay away from?

I would be using it on coyotes wolves black bear possibly mule deer whitetails and even moose. Also I'd like to become more proficient in the long range target game
Again any reason why not?
Thoughts?
Click to expand...

All things considered, for a 50 fps and under 100 fpe advantage the .280 makes less sense than .270, and majorly so if you ever want to buy factory ammo, but if you're one of those kids that needs tassels on his handlebars to be cooler have at er.

Handloading? One of the best bullets for both, IMO, is a Nosler 140 gr Accubond. 56 grains of 4831 will get you to ballpark 3070 fps at the muzzle with a .280. 57 grains of 4831 gets you to 3000 fps mv in a .270.

Buutttt... at 300 yards that .280 bullet will hit a 1/4" higher, be traveling 30 fps faster, and carry a whopping 46 more fp of energy. Outstanding.

If I sound a tad sarcastic here it's for a reason.

Flip a coin if you like? Thats how much difference there are between the 2 calibers but there's always that internet cool factor.
 
Bartledan said:
I've noticed a lot of shops have rifles in 7mm mag down here, too. When everything else is sold out, there seems to be one or two in 7mm. I take that as a sign of unpopularity, not popularity.
Click to expand...

Not long after it was introduced in 1962 it took off and became the most popular Magnum cartridge in North America, knocked the .264 Winchester on it's butt (Never has recovered although it is an excellent round) and I think it continues on to this day. The 7mm Rem mag is even popular on plains animals in Africa. I think the .300 Weatherby Magnum may have been the most popular before the 7mm.
 
I have both the 270 and 280, I hand load for both and like both.
The 280 is more versatile, it has a wider range of bullets available and has better penetration on large game with the 175's and better ballistics for 7mm bullets.
It gives up nothing to the 270.
You will only ever shoot one or two bullet weights for hunting, I have chosen the 150 Partition and have had great results on deer.
It is a hard decision, it will come down to the rifle choises.
bb
 
Hitzy said:
I say go for the 280 if you reload as you will need to most likely at some point, only a few hundred FPS behind the 7RM, you get more in the mag (5 vs 3) and bullet range from 90gr-180gr
Click to expand...

With the right loads the 280 hardly lags behind the 7mm Rem Mag by very much.

280 Rem 700 22.5” barrel

140gr Barnes TSX @ 3.267”

Alliant Reloader 26 / F210M
59.6 - 2956
60.3 -2974
60.9 - 2959
61.6 -3001
62.2 - 3040
62.9 - 3094
63.5 - 3141
64.2 - 3152
64.9 – 3218


Apples to apples the 280 vs 7mm Rem Mag in 24" barrels. 85 fps difference with about 8grs powder

Code: 
Cartridge          : .280 Rem
Bullet             : .284, 160, Nosler PART SP 16327
Useable Case Capaci: 64.677 grain H2O = 4.199 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 62000 psi, or 427 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 103 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

22 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 85%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant RL26                       100.6     64.5     4.18    3047   100.0    62000   12631   1.167  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828ssc                        101.9     62.4     4.04    3006    98.7    62000   12695   1.150  ! Near Maximum !
AA MagPro                          103.0     65.3     4.23    2992    97.0    60926   13142   1.176  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL22                       103.0     62.1     4.02    2981    99.4    61087   12572   1.174  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum                     103.0     66.9     4.33    2968    99.7    61322   12043   1.163  ! Near Maximum !

Code: 
Cartridge          : 7 mm Rem Mag
Bullet             : .284, 160, Nosler PART SP 16327
Useable Case Capaci: 77.718 grain H2O = 5.046 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.290 inch = 83.57 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 62000 psi, or 427 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 103 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

34 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 85%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant RL26                        93.5     72.0     4.67    3097   100.0    62000   13886   1.202  ! Near Maximum !
AA MagPro                           96.8     73.8     4.78    3088    98.5    62000   14787   1.193  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828ssc                         95.5     70.3     4.55    3087    99.6    62000   14181   1.174  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828                           101.0     70.3     4.55    3087    99.6    62000   14181   1.174  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL25                       102.3     72.9     4.72    3087   100.0    62000   13548   1.184  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL22                        96.8     70.1     4.54    3067    99.9    62000   13974   1.191  ! Near Maximum !
 
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