Sanity check. Ruger m77, 7x57 or 280?

Which caliber?

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My 77ts 7x57 shoots very good, around 1/2 moa or better with loads. Even ran a box of 139 ppu they were under a inch. Between me and my dad we never had a ruger shoot bad, there are a few things to get them more consistent and drop the group size. Main thing is the action screws, front needs to be very tight think it's right give it more. The middle should be just right enough so the floor plate closes, almost finger tight. The rear about normal maybe on the light side

And when you tightened them up open the floor plate, the mag box should move freely kinda so it giggle a bit.
 
Of the two, the .280 can be thought of as (and was called by some) a 7mm-06. While the 7mm Mauser is only 57mm long. the .280 Remington is 64.5mm long. Theoretically, the .280 can be loaded just a bit hotter. Both being in high pressure actions, the practical results will be rather close.
The 7x57mm has been well established as a hunting round since about the first rifles became available to hunters. Turn of the 20th Century anyway. The .280 is marginally better.

I'd probably go with the older, tang safety rifle - but I'm a collector and somewhat prefer older things.
 
I think it would be hard to go wrong with either cartridge.
I voted for the the 280 rem only because of a little more energy.
I have never owned either cartridge, but have had the 7x57 ballistic twin the 7mm-08. It is a great cartridge.
The 280 arguably is a better choice than the 270 or 30-06. With my experience with the 30-06 and my friends experience with their 280s I would buy one in a heartbeat.
 
I went and looked over the 7x57 today, and noticed some scratches on the receiver I hadn't noticed before, and the stock had quite a few more flaws than I remembered too. It was also a hundred bucks more than I remembered it being, not sure if the price changed or my memory is off. Gonna go look at the 280 again tomorrow, we'll see if it comes home with me.. I don't really need another hunting rifle, but I love Rugers and I don't have any 7mm anything in the safe...
 
In normal times .270 and 06 ammo runs in the low $20 range for 20 rds while .280 in the low $30. Around here anyway. If that concerns you.
 
The 7x57, while being more dated, still seems a touch more "mainstream" IMHO. 280 is still one of my all time favorites, even though it was almost always seemingly in the shadow of the .270. My nostalgia factor would definitely lean more toward USA designed round in an American built rifle. The rifle and the round can both be outperformed by newer stuff, but combined they have way more class.
 
As originally pointed out by dieselcheif the 7x57 will have a long throat. Ruger reamed everything for the 175 gr military spec. The chamber itself is probably on the large side.My Ruger 7x57 was huge in both dimensions. Neither is an issue if you don't mind slinging 160 gr, or heavier, bullets.

Curious about the No. 1 they chambered in 275 Rigby Rim less. I wonder if they were long throated also.. I almost bought one, but, the gun shop would not let me drop a no go or overall length gauge in.
 
stringnut said:
Curious about the No. 1 they chambered in 275 Rigby Rim less. I wonder if they were long throated also.. I almost bought one, but, the gun shop would not let me drop a no go or overall length gauge in.
Click to expand...

That makes me think of those sellers that won't take a trigger lock off for you.

The main reason I like buying in person is being able to verify things like that. Exactly what condition it's in, what's the action and trigger like, how's it feel in the hand, taking measurements for known issues etc...
 
DDDWho said:
In normal times .270 and 06 ammo runs in the low $20 range for 20 rds while .280 in the low $30. Around here anyway. If that concerns you.
Click to expand...
Not really, I doubt either rifle would see factory ammo. I reload for everything, and most 7x57 ammo needs to be loaded up to 7mm08 levels anyway. That might end up the deciding factor for me...
 
Nice looking rifle. I like the way the prominent (as well as handsome) straight grain runs through the grip area, making the weakest part of the stock stronger where it needs to be.
Personally, I'd keep the .280 chambering. I don't see much gain to be made in a practical sense by "improving" on the ballistics of the .280.
 
Very nice.

My only Ruger rifle is an older tang safety '06. Boringly accurate,must've got lucky?
 
BWS said:
Very nice.

My only Ruger rifle is an older tang safety '06. Boringly accurate,must've got lucky?
Click to expand...
Some of them were great and some were inaccurate. It used to depend on who the barrel blank came from. Once Ruger started making all there own barrels the inconsistency went away.

I really cant wait to shoot this thing, may need to just form some 270 brass into 280 and load it up. Was going to try and get proper headstamp brass, but I'm not sure I can wait for it to get here...
 
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