7mm/08 or 280Rem Sporter?

[Screamineagle]

I have both. A Rem 7 in 7mm-08, and a Rem 700 Mountain rifle in 280. I love them both, and wouldn't sell either one, but the 280 is my "go to" meat getter. It's set up with a Timney 1.5# trigger, Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10, pillar bedded, barrel free floated. My "go to load is a 140gr Nosler BT over 54gr of IMR 4350 and a CCI 200. It drops whitetails with boring regularity.
Steve

 

[mattri]

For deer sized game to 300 a 7mm-08 hands down.

Built a couple of 7mm-08s last year, learned a lot in the process.

7mm-08 fed fine from a LA.

Accuracy, energy and penetration will be spot on at those ranges.

Understand that you have the 7mm barrel but that can always be swapped. That being said, if it were me, looking at taking game that close I'd just go with a .308, much simpler, anything and everything you can think of ammo wise has been built/bought/tried.

 

[AR Shooter]

Only a year & a half late to the party. Wondering what the OP ended up doing?
Have shot my M700 stainless DM w/24" barrel at many a deer with Hornady's 139gr Superperformance ammo and have never had one complain, or even run off, for that matter. Terrific deer round and likely adequate for black bear.

That said, I'm trying to decide between the .280Rem and the .280AI in a Ruger No.1 with a 26" Bartelin 5R barrel for elk. Pretty sure I'll start with the .280Rem and see how it shoots & chronys before jumping up to the .280AI. Figure the .280AI is about as big as I want to go for reasons of recoil and weight in the field.

 

[AckleymanII]

Std 280 Rem 700 sporter

160g at 2950 fps, unreal accuracy, load right out of the Nosler manual

IMR 7828

Hint, 120g tipped triple shocks kick less than a 160g, fast and accurate, will penetrate better than 160g partition

 

[tmx199]

Build a .280AI with a muzzle brake I shoot a 7mm-08ai in a remote mod7 it ways 6.5lbs it has good amount of recoil rather one is great for deer or bear! I have lapua brass I'm fire forming to 7mm -08ai noslor also has the brass lapua is my first choice

 

[Jaybo]

1 here for 7-08

 

[Shaggy357]

I have the Weatherby 7mm-08 and shoot Nosler 140s. For me, recoil is almost non-existent. I shoot handguns to to me this little rifle is a popgun. I also have an Encore in 280. Fired it last weekend with the Nosler 140 using necked down -06 brass. Fireformed easily and moderate to mild recoil as the Encore is also pretty light and the scope on this gun is a fixed 7x Leupold which is also pretty light. Either is good for deer and bear. Got a deer and a nice hog with the 7-08 last year. Both are sighted in and ready for next weekend...

You can always load the 280 down, but cannot always eek a little more out of the 7-08.....7-08 will feed in a long action, but 280 will feed better. Loading is so similar in cost...a little more powder in 280...but bullet, brass, and primer cost is the same....

My input for free....

Steve

 

[Tommie]

Since we're resurrecting an old thread...
I can't imagine a better combo than a long throated 284 chamber for a long action repeater.

 

[AR Shooter]

AckleymanII - that is just what I'm looking for. If my No.1 in .280Rem will spin a 160gr bullet out of the 26" long 9" twist barrel at 2950fps think I'll be golden. Just need to find that elk. Thx.

 

[CTK]

AckleymanII - that is just what I'm looking for. If my No.1 in .280Rem will spin a 160gr bullet out of the 26" long 9" twist barrel at 2950fps think I'll be golden. Just need to find that elk. Thx.

Would you not have to lean hard on the standard 280 to get this velocity?

 

[Sniper338]

If your sensitive to recoil you do not want a 280.... you will not enjoy it near as much as your qould a 7mm08

 

[Barlow]

Why not build a 7x57 Mauser the first 7. In modern actions you can better 7-08s and you can also do the AI version if wanted. The cool factor is way better imo. Barlow

 

[CTK]

Other question is whether or not you will find good accuracy at the tip top of the velocity potential of a cartridge. If one powder gives you the ability to hit your velocity goal in a particular cartridge, you are rolling the dice. A 280AI would give better shot at finding accurate 160g load at 2850fps. I found a hunting accuracy load at 2910 fps with 168 Berger VLD's and RL26. This is out of a 24" 280AI barrel in very warm temps. No pressure signs. I suspect that I will loose some velocity in typical hunting temps here of +- 45degrees. I did hit pressure signs trying to get this fast with 7828. Once again this testing was done @ +85 degrees. If I had not found a consistent, sub .5" 100y load, I was planning on trying IMR 7977 and N165.

Running a 160g bullet @2850 fps. is going to produce some recoil.

 

[CTK]

Why not build a 7x57 Mauser the first 7. In modern actions you can better 7-08s and you can also do the AI version if wanted. The cool factor is way better imo. Barlow

I think a 284Win is cooler. I want one but have not a shred of justification for one.

 

[oldroper]

Std 280 Rem 700 sporter

160g at 2950 fps, unreal accuracy, load right out of the Nosler manual

IMR 7828

Hint, 120g tipped triple shocks kick less than a 160g, fast and accurate, will penetrate better than 160g partition

What year is your Nosler manual, Current manual has 280 with Lilja barrel 26" and with max load using 160gr AB/Partition with IMR-7828 is 2751fps.

 

[AckleymanII]

It is the black Nosler manual. They did lower the charge, and I don't care. 20 years of shooting a load.

 

[CTK]

I find the Nosler 280ai max loads pretty warm in my rifle. Never loaded std 280.

 

[AR Shooter]

Why not build a 7x57 Mauser the first 7. In modern actions you can better 7-08s and you can also do the AI version if wanted. The cool factor is way better imo. Barlow

Hmmm.......... now why did you have to say this after I had made up my mind that the .280Rem was the way to go?
Will have to give it some serious consideration.

 

[Barlow]

Hmmm.......... now why did you have to say this after I had made up my mind that the .280Rem was the way to go?
Will have to give it some serious consideration.

What did you decide? Barlow

 

[AR Shooter]

Still cogitating. 7x57 is a nice, light recoiling round that should be great in a 26" barrel with something as heavy as a 162gr bullet. Pretty much the same with a 7-08. 280Rem can likely go up to 175gr with no problem. Also need to consider the .284 in standard trim. And, there is the 7mm Rem SAUM that is approximately the same as the .280AI in capacity but a bit more efficient cartridge. For a hunting rifle the 7mm SAUM should not be a problem. I used to hunt with a 700BDL in 300WSM before a shoulder problem cropped up. Likely be after the 1st of the year before I make my choice (based partially on some shoulder rehab). Rifle, w/scope & sling, should be about 8.5#. Will likely stick with the .280Rem or, if I feel the need, go lighter with the 7x57, which can always be "made larger".