Keep .280 Rem or sell for something else?

[bme27]

Looking for some advice. I have a Winchester Model 70 in .280 Rem that I’m considering selling to buy something else. Biggest reasons are ammo/brass availability and weight. I just got into reloading and will working on a load for it if I decide to keep it (getting a load for my 308 Marlin Express had to come first).

Reloading allows a person to shoot any cartridge they want, but I like the idea of being able to get factory ammo if I don’t have the time to reload (I have three kids under 4).

If I sell it, I’d look at getting a 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, .308, or probably something else in a short action as I would want this rifle to be my Idaho mountain rifle and cutting weight while hunting the mountains in Idaho I do hunt is helpful.

let me know if I’m crazy for thinking of selling the .280, or throw out any suggestions on rifles and cartridges you would sell it for to pick up.

 

[Cfish]

Keep the .280, coming from a guy that has shot a .308 his whole adult life.
You will regret getting rid of it. And since you just got into reloading you half of your issue solved.

 

[Jerry M]

.280 Remington is a very under rated cartridge. Excellent high BC bullets available.

 

[sage5907]

I have two Winchester 70 rifles that are chambered for the 280 Remington and I literally love them. The recoil is not harsh and they are a very powerful big game cartridge. I reload my own ammunition and my favorite load is the Nosler 140 grain Partition bullet in front of 54 grains of IMR 4831. It is a true long range cartridge and I have taken big deer with them. I would urge you to take up reloading because components are readily available. My favorite brass is Nosler, second choice is Winchester and 3rd choice is Remington. My favorite place to order components is Precision Reloading, but I also buy components on the Long Range Hunting Forum that has some really good people. You can find loaded ammunition on GunBroker as a last resort but it will be expensive. Keep the rifle and enjoy shooting it because you probably won't do any better.

 

[bme27]

I have two Winchester 70 rifles that are chambered for the 280 Remington and I literally love them. The recoil is not harsh and they are a very powerful big game cartridge. I reload my own ammunition and my favorite load is the Nosler 140 grain Partition bullet in front of 54 grains of IMR 4831. It is a true long range cartridge and I have taken big deer with them. I would urge you to take up reloading because components are readily available. My favorite brass is Nosler, second choice is Winchester and 3rd choice is Remington. My favorite place to order components is Precision Reloading, but I also buy components on the Long Range Hunting Forum that has some really good people. You can find loaded ammunition on GunBroker as a last resort but it will be expensive. Keep the rifle and enjoy shooting it because you probably won't io any better.

I will have to try that load out. The load I am prepping to do for it now is 120 grain Barnes TTSX over 59.5 grains of Superformance, found on Hodgdons website. But it seems everyone with a 280 loved 4831 so I will have to get a bottle of it.

 

[LocoGringo]

I'll be the enabler...

Keep the .280 and buy a 7mm-08. They can share the bullets and primers for reloading and you can have a lightweight rifle in the 7mm-08 for your mountain hunting. You'll have A LOT covered with those 2 rifles.

Edit to add: maybe look into having the 280 barrel reamed out to 280 Ackley Improved and get even MORE performance out of it with the same reloading components. Just a thought...

 

[troy fairweather]

I would tell you to sell it to me but unfortunately I don't have the money right now,so yes keep it. One of the best cartridges out there.

 

[tdbmd]

Looking for some advice. I have a Winchester Model 70 in .280 Rem that I’m considering selling to buy something else. Biggest reasons are ammo/brass availability and weight. I just got into reloading and will working on a load for it if I decide to keep it (getting a load for my 308 Marlin Express had to come first).

Reloading allows a person to shoot any cartridge they want, but I like the idea of being able to get factory ammo if I don’t have the time to reload (I have three kids under 4).

If I sell it, I’d look at getting a 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, .308, or probably something else in a short action as I would want this rifle to be my Idaho mountain rifle and cutting weight while hunting the mountains in Idaho I do hunt is helpful.

let me know if I’m crazy for thinking of selling the .280, or throw out any suggestions on rifles and cartridges you would sell it for to pick up.

I have a 7mm-08, 6.5 CM and .308. I love the .280 but as much for the rifle as the cartridge. Mine is a Cooper and shoots spectacularly. The others are great too but if were to go after bigger game, like elk or moose, I would probably reach for the .280. I have handholds specifically for each rifle and my 7mm-08 is a 120 grain gun

 

[codytrucker]

I have a model 70FW .280 , shoots very well with 140 or 150 grain partitions and H4831 . I believe if Winchester had made the .270 be the .280 instead , and loaded it to the same pressure as the .270 it would of been the dominate cartridge of the twentieth century , and we never would of had the .264 , 7mm and maybe not even the .300 magnums . Wouldn't of been enough difference to make a difference .

I would try to see what you can get out of that rifle before you think about selling or trading it .

 

[DM~]

Doing something stupid like selling the 280, would just make someone else happy. lol

DM

 

[.308 Norma]

If I sell it, I’d look at getting a 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, .308, or probably something else in a short action as I would want this rifle to be my Idaho mountain rifle and cutting weight while hunting the mountains in Idaho I do hunt is helpful.

IMO, all three (the 6.5 Creed, the 7mm-08 and the 308 Winchester) are excellent Idaho big game cartridges. I myself started hunting Idaho big game with a .308 Winchester (I still have it) 60+ years ago, my wife has 2, 7mm-08s (one of which our oldest daughter kind of laid claim to) and our youngest grandson uses a 6.5 Creed. They all work swell for Idaho big game hunting.
That said, although I've never had one, I think a 280 Remington would work just as "swell." The fact is, though my wife uses a 7mm Remington Mag for Idaho big game hunting nowadays, the loads she uses in it are more like 280 Remington or 7mm-08 "+P" loads. The only reason she chose a 7mm Rem Mag in the first place was because she wanted a customized big game rifle of her own, and the rifle (a Model 70 with the "pre-64" action) she found to have customized just happened to be chambered in 7mm Rem Mag.
And as far as "cutting weight while hunting the mountains in Idaho" goes, how much weight do you think you're going to "cut" by changing to a "short action" rifle? A pound or two, maybe? By this time next week, I can easily lose as much weight as you're likely to "cut" off any big game rifle, and I'd be better off health-wise for losing it. For that matter, even my custom built 308 Norma Mag with its synthetic stock doesn't go much over 8 lbs. scoped, slung and loaded.
Please don't get me wrong though - if you want a new or different rifle for hunting Idaho big game, go for it! I've never been one to not buy a gun I wanted, and at 75 (almost 76) years old, I'm probably not going to start.

 

[LoonWulf]

I'll be the enabler...

Keep the .280 and buy a 7mm-08. They can share the bullets and primers for reloading and you can have a lightweight rifle in the 7mm-08 for your mountain hunting. You'll have A LOT covered with those 2 rifles.

Edit to add: maybe look into having the 280 barrel reamed out to 280 Ackley Improved and get even MORE performance out of it with the same reloading components. Just a thought...

+1

My primary hunting rifle is a Ridgeline in .280AI, its backup (after the .375 Abolt) is a 7-08 Mesa.

 

[6.8 hunter]

I would get rid of it and get a 308 if you are dead set on a short action. Tikka 308 top of the list but also Remington, Browning.

 

[High Plains]

Keep the 280 Remington. It is everything the 270 Winchester is and can use heavier bullets, such as the 162 grain Hornady ELD-X or 160 grain Swift A-Frame. I have a 270 Win and a 280 Rem and there isn’t a breath of difference in them as far as what big game animals you can reasonable hunt with either rifle. In other words, you don’t need a .284 cal “magnum” to fill a void in the hunting battery. Shot placement matters more than velocity within reasonable hunting ranges. The 280 factory ammo is limited———so keep your empty cases and when you start reloading this cartridge will show you how easy it is to work up a load with the level of accuracy you want.

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

I have been shooting a Win. FW in .280 for 35 years........About 5 years ago I added a Remington 700 Bdl clip feed .280.......I see no reason to change.........You couldn't run fast enough to give me a 6.5 creedmore or any of the other creedmore cartridge rifles.

 

[.45Coltguy]

High Plains' post pretty much nailed it. The .280 may be a bit better than the .270, and, if you can edge the .270, well, that says a lot. Keep your .280.

 

[Hookeye]

If you like a long action bolt gun.............keep the .280 Rem.

 

[JDeere]

Keep the .280 you will regret selling that Model 70. As mentioned get a 7-08 to add to the stable. I almost bought a model 70 in 7-08 the other day until I decided I did not need another. You can only carry one at a time out in the field...

 

[1948CJ2A]

Another vote for keeping the 280. I just recently acquired one earlier this year and took it to the range for the first time this week. It shot about as nice as it looks and its one of my nicer looking rifles. Keep the 280 and get a short action lightweight setup in a common chambering if you're dead set on going down that path.

 

[GooseGestapo]

re: .280Rem brass…. It only takes a single pass of a .270 case through a .280 die and “voila”, you have a .280 case!
I have 6- .30/06, two- .270’s, a 7mmMag, and a .7mm08, not to mention the other dozen smaller and larger ones! Guess which two I took to Wyoming this year?
The two 7’s!
Tomorrow is my birthday, If you want to “unload” the .280 Win Mod 70, PM me and I’ll treat myself to a .280 also…

re: the .308 Marlin Express…
I can save you a lot of trouble working up a load:
I use the Hornady 160gr FTX over 41.5gr of LVR, or 42.5gr of CFE-223.
Either will duplicate the original factory ammo.
I’m rather fond of it! It’s actually a better “deer” rifle than either of the TWO .338 Marlins I own! (ME and a MXLR).
I bought a bunch of Hornady 160gr “blems” about 5yrs ago for CHEAP, so I’m set for components. That, and owning THREE! .30/30’s, I’m set for other weight bullets too! (Speer 130, 150, and 170gr Flat Nose are particularly good!).
Not to mention CAST bullets…

 

[tominboise]

I would get rid of it and get a 308 if you are dead set on a short action. Tikka 308 top of the list but also Remington, Browning.

Unless something has changed, I thought all Tikkas were long action rifles, with different bolt stops for long or short action cartridges. At least mine seem to be that way.

 

[Laphroaig]

And as far as "cutting weight while hunting the mountains in Idaho" goes, how much weight do you think you're going to "cut" by changing to a "short action" rifle?

According to official Winchester specs, a short action M70 featherweight is 4 oz. lighter than a standard length action.

 

[dranrab]

Keep the 280 AND buy a lighter mountain rifle.

 

[Rodfac]

According to official Winchester specs, a short action M70 featherweight is 4 oz. lighter than a standard length action.

Point being, it's not enough to mention. That said, my #2 son has a Sako Finnebar .280 which is the family accuracy champ by a wide margin. With the variety of 7mm bullets available for handloading and the cartridge's powder room, you've got a rifle that's good for anything in N. America short of the big bears. Flat shooting, superb bullets, a reputation for outstanding accuracy and versatility from 100 gr varmint pellets to 170-180 gr partitions that are elk/moose medicine, I doubt you can do better. Best regards, and KEEP THE .280. Rod

 

[Bill M.]

I have not seen anything here that makes me want to sell my model 70 in .280. But then I am a sorta caliber does not matter much guy, Nor really the action length. A well placed hit is the important thing. Mine is a featherweight and the group opens up quickly after 3 shots. But...it sure puts the first 2 in the same place consistently from one time to the next. There is no wrong answer for you. Sell it and get something else or keep it. Both ideas work. And...there is certainly nothing magic about a .280 regardless of how some people feel. I got mine because I am too wimpy to want a 7mm mag. in a hunting weight gun.