Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles The .280 rem and case capacity..

As compared to it's two "sister" cartridges question. The .280 rem is at the top of my favorite cartridge-that being said when I compare it's case capacity and max. book loads to the .270 win and the .30-06 Springfield there is a discrepancy that I imagine is owed to the early loadings by Remington. A standard book load for the '06 is 57.5gr of IMR 4350 under a 168gr bullet, the .280rem is 52gr of the same powder with a 140gr bullet. The .270 win max load is 53.5 of the same powder with a 140gr bullet even though the .280 has slightly more capacity given the shoulder is moved forward a bit.

I've gone AI with the .280 and the load data I've found and used doesn't really beat the '06. I'm wondering is the book data just very cautious-I've never taken the .280 loads above book max but looking at some old loads from people like Bob Hagel and John Wooters it has been done. Realizing that no one these days is going to publish any info that could be dangerous in a particular rifle, is there any gain in trying to reach the next accuracy node in a modern bolt action rifle?

I know, rifle loonyism.....................

David the 280 was originally designed to give 270-type ballistics in Remington's auto loader and pump rifles. Consequently it was held by the factory to lower pressures than the 270. This has been reflected in a lot of loading data as well.

Of course Remington chambered those same rifles for the 270,which operated at higher pressures so who knows what Remington's thinking was at the time.

Ive used loads that may be above listed max in the 280, none of which were the slightest bit dangerous in my rifles, with good accuracy and case life.Generally they involved 140 gr bullets at a bit over 3000 fps.

The 4350's work in the 280 but I think they are on the quick side to be ideal,and I have found powders like MRP and RL22 tend to work better.

There was never an accuracy issue at those velocities, accuracy being more a question of having a good rifle.

Thank you Bob, I was hoping you'd chip in. I was going to include that about the auto loaders and the .280 but since they were also offered in .270 and .30-06 it still had me wondering. I had an early BDL in 7mm Rem Express about the time of the Express/Magnum mix ups leading to the name change and have had several since, one Ruger and the rest Remingtons. Down to a KS and a mtn rifle now. I'd like to work a bit more with the higher bc bullets like the 162 Amax, pretty much always stuck with 140's except for the Ruger which prefered 150 NPT's.

I know there's no magic there but the .280 is so nice....like to see it working closer to what it's potential may be. My KS seems to shoot most anything I put through it well, looks like R-22 is what I'll try next.

Thanks for the input, I appreciate the advice.

David i tend to pigeon hole cartridges and for me the 280 using a 140 was it's best shot. But I would think a guy should be somewhere between 2800-2900 with a 162 from a 24" barrel.



That's my WAG so take it for what it's worth....

I've had several 280's over the years & have worked up my own data for my guns, but the current Nosler data is about as good as it gets for up-to-date & real world info.

I pretty much use RL-15 for 120's, RL-19 for 140's & RL-22 for anything 150 & heavier. Sometimes I'm a little over Nosler's numbers, depending on the particular gun. Generally, my velocities are a tad lower that what they have listed, probably because of barrel length & perhaps chamber/throat variations. (I'd really like to try RL-26 but I've just got too much '22 to make a change right now)

Here's Nosler's data:

Nosler 280 Load Data

Here are some test loads I did a while back on a 280 Rem 700MR; just remember, my guns, my loads.

MM

Thank you MontanaMan, Good shooting.

davidlea

SAAMI specs

caliber MAP MPLM MPSM
280Rem 60,000psi 61,500psi 63,800psi
270Win 65,000psi 66,600psi 69,100psi
30-06 60,000psi 61,500psi 63,800psi
MAP- Mean Average pressure MPLM- Maximum Probable Lot Mean
MPSM- Maximum Probable Sample Mean

These are the standard pressures to which these cartridges are loaded. The variations in amount of powder needed to attain these pressures varies with exact case capacity, bullet weight, bearing surface, bullet diameter and bullet alloy.

The reason hand loaders are able to reach velocities which are greater than "book" in the 280 and 30-06 is that in a modern action with modern brass they can be loaded closer to the 65,000 max pressure safely.

Might also try RL 17 and RL 23.

Hello,
I currently am loading speer 160gr. grand slam bullets in my 280 Remington. It is a Rem. 700 cdl, 24" barrel. I use rem. cases, cci200 primer, and RL19-56grains. The 56gr. charge is a max charge in the speer manual. I don't know what the pressure is but I have chronographed the load at 2801-2809fps with absolutely no signs of excessive pressure. The listed book max velocity is just over 2800fps. The 56gr charge leaves quite a bit of room in the case. Bullets are seated in the middle of the cannelure. The load shoots a 1" 100yd group. The other powders I have tried are IMR4831 & IMR4350. RL19 is the best in my rifle, but all 3 left space in the case. Hope this helps.
Aaron

Prwlr -
I agree with your post so don't be mistaken.

Among the list of specs you mentioned is ...
"specific case capacity".

As I'm certain you understand that case capacities VARY from

Lot - lot w/in the same brands AND
Even more variation brand VS brand.

I'm not advocating 1 brand over ANY other. In loading cartridges similar to the 280 ( recommended pressure lower due to the 'firearm' ) the loader should pay particular attention to capacity differences between brands.

Back in the day, 70s - 80s, WW & Federal were close enuff I loaded the same charges for 270s & 300 WM in both brands of brass. OTOH Rem advertised " the most brass in the business" and their brass was heavier. Therefore I never bought/loaded Rem brass for any cartridge - EXCEPT the. 8 mm RM, I didn't have a choice.

Things have changed so I've changed about the brand of brass I prefer these days.

I hope I made sense.

Jerry

Always desirable to buy as much brass at one time of a given brand & lot as is possible...........

MM

Yes, that would help, no doubt.

Jerry

Personally, IME, +/- 3/5% doesn't make any real difference with a load that is not extreme; at least, I've never encountered a problem.

I suppose going the full extent of the 10% range above might be a stretch, that is, if you developed a load in large brass that was absolute maximum, & then moved directly to a case a full 10% smaller in internal capacity, that would surely be worth verifying before loading a 1,000 rounds of it.

I have not done any pressure testing to evaluate that myself as I don't have the instrumentation.............maybe Mule Deer or someone that has actually measured the impact of case capacity with some level of accuracy can chime in.

MM

Now you got the picture. In the 70s-80s that is exactly what I was doing. Thanks to Gun Writers. That's where I learned it.

And that's the truth

Jerry

Not all Gun Writers are created equal..........

We are very fortunate to have one of the best & most truly knowledgeable, ever (IMHO) making regular contributions here.

Also, there's been a lot of refinement of data & information on loading over the last 20 years or so..........a huge contribution to that is the low price & availability of pretty decent chronographs.

It's a great informational tool when used properly & with some insights into reloading principles.

MM

First off, my comment was pertaining to G Ws of the 70s-80s.

I agree w/ your comment that things have changed and we have 'some' very good GWs today. Our own well respected M D is one of some.

OTOH, there are some I REFUSE to look at anything w/their name attached.

Jerry

Agreed.............current as well as past.

MM

I have shot several 280's lots. Shot one out completely.
140's@ 3050 is about the max with a SAAMI chamber.

I exceeded that with a long barrel, a long throat ( OAL 3.5"+), oversize barrel interior dimensions & very high pressures. The long throat duplicated AI performance.

The performance is really great, just like a 270 Win with 130's except it is pretty easy to move 130's @ 3100+ in a plain ole 270.