26" barrels

[bsterns]

In Speer's reloading manual they list a starting load of 49 gr. of IMR4895 for the 7mm mag with a muzzle velocity of 2970 fps. The max load for 280 Remington using IMR 4895 is 48gr. giving a mv of 3073 fps. These loads are for a speer 120gr. bullet #1620. So the 280 is 100fps+ faster than the 7mm mag using 1 grain less powder and using the same bullet. I was surprised at this. Obviously the 7mm mag case with an equivalent in weight load to the 280 Rem does not build the pressure necessary to get the same velocity as the 280 Rem. Of course the potential for faster loads with more powder and recoil lie with the 7mm Mag with it's bigger case. I own both calibers. I prefer the 280 Rem because it has less recoil and does the job on anything I might shoot at with 7mm caliber. For larger game I like my 338-06 using 180 to 250 gr. bullets with less recoil than 338 Win Mag. with about the same reduction in velocity as the 280 vs 7mm mag. Same reasoning.