Best of the Standard .270/.30 Calibers...

[hoytcanon]

I was messing around on the JBM Ballistic calculator because I am looking for another .270 - .30 caliber barrel for my Ultra (.243 Bull Thumbhole Varmint) and had an opportunity to pick-up a .280 Rem barrel...
 
I tried an apples to apples comparison of four calibers available from H&R using the same factory available loads (Hornady SST Superformance, bullet weight varies slightly)(other loads may net difference results???)... The four calibers were .270 Win, .280 Rem, .308 Win and .30/06 Springfield... (not considering .35 Whelen, .45/70 etc... as they are in a different category, and not what I am looking for and 7mm/08 comes up a little short of these... not taking away anything from these calibers, just not what I'm looking for).
 
The standard parameters calculated were in relation to MPBR; (all with a +1.5" sight above bore; Kill zone radius of 4" not the standard 5"... in the deer's lungs from zero to MPBR);
 
Calibers in Order of performance;
 
1. .270 Win (140 gr SST... MPBR Zero @ 289 yd, MPBR @ 340 yd, MPBR energy 1819.5 ft/lb)
2. .280 Rem (139 gr SST... MPBR Zero @ 288 yd, MPBR @ 339 yd, MPBR energy 1792.2 ft/lb)
3. .30/06 Springfield (150 gr SST... MPBR Zero @ 283 yd, MPBR @ 332 yd, MPBR energy 1777.3 ft/lb)
4. .308 Win (150 gr SST... MPBR Zero @ 276 yd, MPBR @ 324 yd, MPBR energy 1701.2 ft/lb)
 
As you can see the differences are very minimal... the higher BC of the .270/.280 seems to account for their collective edge over the venerable .308/.30/06... but since they all group within a small tolerance range, it would appear to be best to decide which caliber to go with based on other factors... versatility, ammo availability, available barrel contours (I prefer bull barrels)commercial ammo cost effectiveness, history/personal preferences (not considering reloading factors, strictly based on commercially available ammunition)etc...
 
After considering my own applications based on assessing all of the other factors, here is MY own order of preference, for an additional H&R barrel;
 
1. .270 Win (+ most efficient caliber, + best trajectory and energy retention, + good range of ammo, - only sporter contour)
2. .308 Win (+ bull barrel available, + versatile, + widest ammo option range)
3. .30/06 Springfield (+ versatile, + lots of ammo options, - only sporter barrel available)
4. .280 Rem (- far less range of ammo, - increased ammo cost, - only sporter contour)
 
Any thoughts or options/factors that I haven't considered??? 

[gendoc]

well you jus needta go get u one them .270 handi's
an killa buncha critters. in other words...........enjoy it !! they are mitey fine shooters
when there fed right

[spikehorn]

280 ya just gotta love those 7mm pills and if you roll yer own it opens up ammo selection

[gendoc]

A+ on what spike said !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[quasne.inc]

I love my .308 with the bull barrel.  If you really want the thicker barrel get the .308, if you want slightly better ballistics Id go with a .270.

[RaySendero]

.....
 
Any thoughts or options/factors that I haven't considered???
 
 

Yeah:
 
First pick the rifle you want that will fit your hunting plan the best!
 
Then pick the cartridge.  All the cartridges you listed are good and have their advantages.

[mechanic]

Reload.  It opens up a new world.  That 280 becomes almost a 7mm. mag.  That 30-06 is in a new dimension.....
 
Ben

[quatroclick]

I obsessed for months before I saved up enough to buy my first big game rifle.  Through a raft of calculations, I decided that the 280 had the edge since I reloaded already.  I never was a fan of the 308 until I bought a cute stray in a pawn shop, now I have several.  I bought a 270 Remington 700 that was too good a deal to pass up just for the action for a custom rifle I wanted to build.  Turns out that with cheap federal ammo, it's probably the most accurate game rifle I own.  I have a sporterized manlicher stocked 03-A3 30-06 and a Ruger 77 in that caliber on the way.  I guess that what I'm saying is that you can't do much better than any of them, I certainly can't!

[MSP Ret]

If you can get a nice .280 barrel I say grab it. I have two now, one a standard long barrel and the other is "Thunderboomer, a 19.5" tackdriver (both H&R single shots). The .280 is one of the best non .30 caliber barrels out there. With the tremendous number of good .284 diameter (7mm) bullets out there you can load it to do just about anything you want, and it will do it all very well....<><....

[cowboyup453]

I see 2 things. First .

Reload.  It opens up a new world.  That 280 becomes almost a 7mm. mag.  That 30-06 is in a new dimension.....
 Ben

Second the 280 is the only cal that you mentioned that comes with a 26" barrel. To me bull barrel is a mute point with handis. They all have a bull barrel by most standards and I dont like the 270.

[cwlongshot]

Just practile speaking you would need to go a long way and work hard to beat the 30-06...
 
BUT my heart says 280... Where you to force a choice, it would be 280 Rem. with out hesitation.
 
CW

[hoytcanon]

First pick the rifle you want that will fit your hunting plan the best!
 
Then pick the cartridge.  All the cartridges you listed are good and have their advantages.

Thats what I'm doing... I stated in my opening line that the rifle is already chosen... I have two SB2 Ultra frames (.243 Ultra Varmint Thumbhole)... now choosing additional barrels... have a .308 bull on the way... deciding whether or not to go with another .308 bull on the secong frame for my son or choose another caliber...

[hoytcanon]

Reload.  It opens up a new world.  That 280 becomes almost a 7mm. mag.  That 30-06 is in a new dimension.....
Ben

Take reloading out of the equation... as I said earlier, I am basing this on factory available offerings (I don't want to reload).

[mechanic]

I bought a used 280 just  to get the receiver.  I was gonna' sell the barrel.  I made a mistake and shot it.  No tweaking, no fuss....it just shoots.  It's now my #1 go to gun.
 
Ben

[tom548]

Any one will do the job, and because you don't want to reload I would go to the .308 or 30-06 as there is a lot of cheap ammo to play with and the box of hunting ammo is the same as the rest you listed.

[hoytcanon]

As it turned out I went with two .308 heavy barrels... which are being cut to 20"/ threaded to 5/8" X 24 TPI and brakes with Ross Schuler brakes... the heavy barrel, the versatility, and having both my son and I shooting the same caliber won out in the end... thanks for any and all input. 

[hoytcanon]

Reviving this old thread that I posted a few months ago... I found it funny that I was considering which ONE of these barrels to choose from... since the thread ended, I have purchased TWO .308 bull barrels, a .30/06 barrel AND a 7mm/08 barrel... I guess I couldn't make up my mind!

[tacklebury]

Try a 180 gr. Hornady BTSP on top of a book charge of Reloader 17 + makes it into a 1000 yard gun with less than 4 mil of elevation needed at that range:

 

										Calculated Table
Range	Drop	Drop	Windage	Windage	Velocity	Mach	Energy	Time	Lead	Lead
(yd)	(mil)	(MOA)	(mil)	(MOA)	(ft/s)	(none)	(ft•lbs)	(s)	(mil)	(MOA)
0	***	***	***	***	2762.0	2.474	3048.5	0.000	***	***
100	-0.0	-0.0	0.2	0.7	2556.0	2.289	2610.8	0.113	5.5	19.0
200	-0.5	-1.8	0.4	1.5	2359.3	2.113	2224.3	0.235	5.7	19.8
300	-1.3	-4.4	0.7	2.3	2171.2	1.945	1883.7	0.368	6.0	20.6
400	-2.2	-7.5	0.9	3.3	1991.7	1.784	1585.3	0.512	6.3	21.5
500	-3.2	-11.0	1.2	4.2	1821.7	1.632	1326.1	0.669	6.5	22.5
600	-4.4	-15.0	1.5	5.3	1661.9	1.489	1103.7	0.842	6.9	23.6
700	-5.7	-19.6	1.9	6.5	1514.2	1.356	916.2	1.031	7.2	24.8
800	-7.2	-24.9	2.3	7.8	1380.4	1.236	761.4	1.239	7.6	26.0
900	-9.0	-30.9	2.7	9.1	1263.1	1.131	637.5	1.466	8.0	27.4
1000	-11.0	-37.8	3.1	10.5	1165.0	1.043	542.4	1.714	8.4	28.8

[watsisname]

I have had Handis in .270, .308, 30-06, 30-30 and .280. The .280 is by far the best shooter. I had mine cut back to 23 inches and it is a tack driver. The shorter length gives me better handling in dense woods and is still accurate for long range shooting. Best of both worlds!