Tring to figure out a good starting point. I hunt whitetails that range form 100lbs to around 250lbs. 80% of shots inside 100 yards. Rare for anything over 250 yards. Thanks in advance.

I shoot a .280 Rem. with 58gr., H4831sc, Fed 215 primers with 160 gr. Nosler Part. and also the same load with xxxBarnes. Zeroed in 3'' high @100yards. Vital hit with center hold out to 350 yards on deer. One of Bob Hagels pet loads. Works for me out of my 700 Rem. Mt. Rifle

I started using a 7mm Rem. Mag. for all hunting in 1970, and in that same year, shot a nice mulie buck with it. I decided the 7 Mag was too destructive for deer, and got a 7X57mm as soon as I could. For deer, I use a 140-grain Nosler Partition bullet and 53.5 grains on WW 760 or H414 in Remington cases with Federal 210 primers loaded to an overall length of 3" exactly. This load produces 3000 FPS MV in my two long-throated Rugers, a No. 1A, and a Model 77.

BE Careful!! This load may prove excessive in guns with short throats, or ones with tight chambers! It must be approached from at least 10% below!!

Whatever the 7X57mm will do, the .280 will do better. But I like the little 7X57, and don't want any more power than that for deer. For bigger stuff, I have the 7mm Rem. Mag., and use 175-grain Nosler Partitions in it.

I shoot a BRNO 21H double set triggers in 7x57.It likes a 50gr dose of RE22/Win cases/Fed mag primers/160gr Speer Grand Slams.As well 140gr Hornady/Win cases/Fed mag primer/49gr Win 760 both are 1/2 MOA or less.Harold

have .280, love it, is a pinhole puncher...

I would suggest looking at Nosler Accubond..I use 160gr. for everything from deer to elk...The Nos Accubond in a 160gr. has a Ballistic Coefficient that levels the playing field against the lighter 140 grain...

I use Reloader RL 19 and with my Ruger it is one of the best loads I have developed...I cannot remember what the grain i use is, but if you want more details I can get them to you...

remember your gun is different than mine and what is a good load for my gun may not be for yours, you cannot replace practice for good input online...

What was said before is very true. What shoots good in one gun very possibly will not shoot as well in a different gun. With that out of the way, the load I worked up many years ago for my old 725 Rem. is 53 gr.IMR 4350 powder, i39 gr. Hornady SP, 9 1/2 Rem. primers. Not a full-power load, but one that shoots excellent in MY gun, and just flat smashes whitetail.
The .280 Rem. is a superb cartridge, good for most N.A. game, with the possible exception of the largest bears. Even then, it does not lack far behind the 7mm Rem. Mag. Good choice, in my mind.
With all that said, I gotta tell you my go-to deer rifle has become the 7-08 Rem., and I'm not figuring on switching again any time soon........

I have always used Fed Prem nos part. 150gr. in my rifle. With the cost of factory ammo going though the roof I am going to start reloading. Anyway I can load as close to this factory load as possible. I get 1/2 groups at 100 yards and that all I could ask for?

If you are getting consistent sub-MOA groups out of that rifle and load combination, you may want to consider stocking up on some of that particular lot number of that ammo. Hand loading is both a rewarding pastime, and can also be a frustrating one. You may have a tough time duplicating the performance of that factory load in your particular gun, but go ahead, get started, and get your feet wet.......be safe, and good luck!!.....

7mm mauser
140 grain nosler and 414.

My 280 has had nothing but Sierra BTSP gamekings over R19 shot through it for the past 10 years. Its a hammer of thor on deer. They act like they've been struck by lightning