284 selection

[sgt_zim]

I really like my stainless .280 Rem. It has become my go to gun for just about everything. I load 140gr and 160gr bullets and come pretty close to Mag velocities.
Until you said lefty I was going to say go that route. However, unless you want to build a custom rifle, maybe not. I'm not sure if anyone is building a LH bolt gun in .280. I would be surprised if they are readily available.
I'm pretty sure you can find a LH rifle in 7-08 though. Loaded with something like 139 gr Hornady GMX or Barnes I bet that would make a pretty sweet little package.

Lots of lefties in 7mm-08, starting with one of my favorite lines - Savage. Their model 16 Weather Warrior is available in 7mm-08. Also pretty sure that Tikka makes a lefty 7mm-08. I've been shooting Savage rifles for maybe 25 years, and I've never been disappointed with a single one.

280 Rem in LH, yeah, that's a challenge. I guess if I really wanted one, as would be the case with a 35 Whelen, I'd buy a 30-06 and get it "fixed."

 

[greyfox]

7-08 and 7x57 are ballistic twins: the 7X57 is too long for short action and not long enough to require a long action - thus unused space. the 280 is a 30-06 necked down.

Shoot ANY animal with any of them and ask it to tell you the difference!

for your wife, I'd look HARD at the 7-08 (short action, compact rifles

 

[Ryan]

As a lefty this question came to my mind this past year. I now own a Savage in 7mm-08 and it shoots great. The other option should you prefer the 280 is a Thompson/Center Encore. They make factory barrels in 280 and you can get both ambidextrous and left handed stocks for it.

 

[Michael Dean]

If this is a rifle that is destined for your wife, I respectfully suggest looking long and hard at the 7x57, especially if you reload. Wonderful selection of bullets and you can customize loads to best suit your wife's shooting needs.

I've got a Ruger One as well as a couple of Mauser 98s and a Mauser 96. Great cartridge with a wide range of options.

 

[Hogpatrol]

My current favorite 7mm is the 28 Nosler. A lot of horsepower for long shots and a tack driver to boot. With a brake, the recoil is manageable. If that's too much then consider the 7 SAUM.

 

[Shootist43]

Is your wife a "South paw" as well?

 

[IvW]

I had a 7mm-08 found it was a good deer cartridge but lacked some in penetration on hog head shots. This is why I replaced it with a 308 for more Bullet weight. Overall I did like the gun however with that being said I shot about 50-60 whitetail with it with no problems.

Now if you were using a 7x57mm with 175gr bullets, you could shoot the biggest hog you could find and you would be surprised at the penetration.

That is the difference between the European cartridges and American cartridges. The European cartridges shoot heavy for caliber bullets where the American ones shoot lighter bullets at higher velocity.

Heavy for caliber bullets of the same design will out penetrate the lighter ones.

My choices in 7mm would be only two:

7x57mm Mauser
7x64mm Brenneke

You do not need anything more.

 

[thriller]

No question a heavier bullet does better that's why I bought a 308

 

[7x57Joe]

The only slugs I've recovered in game has been from a .45-70 out of elk. The bullets weighed 510 grains upon entry and one weighed 500, the other 448 grains when recovered.

 

[ChrisG]

Just out of curiosity, you have a 6.5X55.... you really aren't gaining much going up to 7mm.... but if you must have one... my vote goes to the classiest 7mm. 7X57.

 

[Rob404]

I shoot both 7-08 in a Savage action and a 7x57 in a re-barrel Chilean Mauser, For all around hunting I would opt for the 7-08
my experience with loading for both give me for FPS shooting heavier loads avg 2890 fps with great accuracy

 

[Ironhorse375]

My Ruger .280 has been a joy. From Dall sheep in Alaska to elk, deer and antelope here in Colorado it hasn't let me down.
Have found the 160 grain bullets to be just the ticket..

 

[ChrisG]

Now if you were using a 7x57mm with 175gr bullets, you could shoot the biggest hog you could find and you would be surprised at the penetration.

That is the difference between the European cartridges and American cartridges. The European cartridges shoot heavy for caliber bullets where the American ones shoot lighter bullets at higher velocity.

Heavy for caliber bullets of the same design will out penetrate the lighter ones.

My choices in 7mm would be only two:

7x57mm Mauser
7x64mm Brenneke

You do not need anything more.

+1! If a 7X57 will punch through an elephant skull with 175 grain bullets, it will have absolutely zero issues with a hog head from any angle. It's sectional density is way more than any bullet that can be comfortably slung from a .308

 

[IvW]

+1! If a 7X57 will punch through an elephant skull with 175 grain bullets, it will have absolutely zero issues with a hog head from any angle. It's sectional density is way more than any bullet that can be comfortably slung from a .308

You are so right, long heavy for caliber bullets are the way to go for optimum performance on tough animals!

 

[IvW]

+1! If a 7X57 will punch through an elephant skull with 175 grain bullets, it will have absolutely zero issues with a hog head from any angle. It's sectional density is way more than any bullet that can be comfortably slung from a .308

You are so right, long heavy for caliber bullets are the way to go for optimum performance on tough animals!

 

[Abeln]

You are so right, long heavy for caliber bullets are the way to go for optimum performance on tough animals!

That's what she said.

Sorry. Couldn't help it.

 

[Beretta391]

My wife shoots a 280 rem, hornady super Formance ammo. 139 grn gmx at 3070 fps. Great accuracy out of her rifle. We leave on our 3rd safari for plainsgame in 14 days. She has harvested kudu, gemsbok oryx, zebra, waterbuck, blesbuck , springbok, red hartebeast, blue wildebeast. All were one shot kills. The bullets that we found in animals were a perfect picture for a commercial. She has been shooting this rifle for over 25 years. Pretty sure she's not going to change.

 

[tarbe]

Choosing between the 7-08 and the 7/57 is splitting some skinny hairs.

Find the rifle she likes and whichever cartridge it is chambered for, buy it. She'll never lament the differences

 

[JakeH]

I'm strongly considering the 7mm-08 for my wife due to the excellent ballistics, low recoil, and the fact that its often chambered in youth model or compact rifles and she's only 4'11". The two rifles we've found that fit her best are the Ruger American compact and the Browning A Bolt Micro.

 

[James Cook]

7x57 Ruger number 1 is an ambidextrous option, probably the best option for $1000 price point.

have one. recoil is a good bit milder than my 280 in model 700.