I have been using a .280 now for about 5 years and really have come to enjoy and respect the cartridge. I do handload for it, but have also taken game with the now discontinued Speer Nitrex ammo as well as the Federal Premium with 150 gr. Partitions. Both of these loads are excellent factory loads for the .280.
Since you handload, the sky is really the limit with all the great 7mm bullets out there.
My first .280 was a Sako 75, which I ended up selling to a hunting buddy and then purchased a Cooper M52 in .280 about a year ago (before the Obama mess!) Both of these rifles have shot very well with both factory ammo and handloads. I also like the slightly more uncommon cartridges, so I also have a .257 Rbts, .35 Whelen that I hunt with from time to time.
