I have desided on buying a dedicated whitail rifle and after considering a great meny factors (not the least of which is that I reload for other 7MMs and have 1500+ bullets in .284 from both Hornady and Nosler) I have chosen the .280 Remington.

As I am sure you are all aware of, not to meny people make rifles in .280 Remington. As far as I am awere, only Remington, Ruger, and Savage do.

So I am wondering what type of rifle do .280 Remington fans own, and what if any were the reasons for buying that particular make of rifle.

At present I am leaning towards a Ruger in SS with a laminated stock, but I also have several Remingtons in SS/SYN that are absolute tach drivers.

I would greatly appreciate any and all input that is honest and factually based.

Regards,
Bigfoot.

There are a bunch of european makers that make fine rifles in 7X64, and in 7X65R, the ballistic twins and predecessors of the american 280.

You might want to check out these makers if you will reload for the 7mm bullet anyway.

Just a thought.

Jameister
7X65R double rifle and single shot, and 7X64 mauser.

I have a pair of .280's -- one is an old model (tang safety) Ruger M77; the other is a Winchester M70 XTR Featherweight w/factory synthetic stock. I traded for the Ruger about 17-18 years ago, mostly because I had wanted one for years. I've found it to be just about the perfect deer rifle, using 145 gr Speer boattails or Grand Slams. I've also killed several pronghorns and one elk with it. I bought the Winchester because it was too interesting to pass up. I've only killed one deer with it, but its time will come.

I would look at used rifles too -- I've found most of mine that way. Lots of companies have chambered for the .280 at various times. Good luck in your search -- once you hunt with one, you'll be a fan too.

an early remington mountain rifle in walnut/blue. mine is a real shooter. 22" tube. 8# with ammo scope and a full mag.
early ones are much nicer than the new ones. overall fit and finish is very good.
woofer

I'm considering buying a Ruger #1 in 280. I was thinking of replacing the stock on my m77 7mmrem mag but now I'm reconsidering and thinking of a swap for the 280.
My reasoning of dropping the 7mag is I'm looking for a 338mag class rifle and that would be what I look to when a magnum is needed.
I've shot the 280 in the past and it was allways a craving of mine to own one.
The ruger #1 in 280 has a 26" barrel and should be a great long range elk and caribou set up.

I have a push feed Win. featherweight, and a Rem. model 4 semi-auto. The featherweight realy shoots with balistic tips and Reloader22.

Foot,
I don't own one, but I am on the lookout for one myself. The Classic caliber for 1997 was .280. That also happens to be the year that my son was born. I would love to find one of those rifles and put it up for him. One of these days I will. I am shooting all around the .280 right now, with a 7mm/08, and a 7mm Rem mag. I still would like to own the .280 though, it is a perfect caliber. Good luck on your search!

The 280 is my whitetail rifle. Normally use the Ruger MKII 77 or the Ruger No.1. Ihave seen Sako,Weatherby and Winchester in 280 inthe recent past. Seems like that you could find a donor rifle and have one real good rifle made up for you at not too great a cost. Have you considered a T/C??

I have 4 of them. An early Ruger 77 a custom 03 springfield and a Rem 760 pump.My last one was built on a Tikka model 65 action. Tikka made this rifle in 7x64 but not the 280. Couldn't find a 7x64 so I picked up a model 65 with a damaged barrel.This is my main whitetail rifle.I like the smooth action and the 5 shot det clip magazine.Some of the area I hunt deer in requires frequent loading and unloading of the rifle and a clip is desireable.I was very disappointed when Sako bought out Tikka and promptly quite making the model 55 and 65 rifles. The new Tikka's are still very smooth but they have new features such as a plastic clip magazine. No thanks! Somedays its tough deciding which one to carry.

Mine is on a M70 action w/ custom stock & barrel. If I were buying a factory rifle I would look @ a M70FW or M700 MR (an older model w/o DM would be preferred). A great cart. in a lt.wt. rifle.

Mine is a Ruger 77mkII wood stock fiberglass bedded w/Jewell trigger a very accurate fast handling rifle.I had a Ruger 1B in 280 that was very accurate after some accuracy work and a trigger but as much as I liked looking at it as it had one of the nicest pieces of wood I have ever seen on a Ruger.For me it did not point and handle well so I found it a new home,wish they made it in a 1A.w/regards

Bigfoot,

My rifle is marked 7mm Express Remington, but of course it really is a .280 Remington built during the short time when Remington was trying a name change.

It is built on a M721 Remington action using a target contoured, air-gauged Douglas barrel in a Macmillan synthetic stock. It is a half-minute rifle or better from the bench. I used it for metallic silhouette.

jim dodd

Mine is a Sako and it is the nicest gun I have ever owned,wood is beautiful and workmanship top class. When the original barrel started to get tired I had it rebarreled in 280 Ackley Improved and it is now my do anything, go anywhere rifle.Compared to the other current manufacturers offerings a Sako is something you would want the grandkids to have someday.

i have 4-custom mauser in wood stock,custom m70 in borden stock, rem 700ks ,and mountain eagle on sako action with hs stock..it's an ok round but i'd stick with an '06 as a using cartridge..winchester brass in nickle plated, remington often has off center primers and norma brass is very soft..all my rifles are very load specifoc ie the m70 only shoots 154 hornadys, the mauser 160 sierras, the ks 150 partations..with the load they like they are all accurate and kill large hogs very well but so does a 257 roberts or an '06 or a 7x57

just got a 2003 winchester and they have dropped the 280 in the feather weight..i'd try to find 1

I have two 280s - both are Sako AVs, of course. Besides the 358 Win and the 6.5x55, I really like the 280 for mule deer and the like. If you can find an A series Sako in 280, I know you won't disappointed. No, none of mine are for sale.

[ 01-29-2003, 07:35: Message edited by: DOCTOR LOU ]

I have a Ruger stainless. I promptly discarded the synthetic stock. It was the uguliest thing I had ever seen. The gun has been restocked with a niece piece of wood, had a trigger job,Neidner checkered butt plate and metal pistol grip cap. Kinda of a semi custom rifle. Topped with a Leopold 3.5X10 it likes 150gr NBT. I have taken several Whitetails, a Black Bear, & a Caribou with it.

I have a Ruger #1B in .280 which will go into the pine box with me. It is a one shot, 'dead in the dirt', rifle with 140 gr. Hornady light mags (moly-coated). What's a second round for?

I have had absolute confidence in this rifle AFTER it was fully accurized. Before that, I just loved it for its looks, strength, and firmness 'on point'. Then I found they could be made to shoot consitently accurately too!

It now has a Leupold 6x42 scope -- it deserves it since it has accounted fro about 75% of my deer -- including a 16 point SE Whitetail.

There are four other #1s in the gun safe now and a .25-06 is getting ready to make a run at the .280 from the second chair at the great Wyoming antelope and deer hunt next fall. 1B

Mauser VZ 24 action and 280 barrel in progress.

lotsa .280 shooters out there. I have a mountain rifle that is beautiful. No lie. Its one of the first rifles I pull out when I'm showing off at home. It shoots okay for hunting but certainly isn't one you take to the range when you want to impress someone. I keep it 'cause I like to look at it. The second one is a BDL with a euro stock on it. Now it is a shooter. And good looking in its own right. One interesting thing, even tho I acquired the two rifles years apart, hand loaded ammo is pretty much identical. same head space, bullet jump, etc.

I have a browns precision 280 ai. I bought it because I got a great deal and i "needed" an expensive goat hunting rifle to replace my cheap savage 110 in .300 win.mag. The savage did a great job but when i dropped it or used it to stop a fall it didn't cost enough to make me cry, the browns precision does.

I've got a Ruger M77 MKII that I have had customized. It has a Pacnor 24" stainless
super match barrel in their #1 contour, Timney
trigger, Speedlock firing pin, Rimrock stock.
The action has been teflon finished. I finished
the stock, trigger, and firing pin. With a
Nikon 3x9 Monarch it weighs 7 3/4lbs. It shoots
very well. I've always liked the Ruger action
but wanted a 24" barrel and lighter weight.

David