7 mm Express (280 Remington)

[DaveA37]

My cousin is downsizing his gun room (big collection) and asked if I would like a Remington 700 in 7 mm Express (280 Remington). Certainly I said "yes" cause you can never have enough guns. Right? (my wife woud argue that point) :grin: What's your take on this caliber? I've read that it is supposed to be superior to the 270 Remington but have nothing to back that up. Anyone have any experience with this caliber or pet loads?

This is the second rifle he has given me in the past years. Previous one I mentioned here a few years back is a custom 300 H&H magnum he had made up a number of years ago. Though a bit on the heavy side, that rifle shoots like a dream with great accuracy. I'm taking it to Wyoming and Alaska again this year as a back-up to my 300 Win magnum.

 

[BK]

My feelings are that you have a fantastic cousin! A .280 is a chambering that I have a big desire to own, just haven't made it happen yet. If you handload (and since you are here, I assume you do) it is everything the .270 is, without the stigma of being a .270. :twisted: Load her up with 140s and you have a fantastic deer/antelope gun, load some 160s or 175s and I would chase moose and elk with it.

Man, a .300 H&H and a .280? Your cousin better be on the Christmas cards list!

 

[257 Ackley]

The rifle must be from the mid-80's when Remington experminted with the name change. I had a 280 in a Ruger 77 from 1983, which is what got me into reloading. Remington didn't have any good loads back than due to only having 165 grain bullets loaded for the 740 and 760 models (auto and pump). When they decided to bring out a load with a 140 grain bullet and load it for higher pressures, they changed the name to 7mmExpress (ok, done with the history lesson).

It is a great caliber and will serve you well.

 

[6mm Remington]

If you don't want it I'll take it! :lol: I am assuming it's one of the 700's made when Remington briefly changed the name of the 280 to 7mm Express to try and generate more interest in the cartridge. If so, it should be worth a tad more than the same rifle stamped 280 Remington because they didn't do this for very long. There were some folks who were trying to shoot the 7mm Express in 7mm Remington magnums and other mishaps.

The 280 is a great cartridge and I used 140 gr. Partitions in mine and loved that rifle. I sold it only because I wanted to get a different rifle, but also chambered in the 280. So far though budget constraints have prevented that from happening. :evil: I shot several elk with the 140 gr. Partition and never felt it wasn't up for the job, but the 160 or 150 would also be very good, and it would be worth trying the Accubonds.

My load used IMR4350, but H4831SC also worked extremely well. Good luck and take that rifle off his hands!
David.

 

[DrMike]

My safe will not be without a .280. I've had three and still have two. It is a superb cartridge. Congratulations on getting a great rifle. I don't know that it is superior to the .270 (there is only 0.007 inches separating the calibre), but bullet selection for the .284 calibre is much better than for the .277. When loaded to the same pressure, the .280 will do everything the .30-06 or the .270 will do, and do it very well indeed.

 

[HTDUCK]

Rifle was probably made sometime between 79 and 81.
Mine is stamped 7MM Express as well.
Been shooting this particualar rifle as a deer gun for about 15 years now.
My go to deer load
58 grs H4831SC
Fed 210 primer
139 Hornady BTSP Interlock
Leaves the muzzle at a tad over 3K fps
Sub MOA all day and kills deer like lightning

4350, RL19 and H4831 are all excellent choices.
Being a handloader, I'll never own a 270 as IMHO the 280 is more versatile.

Howard

 

[SJB358]

Wow, great score! That 280 is a pretty cool cartridge. I have looked a few times at a smaller 7mm than the mags, and that 280 always comes out on top. Scotty

 

[onesonek]

I can't add more to what Mike said! Other than that, had the .280 came out prior to the .270 Win., I seriously doubt, the .270 would have had it's success.
One thing that held it back, Remington had it loaded somewhat modestly, and it was SAMMI spec'd that way, hence it's numbers, even to this day don't match it's potential. Most generally, the .284 bullets of same or like SD and design. will have higher BC's. But more so, I would take the .280 over the .270, just because of the extra bullet weight. But in real world, the .280 and the .270, are both 7mm's. One having a 7mm bore, the other with a 7mm groove. Performance on game will show no difference really. There will be arguements otherwise until hell freezes over, but each side's points are wasted breathe.

 

[JD338]

The 7mm Express, aka 280 Remington is one of the most versitle cartridges. Remington changed the name from 280 Rem to 7mm Express for a short time as a marketing ploy to increase interest. The problem was that it was held to much lower pressures than the 270 Win.

Reloaders have known that this one can be loaded to the heals of the 7mm Rem Mag. With a 160 gr PT, it is more than capable to take on elk and moose. With a 140 gr BT, it kills deer and antelope like a lighting bolt. Flat shooting with a plethora of bullets and easy on the shoulder, thats the 280 Rem.

BTW, you have a great cousin!

JD338

 

[brianwyo]

The Antelope, Deer, Elk and Bighorn sheep in Wyoming hate my .280 Rem. I have many rifles set up for big game hunting but the 280 goes hunting every year. I started with 140 gr BT then moved up to 160 partitions on elk and never looked back. Brian

 

[BK]

Rifle was probably made sometime between 79 and 81.

That's what i was thinking too.

 

[JD338]

Rifle was probably made sometime between 79 and 81.

That's what i was thinking too.

I think you fellas are right on the timing. It seems to me Remington offered the 7mm Express for less than 2 years before changing the name back to 280 Remington.
There is some collector's value to a M700 that is stamped 7mm Express. Myself, I would keep that barrel stamping and smile knowing the history of a great NA cartridge.

JD338

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have a .280 in the Browning A-Bolt which I have had since 1996. It is a great cartridge and with 140 grain bullets I really can not tell the difference between it and the 130 gr .270 Win. I handload to nearly the same velocities as the 130 gr, .270 Win. I doubt that deer can tell the difference between the two cartidges.

 

[RiverRider]

The .280 is what the .270 shoulda-coulda been from the beginning. Why they ever decided to fool with a .277" bullet in the first place is beyond me.

 

[BP736]

I have been looking for a model 700 marked 7mm Express for a while. I'll get in line behind 6mm if you don't want it. I have a box of new brass head stamped 7mm Express waiting for the day that I find the right one. In my opinion, the 280 is the most under rated caliber around. I have a Ruger no. 1 280 and love it. I won't ever be without one.
BP

 

[ScreaminEagle]

In my opinion the 280 is the best caliber ever made! Way better than the 270. I have a model 700 with detachable magazine. I fully bedded it and it shoots great. I would never be without a 280!

 

[Hegland]

Officially jealous! :twisted:

 

[Polaris]

Many whitetails have met their demise at the business end of my K98 sporter barreled .280 rem. I hunt in the woods so I use heavier bullets due to some interesting shot angles I'm presented with and I found that I got a bit more meat loss than I like with lighter slugs. Haven't really tested the accuracy of this rifle. Saving up time and money for a few mods before I get fussy about that. Groups 160 gr Speer Mag tip inside 1.5" which is good enough for the ranges I currently hunt. Don't make that bullet anymore so I'll be trying the 160 NP this year. Trying for an all purpose load for deer up to moose to simplify my loading bench. You have a great calibre in a great rifle. Marked 7mm express will hold higher collector value someday when people decide to put the M700 on the same pedestal as the Pre 64 Win M70. It deserves it.

 

[Powerstroke]

Every safe should be blessed with a .280 :grin: This is a great round and as already mentioned a wide selections of bullets are available.
Mine is a Rem 700 Mtn Rifle - high country hunts it always makes the trip. Mulies & Elk, not a problem for this round.

Fantastic cousin you have !

 

[C.Smith]

Polaris, the 160 grain AccuBond is a great bullet too, I would not overlook that.

Corey