Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

.280 Rem vs. 7mm Rem. mag.

Alan Rushing
Folks have debated the .280 vs. the 7mm Rem mag. for years. If one throws the .280 Imp. into the mix ... it seems to win most of the uumph, with less effort?
0

Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • tsr1965
    When you start getting into overbore cartridges, it is not proportional of the gain you get from the amount of case capacity you have, or powder burned. The 280 is a pretty well balanced round, for most common barrel lengths encountered. The barrel length is the variable, which tells you what powder will work best, and how much. Generally speaking the slower the powder burn, the better velocity you will get. However you will need longer barrels to burn the slower powder effectively.

    I am still a novice at this, even though I have been shooting since I was 6 years old, and loading since I was 14. Nononsense, JustC, Sandwarrior, and a few others have a much better handle on this. Some of them even make a living at it. I am sure they will be along to join the discussion.

    Best
    0
  • savage170
    Love the .280and it's a little easier on the shoulder
    0
  • ern98
    The 7mms in my stable go from 7x57 mauser to 280rem to 7mmSTW. My 280rem has a 26" barrel to get max velosity out of it. I personally am not willing to put out the money for good high end improved dies and so have stayed with the non improved version. It is always a difficult choice between the 20" barreled 7x57 mauser and the 280rem and terain is usually what is the deciding factor between the two. The STW does not get out much anymore.....
    0
  • airmung
    The .270 and .280/7mm Express are ballistically nearly twins. The .280 has a greater selection of bullets to choose from if you reload, and thus is more versatile. My old model Ruger 77 is a tack driver with 139 grain Noslers, and will shoot sub-MOA groups if I do my part. I think it is a great cartridge and it probably would have eclipsed the .270 if Remington hadn't messed around with it so much in the early days. I have no experience with the .280 Improved but on paper, it does look like it may have a slight advantage.

    The .280 is plenty for deer, elk, moose, black bear, and antelope with the right bullet. The super magnums don't kill anything a bit deader than the .280 will. I hit a large cow elk at nearly 250 yds in a quartering-away shot using a 139 grain Nosler Partition. The bullet entered just behind the last rib and exited through the opposite shoulder, destroying both lungs and breaking down the shoulder. She spun around once and piled up like a ton of lead.

    Other than also being a 7 mm, the 7mag really isn't very comparable to the .280. The .280 is more efficient and gives a better bang for the buck. If you really need that last ounce of performance, I would suggest going with a .338 mag or one of the larger Weatherbys, or a 7mmSTW.
    0
  • mbsams
    I love my 280, but just to keep the record straight - Nosler makes a 140 not a 139. Hornady makes the 139. Surprisingly - the 140 groups at 3 inches in my Ruger and the 139 an inch. 120 Nosler BT goes into 3/8. Guns are funny sometimes. Mine loves H4831 and hates Reloader 19 - go figure.
    0
  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by mbsams
    I love my 280, but just to keep the record straight - Nosler makes a 140 not a 139. Hornady makes the 139. Surprisingly - the 140 groups at 3 inches in my Ruger and the 139 an inch. 120 Nosler BT goes into 3/8. Guns are funny sometimes. Mine loves H4831 and hates Reloader 19 - go figure.


    One always has to pay attention to the twist rate. Fast twist for heavier bullets, and slower twist for lighter ones.
    0
  • airmung
    Whoops on the 139 grain--I use both bullets and got them mixed up.

    My best groups have been with H4831SC. Was Ruger using their own barrels in these rifles?
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity