Author Topic: 280 vs. 30-06 (Read 2005 times)

Curly · « **on:** November 06, 2006, 10:36:19 AM »

I am sure this has been beat to death, but I am 2nd guessing myself and need help before it is to late to change the caliber. I ordered a .280 in lefty stainless from Remingon's Custom Shop about a week ago. It will be the one and only centerfire for the time being (quite a while). Deer on the east coast with dreams of hunting out west in the future. I don't handload, and don't intend to hand load. The bullet selection of the 06', and the reduced recoil loads from Remington that I have used for practice keep me thinking that the 06 may be a better "One gun does all." Opinions pro & con would be appreciated. The gun is the Kevlar Mountain Rifle. There is no difference in barrel length, weight, or shell capacity etc. I think the recoil should be about the same. THANKS CURLY

nasem · « **Reply #1 on:** November 06, 2006, 11:31:59 AM »

In regards to killing power, they are the same. Unless you go a head and load up some 200 or 220 grainers in the '06, they both have same killing power.

Yes the 30-06 has a bigger diameter and greater impact, however the 280 which I belive is a 284 diameter has better sectional density (can penetrate deeper).

The ONLY problem I don't like about the 280 is that its not as available as the 30-06.

Syncerus · « **Reply #2 on:** November 06, 2006, 11:41:43 AM »

I agree that the only real issue here is ammo availability.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** November 06, 2006, 12:01:03 PM »

No doubt the ammo selection is better for the '06 and if buying it locally is a big deal to you then for sure go with the '06. But if you're willing to order it rather than running down to the local wallyword for it then it really matters not.

I've owned who knows how many '06s over the years and have one now but have never owned the .280 even tho it's been on my wish list for 40 years. I've owned several .270s and have one now. There really just isn't enough difference in the .270 and .280 to matter. Some day I'll walk up and see a .280 and bring it home tho.

If it were me ordering the gun as you are I'd get the .280.

longwinters · « **Reply #4 on:** November 06, 2006, 12:57:32 PM »

I luv the 280 caliber, but do handload. I also have had several 30-06 rifles all good shooters. But given my preferences I prefer the 280. Why, not really any solid reason other than I like everything about it. That being said, others have already suggested buy several boxes of ammo once you find what shoots accurately in your rifle. But I wouldnt 2nd guess yourself.

Long

dw06 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 06, 2006, 03:40:55 PM »

I'm big on the 06,have owned three and still have two.When the 280 came out,what did they call it 7mm express?Anyhow I allmost bought one.After reading and compairing it with 06 all these years I came to conclusion that I would have been just as happy with the 280.
I'd flip a coin and go with winner,you will like either and they will searve you well.But like you said for practice the reduced loads are nice,just depends on how much you shoot,if less than a box or two a year I would get the one I wanted.You could get into reloading with the lee loader and set of scales to make 280 sing.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #6 on:** November 06, 2006, 06:27:31 PM »

When the 280 Rem came out, it was called the 280 Rem. It never really got off the ground for some reason and Remington tried breathing new life into it and called it the 7mm Express. Great cartridge but I'm not sure what it's called now. I'd take a 280 over a 30-06 anyday. Have always likes the 284's, in particular the 280 and the 7x57. Saying that 28 cal bullets are better than 30 cal bullets is cutting a fine line. Bullets under 150gr work better in a 280. Bullets over up to about 165gr, about the same and bullets over 165 gr work better in the 30-06.

crow_feather · « **Reply #7 on:** November 06, 2006, 07:39:18 PM »

Unless your going to hunt moose or grizzly bear, there really isn't much difference tween the calibers. The 280 started life in the pump and semi auto remingtons which caused the round to be loaded less than full power. The ho hum ballistics were viewed with distaste by hunters. Thus the 7mm Express name to indicate the better speed and ballistics, but it still didn't have 270's speed.

Some people don't like the 30-06 because it is so common, they just want something different than the standard, but not give up the killing power of the 06. (That's why there is a 270) I believe the 280 is one of the best of the almost 06 cartridges.

C F

jvs · « **Reply #8 on:** November 06, 2006, 09:57:02 PM »

When I was much younger, I used to run around town in a 1967 Pontiac GTO with a '67 327 Corvette Engine and a Holley 750 Double Pumper Carb in it. I had it all decked out with Chrome Wheels and Raised White Letter Tires, and a set of Ladders. The price it cost me to run that car was no object, since there was one particular Blonde that I knew liked fast cars that could pull the front end up off the ground when I goosed the gas peddle in First Gear.

Well........

She and I are Married about 34 years now, and I learned my lesson.

What is that Lesson?

NEVER SPEND MORE TO RUN SOMETHING THAN WHAT IS NECESSARY TO GET THE JOB DONE !

Just for General Principles, I would go with the .30-06 . If you have that .280 for 34 years, it will cost you more than you can imagine. Take my word for it.

P.S. I now drive Subaru's.

jro45 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 07, 2006, 01:56:03 AM »

I say if you want the 280 then by all means get it. I like my 30/06 but either one will do what you want to do.

nasem · « **Reply #10 on:** November 07, 2006, 02:12:34 AM »

Can I ask why the 280 and not the 7mm mag ? they are both 284 diameter and the mag has about 100-200 fps more but its soooo much more populare. The american world loved the "7mm magnum" name which is why I think it got so popular in the early 60s and still going strong.

lilabner · « **Reply #11 on:** November 07, 2006, 02:45:24 AM »

If you were planning to routinely hunt elk, moose or other large animals, the 30-06 would be my choice. You aren't and the .280 will work almost as well on the big stuff, so I'd stick with that choice. Both calibers have traditionally been underloaded in factory ammunition because there are guns out there that are not built to handle high pressures. That has changed somewhat with Hornady light magnum loadings and the new premium loads. Both cartridges can be at optimum performance when handloaded.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #12 on:** November 07, 2006, 03:57:35 AM »

If you're gonna routinely hunt elk or moose, get a 7mag. If not, get the .280 although I will say to reap the full benefit of the .280 you need to reload. Or have someone do it for you. Someone you trust.

Zachary · « **Reply #13 on:** November 07, 2006, 04:18:08 AM »

I'll echo some of the sentiments...
Given that you don't handload, I'd get the .30-06.

Zachary

alsatian · « **Reply #14 on:** November 07, 2006, 05:08:19 AM »

For elk -- your dream of "hunting out west someday" -- it would generally be accepted that the .30-06 is preferred over the .280. I'm sure other opinions will dispute this, I imagine something along the lines of the .280 is just slightly less powerful than the .30-06 in terms of bullets they will support and lots of hunters take elk with the .280.

Some people hunt and kill elk with the .243. Some others use the .25-06 and the .257 Weatherby Magnum. What I read suggests that the .30-06 is just about the minimum elk cartridge in the opinion of a lot of people. When you start talking about using the .270 you still get a lot of "I have killed tons of elk with the .270" but you also start getting some "ahem, one moment please" objections about the efficacy of the .270 if the shot is less than perfect, if the distance is a bit long, if the angle is undesirable.

You are of course free to choose whatever cartridge you want. And I'm not setting myself up as an expert or saying the .280 won't work for elk. I'm just echoing what I've read others say so you get the full spectrum of opinion on this.

Curly · « **Reply #15 on:** November 07, 2006, 05:25:29 AM »

Thank you Gentlemen, I guess when looking at the ballistics, they are almost identical to 300 yds, and only at 400 yds does the small diamater of the .280 allow the speed to give it some advantage and that is mainly with the lighter for caliber bullets. NO, I don't shoot at 400 yds, and have never even tried. Old eyes! Just a benchmark I use for ballistic comparision. I have on occasion been caught with my ammo supply low and wanted to go to the range. Then there is the hunt for ammo locally. I agree with Graybeard that buying ammo on line to get what I want will alleviate any problems. There is the advantage of reduced recoil ammo for practice, and for hunting in an area where I would want my distance limited. I will say that I was very impressed with the reduced recoil loads. They did significanlty reduce the recoil to below my friends .243 and were great for practice. There are also the accellerator bullets from Remington that would be a good coyote/fox round. BUT there is still something intriguing about the .280. Thanks for the opinions.

jason280 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 07, 2006, 10:04:48 AM »

While factory ammo has certainly become more available, the .280 is still more of a handloader's cartridge. I fist got exposed to the cartidge in the mid-90's, when I was looking to buy my first true deer rifle. I looked at all the cartridges available, and it came down to the .270 and the .280. I ultimately chose the .280 simply because it was loaded with heavier bullets. I wasn't a reloader then, but ammo was still available.

My first true deer rifle was a Remington Mountain Rifle in .280, and I bought that gun in 1996. I still hunt with it today, and it has taken countless numbers of deer. I have used 140-150gr Core-Lokt's, 165gr Extended Range, 140gr Nosler Partitions, 140gr Win Ballistic Tips, and 139gr Hornady Light Mags in the gun to take deer. It has always been reasonably accurate, and does the job on deer sized game. A handloader can easily load 120-175gr bullets that will take just about anything in North America, and with some of the newer powders, can come real close to a 7mm Mag. My 26" Handi in .280 will easily push 140gr bullets to 3150, which isn't far off from 7mm Mag velocities.

Now, that being said, I am also a fan of the .30-06. Ammo can be found most anywhere, and isn't too expensive. But, if I had to choose one rifle for the type of hunting I do, it would always be my Mountain Rifle in .280 remington.

Gregory · « **Reply #17 on:** November 07, 2006, 01:32:24 PM »

I'd get the 280. A custom gun "deserves" a cutom chambering. Not many lefty .280's around. Later, you can buy a Savage LH in 30/06 as a "back up" rifle or find a used LH in 30/06. Your 280 will bring a premium if you ever decide to sell down the road.

I'd like a LH 7x57 myself.

.

Dave Allen · « **Reply #18 on:** November 08, 2006, 11:05:00 AM »

curly...i'm with ya...something about having a 280 appeal's to me also....

Curly · « **Reply #19 on:** November 10, 2006, 06:15:11 AM »

Thanks for the replies, I think I will leave the order as is, and stay with the .280. As for the possibility of a 7mm in one of the posts, that would change the contour and length of the barrel, defeating the purpose of the light mountain rifle. CURLY

jasonprox700 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 16, 2006, 10:00:32 AM »

I have the .280 and absolutely love it. I chose it over the 06. Mine is a ruger that is very accurate, about .5" @ 200 yards with handloads on a good day. There are very many factory ammo options today for the .280 that it really doesn't matter except for availability. The .280 is flatter shooting and faster. Mine is 1.5" high @ 100 yards and dead on @ 200 yards. Compare that to my varmint rifle. I have a rem 700 in .22-250. It is 1" high @ 100 and dead on @ 200. So I consider the .280 to be pretty flat shooting for a big game cartridge. You will be very happy with the results.

CallaoJoe · « **Reply #21 on:** November 16, 2006, 10:06:54 AM »

This is just my impression, but I sometimes think that guys like to pass on the 30-06 just because so many people already have them.... But, in reality that's a good reason to buy one. I have never owned a .280, and I've heard they're great shooters, but it's not like there is any real advantage to shootin one over the 30-06. So, given the availability of ammo, seems that the logical choice is the 06'.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 17, 2006, 05:31:45 AM »

The 280 as the 270 uses smaller diameter bullets to produce slightly better or equal trajectories with a bit less recoil. They 30-06 has the advantage of being able to handle heavier slugs a bit better though not a lot.. Modern bullets have made any real advantage to heavier bullets minimal.. The 280 is more than enough for any deer and most elk if one avoids the poor shots. The 30-06 is a bit better perhaps but hardly a barnburner at longer ranges.. For where your at now the 280 is great.. It'll shoot 140-150 grain bullets and flatten deer at any sane range and with premium bullets in the 160-175 range will shoot thru elk..with descent shots.. I've several 30-06's and built my lovely daughter a 280, I've even a 280 Mountain Rifle,, but if I were buying an all around rifle.. I'd buy a 7mm Rem mag..

EdK · « **Reply #23 on:** November 17, 2006, 06:29:26 AM »

Between 270, 280, 30-06 and 7mm Mag (most of what has been discussed in this thread thus far) I'd prefer the 280 - BUT...

1) You say you don't handload and don't intend to. Fine. But the 280 has by far the fewest number of factory loads available and if you have no plans to handload in order to tune your loads to the gun you may want to be careful about choosing a caliber with few factory offerings to choose from.

2) I know you have no plans now to sell it (nobody ever does at this point) but if you don't like it, it doesn't like factory ammo, etc. I think you will take a bath on a lefty 280.

charles p · « **Reply #24 on:** November 24, 2006, 02:19:52 PM »

Then there is the 280 Ackley! Hear that might get standardized. Got one and love it.

animal · « **Reply #25 on:** November 25, 2006, 02:30:18 PM »

Jack O'Connor and Col. Whelen both thougt the .280 was " just a little better rifle" than the .270 and 06. I concurr with them. My .280 remington model 700 has never failed and there are plenty of good bullets out there if ya reload and even if ya don't. My friend killed a huge elk with mine at over 300 yards and I've taken bucks from 45 to 440 yards with it ( from fence row to fence row) on quarter mile hayfields) It seems to have lazer like trajectory although the trajectory tables show it to be not that much greater than the 06 with comparable weigt bullets. It is almost a 7mm mag in performance but not in loudness or recoil.

Kaimi · « **Reply #26 on:** November 28, 2006, 03:54:30 PM »

For me the .06 just seems to be too much gun, ie high recoil. If used correctly your 280 should give you years of fun as well as meat on the table. Just remember that hunting/shooting is like real estate. Location, location, location. You need to find that kill zone and put your bullet right in it. good Luck with your new toy.

Aloha, Kaimi

257 roberts · « **Reply #27 on:** November 28, 2006, 05:19:10 PM »

Go with the 280!!!

Curly · « **Reply #28 on:** November 29, 2006, 04:45:46 AM »

Thanks Gentlemen, I am leaving it with the .280 Rem. I found a custom cartridge loading site that can give me different loads both up and down in bullet weight. They had a 120 grain Barnes TSX which I think would make a great Deer or Pronghorn round. I do find it interesting how many people liked and owned a .280 but it is still considered an obscure round.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #29 on:** November 29, 2006, 05:03:43 AM »

If load availability was an issue then the 30-30 is also a poor choice for deer? There are usually only 2 choices a 150 grain and a 170. There are a smattering of others but very few.. It is really not a valid argument. The 140-150-160 are all that are required.. The local gunshop here always stocks a few of several brands and while I don't buy much commercial ammo(can't afford it) it is available. In an article a few years back I read that in a poll of custom makers the 280 was the most requested round. The only real argument concerning ammo availability that I feel is vaild is that there IS military surplus ammo available for the 30-06..