280 Rem

[Hunting Deer 29]

Hey Guys. I'm a newbie to the site and having trouble getting good groups from a bench rest at 100 yds with my Rem 280 Mountain Rifle. I've used several powders, bullets (types and weights). I've used factory Hornady loads too. I've had it bedded and the barrel is free floating now too. There was some pressure on the barrel from the stock previously but took that out too. I've checked to see if everything is 'tight' too. I've even changed the scope.

Can you guys give me any help please?

Thanks,

 

[Broncazonk]

1) What's a "good group?" What do your groups look like, ie: a random mess, strung out up and down, three good ones and a wild one?

2) How old is the rifle? About how many rounds have been through the barrel? Did you buy it new or used? Has it been rained on and then put up in the closet until next year?

3) Is the crown intact? Do both lugs bear evenly or just one?

4) How many pounds do you have on the trigger?

Bronc

 

[Kings X]

Welcome to the weird world of 280 hunting rifles.
Mine only like a couple loads.
Old Nosler solid base 140s and 760 or IMR 4350.
Been that way for 30 years. Still puts first shot 1" high at 100 yards. Groups about 3/4"-1".
Just tried 140 Berger - patterened them like a shotgun.
But I will work with them more after season.
I call the gun "Killer" because it always does it job - if I do mine.

 

[stapher1]

A mountain rifle is a good 2 shot gun, then the 3rd shot starts to trail off, 4th even more, etc...If it's staying at around 1" with a 3 shot group, your doing good. It's a trade off for the barrel being so thin for the weight savings.

 

[grovey]

I'd play with the action screw tq. There are different tightening sequences some use. For a wood stock like 35 INCH pds. I used the exact same gun for deer season a few times. It didn't group that well either, but it wasn't mine and i didn't fool with it. I choose to shoot it in using the first shot from a cold bbl as the point of impact.

 

[gzig5]

Could be any number of factors, but you need to give more details. What size and number of shots for your groups? Are you a proven good shot with other rifles? (no offense but some peoples aren't as good as they think they are) What powder and loads are you using? etc..

I've had my stainless synthetic Rem700 Mountain Rifle for 20 years. Its had one box of factory ammo through it and shot about 2" at 100yds for five shots. I pillar bedded the action, floated the barrel, tuned the trigger a little and tried a few 140 and 150 gr bullets with R19, H4831, and IMR 4350. I settled on a stiff load of IMR 4350 (bought a 8lb keg) and the Hornady 139 BTSP at 2900fps. It will put ten shots into 3/4" as fast as I can load and pull the trigger. It shot just about everything I tried under an inch for five shots. I got a good barrel with no tool marks in the bore and it now cleans up with just a few patches, just about as good as my Kriegers. Light barrels can shoot consistently when hot, but not all will. Remingtons generally shoot well, but they put out a turd every now and then.

 

[Quadragger]

My .280 mountain rifle has been pillar bedded & floated with the orignal wood stock. I load 58 grns of H4831 with speer 145 gr Boat tails. This load breaks paper at a 100 yds & about a half a minute a 200. I would do a ladder test at 200 yds to find your sweet spot & then work from there.

 

[Bamban]

To the OP:

It is a hunting rifle with a skinny barrel why worry about grouping. If the first shot POI is within a minute of POA, who cares about the grouping capability. I take my hunting rifles to the range and fire 1 shot, if still within the criteria I mentioned above life is good, the barrel gets a couple of passes from the bore snake and the rifle goes back in the case.

 

[TRECustom]

The best hunting load in my .280 is a 160gr Nosler Accubond with Rel 22 powder. (It also liked 150gr Smkhp's). The rifle is iron-sighted and in an Accurate Innovations walnut stock. Since the stock has an aluminum chassis and pillar blocks, I torque it in @ 65 in/lbs.

In good light I'm no better than 1 moa. With a scope, I expect it could shoot 1/2 moa 5 shot groups.

In my opinion, the .280 cartridge has an edge even on the very fine .270 Win.

Rel 22 is temperature sensitive. I don't trust hot weather zero's. If I can, I zero at around 40 deg F. Works good where I hunt. Temp rarely goes below 20 deg F.

If the cold, clean bore shot is consistent, a 2nd shot should be very close. Set your zero on them, and don't worry too much about 3 or 5 shot groups.

Hope you find what it likes.

Tom

 

[expiper]

Iv had/shot/loade ammo for several of them and never saw one that wouldnt shoot, three shot groups ,well under and inch at 100yds,,,make shure the bbl is CLEAN and use max loads of either H-4350 or H-4831 and "Sierra" 140-160 gr bullets.....if it wont shoot that...give it a new home...Roger

 

[Hunting Deer 29]

Broncazonk:

I would say a my groups are mostly a random mess.

I've the gun for 22 yrs. I'd say no more than 300 rounds through it. I bought it new and it hasn't been rained on. It is in good shape.

I don't know what the 'crown' is and the pounds on the trigger is 3.

 

[Hunting Deer 29]

First of all. Thanks to all that responded.

expiper: do you have a load that you liked with the powders/bullets you mentioned?

Bamban: I might have to just do that.

Quaddragger: I'll try that load but what is a ladder test?

 

[Hunting Deer 29]

gzig5: I started with 5 shop groups then went to 3. I made too many loads to type hear. Most were with IMR 4831 and IMR 4350. I used several bullets too. Sierra Spitzer 140, Nosler Partition 140 + 150, Nosler Ballistic Tip 140, and Hornady 139grn SST. I am definitely a good shot. Sounds like you've got your shooting well. Looks like I might have a 'turd'

 

[Hunting Deer 29]

grovey: I might have to do what you suggested.

Silver Sled. I can't even get a consistent 2" group at 100.

King X: Sounds like you have yours figured out. I hope I do mine some day. I'll keep trying.

 

[treeman]

make sure your front rest isn"t too hard and hold the rifle into your shoulder tight. light rifles have a lot of recoil which has to be dealt with. I used to have a 7mm stw and thought it wasn't accurate untill I started holding tight to shoulder. then it started shoting consistent 1moa groups at 100 yrds. you might also try shooting sitting with a sling it also may help. last thought make sure you are not copper fouled or have a carbon ring just outside the chamber. good luck and let us know how it goes

 

[LHSmith]

Since it is a very light contour barrel, If it were mine I would put back the pressure point at the fore-end...use layers of electical tape until you get decent results....It is a hunting rifle...that first shot from a cold barrel is the most important.

 

[K22]

First - allow at least 5 minutes between shots - let the barrel cool completely.

Second - don't allow the rifle to free recoil off the front rest - light weight rifles are difficult to keep stable during trigger squeeze and during recoil. Besides - you are probably going to hunt with the rifle holding the forearm so hold it while testing load. If I try to shoot my Rem Model 7's (pencil thin barrels) off bag with free recoil the groups are ugly - holding the forearm I can manage under 1 moa.

Third - don't shoot too many rounds in one session especially with a light rifle of this caliber - you may start flinching.

Fourth - a reasonable expectation for this kind of rifle is 1 1/2 inches at 100 yards. Just for giggles - hold the forearm the next time you shoot and shoot three shots - you might be pleasantly surprised.

Good luck.

 

[Quadragger]

Hey just look up Audette ladder test & it will explain it way better than I could. LOL

 

[dryhumor]

As others have said, take your time.

My load is just over 1/2 MOA, in my M700 "B" serial .280. It is in a Bell Carlson stock though.

54gr IMR 4350, 2823 FPS avg, Fed GMM 210 primer, Norma case, 140gr Accubond, 3.4" COAL * usual warnings apply for working your loads to your rifle.

Jim

 

[jonbearman]

The other thing I would do on a light pencil tube rifle is see if you can put a high quality muzzle brake on it to help control the jump and end up with .243 recoil.