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280 Remington?

15K views 56 replies 11 participants last post by  Hookeye 
#1 ·
Was recently reading an article comparing the 270 Winchester to the 7mm Remington Magnum. Both good guns, long history.

( - https://www.fieldandstream.com/story/blogs/gun-nut/the-270-winchester-vs-the-7mm-remington-magnum/ )

My thought was, why not just 'split the difference' and get a 280 Remington?

Anybody shoot one?

I had an old Remington 742 in this caliber, accurate enough but even with small base dies I just couldn't get reloads to work in it reliably. Gave it to a friend with the advice to use factory loads only. Probably rusting away in his basement...
 
#2 ·
Not a fan of any caliber that the company renamed it 3 times, to generate sales. haha.
I think the .30-'06 is a masterpiece.....& so anything based on that cartridge case is automatically a winner for me......30-'06, .270, .25-'06......
so even though I don't see THE NEED for the .280 or .284 line of calibers, I can see if you want a big semi-auto or pump rifle, you might want the Remington action in this .280 caliber.
I've never owned a .280 but I shot a friend's gun in the 742, and it was barely ok for accuracy, more like 3 inch groups at 100 yards off bags with a good scope, with factory ammo. not good, but an ok rifle for running coyotes, since that's a hope & a prayer anyway. owner was a hounds-coyote-hunter, so he was used to spraying the hillside down with lead and bad hits.
If I wanted a semi auto in a fairly large caliber I'd probably buy a .308.
 
#3 ·
Steve, I suspect that in a good tuned bolt action, with good loads, it could be somebody's one do-it-all gun. 140's for deer, 160's for bigger game.

I owned that 742 because it was cheap and a friend needed money. A couple guys borrowed it over the years and killed deer with it, so no complaints there.

I'm not actively shopping for one, but...
 
#4 ·
I owned one of the original Remington 700s when they brought out the 7mm-06 designation. I've owned several .280s since. I wanted to love the caliber for the reasons you mentioned above but the .270 has done everything I need and more. With hand loaded Nosler Partitions I watched it drop a moose in Canada (the Indian guide borrowed the gun). With soft point bullets I've had deer go a few feet but every deer I shot with it using 130 Remington Bronze Points, and it's quite a few, dropped like hit with a sledge hammer.

The 280 on paper seems to have it all but in practice it wasn't enough to warrant a change.
 
#5 ·
The .280 is simply another offspring of the venerable .30-06 case. Unfortunately for the .280, the .270 was introduced 30 years earlier and became a huge success with shooters, thanks in no small part to highly respected gun writer, Jack O'Connor.

Despite Remington's best efforts to re-brand the .280, it could never get out from behind the .270's shadow. I've killed a few deer with the 7mm Rem Mag and don't see why the .280, which uses the same .284 diameter bullets, wouldn't be just as effective on deer and elk sized game as the .277 offerings. I have to wonder if Jack O'Connor been using a .280 for 30 years before the introduction of the .270, would the roles have been reversed? Very possible.

As Phil said: "The 280 on paper seems to have it all but in practice it wasn't enough to warrant a change." Perfect summary.
 
#6 ·
Well, I certainly wouldn't advocate 'changing' from 30-'06, or 270 (or 308 or whatever you have on hand) but if a young fella was looking for one do-it-all rifle it might be a good choice. Especially if there was a good one on the 'used' rack at a local gun shop.

I'm happy enough with my little 7-08 carbine (Rem. Model 7) but on a recent hunt longer shots were possible than I ever faced locally. A heavier gun, with a 22 inch barrel, would have been a nice thing to have at hand.

(And no, not really interested in joining the church of 6.5 Creedmoor ;-) )
 
#7 ·
my boy's boss just called me the other day asking advice on his ordered 6.5 creedmore. actually it was more regarding scoping it, but we talked bullets some too.
Rem model SEVEN is an awesome little rifle, and I love the 7-08 caliber too.
I had a SEVEN in .222 for 2 years, a great little walking coyote / calling gun.
so light. wish I still had it.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Had it 33 years now, half my life! Still a little sweetie, but a mans eye will roam ;-)

There is actually a 7mm based on the 30 TC case - the parent of the 6.5 Creedmoor. It's the 7mm GPC. Could be a reloader's dream.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7mm_GPC

But I'd probably opt for a 'factory' cartridge, if I were looking...

Dang, now I 'need' to visit the local gun shop and roam the aisles.
 
#9 ·
I LIKE your 7-08 caliber, as I can make cases for it from .308 LAPUA cases.
Same for my Dad's old model 70 in .243.
I had a 7-08 in a Rem 700 for a short period of time, sold it, feeling I don't need anything that large, at the time, kind of a foolish thought process, eh?
I have quite a supply of old NORMA cases for my .220Swift, and they are good cases as well.
I have a lifetime supply of Lapua and Norma cases for my old .222, too, so - - guessing I probably need to find a model Seven in .260 or 7-08 or .308 to feel like I have it all covered, haha.
 
#10 ·
I'm going to keep my eyes open for a Model 700 in 260 Remington. With a 22 inch barrel and ballistics that slightly improve on the 6.5 Creedmoor, could be the berries. And with all these guys chasing the 6.5 CM it could be a bargain.

(You can make 7-08 cases from any of the 308 'family' but the neck on the 7-08 is a bit longer and brass oal is as well. I don't bother...)
 
#11 ·
If not going to the higher BC stuff the 7mm bullets offer, then there's no reason to go to one.

Since most folks shoot critters under 300 yards, the advantage may not be needed/noticed.

Just something to kick around the campfire.

The .270 got a ton of press from Oconner. That stuff still lives on.
A guy blasting woodland 8 pointers inside of 100 yards with one...........can make all the claims he wants.

Hard to argue with success.

But, success at that distance proly could be had with anything.

I had a 7 mag, BDL. Nice rifle (think '76 vintage). Nothing spectacular, nothing bad either. 160 grainers at max. Comfy.

More comfy than the .300 Winmag I replaced it with.
 
#12 ·
Hookeye, did you read the article linked in the OP? I like it but feel it leaves out this under-rated 'compromise'.

Many of us don't shoot long range, so discussions of 'the best 400 yard caliber' leave us cold, but versatility matters. I'd shoot a bear with my 'little' 7-08 but only with a 'super' bullet, at modest range. 154 grains would probably be my upper limit. (For deer I can concoct a 120 grain load that doesn't kick much.)

A 280 would give me an edge going up in bullet weight, but not down. Which would matter for bears at close range, or elk for instance, further out.

Then again, if I lived in elk country I'd have an elk rifle in the safe already ;-)

Anyway, it's all an excuse to wander around the gun shop looking for bargains!
 
#13 ·
I guess we could argue which is better - one 'versatile' rifle, or a safe full of guns optimized towards particular applications. Or somewhere in between?

The 30-'06 has long been touted as a great all-around rifle, for it's ability to shoot wide range of available bullets.

(And who among us only shoots one bow?)
 
#14 ·
If I wanted a comfy long action bolt rig for deer, I'd just get a .25-06.
Would work for yotes and chucks too.

If wanting something for deer or bigger, and not shooting far (300 and under).........just get a .30-06.

Think just about anything works under 300 LOL.

I have a .243 win 700 for varmints.
My .35 rem 760 is a magic wand in the deer woods.
And a boring .30-06 in plastic stock is for deer or bigger.

Nothing fancy. Boring.

But if a nice Ruger #1B in .25-06 comes along.........
 
#16 ·
Yeah, those single shot Rugers ain't easy to find, or cheap when you do.

I've been checking out used rifles on 'Gun Broker' and there are a lot of nice 270's and 30-'06's to be had at bargain prices. Not sure if that's just because of the long time popularity of those rounds or if folks are switching to short action rounds like the 6.5 Creedmoor. Maybe both.

For an 'Eastern' dude the 270 makes a good deer and maybe-elk-someday choice ;-)
 
#17 ·
The 6.5 CM was the new wonder bullet and it is bow being replaced by the 6 CM. Why not a .243 with heavier bullets? 115 or 120 would be a good pill if the rifling was correct. The .260 makes more sense to me over the 6.5 CM. Cheaper brass if nothing else. I currently use .270, it’s what Dad used. For semi autos I just started playing with the 6.5 Grendel. Nice soft shooter out of the ar platform rifles. Similar ballistics to the .308 out to 800 or more yards. For the heavy stuff I have a .45-70. Nothing like a big 405 grain bullet to ruin somethings day.
 
#20 ·
The 280 and the 270 are essentially the same cartridge. The difference in diameter isnt even a whole .01 unlike the name suggests. The .280 has a tiny bit more powder capacity which nice but the difference is small.


Ive shot deer with a several caliber and have "autopsied" many that family members shot.

My take away is that pretty much everything from a 30-30 up is works good enough to kill deer. But if you really want deer to drop fast use a use a high power and fast built at under 125 or so yards.

I have had the best results with 270 shooting 130 grain bullets and shot that as my main for 20 years. But Im sure a 30-06 or hand loaded 308 shooting 130 grains would be just as good as long as you have a slow enough twist rate.

Lately I have been using a Sav 99 in 308 and it its killed every deer I have shot at but they dont all fall right down.

From what I understand its a form of hydro static shock - hitting in the neck or chest cavity tends to give the deer a concussion by means of a pressure that travels through the aortic artery. But the effect seems to require a lot of power and speed - meaning a cartridge thats considered long range being used up close.

The only caliber I have used and would not recommend is a .357 mag rifle. You can make a more or less perfect shot and end up tracking the deer half a mile. you can make a shot that always works with a 308 or similar gun and never get the deer.
 
#21 ·
IIRC .....hydrostatic shock is just fluid pressure wave. Tears up tissue.
The blood vessel specific type hyped years ago was "hydraulic shock".

Funny, my buddy hunts w a .357 magnum rifle, w hot 180 gr handloads.
Shots are pinpoint due to low recoil. He shoots em in the neck and is 12 for 12.

However, he doesn't take movers or shoot past 100.

Another runs a .270 win. He likes 150's and goes for the boiler room. His deer go a ways, 50 yards or so. But they are dead at the end. Don't seem too torn up either.

He and I both think for 150 yards and in, there's a better choice. Less blast, tolerable recoil.........35 rem. Think we have about 10 deer dead w that round, 75 yards or less tracking.

His 154" net 9 pointer took 3 steps w a double lung hit at 50 yards. He ran the Barnes bullet. All mine shot w Hornady FTX,

Savage 99? Cool rifle :) Only lever gun I like.
Think a featherweight in .250 would be super cool.
Had an EG in .300 sav.

Have a .30-06. Had 7mm and .300 magnums.
Zero interest in .270 win.

Nothing against it though.

If I get another bolt rig, proly go .257 Weatherby, just because. 85's for yotes, 120's for longer range deer.
 
#22 ·
Heard 150's in .30 cal might be a bit destructive.
Told to go 180's.
Have not shot anything w my new .30-06.
Does OK w 150's. Can't shoot over 200 yards at main spot, so might exp w some 165's.
Yup, reg ol Coreloks.
Don't know if a premium bullet is required.

Only shot one deer w cup n core .243 win 100gr.
Little hole in and out, deer went about 75 yards and dropped.
I walked over and while he was almost dead, he wasn't.............so added one.

Switched to diff bullet for the following year, but didn't see anything big enough to shoot (between monsoons).
 
#23 ·
Got a couple buds that go out west, proly have a .280 or two or three.
Need to talk to them and see what they're running and how well they've done.

I actually like the look of short action bolt rifles, so a 7mm o8 would be pretty cool.
Pops has a Savage Striker in it, might blast a deer some day.
So big and clunky, think a rifle easier to employ.

Have never shot a deer w specialty pistol.
 
#24 · (Edited)
On the 357 rifle. I used it when I was young because I was literally small when I started hunting. I dont remember exactly - I think I killed 5 or 6 with it. And had others get away.

I can remember one that dropped right where I shot it. I remember a lung shot that traveled over a half mile. I remember one that I thought I shot in the lungs or shoulder- it stumbled rolled down a hill, got up and ran, never to be seen again. And one I hit 3 times. One shot had hit the lungs and another bullet was lodged against the base of the skull - it went about 200 yards.

As an adult with more patience if I had to use it I would have better fortune. But why use a cartridge that basically requires either a heart shot or a vertebrae shot to ensure the deer dies that day? And most 357s rifles you see are 3" or 4' at 100 yard guns. Its more responsible and ethical to uses a still modest gun like a 30-30.
I really only see it as reasonable if you are simply too small or frail to handle a regular deer rifle.



EDIT: After I posted this I looked up some hand load talk. With slow powders and high pressure loads you could get significantly power than factory loads in a rifle. Some are saying well over a 50% increase in power compared to factory loads. But thats sort of the specialty realm.
 
#25 ·
As for the hydraulic vs hydrostatic. Ive usually seen it referred to as a variation of "hydrostatic." But your name makes sense.

But the name doesnt really matter so much as the the specifics of what seems to be happening , which is why I explained what I was talking about. Its a rather narrow event range compared to what some people claim hydrostatic shock can do.
 
#26 ·
I never shot a deer w .30-30 or .357 rifle.
Am no lever gun fan.

Had a .44 mag w Hornady factory loads that plopped em in 1.5" at 100.
Boring regularity.

It did have a smoothed up trigger though.
Good enough I reckon, just never warmed up the the rifle.

Only deer I shot w .357 was w a handgun, 50 yards facing away. So I spined him in the neck, on purpose. Buddy did euro mount and gave me back the bullet, it stopped in the end of its nose.

That handgun, use to shoot pop cans laying on side, bottom facing me.........at 50, offhand. All the time.

Python w Colt Custom Shop trigger job. Yeah, it's got a scary SA trigger.
 
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