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Author Topic: .280 Handi??  (Read 666 times)

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Offline kombi1976

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.280 Handi??
« on: February 01, 2007, 12:41:17 PM »
Out of interest, how many of you guys own a 280 Handi?
I've been tempted to buy one of these for a few years now but various other projects and guns have cropped up instead.
Someone said the 26" bbl made them a little ungainly and out of balance.
Is this true?
What about accuracy & recoil?
Incidentally, for those people thinking about buying one in 204 I can heartily endorse it.
A mate has one and the thing shoots under an inch at 200yds with factory ammo! :o
It's also is explosive on bunnies, hares and foxes. ;)
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.22lr ~ 22 Hornet ~ 25-20 ~ 303/25 ~ 7mm-08 ~ 303 British ~ 310 Cadet ~ 9.3x62 ~ 450/400 NE 3"

Offline MSP Ret

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Re: .280 Handi??
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2007, 01:28:17 PM »
I have 2, I had 3 but traded a barrel for another .357 barrel which will become my .35 Remington Handi. My two .280 Handis are a standard 26" barrel and a 19" wonder of a woods rifle called affectionately "Thunderboomer".
I coincidentally bought the short .280 barrel from the same member that I traded to long .280 barrel to for another .357 barrel. Things just seem to have a way of coming full circle sometimes. He had bought the shortened .280 for the reciever and I bought the barrel from him. I have since also acquired the original reciever, it's strange how some things work out.
To get back to your question, get the .280 and you will be very happy. The 26" barrel wrings every bit of power and accuracy from the round and handles and holds very well. The .280  Remington is one of the unsung heros of the Handi Rifle lineup. I have to borrow it's description from a great organization, if you can call the .280 anything it is "always fathful". It is accurate with a large array of bullets and bullet weights, and being a 7mm at .284 you have many, many bullets to choose from. It is really one caliber that can do it all. Can you tell I like it?....<><.... :)
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Offline EVOC ONE

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Re: .280 Handi??
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2007, 02:38:46 PM »
MSP hit the nail on the head about the .280.

I currently have three:

1- RMEF Model
2- Handi w/Nikon Pro Staff
3- NEF Medallion version with Camo laminated and a Simmons .44 Mag

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Offline atitagain

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Re: .280 Handi??
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2007, 08:39:04 PM »
I bought one used last year to see how it compaired to the bolt actions. And, well, it's going to Quebec with me on my Caribou hunt this fall. I would stack the handi's accuracy up against most bolts out there.
I also have one of the Ultra slug guns in 20ga., and I was to say the least amazed with it at 100 yards. Shooting Rem. copper solids, I can break holes. I would say for the most part, the handi is more accurate than me.  And I love them.
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Offline kombi1976

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Re: .280 Handi??
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2007, 09:48:49 PM »
Sounds like I should be saving up for one in that case.
Here in Oz they import the usual suspects (223, 204, 243, 22-250, 270, 308 and 30-06) but I'd probably have to special order the 280.
Whatever the case if it's half as good as you guys reckon it should be a great rifle.
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Cheers & God Bless

.22lr ~ 22 Hornet ~ 25-20 ~ 303/25 ~ 7mm-08 ~ 303 British ~ 310 Cadet ~ 9.3x62 ~ 450/400 NE 3"

Offline RickC.

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Re: .280 Handi??
« Reply #5 on: February 04, 2007, 07:14:00 AM »

I've had mine for two seasons now, and it's accounted for my last 3 bucks.  Not as "handy" as the 22" barrel NEFs, but I haven't found this to be a problem except when hunting from shooting houses, which I rarely do.  But the 26" barrel allows you to load the .280 to its full potential, and the 145 Speer spitzers loaded to 2985 have done the job.  I may go to 160-162 gr boattails, but I don't really -need- to.  Mild recoil, and this rifle is surprisingly quiet, owing again to the long barrel, I suppose.

 Here's mine, taking a lunch break after having taken a 6 point earlier in the day:




 
                                                            Rick
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Offline Mac11700

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Re: .280 Handi??
« Reply #6 on: February 04, 2007, 08:05:10 AM »


I really liked mine..





Both groups at 100 yards...factory ammo...Thats a 10 shot group on top by the way...Recoil wasn't bad at all..No failure to eject...cause it's a extractor barrel ;)

Mac
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