I just bought a used 280 rem. The previous owner says he has about 150 rounds through the barrel with his favorite load: 59gr of IMR7828, magnum primer, 150gr partition, 2875 fps 22" barrel. Now I am not a handloader so this doesn't mean much to me but I did a little research and found that 7828 is a magnum caliber powder and 59 grains of it seems pretty hot in the 280. Also, why would a magnum primer be used? Is it possible the gun has been abused through handloading? What should I look for? I won't get to shoot the gun for a while and I am stewing over this.......

I'm using IMR 4831 and both the IMR loading manual and several other manuals list that powder as the top powder in the 280 Remington. Lots of Magnum caliber powders such as H820 and H1000 can be used in the 280 and I've been using magnum primers for years so that's not out of line. I couldn't find a load in my hasty research for 7828 in the 280 so can't tell you if that particular load is to hot. When your shooting it does it exhibit any pressure signs? really flat primers, extractor marks on the case after firing, hard bolt lift?

If your not going to shoot reloads just don't shoot any you might have questions about. The velocity sounds reasonable, but you certainly don't have to shoot his reloads. I know that unless I've loaded and worked carefully up a load no ammo someone else has loaded goes thru my guns.

I'm shooting a Remington 700 Mountain rifle with a 22 inch tube on it.

My gun is the same as yours Bob, but it's the SS version they made in 1993. It was a rare find and I guess maybe I am just being paranoid. I like to know I am using a rifle that has been taken care of properly. Im just mainly concerned that the action or the barrel could have been damaged by "overloading" or if that's even possible.

I sure love my Mountain rifle. It's light and quick and feels just exceptional to shoot and carry. I've got a compact 2.8 to 10 Simmons AETEC in Leupold bases and rings on mine and though I've been a magnum fan for lots of years this little light rifle sure seems to feel at home with me.

I have yet to kill anything with it, but a friend got a nice buck year before last with it. perhaps this coming fall will let me see how it works. I had a heart attack this fall so my hunting season went down the tube and the old 8mm Rem mag I've been shooting doesn't do so well combined with the blood thinners I'm on now. I bruise really easily and the little 280 really is mild to shoot.

That is listed as the Max load in the Nosler 6th edition manual, but its not out of line for a modern bolt action rifle, it would be for the 7400 series autoloaders, though.

It is very possible to overload, but just because a published load is Max, doesn't mean that your particular gun is subjected to that pressure. The previous owner would have seen the pressure signs while reloading, like cratered or flattened primers and a sticky bolt handle indicating over expansion.

That load is listed in the Nosler #3 manual, only with a Federal 210 standard primer. Velocity was 2990 fps with a 26" test barrel. It gave the highest velocity with that bullet, although not by much over IMR 4831 and Reloader 22. It's hard to say what effect the magnum primer has, as they don't always produce more pressure. Anyhow, that load isn't completely out in never-never land.

You might want to rework some different loads to see if there is more on the table. According to the Hornady manual they don't recommend IMR7828 until 162 and 175 grain bullets. With a 22" tube I'd consider IMR4350, IMR4831 and Reloder19. Hard to say, but it might work better in your rifle than Noslers load that was tested with a 26" barrel.