Keep .280 Rem or sell for something else?

[High Plains]

I believe it. One of my wife's 7mm-08s is a M70 "featherweight," and I never could figure out why Winchester called it that. In order to sell more guns, I guess.

Several years ago I acquired a Model 70 Featherweight (circa 1960) in 243 Win. It appears to wear a walnut stock the same size as the regular Model 70s. It has a 21 1/2” barrel. The recent Model 70 I bought has a 22” barrel and is considerably lighter and fits better, mostly due to a shorter length of pull.

 

[sage5907]

The difference in fatigue and pain between a 10lb rifle and a 7lb rifle at the end of the day is significant; especially as you get older.

The 280 Remington rifles that I have are Winchester 70 featherweight with 22 inch barrels and weigh 8 lb 5 oz and 8 lb 7 oz respectively with 3-9 x 40 scopes & sling and I don't mind carrying them on long walks in rough country to get to my favorite shooting spots. At those weights recoil is very manageable and I don't pay much attention to it. I consider them to be hunting rifles and light mountain rifles that are user friendly. I went to a high dollar gun shop this past week and handled many rifles of different manufacturer and what I found was many rifles that I would not want to own. The 280 really works as a light mountain rifle and if you have a hunting rifle that you like in 280 you need to keep it because you probably won't find anything better on the market today.

 

[Bill M.]

Ye, I am not familiar with that type of hunting. Yes, even though I like my .280 if I was building or buying a lightweight rifle it would certainly be for a shorter cartridge. My hunting has always involved limited walking in fairly easy terrain and still hunting. Heavy rifle, no real problem. So sell the .280 and get what you want/need.

 

[6.8 hunter]

Unless something has changed, I thought all Tikkas were long action rifles, with different bolt stops for long or short action cartridges. At least mine seem to be that way.

The actions are all one size. But as far as "long actions" go they are pretty trim. So what I am saying is if you set one side by side with a Ruger short action you will hardly be able to discern any difference. And the tikka will be lighter

 

[Laphroaig]

The OP never said what version his M70 is. The only one that interests me is the Featherweight and the long action weighs 7.0# according to Winchester. I'd minimize the weight with the scope (read Leupold) and rings and go with it. My M70 weighs about 8 1/2# which isn't excessive IMO. I have hunted elk on foot in Colorado and hunt bear here in PA in some pretty rugged terrain.

A person could do better tho.

 

[Litetrigger]

Mentions of lightweight .280's caused me to remember this ULA .280. Weighing a few ounces under 6lbs, even with the relatively heavy Swarovski scope, it's a delight to carry and like all other ULA's I've shot is as accurate as much heavier rifles. View attachment 1200881View attachment 1200882

 

[DM~]

Mentions of lightweight .280's caused me to remember this ULA .280. Weighing a few ounces under 6lbs, even with the relatively heavy Swarovski scope, it's a delight to carry and like all other ULA's I've shot is as accurate as much heavier riView attachment 1200880View attachment 1200881View attachment 1200882View attachment 1200887

They a are fine rifle.

And now that Melvin has sold the rights to build the ULA rifles, to Wilson Combat, they will be more available.

I have one of Mels rifles, they are GREAT!

DM

 

[bme27]

Sorry I didn’t give more information about my rifle. It is a Featherweight, but it’s in an aftermarket, composite stock. I got a rough weight of it once with the Leupold scope that’s on it and I want to say it was around 8 pounds, but I could be wrong. I’ll have to double check in the morning.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I would use the current 280 as my “mountain rifle”.

There is wisdom is using what you already have….even if it goes against the conventional wisdom of this board which goes something like “there’s no such thing as too many guns” or “just get them both”.

 

[Howland937]

The gains of 7mm-08 over .280Rem are basically short action vs long action. Nothing else.
You have an 8lb rifle that's ready to go in a cartridge that is capable of handling anything you could hunt with the 7mm-08, 6.5, .270, etc...and handles heavier bullets better.
To start all over and maybe shave 1lb doesn't seem worthwhile.

 

[sage5907]

The gains of 7mm-08 over .280Rem are basically short action vs long action. Nothing else.
You have an 8lb rifle that's ready to go in a cartridge that is capable of handling anything you could hunt with the 7mm-08, 6.5, .270, etc...and handles heavier bullets better.
To start all over and maybe shave 1lb doesn't seem worthwhile.

This post drives the point home. Some will trade a long action rifle with a slim 22 inch barrel for a short action rifle with a slim 24 inch barrel and the weight of the rifle does not change. With a 22 inch barrel long action the extra weight is between your hands and with the 24 inch barrel short action the extra weight is out on the end of the barrel. If you have big hands like I do it's easier to load and unload a long action. Also, it takes about half the cost of a rifle to really get into reloading and if you are conservative like I am once you make the choice of a cartridge or caliber you need to stick with that choice. By the time you have purchased reloading dies, neck sizing mandrel, case trimmer, powder measure, scales, trickler and a supply of powder, primers and bullets you are on your way. To reduce the sticker shock the different components can be purchased over a long period of time. And if you change cartridges the costs start all over again.

 

[High Plains]

About 15 or so years ago I had a decent rifle chambered in 270 Winchester. Handloads I developed during the primer - powder shortage of 2011 had this rifle in very good shapemwith a range of bullet weights. It was dead-on ammo. I sold the rifle and ammo to a friend to buy a custom made 280 Rem, and had with regrets. Since the 270 Win was the first of many cartridges I reloaded I kept good records of ammo I made. Finally I compared the cost of all components and equipment with the cost of the same amount of factory ammo. Turns out I reached the break even point at only 70 cartridges. Since then I have loaded rifle cartridges ranging in size from 204 Ruger to 45-70 Govt.
Brass available for a 280 Rem is not close to what you can get for a 270 Win——-but if you neck size the cases vs full length resizing you will get a longer case life. I got nine reloading cycles of the original box of 50 Hornady cases for my 6.5 Creedmoor. 280 brass is no more rugged than 270 Win brass. I cannot accurately say what brass company is THE best but I know what brand names have the highest price.