Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Remington 700 Mountain rifle 280 thoughts

I have chance to buy a 2nd 280 Rem locally. It is a Remington 700 Mountain rifle in 280. It is the older model with the floor plate instead of the magazine. It appears that the previous owner had the stock bedded. Looks to be in great shape overall. Any pitfalls I need to be aware of with this model? Your thoughts and experiences would be greatly appreciated.

I've owned two over the years and wish I still had one. If I come across another one locally, I'll grab it...

Obviously condition is important . Great gun which will always hold its value .If he dorked the stock it can be replaced easily.

What you really want to do is let me know where this is so you don't burden yourself with another 280. Really.

I've got 3 Mountain Rifles. 1 in 25-06, 1 in 7X57, and 1 in
30-06. No problems with any. Other than the barrels heat up fast. Would love to add a 280 and also a lowly 270.

Everyone I've been around shot moa, and the one I hunted for a few yrs killed everything I pointed it at. Fine rifles imo.

I have that one your looking at, great gun. Also had a laminated SS in 06 though that I couldn't get to shoot well enough so it's gone. My 280 though will shoot clover leafs at 100 with 160 NP handloads.

I passed on one in November for $550. I almost walked it up to the counter when I noticed somebody scratched a mark in the barrel for each deer they killed with it. I guess they felt the stock was too nice? Anyway there was like eight scratches on the side of the barrel. Individual lines! I still regret not buying it.

I just acquired one but can be of no help...haven't even shot it yet. I have owned them in 30-06 and 257 Roberts and can tell you that they are (generally) better guns than Model Sevens.

I had one for several years,had been bedded before I got it. Shot just fine,used to kill a lot of stuff.

I had one once. First trip to the range for sight-in produced an 8 shot two hole ragged group under an inch with Rem Express 150's.

I think it's the best 700 ever for hunting. My 88 model is one of my favorites. It's also how my my wife set the hook in my mouth and reeled me in

I have had a pile of the older model Mountain rifles, some were wood/blued guns and some were laminated/stainless rifles, I love the slim, sleek feel of older guns but I dont care for the new models with the thick wristed B&C non-checkered stock.........I cant remember any of the rifles I had being "tack drivers" at the range but they all shot plenty accurate enough to kill deer.....The barrels heat up very fast ..........Good luck....Hb

Careful, you might like these slim mountain rifles better than those archaic lever action Marlins.....

They are one of Remington's better efforts.

The older Mtn Rifles are my favorite Remington. Have five, need a couple more chamberings.

Not a chance

i have had a 30-06 since 1992, and just got a 280. awesome!

Thanks for all the feedback. Now I just have to decide whether to keep the 280 Mountain rifle or a Winchester 70 XTR Featherweight in 7x57 I found about the same time. Decisions, decisions.

I have a 280 and a 7x57. Both are great shooters and easy to handle. Just shoot 3 shot groups. I tried 5 shot groups twice with my 280; 3 shots in a clover leaf, the fourth shot was high right and the fifth shot was still higher right.

I cooled the rifle s little between shots but the second time was a repeat of the first 5 shot group. The barrel just gets to warm for 5 shot groups.

This absolutely nails it.

I have had a couple of the older models as well, and still have a stainless laminate in 7-08. They carry great, and shoot fairly accurately for the first few shots then heat up quickly. The new thick stocks are uncomfortable and look funky. I would be hard pressed to pass up a nice older wood or laminate stocked one at a reasonable price.

I would be on here bragging about my new Mountain Rifle in .280 Remington.

As others have said, they are one of the best, if not the best, designed Rem 700 hunting rifles Remington ever made.
I had a .280 back in the late 80's. I had it Magna-Ported because it kicked a bit too much for me. That was a mistake. Made the rifle very hard on the ears when shooting in the field. I should have replaced the recoil pad with a better/softer one.
Mine was also very accurate with 160 gr. Nosler Partitions. It would do three into an inch or less regularly at 100 yds.
The only fault it had was it would shoot a couple of MOA to the left with a shooting sling. Perhaps free floating the barrel would have helped that. E

I have two. a 280 and a 270, naturally the 270 is more accurate. I love the way they fit and point. but I wish the barrel was a bit heavier as i find for offhand shooting they are a bit muzel light.

The 700KS is what you are looking for. Mountain rifle is close to perfect for a hunting rig, 700KS is perfect IMO.

Do yourself a favor and keep both. I doubt you'll ever regret it, both are great in their own right.

Neil, I do not envy you your decision if you can only keep one. I bought one of the first M700s in stainless the year they were introduced, 1991. It was a 280. The very first load I tried shot so well I have never tried anything different. Since then, I've killed a few truck loads of deer with it, including my best ever 8 pt a couple of years ago.

That being said, the M70 Featherweight in 7X57 would be right at the top of the pile as well. You'd better get shed of one of those Marlins and keep both.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

That is a tough choice. I love my M-70 XTR 7x57 FWT, but the early Rem. Mountain Rifles are one of the best models to ever come out of Remington, and the 280 is classic in that rifle. You should really sell something less desirable in your arsenal so you can grab or keep both of these modern classics. Good luck.

Ya could let me know where the 7x57 is located,It'll ease the voices in yer head...GRIN...ScottyO.

While I don't have a Remintonton Mountain .280, I do have a Ruger All-Weather Hawkeye in .280 which is only a bit heavier (7lbs vs 6.5lbs).

I sold a very nice, tack-driving Ruger #1 in .280 to fund the All-Weather .280. Although I liked the #1 a lot, it didn't suit my hunting needs. The All-Weather is, like my semi-skeletonized Ruger MKII "boat paddle" rifles, dang near perfect for mountain hunting - light weight, a stock that can take a beating (and who cares about the dings) and stainless to resist rust.

As to the cartridge itself, I'm a long time 7mm RM user (since 1982) and the .280 is just a small step behind in performance.

My suggestion would be to get the Remington. I think you'll find it is a keeper.

Been around a few MR's in 280 but have not owned one. (I could in minutes cause a friend has two and I could buy one). But have owned a few 270's, 7x57, and 257 Roberts.

They all shoot really well and are my favorite Rem 700.Ths may draw fire, but I would take the MR over the KS but that's just me.But I like the fixed magazine style.

I gave one to a rancher buddy back around the mid 80's in 270 and the amount of big elk and mule deer killed with that rifle in all these years since is impressive.

Among Remington's best.

I have never been much of a pushfeed fan, did not care for Remmys, except the little 600/660 and Seven rifles, especially customized as my U/L 7/08 is, but, gotta agree with Bob on this.

I am lucky with my wife and our hard working lifestyle which has brought me scores of fine rifles, 95% CRF models. I am now disposing of most due to age and gimpiness, but,I would not mind a MR-.280, one of my 4-5 alltime favourite rounds.


I would slap an Edge or Manners on kit, Talley QD-SLs and a Swaro Z3-3x9 and load 160NPs for all BC hunting.

I have those same 2 rifles to cover my deer hunting needs.
At times I wish the FW was chambered in .280.
I've had the .280 Mtn Rifle for about 12 years now and killed my first deer with it.

I've got two of em, one in .270 and the other 30-06 (1989/1990). Both shoot better than I do. As they left the factory, no bedding and still has the fore end pressure point. Mighty fine shootin irons.

Get it! Punch it AI. Develop an awesome load w a long-range bullet. 6x42 Leupold w M1 el. Turret and LR dots. Edge MR McWoody. Tungsten Cerakote.

Jeez! Exactly what is needed on my ol' .270 MR...save the AI.

Bought mine at a yard sale in '88 for $300.

Awhile later Seyfried had an article in which he named archetypal rifles for various game. Rem's 700 Mountain Rifle in .270 was picked as THE Deer Rifle.

Went loony in early years of this century so haven't killed with it in more than a dozen years.

Got some blem Noz 90 gr. Bonded en route that I wanna run at about 2,700 for woods whitetail as I grow older...

It is. This year's Shot show Special by Winchester is a FWT 280. They also made Classics in 280.

The Mountain Rifle is one of the best looking rifles Remington ever made. I like the older ones since a DBM just doesn't look right on a trim rifle to me. 280 Rem is near perfection on a deer rifle. You made a good choice, enjoy.

Well this thread to finalized my decision to start collecting mountain rifles. I have noticed 2 or 3 nice ones here on the campfire classifieds over the last few weeks. I also saw a few at a local gun show but they were priced ($675 for a blued/wood .30-06). I am going to have to start figuring out all the configurations of the mountain rifle and start buying.

The one I ended up buying has some hunting dings and scratches, but has nice walnut, a very well done bedding job and a sweet trigger job. I really like the feel of the rifle. I am betting it will be a kicker though with the light weight and fairly hard narrow little factory pad.

I still have the Winchester 70 XTR Featerweight 7x57 I got at about the same time. I really like it too. Problem is, I can't afford a scope for either right now unless I get rid of the other one. It is killing me not to be able to take them to the range.

I'm telling you if you don't keep them both you'll regret it.

Patience, Grasshopper.