In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options

7 mm express/280

briguybriguy Member Posts: 459 ✭✭✭
edited October 2015 in Ask the Experts
Is a 7 mm express and a 280 the same caliber? Did a 280 used to be called a 7 mm express, if so when did it change to 280?
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Options
    ejwheatiesejwheaties Member Posts: 41 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    There is a story behind the 7mm exp Rem. 280. Named 4 times. Discontinued 280 in 1967/ in 1979 brought it back . 7mm-06 ran about 200 of. 7mm express remington. 7mm Rem mag.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,367 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Remington introduced the .280 in 1957, supposedly to provide competition to the .270 Win at somewhat lower chamber pressure the 740 automatic could handle.
    Sales weren't great, and they were able to put the .270 in the later 742 auto.
    So Remington renamed the cartridge in 1979, calling it the 7 mm Express to sound more sophisticated or something. This resulted in people confusing it with the 7 mm Remington Magnum. A 7mm Express fired in a 7mm Magnum chamber is not pretty. Remington two years changed the name back to .280 in 1981.

    The .280s greatest popularity was in custom rifles with Mauser actions. An overloaded .280 will get fairly close to 7mm Magnum with bullets up to 154 grains, and that let the gunsmith put his time and your money into a nice looking gun without the labor of changing bolt face and magazine to the belted magnum.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 13,779 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The 280 is a far better round than the 270--it just didn't get the gun writer support the 270 did (Jack O'Conner).
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    charliemeyer007charliemeyer007 Member Posts: 6,579 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There are a lot more bullet choices for reloader's in 7mm than 270. Not sure why they picked 6.8 SPC in .277 vs. .284.

    I'd like to re-rifle my shot out 256 Newton barrel to a 280 Rem Improved.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6.8mm_Remington_SPC

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.280_Remington

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.270_Winchester
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,367 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Not sure why they picked 6.8 SPC in .277 vs. .284.

    There was a legend that a General on the board was a big fan of the .270 and pushed for that caliber rather than 6.5 or 7mm.
    Perhaps not so but it makes a good story.
    Or maybe they remembered the 6.8mm Chinese Mauser of about 1908.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The story I heard was the SF team that came up with the concept had already necked down a .30-30 to .270. Since it was pretty much a straight changeover to the rimless case they called it that first. Then promptly changed the name to a metric designation as they thought it might get a serious looking at.

    At which point, the powers that be decided to make a competition and we've gotten nowhere with it since.

    FWIW, neither the .270 or .280 is better. It's a case of both of them not being optimized in the first place like the 6.5x55 or even the 7mm Mauser. Tight twists and long/heavy for caliber bullets could then be used. Somewhere in marketing departments in gun companies people decided to "Americanize" them and make them less useful....but sell better.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.