.280 Rem. Mountain Rifle

[Capttom67]

Good morning folks, I have a 280 mountain rifle that I've had for years and it is a great deer and bear rifle. I have hand loaded everything from 140 grain to 160 grain
Bullets for it, and can usually get a one to one and a half inch group at 100 yd traveling roughly 2,900 to 3,000 fps.
I am scheduled for a moose hunt in Newfoundland this fall and was thinking I should try to hand load some 175 grain bullets. Any thoughts on powders and loads for this?
I have 90% been using 4831 hoddson. powder. Thanks Captain Tom

 

[Capttom67]

Tom,
I forgot to mention in my first post that I have owned 3 Rem 700 Mtn Rifles in 280 Rem over the years, but unfortunately never could get any of them to shoot less than 1" groups with factory ammo or handloads with 140-160 gr bullets. I attributed it to the pencil thin barrels, but there were bedding issues that I did correct on the latter two rifles after learning more, but only gained some improvement. Was disappointed because I really liked the mtn rifle configuration, weight, and checkering pattern. The 280 Rem is a favourite cartridge of mine!
I am happy to hear that yours is performing well for you.

I never did try the 175 gr bullets, in any of my previous, or current, 280 Rem rifles (current is a LH Rem 700 XCR that also has a LSS stock for fair weather/not so rugged terrain hunts), so couldn't provide any advice or other comment on 175 gr loads for you.

Hopefully the info others have provided will net you a good load!
A 175 gr bullet at 2800+ fps will be a tough combination to beat for large game!

 

[Capttom67]

Sorry not to have posted a report sooner
I really appreciated all the info you guys gave me Thank you again! I developed a load that shut excellent in my 280 mountain rifle with 175 grain nostler AccuBond bullets, velocity 2600 FPS accuracy 1-in groups at 100 2-in groups at 200 yards. It was a beautiful trip and long story short I had an either or license (bull or cow) and my hunting partner had a bull only license. Second day of our hunt a really big cow stood up 30 yards away and the guy said Who wants it!? My buddy said I'd like to shoot that one: I thought for about 5 seconds and then I told him go ahead use my license which he could do. He was shooting a Remington 3006 with hand loads with nosler Partition bullets 180 grain. I was about 6 ft away from him and he drilled it It was a chip shot
We spent the rest of the day till mid-afternoon getting the moose out It dressed out about 700 lb. Of course I was limited to a bull only now and long story short we hunted hard for the next three and a half days and never saw a bull that I could shoot. Had opportunities for two more cows again fairly easy shots which I know I could have made. We had made a pact to share any meet 50/50 before the hunt So I got half of that moose
I never got to pull the trigger of my 280 but the thrill was the same as if I shot that cow myself: That's what you do for buddies There was only one bull shot that week a couple of Massachusetts hunters missed and easy shot at a bull at about 60 yards
I am sure I could have dropped any moose we spotted with my 280 There was one cow about 190 yd which I put my scope on and I know I could have dropped her but again You didn't Have the license.Oh Well
I did shoot a four-pointer white tail when I got home in Vt. Rifle season with the same bullets.. dropped in its tracks
I will apply for a lottery moose permit in Vermont and New Hampshire in 2026 and maybe I'll get lucky?
So that's the story guys again I appreciate all the help I hope you have a very Christmas and a Happy New Year
Best regards Captain Tom Malanchuk

 

[Capttom67]

Sorry not to have posted a report sooner
I really appreciated all the info you guys gave me Thank you again! I developed a load that shut excellent in my 280 mountain rifle with 175 grain nostler AccuBond bullets, velocity 2600 FPS accuracy 1-in groups at 100 2-in groups at 200 yards. It was a beautiful trip and long story short I had an either or license (bull or cow) and my hunting partner had a bull only license. Second day of our hunt a really big cow stood up 30 yards away and the guy said Who wants it!? My buddy said I'd like to shoot that one: I thought for about 5 seconds and then I told him go ahead use my license which he could do. He was shooting a Remington 3006 with hand loads with nosler Partition bullets 180 grain. I was about 6 ft away from him and he drilled it It was a chip shot
We spent the rest of the day till mid-afternoon getting the moose out It dressed out about 700 lb. Of course I was limited to a bull only now and long story short we hunted hard for the next three and a half days and never saw a bull that I could shoot. Had opportunities for two more cows again fairly easy shots which I know I could have made. We had made a pact to share any meet 50/50 before the hunt So I got half of that moose
I never got to pull the trigger of my 280 but the thrill was the same as if I shot that cow myself: That's what you do for buddies There was only one bull shot that week a couple of Massachusetts hunters missed and easy shot at a bull at about 60 yards
I am sure I could have dropped any moose we spotted with my 280 There was one cow about 190 yd which I put my scope on and I know I could have dropped her but again You didn't Have the license.Oh Well
I did shoot a four-pointer white tail when I got home in Vt. Rifle season with the same bullets.. dropped in its tracks
I will apply for a lottery moose permit in Vermont and New Hampshire in 2026 and maybe I'll get lucky?
So that's the story guys again I appreciate all the help I hope you have a very Christmas and a Happy New Year
Best regards Captain Tom Malanchuk

 

[Capttom67]

Sorry not to have posted a report sooner
I really appreciated all the info you guys gave me Thank you again! I developed a load that shut excellent in my 280 mountain rifle with 175 grain nostler AccuBond bullets, velocity 2600 FPS accuracy 1-in groups at 100 2-in groups at 200 yards. It was a beautiful trip and long story short I had an either or license (bull or cow) and my hunting partner had a bull only license. Second day of our hunt a really big cow stood up 30 yards away and the guy said Who wants it!? My buddy said I'd like to shoot that one: I thought for about 5 seconds and then I told him go ahead use my license which he could do. He was shooting a Remington 3006 with hand loads with nosler Partition bullets 180 grain. I was about 6 ft away from him and he drilled it It was a chip shot
We spent the rest of the day till mid-afternoon getting the moose out It dressed out about 700 lb. Of course I was limited to a bull only now and long story short we hunted hard for the next three and a half days and never saw a bull that I could shoot. Had opportunities for two more cows again fairly easy shots which I know I could have made. We had made a pact to share any meet 50/50 before the hunt So I got half of that moose
I never got to pull the trigger of my 280 but the thrill was the same as if I shot that cow myself: That's what you do for buddies There was only one bull shot that week a couple of Massachusetts hunters missed and easy shot at a bull at about 60 yards
I am sure I could have dropped any moose we spotted with my 280 There was one cow about 190 yd which I put my scope on and I know I could have dropped her but again You didn't Have the license.Oh Well
I did shoot a four-pointer white tail when I got home in Vt. Rifle season with the same bullets.. dropped in its tracks
I will apply for a lottery moose permit in Vermont and New Hampshire in 2026 and maybe I'll get lucky?
So that's the story guys again I appreciate all the help I hope you have a very Christmas and a Happy New Year
Best regards Captain Tom Malanchuk

 

[salmonchaser]

Great story, thanks for the follow up. After reading this I know I need to get Ruger #1 in 280 AI.

 

[JD338]

Great story, thanks for the follow up. After reading this I know I need to get Ruger #1 in 280 AI.

The 280 AI is a good one. I've played around with mine for 20 years and it's never let me down.

JD338