.280 Rem. Load Data

The .280 Remington, sometimes known as the 7mm Express Remington, is a rifle cartridge introduced in 1957 by Remington Arms Company. Designed to compete with the .270 Winchester and edge out .30-06 Springfield in certain aspects, the .280 Rem. sought a spot in the American hunting and shooting community as a versatile, mid-bore cartridge. Built upon the .30-06 Springfield case but necked down to accept .284-inch (7mm) bullets, this cartridge balanced the high muzzle velocity of its contemporaries with the high ballistic coefficients and sectional densities that 7mm bullets are famous for. Initially, the cartridge struggled with acceptance, mostly due to its introduction in the semi-automatic Remington 740 rifle—at a time when most target shooters and hunters preferred bolt-action platforms. It was further complicated by Remington’s brief renaming to “7mm Express Remington” in 1979, which led to confusion and, subsequently, a return to the original .280 Remington designation in 1981.

In terms of applications, the .280 Remington is widely respected for its versatility in a reloaders’ arsenal. It bridges the gap between the flatter shooting .270 Winchester and the heavier hitting .30-06, making it a favorite for those looking to optimize both recoil and terminal performance. Hunters appreciate its capabilities in a broad range of North American environments, from open prairies to thick woodland. Its inherent accuracy and relatively mild recoil (compared to magnum-class 7mm cartridges) also make it a dependable choice for target shooters and long-range enthusiasts. While factory ammunition can sometimes be harder to find than for the more common .270 Win., handloaders relish the ability to extract the cartridge’s kinetic potential by tailoring loads to specific rifles and local game.

The .280 Rem. shines as a hunting round, being suitable for a variety of game species. It's most often used for deer, pronghorn, and similar-sized animals, but with appropriate bullet selection, it’s also a reliable choice for larger game like elk and even moose. The cartridge's reputation for delivering excellent downrange energy and flat trajectories makes it especially popular among Western hunters facing longer shots across open country. Its relatively moderate recoil allows shooters to maintain accuracy under field conditions, a trait highly valued by those who may need a quick follow-up shot.

Bullet weights for the .280 Remington typically range from 120 to 175 grains, with the most popular choices for big game hunting being in the 140 to 160 grain range. The 140-150 grain projectiles offer flat trajectories and excellent retained energy for deer, while the 160-175 grain bullets provide deep penetration for heavier animals. The standard rifling twist rate for this caliber is 1:9", which provides excellent stabilization for both light and heavy 7mm bullets. With a case capacity of about 67 grains of water and a base to shoulder length of 2.096 inches, the .280 Rem. offers reloaders ample room for experimentation with different powders and seating depths. Its step up from the .270 Win. in bullet diameter provides favorable ballistic coefficients, making it a superb long-range option without the recoil of magnums. For reloaders who appreciate nuanced performance and enjoy optimizing loads for different field uses, the .280 Remington continues to be a strong contender in the pantheon of classic American hunting cartridges.