Which would be better recommended for a whitetail/black bear round. I was going to do a 6.5-284, but decided against it.
Range out to around 500 yds. I want to stay on the light side, but long action "light" is good for me as well. Either one will probably get AI'd in the future. I've not owned either of these cartridges and I'm looking for real world experience with either.

So, now I'm down to these 2 and have a chance to get a stainless Ruger Hawkeye in 7mm-08 with a leupold 3-9 vx2 for $600(sounds reasonable)

Or a SS 700 in 280 Rem for about the same.

Whichever one I get will get restocked in MPI fiberglass, so getting a quality stock is taken care of.

Which would you pick and a quick "why" would be helpful.

Thanks!

I'd go with the 280 Rem because the performance increase when AI'd is greater with the 280 than the 7-08.

I also like the 700 platform better.

I would recommend a McMillan rather than an MPI.

yes ... because I like it ...

have both ... love both. Hunt the 7-08 abit more however ... 280 gets lonely

the 7-08 is wood/blue ... the 280 is SS and soulless African Walnut ... that's the reason the 7-08 gets to walk in the woods and fields more. If fates were reversed, it would be the 280 that got hunted most.

If the Leupold VX2 is 2004 or newer, serial number suffix M/N/P/R/S/T/U/V, it would be worth between $200 and $250, depending on condition, so that put your cost for the stainless Ruger 77 at $350 to $400. Sounds like a good deal to me, if you like Rugers. I you want more case capacity, rechambering a 7mm-08 to 284 is a piece of cake.

Case capacity, in grains of H2O:

7mm-08 = 54/55 grains
284 = 65/66 grains
280 = 67/68 grains

JEff

Get the 280, you won't regret doing so.

Hell yeah

7mm-08 is great, but Rem vs. Ruger makes the .280 a no-brainer.

Plus one

Trying to lock a deal on a 700 mountain rifle in 280 rem for $500. Thanks for the input!

It would depend on just what you wanted in a rifle, and how it would be used.
I own a 708 and have extensively hunted with the 7X57 which has the same ballistics. I'm on my second .280. Both it and the 7-08 are custom rifles.
If I wanted a really light rifle, I'd go with a 7-08 since it kicks less. I own two Kevlar MPI stocks on a couple of my rifles and they are excellent. Much lighter than my McMillian stocks.
The .280 round will push the same bullets faster than they will go out of the 7-08. That might increase your bullet expansion range a bit, but, even at 500 yds. that is more a matter of picking the right bullets.
The .280 can also push the heavier bullets a bit faster if that is important.
Frankly, I'd prefer a Ruger over the Remington. I like the safety setup of the Ruger better as well as classic mauser extractor. E

Plus another one on the ruger 280 combination. More performance from the round and a better chance of getting a good action right fromt he start.

Rugers make great short barreled tomato stakes. Get the .280 in the Remington. You will have a much higher probability that it will shoot under 1 1/2". I know there are accurate Rugers, I just haven't found any yet

I just chronographed a couple of 7mm-08's with a book max of H414 under a 120 grain Nosler ballistic tip. Both chronoed over 3,125 fps. with 24" pipes. hard to sneeze at those numbers and groups under an inch. 140 grain pills were just under 2,900 fps with H4350. I think I have everything in North America covered Flinch

I've owned a 7-08, replaced it with a 7x57, and also have a 280. Up to around 300yds or so, and under 3-400lbs, I don't think that there is a dimes worth of difference. Over 300yds, and that's a loong way, the 280 begins to shine. capt david

I have both, the 280 sits in the safe and the 7mm-08 gets used 99% of the time. Big fan of the SA 7mm-08

+1

the 7-08 has more factory loads, and they are at a higher pressure than the .280
It's also available in more compact SA rifles

Well, the deal fell through on the 280, but I found a 700 in 243, with a bushnell elite 3200 3-9 for $400.00. It looked new. I snapped it up and found a 7mm-08 mountain rifle barrel from one of the guys here on the fire and the check is in the mail. I am going to put it together in a take-off Ti stock to make a nice, light 7-08.
Now for the 243 bbl. I think that I will contour it to match the mtn rifle contour and re-chamber it to 243AI and make my new light rig a switch barrel. I already have a 243AI, but why not two of em!

The 280 will take a back seat as I build up some more funds, and will probably just start out as a 280AI.

Will post pix when I get it together.

280 Remington because I don't like the 7mm-08, Rugers, or short action rifles.

Classic Swampy! Wheres your poem?

[quote=Flinch]Rugers make great short barreled tomato stakes. Get the .280 in the Remington. You will have a much higher probability that it will shoot under 1 1/2". I know there are accurate Rugers, I just haven't found any yet

Strange, my last (2) 243s in Rugers, a 1A and 1RSI, a 25-06 1B, a 6.5x55 K1A shot:

3/8" for 3 shots at 100 yds
5/8-3/4" - 3 shots 100 yds
7/8" - for 3@ 100 yds
1.1" at 200 yds, for 3

These were ALL out the box, the 25-06 used WW factory 120 PEP.

Sure you are not....ugghhhh, FLINCHING?

I DO agree, not much I can want w/a properly loaded 7/08. Mine shot 2900-2960 w/21" bbls...two different rifles...using 140s, 120s did 3050-3100.

Anything larger will be a 338/06 or 9.3, possibly a 350 RM....if going after the biggest NA game, and/or perhaps hunting around large bears.

I have a .280, and think I'd like a 7mm-08 if I ever had one, and I've kicked the idea around. I've had bad luck with Rugers, and Remington QC is spotty these days, but I still think I'd go with the Remmie in .280. The .280 is a fine cartridge, and if the Remmie shoots well enough, you'll have a dandy outfit. And if you want to AI later, the 280 is the way to go.

Always a 280.

I have been through many of them, most were great. The three that made the cut: Ruger 77 All Weather, Encore custom, Wby Mk V UL.

7/08's are good too but you can't stretch them out when you want to.