Thoughts on 280 Remington Browning Xbolt

[longbowelk]

I have been researching the 280 Remington and would like to add it to my collection. I am not at this time considered a "Long Range Hunter" but would like to some day. Right now I see myself with maybe 400 to 500 yd shots. Even though most of my shots have been under 300 yards. I have been looking at the Browning XBolt in the synthetic Stalker and the Hunter with Walnut stock. The hunter weighs 5 oz more. They are both similar in all other aspects. Also, have looked at the Remingon 700 Mountain. As far as I have seen, these are the only factory rifles that build the 280. I am looking for quality as far as factory, am not really interested in any major modifications.
I have settled on the 280 on several factors. All my hunting buddies have the 270 which is plenty to kill anything I would hunt.(deer, elk, hogs) I have 2 other nice guns in Rem 700 25-06, Savage 11 7mm-08. I love both of these.
Anyone want to weigh in on any of the 3 mentioned or throw in an option I haven't seen?

 

[MudRunner2005]

Buy the 280, and have the chamber punched to .280 Ackley Improved.

That's what I would do.

 

[Plinker147]

You will love a 280.

I know 1 person with a Browning A bolt 280 and they say its a great shooter.

I use to have the Remington 700 mountain rifle in 280. It shot 1moa and was a real nice hunting gun. Wish I hadn't sold that one.

I guess I would lean to the Remington in case you decided to customize in the future.

 

[benchracer]

Since it is now a legit factory cartridge, thanks to Nosler, I believe the .280 AI deserves a serious look from anyone considering a rifle chambered for .280 Rem. Kimber and Montana Rifles both offer very nice options that cost about the same as the more upscale versions of the X-Bolt.

 

[venatic]

If you could find one the Steyr Mannlicher Hunter was made in 280 at one time.
I bought mine new two years ago on a whim and it's been one of my fave's lately.
I have shot 5 elk with it so far. It's not a 1/2 MOA rifle but close to that and I have no trouble dinging steel at 1000 yards with it.

I dropped these two with back to back shots about 30 seconds apart second one at 300 yards.

 

[hypersonic]

Buy the 280, and have the chamber punched to .280 Ackley Improved.

That's what I would do.

So what would be gained punching out to 280 AI with a 22" barrel length?

I would go with the Rem and its 1 in 9.25" twist versus the Browning with the 1in 10" a little faster twist will help if you are looking at 160-168 class bullets like the 162 a max or the 168 Berger.
I have a Ruger Hawkeye in 280 with 1-9.5" twist and it has shot everything up to 175's quite well and it is really not too fussy with bullet weights. I would be a little nervous with a 10 twist but the choice is yours and the rifle that fits and feels the best is the one you should go with.

You will be happy with the 280 it is a really good cartridge when you hand load and work in the pressure ranges that the rifle and brass can safely handle not what the majority of the factory stuff is loaded to.

 

[MudRunner2005]

So what would be gained punching out to 280 AI with a 22" barrel length?

I would go with the Rem and its 1 in 9.25" twist versus the Browning with the 1in 10" a little faster twist will help if you are looking at 160-168 class bullets like the 162 a max or the 168 Berger.
I have a Ruger Hawkeye in 280 with 1-9.5" twist and it has shot everything up to 175's quite well and it is really not too fussy with bullet weights. I would be a little nervous with a 10 twist but the choice is yours and the rifle that fits and feels the best is the one you should go with.

You will be happy with the 280 it is a really good cartridge when you hand load and work in the pressure ranges that the rifle and brass can safely handle not what the majority of the factory stuff is loaded to.

With a 22" barrel, not much at all. Neither will he be gaining a lot with a 24" barrel in that Remington, over that 22" Browning. If he went with a 26"-28" barrel, then that caliber really shines.

I simply said that he might as well punch it out to .280 AI...I never specified which gun. lightbulb

I prefer a Rem 700 over just about everything else. Not a fan of the X-Bolts and their DBM setup, so I would definitely go with the Rem 700 Mountain with the 24" barrel.

Oh, and the 1:10 twist of the Brownings shoot the Berger 168 VLD's just fine. I've had 2 A-Bolt II's in 7mm RemMag, and they both shot 160-class bullets with excellent accuracy. Including 160gr. Barnes X-Bullets, which being a mono bullet normally requires a faster twist to stabilize than other bullets in its weight class.

 

[vandal]

The 280 is a wonderful cartridge. I have one in an abolt. My wife has shot 3 elk and numerous deer with it. I have kills over 430 yards with it. All using 160 partitions and imr 4831.

 

[Alaska2006]

Great caliber, I own two both Rugers and killing machines. I don't shoot much paper with either; I have other tools for that.
One warming on the 280, if you squeeze the trigger you better have your skinning knife ready.

 

[hypersonic]

With a 22" barrel, not much at all. Neither will he be gaining a lot with a 24" barrel in that Remington, over that 22" Browning. If he went with a 26"-28" barrel, then that caliber really shines.

I simply said that he might as well punch it out to .280 AI...I never specified which gun. lightbulb

I prefer a Rem 700 over just about everything else. Not a fan of the X-Bolts and their DBM setup, so I would definitely go with the Rem 700 Mountain with the 24" barrel.

Oh, and the 1:10 twist of the Brownings shoot the Berger 168 VLD's just fine. I've had 2 A-Bolt II's in 7mm RemMag, and they both shot 160-class bullets with excellent accuracy. Including 160gr. Barnes X-Bullets, which being a mono bullet normally requires a faster twist to stabilize than other bullets in its weight class.

So Rems mountain rifles are now coming with a 24" barrel? They are still only showing 22" in the current production that I can find. So realistically punching either out would cost some more money without any real improvement versus the standard 280 minus less trimming for the AI design and some better case life. Does the increased velocity of the 7 mag over the standard 280 help with stabilizing the long mono barnes in the 10 twist? Don't quite know what the light bulb thingy means

 

[LeePaHunter]

My brother in law owns a 280 remington mountain and it is a beautiful shooter. He finally shot his first buck this year with it after twelve years of hunting. I loaded up some 160 gr8 nosler partitions for him. He shot the buck at 608 yards and it only went about 10 yards and dropped. The 280 is an awesome cartridge but as for an AI upgrade I wouldn't do it for the simple fact the 280 remington mountain shoots awesome a s it is.

 

[longbowelk]

Some interesting comments. I was leaning towards the Xbolt as I read several online articles on the Xbolt and the Rem. Most comments favored the Xbolt. The Hunter model with walnut stock shows it to have a medium heavy Barrel. Not sure how much difference it would make. Someone has mentioned the Ruger 280. I couldn't see a 280 by Savage. I have not held one 280 in my hand so it's hard to figure out. Right now I prefer the std 280 with an option later to go AI, but would any of these
Be able to be upgraded?

 

[FEENIX]

I am looking for quality as far as factory, am not really interested in any major modifications.

Right now I prefer the std 280 with an option later to go AI, but would any of these Be able to be upgraded?

YES!

Depending on your budget, checkout >>> http://www.kimberamerica.com/mountain-ascent

You can shoot both .280 Rem and .280 AI ammo (now available as factory ammo).

No further modification except maybe the muzzle brake, not a fan of radial MBs but that's just my personal preference.

Also, >>> http://cooperfirearms.com/jackson-hunter

Good luck!

 

[longbowelk]

The Kimberly Mountain Ascent looks to be very nice. I think it is out of my budget for now. Would all 280 A I be able to shoot std 280 rounds? Ive read a lot lately and some where I read you could not load either the 280 or 280AI too light powder wise as it would not function properly. Forgot the exact wording. In all these Comments I haven't seen anything on recoil. I failed to mention it. I have never shot a 280 but would assume the recoil would be about like 270 or 30 06. How much more recoil would there be if you did rechamber to AI with out the muzzlebreak? Thanks for all comments and suggestions.