All you .280 fans:



Remington has just shipped a special run of the new M700 CDL (Classic Deluxe) in .280 Remington. I received mine on 9-16. It is basicly the "Classic" rifle with a black (plastic) fore-end tip and grip cap. The barrel is 24" with no sights. Finish is matte blue with satin stock. Aside from the 24" tube and the floorplate type magazine, it looks a lot like the M700 Mountain rifle DM.



The 24" barrel gets about 80fps better than the 22" Mountain Rifle barrel. I ran 10 rounds over the chronograph. 62gr Norma MRP fired by a CCI magnum primer behind a Hornady 139gr Interbond averaged 3205fps compared to 3125fps for the Mountain Rifle.



The trigger was a little better than the last one I bought. It broke @ 5# compared to almost 8# on the last one.



I am out of MRP but I will work up some loads with VV N560 and Rl 22 tonight. I will give a range report after I get a chance to "bench" it Sunday.



P.S. They are also supposed to run some off in 25/06 and 35 Whelen.

Cool...kinda the same way with VV N-165 in my 280AI. It is a compressed load...no pressure signs...superb accuracy...and that baby screams. The load was developed by the original owner of the rifle. He sent it to Jim Borden...the smith that built this particular rifle...he tried it out...and now gives it to every customer that gets a 280AI from him. Am awaiting delivery of some 140AB. They should go tit for tat with the NBT load...but I am gonna back it down a tad and work back up. Also going to try some RL 19 and IMR 4831 behind some 140TSX. I am a diehard Barnes X slut. Only have the NBT load cause it came with the rifle.

Actualy Norma MRP is the only powder that will give that level of performance without pressure signs. "Quickload" predicts pressure to be slightly less than 60k for that load, although the predicted velocity is a little less so pressure is propably slightly more. I try to load to .270 Win. pressure specs. (62,00psi range) as opossed to .280 Rem. specs. (59,000psi range) Quickload predicts that one cannot get enough MRP into a 280 case to exceed 60k by any signifigant amount. It has the look and consistancy of hamster food and I use a drop tube to "pack it in". Dispite what I've heard, MRP is not the same as Rl 22. "Quickload" and personal experience suggest that althoughy similar charges of the 2 might yield similar Mv, the pressures will be higher with Rl22.



The best I could get from at the range yesterday from Rl 19, Vv N560 or Rl 22 was in the 3125-3150fps range and these loads wear pushing it.



Of the three Vv N560 was the most consistant with 63gr giving a standard deviation around 10fps @ around 3150fps. This was in a Norma case that holds about 70grs of water in the unfired condition, 72grs in a fired (unsized) condition. That is about 2grs more than the Remington brass.



I am going to look for some MRP. It was the most consistant in the M700 Mountain rifle with the best accuracy and Mv.



Accuracy was nothing to write home about although it was a terrible day for grouping. The wind was gusting almost 90 degrees to the range and it was holding the U.S. flag @ the club straight out from the flag pole. Groups were @ 2 1/2" for 10 rounds (@ 100yds) with several 3 shot groups near 1"- 1 1/2". Point of impact was very consistant with little shift for all loads ranging from 2950fps to 3150fps. This was for a total of 10 shots each with 9 different loads using 3 different powders.



I will try removing the pressure pad @ the swivel stud to free float the barrel, check the results, then maybe glass bed the recoil lug and the first 3" of barrel and receiver. I may even make up some aluminum pillars too.



I think the gun has potential, it just needs a little tuning, and a day @ the range under better conditions.



P.S. McCray: They just listed the 280 CDL on the web site. 3 weeks ago I had to do some "digging" just to verify that they were making the CDL in 280.

Sounds like a fast barrel to me. Thats pushing 280AI velocities. Get 3240 from my 24 3/4 in. #5 Hart. Sure you arent getting high pressure in those loads? If not, maybe I need to find me a CDL. Save a lot of brass work. Although that factory handle would have to go.