I would appreciate comments by those who have owned either a 7x64 or a 280 Rem. Thank you.

Metric is all the rage especially for the bespoke rifle crowd but..... Thank you, no.
I used a 280 for years and let a friend talk me out of it and he uses it to this day. The thing successfully killed deer, pronghorn, Dall sheep, caribou, bear, desert sheep.
I've since built a 280 AI (I can hear the howls from the peanut gallery now) and used it on a Rocky Mountain bighorn this year and suspect it will perform every task ask of it... just like either of your mentioned cartridges will.
Good luck,
Zeke

I would dump both and have 270 Winchester.

A quick glance at the Graf & Sons web site reveals that they stock 81 items in caliber .270 and 114 in caliber 7mm/.280. I think that in itself is enough to tip the scales in favor of 7mm/.280.

quote:

Originally posted by xausa:
A quick glance at the Graf & Sons web site reveals that they stock 81 items in caliber .270 and 114 in caliber 7mm/.280. I think that in itself is enough to tip the scales in favor of 7mm/.280.

I would still prefer a 270 and doubly so if we are talking about a high end custom wood gun and triply so if the action is to be Model 70.

Well this saves me some typing. Was thinking the same thing the other day while planning out my next rifle...

Tagging along to glean information.

For a bolt gun, the .280 is a great cartridge. I have yet to own a 7X64. But think a 7X65R would be slick in a single or double.

There's no doubt that the 270 is a great cartridge. I own several and would never be without something in the rack.
However, loaded to it's potential, the 280 is a near ballistic twin (or better depending on what you look at) with the potential of higher BC bullets and a wider range of bullets weights.
By the way, when did we feel the need to conform when building a custom rifle? Build what you want and others be damned.
My latest plastic stock creation is a 280 AI... because I wanted it (and it kicks ass)! Simple as that!
Have fun regardless of what your decide.
Zeke

you guys are brutal...

Back in the early 80's I bought one of the Ruger 77 silhouette models in 280 Rem. I had sense enough to just do some load work and hunt with it.

Like too many of the nice rifles I have owned the past 35 years, I let a family member talk me out of it. I think I have armed about thirty of them.

This coming year it will be different, I am building a 6,5x68 Shuler and NOT letting it get away.

Sigh...

My go to gun is a .280 Rem. No reason other than it is accurate, hits hard and I have taken 15 to 20 animals with it up to elk and kudu. I have used 140gr Partitians and 140gr TSX's.

I have a .270 as well, like it but always use the .280.

I have three .280's that all shoot well, mild recoil and get the job done.

I am not a 7mm Mag fan due to noise and recoil, but it is a great round too.

No bashing here, just a fan of the .280 Rem.

Wait a minute, did I just agree with ISS? That never happens!!! Slap me please.

I am not a gun expert, nor do I proclaim to be!

However, I have owned a lot of calibers. I shoot factory loads and therefore, have zero loading experience!

A few years back, my son won a Ruger Hawkey R.280 ( I do not believe they make this caliber anymore). My son has used it in Africa to take Waterbuck, Impala, Red Hartebeest and warthog. Last year he shot a cow elk with Nosler partitions. One shot, the elk took three steps and was dead.

There is very little recoil and was/has been an excellent gun to have to get him shooting well.

I have owned 270's. I do like the factory ammo costs and the availability. However, I did not like the recoil compared to the .280.

Years ago, I won a .280 Browning. Sold it to my friend for $300 (never shot). Wish I still had it for my youngest son!

I have owned and shot a lot of game ranging in size from coyote to elk, and in distance from 10 to 450 yards with both, as well as with the 7x65R. There is not a lick of difference, performance-wise, between the three; if you but an appropriate bullet in the right place, game dies quickly. For North America, the .280 is easier to get ammo for. For Europe and Africa, the 7x64 is easier to get ammo for.

They will do anything the .270 WCF will do, only with a much better selection/wider range of bullets.

As to ballistics, you can use the same reloading data, so that's a push...Availability of brass is also a push these days! I would probably opt for the 280 for no particularly good reason other than its an American innovation, and that's a pretty lame reasoning come to think of it..Bottom line? it has to be your choice..

I guess that is why I have usually opted for the 7x57, it works just as well for me..I have shot and hunted with all three calibers, they all work great.