Does anyone here reload for the Rem. 7400 in 280? Sure would like to ask a few questions. Thanks. smoker1

Beware of online loads -- they are for bolt actions of recent manufacture. I'd "listen" for favorite loads that use published data books.

SPEER data tends to be more conservative, FWIW.

BNagel, do you reload for this rifle in this caliber? I have some specific questions about COAL. smoker1

quote:

specific questions about COAL

wHAT aRE YOU LOADIN FOR BULLETS? 100GR TO 175 GR ALL HAVE A LITTLE DIFFRENT LENGTH WHAT BRAND ALL DIFFER SOME?
The magazine will limit the oal

hivelosity, thanks for answering. I'm using Sierra Gameking soft point's in 140 grain. My manual calls for an OAL of 3.330. I loaded a dummy round and chambered it. First indication was that it wouldn't go into battery with me dropping the bolt manually but did when I dropped it using the bolt release. Long story short seeing marks on the bullet I measured it and found my 3.330 went to 3.265. This is a used gun so I don't have any more info than what I've told you. Of course I did a through cleaning before I started, and it really wasn't very bad at all. Hope you can shed some light on this. Thanks again, smoker1

with my 7400 I use small base rcbs dies and full length resize all my hunting ammo. I have had some of the same issues and decided to crimp. (you will have these issues with an auto loader that slams the round into the chamber and in my opinion the bullet should be crimped) I use a bullet with a cannalure but I also crimp non-cannalure bullets without any problems. I use a lee crimp die works great.
I shortened oal length to 3.325"
Check the lip on the magazine for burrs and rough spots also the feed throat of the chamber may be rough.
If you do not crimp put a good chamfer on the out side lip of the neck and you can also reduce the size of the expander plug to get more bullet grip and that will also help.
Dave

Smoker I have loaded quite a few rounds for my Dad & a brother who both used Rem autoloaders in 30-06. I also have a 760 in 280. A couple things I have found is 1/ for reliable functioning you will need to get a small base die. Yes you can load cases previously fired in that rifle without the SB die but just wait til you get a little dirt etc in the chamber. When you fire the rifle the case will stick and the extractor will pull right through the case head. That usually happens when the biggest buck you've seen in 3 years is standing 50 yds from you. 2/ the throat on the rifles in our family all have relatively short throats so the COL will be affected. By forcing the action closed on a case with a seated bullet you have already determined what your max overall length can be.I would suggest adjusting your die so the bullet is .020 to .025 thou off the rifling. I shoot the 145 gr Speer bullet in my pump and the COL is 3.240". In my 760 pump it shoots best with 57 grs of H4831. That is near max in my rifle but it produces the best groups. I would suggest you start at about 53 or 54 grs and work up. You will want the load that provides the combination of best accuracy and function through the action reliably. Hope that helps.

You guy's are absolutly the best. Much thanks for your help. snowman,hivelosity, I am not familiar with a small base die. Been reloading for ~50+ years now and have seen that term used but never knew what it meant. hivelosity, I'm using the Lee dies. Factory crimp die with a moderate crimp on new Rem. brass. I did not resize my dummy round and am now wondering if I might have caused a problem there. The rest of the brass has been neck de-burred, inside and outside and inside primer pocket and full length sized. Was real happy to see your
"SHORT THROATS" and COL 3.240. I called Sierra and they really didn't want to comment on what might be common/normal for COAL

quote:

Originally posted by Smoker1:
BNagel, do you reload for this rifle in this caliber? I have some specific questions about COAL. smoker1

No, only bolt action 280's. Caliber history is often neglected by folks -- .280 Rem started out "underloaded" on purpose due to original offering in autoloader/pump actions, hence my caveat. My loads are quite a bit outside SPEER (but well within what other loaders and some later data books list.)

Smoker Standard dies resize a fired case back to SAMMI specs.A small base die resizes the case back to factory specs which is a couple thou smaller. Find a RCBS dealer and get a small base die. It will be stamped SB. When you set the die up have the die about 1/8 of an inch from the shell holder when the ram is fully up. Resize a case and try it in your chamber. It should be tight or not be able to chamber at all. Turn the die down a quarter turn,resize and try to chamber. Keep doing this until you feel the case chamber easily ,just like a new round. Lock your nut on the die and you are good to go.

Thanks BNagel and snowman. BNagel, I am planning on using accuracy loads and will start at the minimun powder weight. I have always been a little apprehensive to load them to the max, no reason just never did. snowman, do I need small base die if I start with new factory brass dedicatd to this rifle? Phil

Smoker I would say yes you do.If you start with new brass and dedicate it to that rifle only you may get by with a couple reloads before you start having trouble and then you may have problems the second time you load them. You may want to watch on E-bay. You might see a SB size die or a complete SB set(size & seater)for not much money.

USE Small base dies and avoid the slower powders that work well in bolt action rifles.



AD

Small base dies it is. I'll start looking today.
Thanks for your input Allen. Do you load for this caliber in a 7400? smoker1

Not having much luck finding a small base sizing die only, mostly sets. Hoped to find a used one but no luck with that either. If you guys hear of anything let me know, please. Thanks, smoker1

Just use the normal dies to start with.
I have loaded many rifles and cartridges without them.
I think most problems are cause by insufficient sizing and you can do that with small base dies.
by insufficient sizing I mean that the dies are not set deep enough and cause the shoulder to push forward preventing chambering. This is blamed on the base when it is not.

You have a very valid point SR4759. It took me some time to realize that the sizeing die has to be set deep enough to give the shell holder a fairly good bump. Sure appreciate your input as this is the first semi I have owned. smoker1

quote:

Originally posted by Smoker1:
Small base dies it is. I'll start looking today.
Thanks for your input Allen. Do you load for this caliber in a 7400? smoker1

No, but I've been dealing with the same rifle in 30-06 that I bought new in the mid-80's

my 30-06 likes mid-weight bullets, and powders that are in the faster half of the burning range for the cartridge.
For my 30-06 that means tha loading basically begins and ends with IMR4064

Do remember that both rifles are gas operated semi-auto's and like all gas operated semi-autos
THE thing the rifle must do before it does anything else (velocity or accuracy) is to cycle correctly and that boils down to proper port pressure. only then can you worry about accuracy and vvelocity.

I was fortunate, I found a happy combination on my third attempt.

But Like Jack O'Connor once said, if you find a 30-06 that won't shoot inside of two inches with 48gr of IMR4064 and some 165gr bullet you don't need a gunsmith, you need an exorcist.

On your rifle I'd look long and hard at one of the available 140gr bullets and some charge of Reloader19

AD

Hello Allen. Thanks for your input. I still cannot get to my range to test the loads I put together. I have been using Sierra bullets since the early 60's so I went to thier manual and used thier 'ACCURATE LOAD', which is 46.4 RL15 w/140 grain bullet. the other two test loads are; 51.5 IMR4350, 54.0 IMR4831. I use RL19 in a 300WSM with very good results. smoker1

IMR4831 might shoot accurately, but the action won't like it.

RL19 or IMR4350 is as slow as you should go in a Rem autoloader

Got Sun today with no rain! Fisrt time in 20 days. Range will be wet but I'm gonna try anyway.

Thought I would report back on my load tesing. RL-15, IMR-4350, IMR-4831 all printed about the same ~ 2.0. RL-19 did a great job with just under an inch. Just wanted to say thanks to all that offered to help. smoker1