280 fans

[1stmarine]

My understanding is that the rebated rim was part of the issue with 284 Win, and also just the massive success of the 7mm mag. 284 is a very popular basis for wildcatters, and if not for them it would be at least 20 yrs completely forgot.

People do wildcats but if people only realized that the 284 performs better as-is than any of its wilcats.
A magnum is a magnum but if one wants top performance with less powder the 284 is is a very strong case that offers several advantages.

- Uses the 308 size bolt heads.
- It gives amazing loads in Short Action some comparable to the 280.
- While in the SA is more restricted, it is perfect for a midsize action like mauser 98 and in long actions and with extra freebore makes an amazing long range round and Fclass trophy winner.
The case is amazingly efficient like a 6mm BR but with almost twice the capacity of the small BR can propel 175-180gr bullets to 2,900-3000 fps. with less powder than other cases and w/o getting into the extra expense, blast and barrel wear of SAUM, WSM and other magnums or larger cases.

 

[Jim Watson]

Black Powder smoke was an issue. When the Krag rifle was adapted the magazine was to be on cut off. The rifle was to be used as a single shot?

This was not a surprise to anybody. We had the smokeless .45-70 interim ammo, we had the Krag as of 1892, we just didn't have the money to issue it to everybody in the Army and Guard.

Yes, the Krag had a magazine cutoff so you could apply American Marksmanship one at a time until you goaded the enemy into a charge whereupon you opened the magazine and let him have it rapid fire. The 1903 Springfield had a cutoff, early Lee Metfords and Lee Enfields had cutoffs, the Ross rifle had a cutoff. It seemed to be a hangup with Anglophones with a horror of wasting ammo. Nobody I know of east of the Channel bothered.

Back to the .280. If you tend to forget or lose your ammo and have to restock in a small town hardware store, you probably should shoot Something Else.

 

[X-Rap]

And I always thought the magazine cutoff was so the gun could be topped off while maintaining loaded chamber status.
Never heard of the explanation above.

 

[Jim Watson]

You can top up a Krag at any time it has less than five in the magazine, position of the cutoff immaterial.
1903s and other top loading bolt actions with cutoffs, you cannot.

The .455 Webley Automatic had a cutoff of a sort. The magazine has two notches. The top notch holds the magazine in the gun but with the top round below the breech so you are in single shot mode with the magazine in reserve. Push it in to the bottom notch and cut loose. The RAF had some funny ideas. Also good thoughts as the commander said: "A smart uniform to wear, a fast aeroplane to fly, and Germans to shoot at. What more could a young man ask for?"

 

[X-Rap]

Yes, the Krag had a magazine cutoff so you could apply American Marksmanship one at a time until you goaded the enemy into a charge whereupon you opened the magazine and let him have it rapid fire.

So your saying the Krag had a cutoff so they could fire a bolt action as a single shot until the enemy charged then you'd fire the bolt action rapid fire?
This is the purpose of the cutoff?

 

[Dog Soldier]

Yes, that was the thinking of the day. We have people today that adhere to that philosophy. Don't start a youngster out with a repeater? Make sure they learn to shoot with a single shot.

 

[Dog Soldier]

I mean this in a polite manner Jim. But being able to buy ammo in a small town would restrict 99 % of all modern hunting calibers.

 

[Jim Watson]

My point exactly.
I live in a rather small town and until we got a big chain store a few years ago, factory load selection was poor.