Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 280 REM., 20 inch barrel

I just acquired a first year production REM 700 in 280 REM. Why Remington did this, I don’t know. This barrel length does not fit the 280 cartridge design very well. But, the rifle is very compact and nice to the shoulder. Want to load a few rounds to try it out. My other 280s shoot 140 tsx very well with RL22 and Ramshot Hunter. Should I try a faster burn rate to start with this? Anyone have any recommendations to start with.

Thanks,
Eric

I'd just use your normal 280 powders. Using faster powder won't gain anything.

If you want more speed try RL26.

For some reason, unknown to anyone I have ever asked, Remington put 20" barrels on standard cartridges in the brand new Model 700s in 1962. Not too long afterward, they changed to 22" barrels as they should have been all along.

Thank you for the responses. It seems to me that RL26 would be too slow for the 280 out of a 20 inch barrel. I currently have two 280s, and have worked up loads for both. Tried RL25 and H1000 in both, 22 inch barrels. RL22 and Hunter gave better velocities without pushing the envelope. Have RL19 and 17, thought that might be a better place to start. If it isn’t likely that I will get better velocity out of a faster burn rate than I guess I will just back off on my Hunter load a couple grains, load a ladder, and go for it.

Thanks,
Eric

Mule Deer has addressed this a few times and I’ve seen other references about getting highest velocities in short barrels. With the shorter barrel you’re going get slower velocities overall BUT powders that give highest velocities from longer barrels will be the ones that give the highest velocities from short barrels too.

If you go to faster powders in a carbine you’ll still get lower velocities but maybe a little less muzzle blast or maybe better accuracy. You never know.

I use 26 in my 22" 280 and I'd use the same load in a 20" 280 if/when I ever have one. It works great in the 22", I don't see it being any different in a 20".

This ^^^^^

The slower powders will also tend to give more muzzle flash.

The 280 is pretty forgiving & a lot of powders work well.

Hard to understand why anyone would barrel a 280 to 20" though.

MM

Just curious. Is it a mountain rifle. I had one that was a fantasic shooter. Prob the most accurate factory rifle I ever owned

The OP mentioned it was first year production for the 700, so it won't be a mountain rifle. For whatever reason Remington made standard cartridge early production with 20" barrels. I have one of them in 270 Winchester.

Many years ago a friend of mine saw an ad in the newspaper for a NIB Remington Model 760 carbine in 280 REM. As he pulled into the sellers driveway, another guy was buying the gun......

Heartbreaker!

Thank you for all the answers. Still had a hard time believing that a little faster burn rate would not be a better starting point. To me excessive muzzle flash is powder burning after exiting the muzzle. Searching all the info I can find seems to indicate that y’all are correct until the 14 or 15 inch barrel length is reached. Whatever the fastest powder in a 26 inch barrel is will be the fastest in a 20 inch. Will load up a batch and see how they compare to my other 280s. Will let you all know what the chronograph says.

Thank you,
Eric