.280 Remington

[nutntoit]

School me on .280 Remington. I recently picked up a rifle chambered in it because I couldn't afford not to, but don't know a whole lot about it. Seems to basically be a 7mm-06. I don't reload so that isn't a huge concern for me but what to know what I should be expecting for performance.

[rudysts]

Shot my biggest white tail buck with one. it is capable of being very accurate if you load your own ammo mine liked 160 class bullets and was pretty good with 140s all hand loads.

[Tracker0721]

It’s what I really want to build a rifle in. Super efficient round. Pretty sure I remember reading it’s got more energy then a 30-06 at a distance, faster too, and less drop. Think the ballistic app I looked at said it stays over 2,000 FPS and 1500 fpe at 500 yards. That’s what the book says is the requirement for a 1 shot instant kill on an elk. Might’ve been 600 yards. And that was a factory load. Sounds like you got a good deal!

[Bofire]

Slightly heavier bullets than a 270 lighter than an 06, good velocity that is within usefull  range, good trajectory, deer or elk will not be able to tell the difference when shot by either. I like it. Not real well know or popular but an overall great performer.
Carl

[rudysts]

Hornady Precision Hunter Ammunition 280 Remington 150 Grain ELD-X

HSM Trophy Gold Ammunition 280 Remington 140 Grain Berger

If were to buy ammo this is what I would be trying first in your 280

[BigGoonTuna]

a bit better bullet selection than the .270 if you want to take advantage of that.  factory ammo is pretty anemic, and even handloading data is pretty conservative, because the .280 has a 60,000PSI max SAAMI pressure spec, while the .270 is 65,000PSI. careful handloading would remedy that.

i kick myself for not picking up a very nice M77 mkii in .280 a few years back at a local pawn shop, but didn't have the $250 i needed...

[theleo]

You're rite for pegging it as a 7mm-06, it's just the commercial version of that old wildcat. It's got a comical history of screw ups that Remington committed that would forever leave it taking a back seat to the 270 in terms of popularity. A great way to look at it is it's the middle ground, in terms of performance, between the 7mm-08 and 7mm rem. They just kill stuff, and do so very effectively with run of the mill bullets in the 150gr+ category very well. Lighter constructed bullets of 140gr or less can become grenades. One really nice thing is if you ever shoot the throat out it you can take it to a gunsmith, have the chamber cut to 280ai and still be able use factory ammo in it (280ai or 280rem).   

[Encore 280]

The 280 didn't sell to good when it first came out so Remington changed it to 7mm Express in the early 80s so if you come across ammo that's marked 7mm Express grab it. That didn't go over too good either because folks took it to be 7mm mag so back to the 280 Remington. Did you find a Remington Mod. 700?

[bobcat]

The 280 is better if you're a reloader. If you're not then a 270 Win. or 30/06 makes a little more sense. Maybe a good reason to take up reloading, since you've already got the 280. Great cartridge.

[HighlandLofts]

Years ago a guy in pennsylvania had a few Ruger 77 rifles for sale. My oldest sone nought the 280 caliber, he has shot a bunch of whitetails with it in New York and Pennsylvania.
It is a great deer & elk gun.

[Tjkride]

I had one on a Kimber action, killed a ton of deer and pigs with it. It was a blast to shoot and real accurate with the remington green and yellow box load. Somebody stile the thing my first Christmas at Fort Knox.

[Idighuntin]

It’s all I’ve used for deer and bear the past 20 yrs plus. My longest shot on a large blacktail was a 290 yard one shot kill. Moderate recoil definitely not uncomfortable to shoot. If you reload it’s easy to work up a load and stay on the shot and not flinch do to recoil. Mine shoots 140gr Barnes TSX at 2915fps and .75 groups. Love that gun.

[gutsnthegrass]

I love that caliber!  You can take it to a gunsmith and have it reamed to a .280 Ackley Improved.  I will have a custom built in 280ai some day!

[BKMFR]

Jim Carmichael (280) vs Jack O'Connor(270)….. Those were the days! Both are great cartridges.

[grundy53]

.280 is all that my buddy shoots. He's killed a lot of deer and elk with his.

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[addicted]

If you have it done up with the right throat and twist you can run 190's and replac 30-06,270, 6.5 and 95% of 7mag

[jackelope]

I have a .280 barrel for my Encore. I've killed 1 whitetail with it. 299 yard shot. It's a good shooter. Haven't shot it in a while but I seem to remember maybe a little more stout recoil to it. Pretty light rifle though.

[nutntoit]

I have yet to shoot my .280 yet but from all the reading I have done I might want to sell my 30-06 if it shoots well.

[Encore 280]

What make is it? Post a pic or two of it. 

[Skillet]

I have yet to shoot my .280 yet but from all the reading I have done I might want to sell my 30-06 if it shoots well.

If you reload, that might be a good move.  But giving up the huge array of factory fodder in the very versatile 30-06 for the relatively limited options in the 280?  I think you'd be taking a step back in utility, imho.  The 30-06 gets no love anymore because it's so common, but it is still one of the most useful rounds out there.

 

[nutntoit]

I have yet to shoot my .280 yet but from all the reading I have done I might want to sell my 30-06 if it shoots well.

If you reload, that might be a good move.  But giving up the huge array of factory fodder in the very versatile 30-06 for the relatively limited options in the 280?  I think you'd be taking a step back in utility, imho.  The 30-06 gets no love anymore because it's so common, but it is still one of the most useful rounds out there.

 

Thanks for the advice. I don't currently reload so that is something to consider.

[300rum]

If you don't reload, I suggest buying a few boxes of premium ammunition from various manufacturers and try it out.  Whichever one shoots the best, buy a few cases of it in the same lot and be done with it. 

[nutntoit]

If you don't reload, I suggest buying a few boxes of premium ammunition from various manufacturers and try it out.  Whichever one shoots the best, buy a few cases of it in the same lot and be done with it.

That's pretty much my plan. I will only be using the gun for hunting and the occasional range session. I have other guns for high volume shooting.

[NW SURVEYOR]

The 280 is one of the best cartridges available.
With 160 grains it is deadly accurate and performs great on deer and elk.
You can get away with a lighter rifle due to moderate recoil and still pack a punch.
It's right up there with the 7MM Mags without being over bored.
Good purchase.

Have fun.

 

[nutntoit]

What make is it? Post a pic or two of it. 

It is a Ruger M77 MkII. I will get some better pictures and post them up later. I brought it out to the range last weekend and I am really liking it. Shoots very flat and less recoil than my 06. I am going to pick up some of the Hornady Precision Hunter 150s and see how those shoot. All I could find was Core lokts 150s at my LGS.