Justification for Existence: .280 Rem.

by
posted on May 13, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
ammo2015_fs.jpg (2)

Certainly among the cartridges most deserving of being the subject of “Justification for Existence,” the .280 Rem., I mean 7 mm Rem. Express, never mind, the .280 Rem. could, uniquely, be considered a “niche” and an “all-around” cartridge-all at the same time. For many riflemen, the .280 Rem. offers minimal (if any) appreciable increase in performance over the field-proven .270 Win. and .30-’06 Sprg. chamberings. Furthermore, ammunition in the latter chamberings is universally available and, generally, less costly, too. It’s also worthy of note that newly designed bullets and loads are first offered in .270 Win. and .30-’06 Sprg. and then, sometimes, the technology trickles down to the .280 Rem. That being said, there’s a dedicated following that extols the virtues of the .280 Rem. and places it among the cartridge greats. The cartridge’s proponents generally attribute its greatness to a large selection of 0.284”-diameter bullets-from 110 grs. to 180 grs.-with remarkably high ballistic coefficients, which it propels to respectable velocities. To them, this gives the .280 Rem. an edge over the elder cartridges. So, what’s your take on the .280 Rem.?   

Latest

Whittington Center Adventure Camp 11
Whittington Center Adventure Camp 11

The NRA Whittington Center's Adventure Camp: An Outdoor Education For Kids

If you have kids between the ages of 13 and 17, there is quite simply no better summer experience you can give them than the NRA Whittington Center Adventure Camp.

Army Testing New XM8 Carbine (No, Not That XM8)

Some members of the U.S. Army will begin receiving a new XM8 carbine for testing, a shorter, lighter version of the M7 rifle introduced under the branch’s Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program.

When Price IS the Object

You get what you pay for, right? Maybe yes, maybe no.

Review: Taurus 66 Combat Revolver

Taurus’ new 66 Combat shows that even revolvers can get with the times.

New For 2026: Silent Steel USA Streamer Series PCC Suppressors

If there are two things that are popular in the firearms world right now, it is suppressors and pistol-caliber carbines (PCC). Silent Steel USA has both bases covered with its new Streamer Series PCC suppressors.

The Armed Citizen® March 30, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.