Advice on next rifle purchase

[VTbluegrass]

I am a deer hunter and I did this a few years ago. Had a 270 and got a 7RM. It shoots lights out and was easy to develop loads for. What I do not like is the 26" barrel and 15 to 20 more grains of powder. If I was out West I am sure I would never notice but in box blinds, climbing tree stands, and bottom land swamps its just too much of a pain to carry so it hardly ever goes hunting.

I would just consider your hunting style and area before picking a rifle. next rifle for me is either going to be a purposeful larger rifle or a short action with a heavier contour barrel 20-24" that will be fun to shoot.

 

[Huntfly]

My "go to" for many years was the .280 Rem. A few years ago I made the switch to a .280 Ackley Improved and am more than satisfied with results. It is right on heels of 7 mag with using less powder and no belt (not that it matters). Shoots same Bullets and recoil is noticeably less. I shoot quite a bit for most of year so recoil can be an issue even tho I have a brake on my rifle. Can't make a mistake either way with calibers mentioned as plenty of different rifle manufacturers, brass, components, and a lot of positive feedback and results from quite a few members on this site. Enjoy the process!

I too am a big fan of the 280 AI, if you decide on something larger go with the 300 win mag. Very accurate, great bullet selection and very versatile. I have one and shoot monolith bullets, 130's to 155's get great accuracy and low recoil. If the need arises you can load some180's or 200's.

 

[Huntz]

You could buy a nice McMillan Stock for your rifle for about $600.00 and have a gunsmith AI your 280 for another $85.00.The truth is a 280 or 280AI will kill anything in North America.

 

[Good]

I would look at a "tame" .338 as well. Unfortunately, 338 WM is probably the most prevalent, but a 338 Norma Mag would be great, minus ammo availability.

 

[5gauss]

I need some help with a decision on next rifle. I currently have 280 rem which i love but it's got a wood stock and I really just want something new but maybe a little larger caliber. Was thinking 7 mag or 300 win or wsm? I know the 7 mag and 280 rem are somewhat similar with the same bullet but really impressed on ballistics of the 7 mag. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Oh, this would be primarily deer but want to also be a good all around caliber for elk. Thx

Any .308 cal would be a step up and many many bullet choices. 300UM and out there a long way you could go..

 

[sourdough44]

Just skimmed through, haven't seen the OP'er back yet.

As most know, the 280 REM can do most things, going larger for deer gets closer to overkill. The type of deer hunting matters, as does is one a handloader or not? Then we get to how much one may elk hunt? If 80% of the time is deer hunting in TN, may not need the 338.

Even with deer, we hunt with varying methods. When rifle hunting I'm hardly ever near or in a fixed stand. For me I like lightweight & compact for that 50-75 yard shot. That shot may come after carrying the rifle for 3 days.

Once owning the 280, then wanting something larger, the 300WSM is a good choice. We have to save some debate for optics & bullet choice.

 

[meatyrem]

I need some help with a decision on next rifle. I currently have 280 rem which i love but it's got a wood stock and I really just want something new but maybe a little larger caliber. Was thinking 7 mag or 300 win or wsm? I know the 7 mag and 280 rem are somewhat similar with the same bullet but really impressed on ballistics of the 7 mag. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Oh, this would be primarily deer but want to also be a good all around caliber for elk. Thx

Go with a 7mm PRC

 

[James DeTorre]

Shot an eastern whitetail with 300WM at 250 yds. Last night.Destroyed it. Recoil fine, really loud.G oing back to 280ai For my "bean field " round.

 

[Buckys]

Given that the rifle is primarily for deer and it sounds like "maybe elk", I would choose the 280AI which is very, very good for deer and more than adequate for elk. You can reuse all of the components you have for the 280REM including the brass and your new rifle would easily match the capability of most 7mm rem mag *factory* ammo, albeit without the ability to stretch to what the 7mm rem mag is actually capable of.

Nothing wrong with stepping up to a full 7mm magnum or 300 magnum ... but they are not as optimal for deer for many of the same reasons that have already been offered by others here.

 

[Blkrflguy]

I can't speak to newer savages, but I've owned more than a dozen older 110, 111, and 112's. If you like Savage like I do, pick up an older one, put a trigger in it and whack animals.

I don't disagree with you there. I have two Model 10T's in 308. Both shoot bug holes with my hand loads. The model 10's are great rifles! Bought them in 2013 & 2014.
20 years ago you couldn't give a Savage rifle away. Then they got their act together for a few years. But now.. it's a grab bag! They don't seem to care. The first 110 was in 6.5PRC. I had a NF FFP on it. The gun wouldn't group into 2" at 100 yards. They did an accuracy test on it and, it failed. So they sent me another. These two rifles were made a year part. Guess what... yep.. wouldn't shoot either. And both ejected spent brass with striations. So they let me get out of the caliber and model. I got the RW. Guess what.. yep, I'm done with Savage.

 

[Remhunter]

I love my .284 caliber rifles. I own a .280 Rem, 2 .280 AI's, and one 7mm RM. If I had to pick one and be done it would definitely be the .280AI. You can also fire form your .280 Rem brass so you don't have to find some in our goofy times right now. Get a good bullet like a TTSX or an Accubond and you are good for anything that walks the continent.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

You could buy a nice McMillan Stock for your rifle for about $600.00 and have a gunsmith AI your 280 for another $85.00.The truth is a 280 or 280AI will kill anything in North America.

YUP,.. THIS ^^^ Just barely, Kisses the aszz of, a 7 Rem Mag. IF,.. loaded right !
The .280 Rem or AI with, 154 to 168 Grain Bullets, will Kill ANY, Elk or, Deer in N. America with, the "Right" Bullet and a good "Boiler Room" shot !
Replace the Stock, Glass Bed the action and about 2" of, the Barrel's "Shank" portion, Free Float the balance, PRACTICE Shooting and go,.. Kill, chit !
You WILL REGRET, ever buying, a .300 or, .338 Win Mag, UN-less planning on,.. installing, a "Brake" !
They aren't Fun, to "work up" loads for or,.. Practice much, with !
When I was 30 ish, I thought the .338 Win. Mag was, the ONLY,.. Elk stompin', Rifle on, Planet Earth !
Sold it at, 50 ish and NOW shoot, a 270 WSM ( W/ 140's ) so MUCH,.. BETTER !
Elk, "seem" just as, Dead and,.. my "Flinch" is,.. almost,.. GONE !

 

[MagnumManiac]

I am a deer hunter and I did this a few years ago. Had a 270 and got a 7RM. It shoots lights out and was easy to develop loads for. What I do not like is the 26" barrel and 15 to 20 more grains of powder. If I was out West I am sure I would never notice but in box blinds, climbing tree stands, and bottom land swamps its just too much of a pain to carry so it hardly ever goes hunting.

I would just consider your hunting style and area before picking a rifle. next rifle for me is either going to be a purposeful larger rifle or a short action with a heavier contour barrel 20-24" that will be fun to shoot.

Ever considered buying a sling system that carries the rifle muzzle down?
I hunt with rifles that are carried all the time this way with 26", 28", 29", 30" & 32".
Have one elevated blind that I use and the 32" barreled rifle is admittedly a PITA to use in there, but is doable.
My sling carries the rifle muzzle down across my back, not over a shoulder. To release the rifle is to slide a looped strap at the front. It is similar to a military style sling.
Very comfortable and you often forget you have it there. It is awkward to use if you are also using a pack, but it is adjustable enough to allow this. I forget the name of the guy that makes them. Sorry.

Cheers.

 

[Blkrflguy]

Very sorry to hear that. I love my savages but none of them have been made in the last 5 years at least (one of them is a 99, from the 70s I think, the other a plain 111 package gun from 2005/2006, and the last a 111 long range hunter (but from 6 years ago, accustock but with the externally adjustable cheek riser, not the newer stocks they're doing now). No complaints about any of them but you're not the first person I've heard in recent days with these reports..,it's like they've tried to get fancy and lost their touch at being simple, accurate, affordable, no-nonsense workhorses, which is what I always liked about them. I've also been hearing that the quality of their barrel steel or bluing has gone to pot, been hearing about rust issues…none of mine have ever had even a hint of rust on them.

my vote then, if affordability is a factor, must go to the weatherby vanguard. Man I like those rifles! Don't currently have one, regret that . I like the ergonomics, the solid feel of the stocks, and, free floated or not, can't deny that they plain shoot!

Thanks. It's really been a headache with Savage the last 2 years. I have two older Model 10T's both in 308 and are two of the most accurate rifles I have. Both were half min out of the box with factory ammo. And with my hand loads are .25-.35" (5 shot groups). Both were bought between 2012-2014. But these last 3 guns aren't even close and cost twice as much. I've got a thread of emails back and forth with them. They took the last two rifles back and tested them and both failed their accuracy standard of 1". These 110's were a year apart in manufacturing. I provided pictures, data, etc. Even showed them my load over my magnetospeed. I had a SD of 5.3 and ES OF 14. I've learned how to find loads pretty quick the last few years. I've put almost 200 rounds down this last gun they sent trying different seating depths, charges, you name it. And it won't even shoot into an inch. The first two in 110 HC wouldn't shoot into 2". I had a NF ffp on them that was mounted on another gun that shoots! So I knew it wasn't the scope.
I believe they've lost some of their focus on the foundations of good rifle building. They don't seem to care about not polishing chambers, or good barrels and instead have traded their focus for stocks with camo patterns with built-in adjustable cheek risers and length of pull while trying to sell at the same price as competitors when they should be focused on adding these features for an additional amount.