+1 on the .280/7mm Express get one, you won't be disappointed...

I understand choosing a 7 Mag over a .280 for its ability to push the heavier bullets faster, but I can't think of a thing the 7mm-08 does better than a .280, and especially if you handload. The .280 simply has more horsepower, and especially for a handloader.

Ditto RiverRider

7mm-08 to 280 (280 AI) to 7 Rem Mag is:

.308 Win to .30-06 to .300 Win Mag.

small, medium, large. Simple
Put a .30 cal 200 gr. in all the mentioned cartidges, load em as hot as it'll stand it and run five of each through the chrono. Fast, faster, fastest. Same projectile, increase it's speed and you increase energy delivery and recoil.

Same results with a 7mm 175 gr.

It is a great cartridge

My main hunting rifle the last two years is a Nosler 280 AI
My loads measure the same as Noslers data
140g Accubond at 3150 FPS
I have some 120 and 160g bullets to try but the 140 ABs seem about ideal for Whitetails out to 500
Fantastic round in my experience.

But I would advise against unless you are a handloader.

guy on our lease has one and loves his

I've been shooting .280 for about 25 years. Simpy put, the .280 shoots a 140 gr bullet on the same trajectory that .270 shoots a 130 gr bullet. More energy down range... I've owned three rifles in this caliber: Win M70 (stolen in '88. Still miss that gun....); Rem 700 Mountain rifle. Shot it for many years and never really loved it, which may have been partially an emotional thing as it was a replacement for the Winchester that stolen, but the Rem MR had a tapered barrel, light stock and the rig kicked harder than I enjoyed and wasn't especailly accurate, though I never missed a shot with it nor ever had to track a deer, so it was good enough. Traded it recently to my brother for a mid '80's model Ruber M77 tang safety in .280 that had been shot 24 times. Heavy gun, new cool optics, love it. Son-in-law shot his first deer with it last weekend. Now, the bad part... Yes, factory ammo is sometimes hard to find in large selections. I've been shooting the same ol' Remington Core-loct 140 gr for 25 years, and just keep plenty on hand / buy 'em when I find 'em. As previously stated, I've never tracked a deer shot with the .280. The 7mm bullett is a re-loader's dream if you into that. (And then there's that whole deal about me liking odd-ball calibers. I also own, and love, a .260 Rem and a .257 Roberts - each with a specific use, but the .280 will handle anything I'm ever going after.)

The 280 rocks, on my 2nd one. The 1st was a Winchester Featherweight and was an awesome gun. Let a bud talk me out of it. My current shooter is a Remington LSS 50th Anniversary. Probably my favorite rifle. Have it topped with Zeiss 4.5-14/50 and it loves Nosler 140 Accubonds pushed to the max with 4350. Since 07 when I got it we have taken 7 whitetails and one huge mule deer with one shot kills .

I’m a fan of the old Remington 6.5mm Magnum. It has the same case volume but in a shorter cartridge.

Nothing wrong with the 280.

alot of folks handload, but most don't.


there is alot better ammo selection with the 7mm-08 than the .280.

true on the ammo availability of a 7mm-08

I will at some point get a 7mm-08
I like the idea of pushing a 120 TTSX at 3k out of a 20" lightweight gun...


Oh, an on the 280AI, while I love mine, we all know a deer at 250 yards isn't going to know the difference compared to a 280

Shot Mule Deer, Whitetail, hogs and lots of paper with the 280, never had a problem when bullet was placed right where it counted, have owned several and still have a 280AI that with a 160 partition is pretty much a 7mm Rem.Mag in a more effiecient case. Can't go wrong with a 280 but bullet placement trumps caliber most of all the time.

I don't think anyone will argue that a .280 is more than adaqute for game

I think in this caliber, ammo selection is rather limited for a non-hand loader.

That would be the reason I would hesitate to own one.

You can buy either a .270 or 7mm mag and get equal or greater performance and greater ammo selection and availability

I don't know about the ammo deal. I can go on-line or make one phone call and I find what I want. If I want to take just under a 3 hr drive I can pick it up and save some time. Who buys only one box of ammo these days?

My 280 is my favorite all time rifle. I had it built 7 or 8 years ago and haven't hunted with anything else since. 140 gr. Accubonds are deadly accurate out of it and the deer and hogs hate it.

I didn't go the AI route as I already had a 7 mag so if I ever feel the need for a little more thump I'll go with it.

i buy one box of ammo at a time...whats wrong with that?

head down to academy, get my box of hornady 130 grain customs, then head back home. 4 years later when I am out of ammo I go back and buy another box.

You can order ammo online (for now) but not everyone wants to be dependant on the UPS man for his ammo supply.

I guess I shoot way more than you then. I shoot my rifle before season (3 shot group minimum) and then will usually shoot 5-8 boxes on deer per season. I never have less than 3 boxes on hand due to the fact that Wally World can be the only game in town and they will be out of .270 almost 9 out 10 times I go in. When I do buy I will buy them out. I use Ammo To Go for my .280 and made trips to them to buy when I was living closer to them. Now I just get them to ship. I want to see you go on a mule deer hunt with just a partial a box of ammo. Head down to Academy today and report back on their supply.

Other Alternate choices to consider

7WSM : comes in 24" barrels in 7 1/2 lb all up guns using Short Action recievers and gives 7RMg performances. Look at Kimber and Winchester M70's.
or
7STW aka Shooting Times Westerner: for max performances available in 284 diameters. I hear barrel life sucks after the 1st K rounds down the tube.
JMHO & YMMV
Cheers
Ron

I have a 7mmWSM

Spits a 150 grain bullet at 3250fps according to Winchester

That gun bites on both ends though, be warned

Good lord man, 5-8 boxes on deer?

Your either supply a guerilla army with meat or are the worst shot in existence , lol


I typically take two rifles with me on a trip.

8-15 rounds per rifle usually.

Never had an issue with running out of rounds.

I shoot my .270 two or three times a year on average

The .22-250 a bit more but I don't do a whole lot of shooting unless it's at an animal

Mine started life as a 270 but it always wanted to be 280 when it grew up.

I kill a lot of 270s to make something worthwhile. 338-06, 9.3x62, 8x64, 8.5x63 Reb, 400 Whelan, 35 Whelan, 375 Whelan, 280, 30-06.

Beyond that it is my preferred rifle to rebarrel, I figure I am doing the world a favor.