I am getting ready to order a new barreled action from MRC, in fact I had planned to do it today but now I have started to second guess my initial choice of actions and chambering.
Originally I was going to order a stainless Lefty long action with a 24 inch #3 fluted barrel chambered in 280 Rem., but since I don't own any short actions anymore so now I am thinking of a Lefty short action chanbered in 7mm-08 with the same barrel configuration.
This will primiarily be a whitetail rifle with the typical shot being less than 300 yards.
Which would you choose or what would you change and why?
Thanks for any input,
Droptine

[ 02-21-2003, 23:07: Message edited by: Droptine ]

Droptine:

Welcome to AR.

If I wanted to build a compact light rifle I would select the 7mm-08. I would prefer the 280 as an all around hunting cartridge because of its ability to handle heavier bullets at higher velocities than the 7mm-08.

Buliwyf

I like the 7mm-08 a lot, and it's all you need for whitetail. On the other hand I have been very impressed with some of the ballistics data I've seen for the .280 Ackley Improved. Doggone thing is about a whisker shy of 7mm mag performance while burning less powder. Note that I haven't tried the improved version of the .280 myself.

I think your rifle choice boils down to if you want a short action or a long action bolt gun. Regards, Guy

Droptine,

I would choose the longer action because I know me. I know that sometime down the road, I would probably change my mind and want a different caliber and would not want to be stuck, if you could call it that, with neccessarily a short action and I am very fond of short actions. Both calibers are fine for what you want. The only advise I would give you would be to think ahead before cementing the deal.

Malm

I can't see any benifit to a short action, it is not enough lighter or shorter than a standard action to really gain anything, that being said, the 280 is much more versitile because bullets don't intrude into powder space. However if you like the 7-08 go that route & make yourself happy.

Well I have both and I wouldnt want to give up either one.It truly would be a tough choice for me.In my case I slightly prefer the 7-08 because it is a model 70 featherweight and the 280 is a ruger 77 mark II.The winchester is the fastest handling rifle I have ever used for me it points like my o/u shotgun they both have 22 inch barrels so I dont know if the short action or the stocks make the difference.w/regards

In all honesty, you cant really go wrong with either cartridge. It is up to your whim. The 7-08 is an excellent cartridge; the little buggar will handle just about anything you care to shoot with it, especially deer.I have had excellent results with the 7-08 and 150gr barnes xfb's. There is so little meat damage with this rifle, which is defenetly something it has up on the 280. Less velocity can be a good thing.

Or go the middle road and get a short action (slightly shorter & lighter) in 7x57. Handles long bullets better than the 7mm-08, but fits in the M1999 short action. Make it all "wild" and have it headstamped .275 Rigby - snob effect

I'd put a 22" 2# barrel on it. Don't like long barrels, and find #2 contour enough for .284 cal. I'd use that barrel configuration for all your choices, or a 24" in a 7 mm Magnum.

Other than that, either of the choices you list will do the job on whitetails just fine. If elk are in the cards, the 7x57 or the .280 win hands down.

Have fun with whatever you choose
- mike

[ 02-22-2003, 01:20: Message edited by: mho ]

If you need more than 2700 fps with a 139 grain Hornady then your whitetail needs are pretty specialized. Perfect bullet performance, excellent accuracy and light recoil. My seven is a 7x57 mauser but your choices are right in line with the under 300 yard all around rifle.

There's really no "better" between the two. Either will cleanly take the largest deer on the planet past 300 yards and well beyond the ability of most shooters under field conditions. It just depends on what you already have, what you want to do with it, and what you really want (the most important criterion).

I used a 7mm Rem Mag exclusively for over 20 years. 24" #4 rust blued barrel on a Mauser 98 action, Fajen stock, the full custom route. I've since downsized to 7-08. The deer in the freezer are all equally as dead as the 7mmRem Mag made them, but the rifle is a pleasure to tote around. Mine is actually a 7-08AI with a 22" #2 stainless Shilen Match Grade on a Sako 591 action in a pillar bedded McMillan stock. With a Leupold 2.5-8 Vari-X III it weighs exactly 8 pounds and balances very well. 140gr bullets leave the snout at close to 3050fps and group beautifully. This route is no better than going with a .280. It was just my choice.

It's not like going with a long action with a 24" #3 barrel will wear you down to a mere nothing. No matter which you get, you will be happy.

Well let's see, I currently have 2 rifles in 270 win, one is a 700 BDL and the other is a 700LSS, I have 2 7mags. one 700 BDL and one 700 LSS, I have a 700 BDL in 25-06 and one Ruger M77 in 257 Roberts but it is a right hand and all the others are lefties. I have always wanted a 280 just because I like the caliber on paper and my oldest son has one that he bought 3 years ago and it is an awesome deer gun. I have a strong like of stainless rifles and want to build something in left hand with a fluted barrel just because I like them. With all of my other lefties being long actions and not hurting for range I got to thinking that maybe I should go short action this time.
I had thought about just re-barreling the 270 700LSS but I have a 2 year old grandson who just happens to be left handed and I would like for him to have the LSS when he gets older.
Droptine

[ 02-22-2003, 06:32: Message edited by: Droptine ]

Droptine, I am confronted with nearly the same question, except have already settled on the short action. You may have noticed the Montana short action is actually an intermediate length action which, according to the measurements given by Rod at MRC = 3.125" cartridge feeding length.

This seems a bit long for the 7mm08 but fits the 7mm mauser nearly perfect with the bullets seated well out of the powder space, according to my measurements. My dilemma is to choose between the 7mm mauser, 7mm improved or the .284 winchester. Mr. Belk and some others make a strong case against the straight wall, sharp shouldered cases, but if they could be made to feed well, they should be a bunch of fun. I know this, the 7mm08 and the .280 are deadly on deer. good luck in your choice.

Some Ackley conversions are well worth it, such as the 250AI and the 257 Roberts AI. Most do not gain a whole lot, including my 7-08AI. Some of the new short magnums are having feeding problems due to the straight sidewalls and sharp shoulders, from what I hear. But when it comes to feeding, an Ackley-style cartridge that doesn't feed well only needs a better gunsmith. There's no reason to own a repeating rifle that doesn't feed flawlessly. Just remember that feeding flawlessly and feeding smoothly are not quite the same thing, as Jack will tell you.

Droptine,

I bought a M70 Compact rifle a couple of years ago, but really just started using it last deer season. The Compact model has a 20" barrel and is lightweight, which makes it great for toting around and climbing into deer blinds.

I like the rifle and cartridge for what it is: a short, lightweight, easy kicking rifle, with a reasonable range for medium and small game. It is also a good rifle for a youngster or someone tired of hard kicking guns. There's no real point in hotrodding it--if you need better performance, use better bullets in the 7-08 or step up to larger cartridge.

You really can't lose either way. Have fun with your project.

Steve

[ 02-22-2003, 20:49: Message edited by: Need Just 1 More Gun ]

For whitetails to 300 yards you don't need a 24" barrel. Neither do you need a long action. Since I carry them more than I shoot them there is no reason to have a 8.5 lb rifle unless you want a long range deal in a magnum.

I would make a 7 MM WSM with a 22" barrel. It will be the same weight and length as a 7 MM 08 and can be loaded down to it's ballistics or a 7 MM Mauser if you will. Such a rifle will have far more flexiblity and could top out in weight at less than 7.5 lbs if care is taken in stock, scope and barrel contours.

The 7-08 is the ticket. With 140 Gr bullets and a case full of WW760 powder it will shoot as fast as the 280 and seems to be more consistently accurate. Less powder for the same velocity means longer throat life and less recoil. My $.02

GMalmborg, thanks for your thoughts on the Ackley improved cartridges. The "strong case", if I understand the zillion threads I read to try to better understand them, gave me the impression they are more difficult to make feed smoothly and hide high pressure warning signs which can get folks who like to go fast in trouble. I have always wanted an ackley and may try the 7mm improved on the Montana short action. The length of the Montana short action was what I thought Droptine may not know, that is is a little longer than some other short actions. Thus the intermediate length cartridges should fit it perfect.

SST, thanks for your thoughts on the Ackleys also. I think that will be my choice, life is too short to not have some fun.

Droptine, have you made your choice?

Fanback: what speeds do you get in the7/08 and the full case of w760?
I shoot the 139 sst and 49.9 grs of w760 in my 24in tube but haven't had the time to
check the speed yet(plan to this summer).
I did check the speed of a speer 130 gr bullet and45gr of IMr 4064 got an average of 3 shot group of 3120.
I have a 24 in barrel Rem in 280 also but haven't checked the speed yet.Still working on a load for it.

Got both. 280 in Rem 700 Mt Rifle will handle the full range of 7mm bullets due to long action, mine seems to like 140 and 150 Barnes X. Those will handle any deer and even elk.
7/08 is in Model 7 stainless, weighs only 7 lbs loaded. Generally limited to 140 gr bullets due to magazine and case size. Super deer gun but won't match the 280 in velocity. When both are maxed out with powders they prefer (280--RL19, 7/08--IMR 4350)in 140 gr, the 280 gets about 150 fps better.
Deer only=7/08 (less recoil). Deer,esp big deer, and perhaps elk, caribou, black bear, who knows ...moose=280.