[bunyip]

Hello all,
I'm about to buy a second hand rifle and my favorite caliber is .280 rem but these just don't come up second hand. So I'm now focusing on a 7mm rem mag but not having fired one before I'm a little concerned about the recoil and noise of a magnum.
I have noticed that these both take the same projectiles and really the only difference I can see is case capacity and powder load.
What I really want to know is if I load down the 7mm to a 280 load will the 7mm behave exactly like a 280 if all else is equal(rifle, projectile weight etc).

[c3shooter]

I'll offer a qualified "maybe"

You can vary the performance of a cartridge a LOT based on how it is loaded- a very light .357 magnum, loaded with wadcutters, performs about like a .38 Special target load- and have even loaded 100 grain "plinker" loads for .308 Winchester-

HOWEVER- a bullet/ velocity combo that does not match the rate-of-twist of your rifle will not properly stabilize the bullet, and accuracy will suck. For instance, .308 and 30-06 both use the same diameter bullet, but 30-06 is set up for a heavier bullet, and does not do as well as .308 with light stuff- nor does .308 do well with 200 gr bullets.

IF rate-of-twist is same, difference should be negligible.

[robocop10mm]

You cannot "change the caliber" but you can load to much different specs.

A 7mm RM can be "down loaded" to behave much like the .280. This must be done by someone with much experience because the large case capacity can make smokeless powder behave erratically when less than 80% of the case is filled. Pressures that should go down may go up, a lot!

Generally the starting loads for the Mag are about the same as the max loads for the 280

[cpttango30]

Why not get a second barrel for your Handirifle and get that in a 280 rem?

H&R 1871 - Barrel Accessory Program

[M14sRock]

Originally Posted by bunyip

Hello all,
I'm about to buy a second hand rifle and my favorite caliber is .280 rem but these just don't come up second hand. So I'm now focusing on a 7mm rem mag but not having fired one before I'm a little concerned about the recoil and noise of a magnum.
I have noticed that these both take the same projectiles and really the only difference I can see is case capacity and powder load.
What I really want to know is if I load down the 7mm to a 280 load will the 7mm behave exactly like a 280 if all else is equal(rifle, projectile weight etc).

I'm a huge fan of .280 Rem as well. Great round.

[BILLYBOB44]

Originally Posted by cpttango30

Why not get a second barrel for your Handirifle and get that in a 280 rem?

H&R 1871 - Barrel Accessory Program

Maby I missed something Tango=I read "Second hand rifle" not "Handirifle"? This could be a bolt gun??

[c3shooter]

Go over to auctionarms.com, advanced search, rifles, 280. There is a nice looking Remington with a "buy it now" price of $351, plus shipping. No, not mine. But they DO come up "2nd hand".

[cpttango30]

OOPS

You would be better suited with buying a 7mm-08 or 7mm Mauser or 270 win. The 270 is based on the 30-06 and the 30-06 is based on the 7mm mauser. So they are all in the same family.