waco
Springfield, Oregon
Thought some of you might find this interesting.
Ruger’s new .280 Ackley Improved.
- Thread starter waco
- Start date
Rick H
Well-Known Member
I have always liked the looks of Ruger Model 77 (Hawkeye) bolt action rifles. One of the few left handed bolts available. A number of my friends bought them, not one of them was happy with the accuracy. Even the heavy bbl varminter style in 22-250 had trouble breaking 2" at 100yds no matter the load. Scared me away from them. I stuck with Remington 700's and 788's.
I have been told that Ruger rifle barrels have improved, I hope so. My Remington brand has gone in the dumper.
I have been told that Ruger rifle barrels have improved, I hope so. My Remington brand has gone in the dumper.
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
The Mk II 77s had much better barrels than the earlier series rifles. I have owned 2, still have one (77R in 6.5 x 55). It is a tack-driver with several 140 grain J-word spitzers, to include the Nosler Partition. It does not quite as well with the Barnes Condor Cuddlers, 1.5 MOA vs. 0.7-0.8. It runs Lyman #266469 quite well to 1800 FPS. It shows some promise with varmint j-words also, 85 grain Sierras and 100 grain Hornadys--at or just under 1.0 MOA. Box-stock, too.
The departed 77 was a stainless 22-250 target monster from the late 1990s. It was quite accurate with a range of jacketed bullet makes, 55 and 60 grain weights.
The departed 77 was a stainless 22-250 target monster from the late 1990s. It was quite accurate with a range of jacketed bullet makes, 55 and 60 grain weights.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I cannot speak to the new 77's. But the American line has proven way way more accurate then one would expect, 400$ can buy.
CW
CW
fiver
Well-Known Member
I love the Hawkeye rifles.
just as a FYI the African in 280AI is the biggest joke of a rifle ever.
they do this every year, and this is the first year your still hearing about it being available.
they usually sell out within 2 weeks, for comparison the 275 Rigby sold out before any had even been made.
just as a FYI the African in 280AI is the biggest joke of a rifle ever.
they do this every year, and this is the first year your still hearing about it being available.
they usually sell out within 2 weeks, for comparison the 275 Rigby sold out before any had even been made.
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
Two barbers in Yucaipa where I used to get my hair cut were hunting fools, and took off every year from mid-September to at least mid-October to hunt--often elk, and always deer. They LOVED the 280 Remington, and often when I came and waited my turn the conversation would turn to CALIBER WARS. Too much fun.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I have always been enamored by the thought of a 7mm Express/280 Remington 700 BDL. It was the rifle I wanted as my "deer rifle" as a boy.
I built a Mauser into a 280 in the mid 1990's. It was a Argentine 1909 hinged floor plate with a Bishop Walnut stock and a Shillen barrel. I like 98 Mausers allot. But always longed for the 700 BDL.
Today Ill grab another Mauser before that 280, a 7Mag cause it just feels and shoots better. Both probably shoot farther then I will.
Only improved case I have is the K Hornet.
CW
I built a Mauser into a 280 in the mid 1990's. It was a Argentine 1909 hinged floor plate with a Bishop Walnut stock and a Shillen barrel. I like 98 Mausers allot. But always longed for the 700 BDL.
Today Ill grab another Mauser before that 280, a 7Mag cause it just feels and shoots better. Both probably shoot farther then I will.
Only improved case I have is the K Hornet.
CW
fiver
Well-Known Member
I probably seem to have an issue with the 280 improved, and that's because I do.
the Remington-nosler partnership ruined that round forever when they got it saami approved.
they made some slight alterations to the neck shoulder area that were totally unnecessary, and cut down the actual improvements to the case.
now it's just a name and 2 more grains of powder.
my X57 ICL will run right along side of it burning 55grs. of powder, and I still have the standard Mauser neck length.
the Remington-nosler partnership ruined that round forever when they got it saami approved.
they made some slight alterations to the neck shoulder area that were totally unnecessary, and cut down the actual improvements to the case.
now it's just a name and 2 more grains of powder.
my X57 ICL will run right along side of it burning 55grs. of powder, and I still have the standard Mauser neck length.
Bruce Drake
Active Member
I like my 7x57 Garand rifle enough I don't think I'll ever buy another 7mm caliber chambered rifle. That said, I do have an old set of RCBS dies in 280 Remington on the shelf if I can find a good Mauser 98 threaded 7mm barrel to spin onto the spare Arg 1909 action I have sitting on a shelf at the house.
As a Lefty, if I could find an affordable LH action to build my custom rifle from, it would be rebarreled in either some 6.5mm or 7mm cartridge that I know would do everything I would need from it here in the US.
Bruce
As a Lefty, if I could find an affordable LH action to build my custom rifle from, it would be rebarreled in either some 6.5mm or 7mm cartridge that I know would do everything I would need from it here in the US.
Bruce
RBHarter
West Central AR
Cost effective left hand doesn't get any better than a Savage 10/110 . There's an outfit that does 700s with a Savage nut and Savages with a conventional barrel . The only bad thing about them is the Axis recoil lug and some minor weirdness with 4-5 different bridge type rails and the actions originally set up for WSM cartridges called lg shank . The standard WM/RM 2.5 case length actions didn't get that and are sm shank . Find a 60-70s 110LH and have some fun with it or buy a late model parkerized and for about $500 total have a great shooter in nice wood with your choice of cartridges .
You can walk out of the store with a brand new donor rifle for around $200 , add a Boyds stock for about $100 and a prefit barrel around 200 more . Might even get one in 7-08 , I think they're all long actions now , and ream it 284 , 7×57 AI , or 280 AI .
223,30 Rem ,and belted mag bolt heads are available if you want something other than a WSM or .473 case . There's a slick barrel nut now also or you can fit the barrel with a shouldered shank .
You can walk out of the store with a brand new donor rifle for around $200 , add a Boyds stock for about $100 and a prefit barrel around 200 more . Might even get one in 7-08 , I think they're all long actions now , and ream it 284 , 7×57 AI , or 280 AI .
223,30 Rem ,and belted mag bolt heads are available if you want something other than a WSM or .473 case . There's a slick barrel nut now also or you can fit the barrel with a shouldered shank .
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
Some conventional Ruger Hawkeye or American bolt rifles in OEM 280 Remington or 7 x 57 Mauser would be great. Most hunting in most of North America does not require a 7mm Rem Magnum (or larger cases). The belted magnums don't start making sense until 338 Win Mag, and the 338-06 is just slightly less powerful. Belted cases are a PITA anyway.
Rant sequence concluded.
Rant sequence concluded.
462
California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Though I have an all original 7X57 Chileno, if Ruger were to produce an American so chambered I'd be easily persuaded to buy one.
I know two local coastal blacktail hunters, one uses a 7mm Rem. Mag, the other a .300 Win. Mag. The deer probably weigh 90 to 100-pounds.
To each his own . . .
I know two local coastal blacktail hunters, one uses a 7mm Rem. Mag, the other a .300 Win. Mag. The deer probably weigh 90 to 100-pounds.
To each his own . . .
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
I know, right? I've put two deer down with wheelguns, one each with 357 and 44 Magnums. The longest shot I ever has was ~125 yards, made with a Win 94 30/30 at age 13. EVERY other shot taken was closer, all could have been harvested with a 30/30, and several of them were.
I've seen deer in most of the states & provinces I have visited, and have hunted in some of them. No deer I have seen was wearing armor plating.
I've seen deer in most of the states & provinces I have visited, and have hunted in some of them. No deer I have seen was wearing armor plating.
Rick H
Well-Known Member
I purchased my Rem 700 in 7mm Rem mag. for a British Columbian Mountain Goat hunt that never happened. I bought into the hype that I needed it for those bullet proof goats at extended ranges. (1977)
Since then it has killed a couple of whitetail one nice muley buck at 294 yds, and an antelope at 140. That's it. Lots of targets, lots of practice for the western hunts but I have done nothing with it that I couldn't have with my 308W or 6mm Rem.
If I was starting over I think my all around big game rifle would be a 7-08 or 7x57. I think a nice lightweight rifle in either of those calibers.....firing a 140 gr. pill at 2700-2800 fps is about perfect for the game and ranges that I am likely to hunt. (within 350 yds.)
Since then it has killed a couple of whitetail one nice muley buck at 294 yds, and an antelope at 140. That's it. Lots of targets, lots of practice for the western hunts but I have done nothing with it that I couldn't have with my 308W or 6mm Rem.
If I was starting over I think my all around big game rifle would be a 7-08 or 7x57. I think a nice lightweight rifle in either of those calibers.....firing a 140 gr. pill at 2700-2800 fps is about perfect for the game and ranges that I am likely to hunt. (within 350 yds.)
Hawk
Well-Known Member
The main reason I might go to a magnum is for distant shots. More power down range and flatter trajectory.
I mostly hunt on tower lines and pipelines, where shots can be up to 400 yards.
A .270 Win does fine for that yardage where a smaller caliber might not have the energy or ease of calculating the drop.
And yes, I do practice in the off season at those ranges in 50 yard intervals, so I know I can hit that far and exactly where the bullet will hit at those ranges. I actually shoot from my stand, just as I would while hunting.
The great thing about reloading is, I can reload a bullet that is fine tuned to my rifle for accuracy.
Bullet manufacturers have to compromise as to the best average accuracy for all guns.
I don't!
I mostly hunt on tower lines and pipelines, where shots can be up to 400 yards.
A .270 Win does fine for that yardage where a smaller caliber might not have the energy or ease of calculating the drop.
And yes, I do practice in the off season at those ranges in 50 yard intervals, so I know I can hit that far and exactly where the bullet will hit at those ranges. I actually shoot from my stand, just as I would while hunting.
The great thing about reloading is, I can reload a bullet that is fine tuned to my rifle for accuracy.
Bullet manufacturers have to compromise as to the best average accuracy for all guns.
I don't!
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
Long range shooting on game animals is almost outside my experience. I can only think of one instance in which I "lost" a shot to ranging issues, and that was on me--I wanted to use a roundball/caplock (T/C Hawken .54) on my deer that year. That's hunting.
Varminting is another matter, some of that involves a longer reach at times.
Varminting is another matter, some of that involves a longer reach at times.
fiver
Well-Known Member
I have to catch myself wanting to do it.
one shot might be at 30yds, turn around, or look up the hill and it could be 400yds.
our terrain varies so much here just walking up an area presents all sorts of possibilities, and it can trick you into mis-judging distance.
I think I wear out my scopes turning the power up and down every 5 minutes.
one shot might be at 30yds, turn around, or look up the hill and it could be 400yds.
our terrain varies so much here just walking up an area presents all sorts of possibilities, and it can trick you into mis-judging distance.
I think I wear out my scopes turning the power up and down every 5 minutes.