Probably just dreaming but I have 10 chances on a rifle in my choice of calibers.
Would you go with 7mm-08,7x57 or 280Rem.?

Dear RWS2,

Any that you mention would be fine cartridges. However, given those choices the .280 Remington would probably be the best choice.

Tom

They are all good cartridges but I prefer the 7x57 good for all around medium game.

just my 2 cents worth

BD

Since I like short actions, and the 308 family of cartridges, I'd go for the 7mm-08.

Matter of fact, I already have.

I absolutly love the 280 its one of my standards, I would consider the 7X57 but have never owned one, I CANNOT STAND THE 308, OR ANY 308 BASED CARTRIDGE.
take care
smallfry

I would go with the 308, but either of the other two will do fine...

I cannot understand anyone condeming the .308 as a hunting rifle, it certainly works and will do anything the 30-06 will do..the only difference is about 150 FPS if that, and I doubt that deer or Moose would know the difference..I have shot a couple of cape buffalo with one and it worked..although not my choice.

The 7mm is a wonderfully well proportioned and versatile caliber. I think youd do well with any of them. If it were me I would carefully consider the particular rifle that you want it in. I am kind of partial to Mausers and so the 7X57 would be a natural. If you prefer a short action then the 08 gets the nod. I doubt if the performance margin is much at all, espeically between the 08 and the 280. Go with your hearts desire.

The 7X57 is not going to use all of the length that a long action offers but it's ok. The rifle itself in terms of it's weight and balance is more important than the 7/08 vrs 280.

Also important is where you will hunt and what other rifles you may have. For most of us a short action rifle in .308 Win is the best, first choice.

Of the 7MM's I like the 7MM WSM now. It can be loaded down to equal the others mentioned above and it's as short as any of them.

I went with a 7x57 and am very happy.

I'm a fan of the 7mm's myself. Having used a 7 mm rem mag, 280 and 7x57 I prefer the .280. It offers a blend of good velocity and light recoil. Its right on the heels of the 7mag with bullets less than 175grs and uses less powder. I also like that you can stuff 5 rounds of them in the mag.

Ray... you know me I am just not being fair. We all have personal favorites and the 308 is not one of mine. Honestly it is mostly from the notion that I believe the 243 ate up alot of the 250 savage(s) popularity, which is one of my favorite small game guns.
In retro I have always believed our armed forces would have been better off using a 308 based cartridge necked down to 7mm.
Take care
Smallfry

7-08 has the best selection of factory ammo available in my area. If that's not a factor, it's really just a matter of preference. The 7X57 is the most classic.

Depends on which action you want to build on, and whether you like wildcats. Extra short action, 7mm TCU, 7mm X 47. Short action, 7mm-08 or 7mm-08 AI, or 7mm SAUM. Intermediate action (this includes the various 98 Intermediate Mausers and the Win 70 short action) 284 Win, 7 X 57, 7 X 57 AI or 7mm WSM. Standard length action, 280 Rem, 280 AI, 280 JRS, 7mm Gibbs, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm WBY, 7mm Mashburn, 7mm Dakota. Full length action (375 length), 7mm-300 WBY, 7mm STW, 7mm Ultramag. Extra long mag action, 7mm-378 Wby, 7mm-416 Rigby. - Dan

In a Mauser action I like the 7x57, in a commercial action get a 7mm Rem Mag.

7X57

Domestic commercial 7X57 ammo is a bit mild. If you handload it's another matter.

By all means the 7x57mm Mauser.All are excellent cartridges, but with the 7/08 you get just that, a 7/08. With the .280 you get a cartridge that rivals the 7mm Rem Mag, but one whose gone through more name changes than Elizabeth Taylor. With the 7x57mm you get a powerful, accurate cartride capable of taking almost all game in North American and you are shooting something that is a veritable piece of history. Great round! Tom Purdom

IF and thats a BIG IF I win I'm going for the 7x57
I've got a buddy who has one in a Ruger Number One and he rants and raves what a cartridge it is.He's pulled off some kills with it that I have personally witnessed that just leave me shaking my head in disbelief,he just smiles and says I love this rifle.
What kind of velocitys can a handloader get with 140s and 160s?

rws2: it entirely depends on what twist rate the barrel has on the the rifle. My CZ 550 American has a 1x8.66 twist which is what the European's like for the heavier bullets. I handload for mine using the Hornady 162 grain SST seated to just .01 inch off the lands. The case (RPs)are stoked with 48.2 grains of H414 and I have federal 210 primers. The CZ has a 23.5 inch barrel and chronographs at 2,815 fps average. I get sub .5 moa with this load. I'm still tweaking the loads, but I don't think I'm going to get any better than that. My brother owns a CZ 550 Full Stock in the same caliber. The same handload (taylored to his rifle though in ovderall cartridge length) gives Duffy between .75 inch and one inch groups with an average velocity of 2,765 fps and his little rifle has a 20.5 inch barrel, but the same twist rate. Go to the SST Reloading Room and click on balistics calculator. Run the load out and you'll see that is could be used for quite a ways out there. Hope this helps ... Tom Purdom

280 Rem, probably the most under-rated caliber in years.

280 Rem without a doubt.

rws2

Go for the 7mm-08,preformance is almost identical to the 7x57 but the 7mm-08 ammo will be more readily avaliable & it uses a short action.

The 280 rem is a great calibre but the 7mm-08 will equal or come very close to its performance with lighter projectiles,especially 130 & 140 grainers & with less recoil,the 280 rem has a slight advantage with heavier projectiles 150 grains + but not substantially so.

I think you would be very happy with any of them.

Good luck

Well I didn't win,the number came out 847 I had 947,close but no cigar.Thanks for all the replys!

Ain't a dimes worth of difference twingst 'em.

I just found myself asking this same question, since I've learned that the 7mm is the minimum caliber that can be used to hunt big game in Namibia. I had planned to use my .257 Roberts on springbok and smaller on my next trip, but it looks like that is out. Since I like the Roberts I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go with the 7x57.

280

On a modern action and rifle and if you reload 7x57. If you use factory ammunition 280R is a better option. What you get with a 7-08, it can be done with any of the other two cartridges and even more

Not much difference between, but for my money, I like and use the .280 Rem. I have taken 4 elk, 3 antelope, 6 whitetails and some African plainsgame with it (Kudu included). Great, easy to shoot. I have no experience with the other 7mm calibers.

Most 7x57 come on a std. action. You might as well have the more versatile .280. No matter how you load a 7-08 it is not a .280, never will be. Same goes for the .280, no matter how you load it, it's not a 7mag.

quote:

Originally posted by rws2:
Probably just dreaming but I have 10 chances on a rifle in my choice of calibers.<br />Would you go with 7mm-08,7x57 or 280Rem.?

If you are a reloader, I believe the .280 is best. But NOT if you have to rely on factory ammo, as the .280 is underloaded for use in the Rem. semi-autos! The 7X57mm is also underloaded except for Hornady's "light magnum" ammo. If you handload, then you can ALMOST but not quite come up to handloaded .280 levels. Factory 7mm/'08 ammo is just about up to that case's maximuim potential. It is a very fine cartridge!

It is hard to say which one is best. I have had 23 wonderful years with my 7mm08 and would not think of switching to anything else for deer. It is not limited to deer but I have a 300SAUM toy for bigger stuff.
Good Luck with your choice.

I have 4 custom 280's but almost never never use them, each is a 1 trick pony & will only shoot 1 load well. I have hunted most of this year with a 270 which i like more because it has solved most of the problems with the 280's.I have a remington 7x57 classic in a borden stock that is a fine well balanced rifle, it has not been in the field for 5+ years. The truth is that the 30'06 is a better more practical, well balanced round than the 280. The 7-08 & 7x57 are so simular that if you have 1 you don't need the other..If you want a .284 round go with a 7mm rem mag.

If I had a long action I would go 280 (in an American made rifle) or 7x64 Brenneke (in a European made rifle) Since I collect Sako rifles and they're European, I went with the 7x64. If I had a short action it would be the 7-08. I have all three and love them equally. If I had to chose one it would be the 7x64 just because it's different. There's no practical difference between them. Lou

quote:

as the .280 is underloaded for use in the Rem. semi-autos!

Federal is doing a good HE load for the 280 Rem.

RWS2,

There isn't a bad cartridge in your choices. The 7x57 is definately a handloading proposition if you want it to really perform. You have a better selection on the 280 as both Federal and Norma do excellent 280 loads, and even the green boxed Remington 140 gr isn't all that bad. The 7mm-08 has the best ammo availability by the US ammo manufactures.

Me I handload, and own both the 280 and the 7x57, so I get all these rounds can be. I don't own a 7mm-08 but that is becasue I have several of the 280/7mm mauser rifles, and a I just haven't run across a 7mm-08 rifle I like, but if the right 7mm-08 came along I wouldn't hestitate to pick one up.

Basically there are no bad options here, all are good choice.

Laffs!! I found the 7mm-08 I like, a Remington M7 Mannlicher! So far, two Axis Deer down, one shot each nothing else required. Also am a big believer in the 7x57mm, but the 7x57 really is a handloading proposition if you intend to get the best performance, thanks to the lawyers! You might think of the 7x64mm Brenekke too, a fine cartridge, and the Euro version of the .280 Remington. Have carried a Steyr Professional in 7x64 as my "hot spare" for over ten years, rarely used it, but I think it's a perfect back up for the hunt when something dreadful happens to my primary rifle.
LLS
Mannlicher Collector

This is merely personal opinion but the 7x57 has been around for over 100 years and still going strong. We're starting to realize what terrific cartridges some of the oldies are, like 6.5x55, 7x57 and 8x57. The Europeans were smarter than we often give them credit for. My major worry would be if the 7mm/08 or .280Rem. don't sell well how long will they last. I've seen Remington drop some calibers that I didn't think would happen. I already own a couple of calibers that are no longer commercially viable. It's just something to think about. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

The solution, Cal, if you are worried about the longevity of a cartridge, is to buy a couple hundred units of unfired brass and a sack of bullets and don't worry about it. It is provable that when a munitions company drops a cartridge because of total indifference on the part of the buying public, it immediately becomes a cult item with a corrosponding increase in price.
I have enough unfired brass for the 7-08, the .280, the 7x57, and the 7RM to last me into the next century.

7x57 works for me. Nothing wrong with a .280, a long throated 7x57 basically is a .280. I never saw a reason for a 7-08 although it's obviously OK.

.280 rem.