In my loooong search for a stainless steel rifle I've pretty much decided to skip the cost and time it takes to have a custom built. My goal in the begining was to go hunting and not spend all my money on a rifle. I'd sort of lost sight of that. So in a .280 Remington that leaves me with 3 choices.
A Sucks 700 SS DM. On the plus side I like the, 24" barrel, and the stock.
On the down side. I've heard of feeding problems with this model and then theres the fact that its a sucks rifle.
A Browning Stainless stalker. I sort of like the way it looks, but I've never owned a Browning, plus its light weight. Down side, 22" barrel, both the Browning I've shot had a 9 pound trigger, I'm not crazy about the DM but I do like it better than the 700 DM and I guess I would have to say the same about the safety. I guess I could like with the stock but it wouldn't be my first choice.
A Ruger. The up side, cost, CRF, the safety and I've owned 2 that were shooters. Down side, 22" barrel, trigger, stock, finish....... I guess I'm really not looking to buy a Ruger.
So whats your thoughts?
Mark,
I see your dilemma in choosing a factory 280Rem. Have you considered the new Rem 7SAUM? Its being offered in the BDL/SS configuration without the clip. This round should equal a 280AI in ballistics which would be closer to your original goal. Buy this rifle in this cartridge and configuration, replace the tupperware stock with a McMillan, Hi Tech or Rimrock, tweak the trigger and you're done! A set of the new Talley Alloys and a matte Leupie 6X42 would round out the package.
http://www.remington.com/firearms/centerfire/700bdlss.htmMtnHtr
Mtn Hunter
Yes I've looked at the SAUM and the WSM. I had a guy try to sell me a NIB 7mm wsm the other day for $500, not a bad deal but I'm sort of on a
anti-magnum kick of late.
Why not swith to the .270 Win and have your pick of any rifle?
Mike
I do not see why you want a 280 rem. There really is nothing that it can do that other calibers in the same class cannot do. 270, 7mm, 308, 30-06, 300 win ... all have pretty much the same capabilities and I would consider them interchangeable. This goes fore the new short mags also.
I doubt that 2-4" of barrel really makes much difference in the preformace of a 280. I guess that you might loose 100-200 fps. Don't worry abou the barrel length so much. Any way, a shorter barrel makes for a handier and lighter rifle.
I would pick the rifle that you like for it's quality, handling and other charactoristics first and then pick one of the big game calibers available for that rifle.
SUCKS 7-08 LSS Mountain Rifle...................
SUCKS 7-08 LSS Mountain Rifle................... rechambered to 284!
SUCKS S/S Seven in 7SAUM!(grin).........................
Rifle choices are very limited for the .280 Remington. The Tikka line is absolutely outstanding and offered in chamberings which are just as good. Since there are several cartridges which are identical performance wise, choosing rifle first, then cartridge is a smart way to go. You have to carry, look at, and fondle the rifle on a hunt. Don't compromise on the girl you take to the dance.
SUCKS S/S Seven in 7SAUM!(grin)......................... SUCKS 700 LSS rechambered to 7SAUM with a SAKO extractor!
SUCKS 700 24" 7SAUM,rechambered to 7Whizzum.
I knew we'd quickly nip this one in the buds(grin)........................
9.3 Guy
That DOES NOT limit his options............I happen to have two left hand Rem 700's and stocks on the top shelf of my safe. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> That only makes it better.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Charlie
There are plenty of used push feed .280 Winchester Model 70's in the featherweight configuration out there. Buy one and have it coated with the high tech coating of your choice Black T, Hard Chrome, camo to match the stock and never look back. In my opinion a hard chromed firearm will be much more durable than the equivalent stainless model and the finish is much harder to scratch while hunting.
Check this .280 out
http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=8882322
Despite some of the suggestions I think you said you wanted to buy it and go hunting. Therefore, you probably don't want to....
A) Rebarrel it
B) Restock it
C) Refinish it
D) Rechamber it
So..........Your "want list" just does not fit anything that is currently on the market. Sorry.......it's just not there. There have been two excellent suggestions already posted. Both of them entail rethinking your "want list"
#1) 7mm SAUM gives you s/s, a .284 bullet, and a 24" bbl. Negative? it's a magnum (well.....sort of)
#2) A .270 gives you s/s, and about any configuration you can dream up. Negative?.....?.....? (I guess .277 vs. .284 but really now..............)
JimF
Mark 6.5x55,
My .280Rem Ruger 1B has a 26 inch barrel that is in a package shorter than most 24-inch barreled rifles. It consistently shoots under MOA -- after being accurized -- and has never let a deer take a step after the shot. (I don't need second shots with it!) It is handsome and handles like a custom gun. It cost me $450 new in '96 and about $300 more for accurizing by BCRW -- a very good deal seeing that it has never let me down since.
No, it isn't for sale; it goes into the box with me when I check out.
It is no light weight but then I like the standard rifles and have no special need for lite rifles. 1B
I've owned two .280's, and still have one. And a 7X57, and a couple of 7 Rem Mags.
Frankly, the desicion was made over the other '06 cases, like the .270, or the '06 because I still had lots of 7 mm components, including lots of .280 brass. Your bullet choice means far more than a few feet per second or a few grains of bullet weight, etc.
My latest info is the DM Remingtons are working OK. I still don't want one. I much prefer the ADL style, if I can get it that way. My only BDL Remington has an M40A1 steel floorplate and trigger guard on it. I have a bad habit of bouncing my rifles on the rocks, etc. My Ruger .280 has a steel FP & TG waiting for the gunsmiths attention. I've got nothing agaist the Remington rifles. I will not spend the money on a Sako extractor unless I need to go from a standard to a magnum bolt face. The Sako style extractor is just easier to do. They don't extract better.
I like the Ruger choice the best. And the Browning the least. JJHack once posted that he has seem far more non Mauser Brownings fail in the field than any other make. Not for me. He reported that he has never seen a Winchester or a Ruger fail. That's for me.
I like the Ruger trigger design because it is simple and easy to maintain. If I can't get it reworked to my satisfaction, there is always an aftermarket availible. I really like their scope mounting system, and their action features. Sometimes their safetys need a touch of clean up to function smoothly. Not at all hard to do. I understand from our friend Mule Deer that their latest barrels are really good. I have no problem with their SS finishes. I use spray on, or baked on, flat paint on all my serious rifles anyway.
Frankly, I'd find a rifle I liked best first. Then I'd decide on the chambering. I odviously like the .280 round. But to say it has something special over the others in it's class really isn't true. E
guns america has a rem 700 fully blueprinted action, hart #3 barrel at 24", trigger, hi tech stock, rings and bases and a matte leup 3x9 for $1,150.
sounds like a reasonable amount to me......oh yeah, it is stainless to boot.
good luck
woofer
Don't compromise! Go for the 280 as it is one great 7MM. I've had one for 20 years, it is a great cartridge. I also would go for the 24" barrel it'll run right with the 7Mag.
David
stronics:
You are absolutely right............except a 24" barrel does not exist on a factory rifle except in a configuration that Mark does not like. Our boy wants to avoid the custom (read expensive) route and buy it off the rack, but it just aint there. That was the whole purpose of the thread.
JimF
This guy has seen the light , you 270 folks get back in your corner. He's ours now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
My 280 has a 22" pipe and the velocities are quite respectable. 139 gr. for 2960 and 160 gr. for 2900 fps. Many folks have higher speeds.
My Remington has been good to me but from the sounds of you the Browning is the obvious choice. Accurate , I think they have the best composite full stock around and I like short bolt throw in cold weather with gloves on. Don't let the 22" pipe scare you
Mark,
I realize I'm not breaking new ground here but think about the 7mm SAUM. It's said to have the capacity of the 280 AI. That's about 50 - 100fps more velocity. Few would consider that a magnum caliber (even if the name claims it). You would probably be hard pressed to detect a difference in recoil compared to the 280. You also have the advantage of the short action which might be nice with the 24" barrel.
I think others gave you good advice to choose the rifle you want then select from the calibers avaliable.
Your only other option is the 270. There is only 0.007" difference in the diameter of the two calibers. I doubt you could look at a bullet and tell which caliber it is without measuring. There is absolutely no difference in on-game performance between the two.
If you are dead set on what you want, then wait and go the custom route when the timing is more appropriate.
HogWild