.280 Rem?

[jackelope]

Looking for input on the .280 remington caliber for a western big game caliber. I don't know much about it but it has peeked my curiosity.

[WDFW-SUX]

Google 280 ackley improved

[280ackley]

Looking for input on the .280 remington caliber for a western big game caliber. I don't know much about it but it has peeked my curiosity.

It will do anything you want it to do on western big game.

Google 280 ackley improved

That's what I have and love it.

[AWS]

It's a 30-06 case necked down to 7mm(.284) it was the 7mm-06 wildcat before Rem made it into a factory round, Rem marketted it as the 7mm Epress for awhile but there was too much confusion with the 7mm Rem Mag so they went back to the 280 handle.  Power wise it gives up only a little to the 7mm Rem Mag.  It is a very nice round handling bullets up to 175gr and should be great for any game in the lower 48.  It was loaded to lower pressures to run through the old Rem 742 so handloading is the way to go with it.

AWS

[Curly]

It is basically the twin to the .270 Winchester, but the .284 dia bullets will have slightly better BC's in general than the .277 bullets........thus you may get slightly better ballistics out of a .280.

[carpsniperg2]

curly hit it spot on. ammo can be hard to find as well as brass at times. i think it is a great all around rifle caliber myself. i do not own one and i have not shot one either thats pretty rare but have looked at them and looked into reloading them. i alomst bought one for my brother but i bought the good old 270 win instead.

[1bugman]

My father has the 7mm Express and loves it.

[jackelope]

Google 280 ackley improved

Can I A/I an Encore barrel?

[Curly]

Google 280 ackley improved

Can I A/I an Encore barrel?

Yes.  

Here is an example of a .280AI encore......... http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php?cid=543

[Curly]

Checkout Midway:  http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=151820

[bobcat]

Pretty much the same as the 270 and 30/06. Any difference between the three cartridges is just splitting hairs. What one will do the other two will do just as well.

[jackelope]

OK so somebody explain to me the benefits of the Ackley Improved stuff.
I could google it I guess but this is much more interesting.

[Curly]

AI just gives you more powder capacity.

[HardCorpsHuntr]

I would not go with the 280AI, a steeper shoulder can result in problems with chambering, and 280AI is harder to buy over the counter, it's about as close to a 7mm mag without being one, so just get a 7mm mag and save the hassles. 

I have a Remington 700 custom KS mountain rifle in 280; it's my number one gun.  I've killed deer, antelope, and elk with it.  I can't wait to try Hornady's 280 GMX 139 grain after this season. 

I'm not a magnum shooting guy...read below on why!

[bobcat]

A lot of people like the 280 Ackley. Nothing wrong with it, but I wouldn't like having to fireform cases. With the Ackley you only gain 100 feet per second, if that. It's not enough additional velocity to make it worthwhile, in my opinion. If you want a fast 7mm cartridge, look at the 7mm Ultra Mag. Or a step down from that, consider either the 270 WSM or the 7mm WSM. Both would probably be ballistic twins to the 280 Ackley.

[jackelope]

I can't get WSM's for the Encore...maybe I can but I gotta spend the big $$ to get them, custom only, and I'm not that interested.
I did see that someone is making pre-formed brass for the 280AI. I can't remember now if it was Hornady or Nosler or who it was.

[MichaelJ]

Nosler is making the 280AI brass.

[Caseyd]

I like the round.

Just not the 742 woodsmaster I have

[CheyTac]

 If you don't want to go with the 7mm RM but still want the 7mm bullet, you can get a barrel for the Encore in a 7mm-08.

[MichaelJ]

I would not go with the 280AI, a steeper shoulder can result in problems with chambering, and 280AI is harder to buy over the counter, it's about as close to a 7mm mag without being one, so just get a 7mm mag and save the hassles.  

You're right on it being a 7mm without actually being one.  But how does a steeper shoulder result in chambering problems?  Or are you talking about actually feeding issues?  As far as feeding problems they aren't bad, lots of guys running AI calibers in semi-auto platforms and aren't having any problems.  My 280AI feeds great.  And you can't buy 280AI ammo OTC, you can get brass but not complete ready to go ammo as far as I know.  

The 280 Rem/AI is a great caliber and the Berger 180 VLD's are great for big game, and have among the highest BC rating of any 7mm "pill" out there.  The .284 diameter bullet selection is very vast with lots of high BC bullets available and thats the reason for the popularity.  Also the 280 has a history of "easy to load for" and mine is even shooting sub MOA with fire-forming loads.  The 7mm and 7 WSM can be a little more finicky, and barrel life is not as good as the .280.  With good brass you can get right up to the 3000 fps mark with less powder.

There's also the belief that with the 40 degree shoulder causes a lot LESS stress on the guns recoil lug and also is easier on brass.

Mike

[Curly]

If you don't want to go with the 7mm RM but still want the 7mm bullet, you can get a barrel for the Encore in a 7mm-08.

 

Then later if you decide you want more velocity, you can send that 7mm-08 barrel to Mike Bellm and he can convert it to 280 AI for you.

[Bofire]

 :)280 is a fine cartridge. Sometimes hard to find ammo. very close to 7mag trajectory.
Carl

[jackelope]

If you don't want to go with the 7mm RM but still want the 7mm bullet, you can get a barrel for the Encore in a 7mm-08.

 

Then later if you decide you want more velocity, you can send that 7mm-08 barrel to Mike Bellm and he can convert it to 280 AI for you.

I can get an Encore barrel in 280 rem too.  Thats why I specifically mentioned the .280 rem.

My Encore is already equipped with a few of Bellm's gadgets.   

[CheyTac]

 Hard to go wrong with any of them Jack, 7mm-08 being off the .308 cartridge and the .280 based off the 06 cartridge to allow for more slow burning powder.

 One thing you may consider is the .280 is a long action and the 7mm-08 is short, don"t know if that makes a difference to you.

[jackelope]

Long or short action makes no difference at all in an Encore.
The barrels are all longer than normal so plenty of powder burn time.

I don't really have any specific need for a 280, just thought something between a 300wm and a 22-250 would be nice to have and there's a member on here who has a 280 barrel for sale.
 

[C-Money]

280's are great! I'd not have a problem going out after anything here in lower 48, even moose. Not much difference between the 270win, 280, or 30-06. Wonderful cartridge.

[CheyTac]

just thought something between a 300wm and a 22-250 would be nice to have

 If thats the case just go with the 7MM RM and be done with it. Arguably the best all around cartridge out there.

[carpsniperg2]

  if he has a 300wm why would he want the 7mm rm i don't see how a 7mm rm is in the middle of the road between 22-250 and 300wm. i think middle of the road would be a nice 25-06

[Curly]

just thought something between a 300wm and a 22-250 would be nice to have

 If thats the case just go with the 7MM RM and be done with it. Arguably the best all around cartridge out there.

But he's already got a 300WM barrel.  Not a whole lot of difference between the 7mm mag and 300WM........  I think the 280 Rem would be a nice fit between the cartridges you currently have.  And even though the Ackley is pretty cool, it does seem like a pain to deal with only shooting fire-formed, reloaded ammo.  If that 280 barrel is a good deal, I'd say go for it.  (I have a 280 Rem, single shot rifle myself).

Oops - Carp beat me to it.

[runningboard]

good deal, go for it. if the AI really intrigues you go here

http://www.matchgrademachine.com/

they make 'em AI and my sons 7mm TCU barrel shoots wonderfully. Nosler offered their custom model 48 in 280 AI and should be marketing ammo for it. spendy but OTC. handloads the way to go.

[wapiti hunter2]

Price of ammo now days, I'd go with something that you can get readily available ammo anywhere OTC.  If you have to gear up to reload for just one caliber it will be costly to shoot and is really not worth the differences.  If you want a 7mm, buy a 7mm. 

[ing]

My buddy hunts with a 280.  Very acurate and its a certified deer killer.  Thinking about getting one myself someday.