Needed (ok, wanted lol) a dedicated long range goat gun. Spent a long time trying to choose between calibers. I was pretty much set on a quarterbore of some sort until I happened to be looking in the reloading shelves. I have a crap load of 7mm bullets! Ok, caliber decided, now cartridge. Went to my local Gander Mtn to see what they had. A few 7 Rem Mags, but that just doesnt do it for me, too common. They had 3 7 RUM's, including a Sendero which would fit exactly what I wanted i.e. bull barrel, heavy stock made for long range shooting. Still, 900$ was more then I was looking to spend. Went to the not so local Gander Mtn, and voila! 2 guns in 7mm! 1 was spot on, Win 70 Coyote in 7mmWSM, nice laminate heavy stock, solid bull barrel, and on sale! Then I happened to spy a Mk V Fibermark in .280 Rem for 150$ more....tough choice. Always had a thing for the 280, never knew why, just always intrigued me. However for once I was sticking to my intentions and put the M70 on lawaway. Bothered me all week. I mean the 280 has enough distance for reasonable goat shootin, it can be loaded for elk, perfect for deer, loaded heavy it'll do on larger critters. And while based on a 30-06, its not an '06 lol which I'll never own! Its also juuust on the heavy side of "light" for serious mountain work. Now I have a rifle dedicated to specific tasks, but its always wise to have a back up. This 280 would be good enough for everything, so its the official back up gun! So, went back a few days ago and thankfully it was still there! Killer price too.

So in a few weeks I'll a M70 Coyote 7mmWSM, and a Mk V Fibermark .280 Rem in my hands

This year I also opted for the .280 Rem for the same reasons you did. Plus, my hunting partner has been trying to convince me of this cartridge for several years now. I have seen it perform on game and at many different yardages far and near. I have been practicing with it for a few months now and really enjoy shooting it and I'm quite accurate with it. Good luck with your two new rifles.

Good luck with your 2 new rifles. I've been thinking of adding a .280 to my stockpile as well.

I, too have an unexplainable fascination with the 280. The 270 is OK, and I am not an 06 fan, but I love the 280. I also am a huge fan of the European version - 7x64. Sometimes you just can't intelligently exlpain things. Lou

I think the 280 and the 7x64 are great, I also like the 7mm STW and 7mm RUM.

The short magnums don't do a lot for me. I know they are more effcient, but so what.

I used to own a 284 Winchester in a XP100, it was a custom pistol and it had a HS Precision barrel and stock on it. I was told at the time I bought it that it had originally been owned by Bob Millek. I seriously doubt that but it was interesting.

I am on the fence as to what caliber 7mm I am going to try next, I like so many of them.

You know that Browning is making the new X-Bolt in 280? I checked one out in 270 the other day, and I was very impressed with it. An X-bolt stainless stalker in 280 with a really nice 3-12x56 scope would do a lot of things nicely.

LOL MileHigh!
You make me feel so antique! I just purchased two "new" hunting rifles myself, a .358 Winchester and a .30-06, nothing exotic at all.

LLS

MileHigh, sometimes there's just nothing like a new rig! Good on ya!
You'll love both of those rifles, I am a 280 fan, in fact I just took delivery of a 280 AI.

That coyote is a damn accurate rig, have several friends that have them, and the 7 WSM touts some great ballistics, and is very popular in the long range target circles. I read of one fellow who held several records, that exclusively shoots the 7 WSM.

Have fun, and let us know how they work for you!

I think I am among many like minded folks here! The 280....just does it for some reason lol I've thought about the AI, but, this is the back up do anything go anywhere gun, nothing fancy needs to be done. Think I'm gonna slap a Nikon Monarch simple 3-9x40 on it and call it a day.

The Coyote already has a Rifle Basix trigger on the way, this one will get much better glass. Probably something along the lines of a 4-14x44 or 50, maybe Nikon or Zeiss.


MCA - HA! Antique, I like that
Its kind of worked out now, that my specialized rigs are new modern rounds (sub 6lbs 300wsm and the 7wsm long range) and my go-to guns are more classic. Got a 300 Wby M70 XTR, the 280 Mk V, a 1903 is being built into a 9.3x62, and I'm on the hunt for a good action to build a 404 Jeff. 9.3 and 404 are for africa, the 9.3 and 280 for Canada and the 300 and 280 for good ol' colorado

Actually I forgot to mention, what tickles me, is I now have a Winchester rifle in a Weatherby cart, a Weatherby in a Remington cart, a Remington being built for a WSM, and a Springfield being built for a Mauser lol Other then the Coyote, my rifles have identity issues

I must have owned at lest 3 280s, and one AI. never could get one to shoot if the loads were anywhere near max.
I know it was just bad luck,not a real problem with the round.
But I had the same problem with the .270 untill I found a 1953 FN.
But I love the 7X57 and the STW.
Can anybody give a logical objection the the 06 ?
Never had one yet that I coul not get to shoot plenty well and I have had lots of them.
Nothin g wrong with the .280, but can't think of anything wrong with the 06 either.
...tj3006

quote:

Originally posted by D99:
The short magnums don't do a lot for me. I know they are more effcient, but so what.

Poor feeding too. Low magazine count. 270, 280, 30-06 better.

280 is good. 160's.

Never had one of these mysterious feed problems that seem to plag the short mags. The 2 guns I had never once had issues *shrug*

Don't like the 30-06, plain and simple, I'll never own one. Used to have a 270, now I have a 280. Plus they're just not made for long range like the wsm, the bench rest guys have been using squat and fat for years, and its easier to build super light rifles on short action rounds and I prefer a little more oomph and distance then a .308 based round will give. Personal opinions, having options is a good thing

Good choice on the 7 WSM. The Coyote is a fabulous rifle. Turn the .280 into a .280AI.

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
Good choice on the 7 WSM. The Coyote is a fabulous rifle. Turn the .280 into a .280AI.

You're not the first (or 9th lol) person to suggest having the 280 reamed out for the AI...might just have to give in to peer pressure!

The 7wsm was just a combonation of many good things falling into my lap that day. Plus, its the least popular of the WSM's, so I have to have it Same Gander Mountain has a nice 25wssm M70 that I'm also considering, again, cause its a black sheep cartridge