Having a hard time deciding on caliber.....
#11
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 105
Of the three there is no doubt in my mind, 280 Rem. What I think might be as good or better on a long action is a 6.5x06. I have one and it is super. You said your gonna get back into reloading so it would work fine. And of course for deer and hogs, why look past the 25-06? For deer and hogs I can't see any advantage of cartridges having heavier bullet's.
If all else fails, get a 50BMG, you'll need a long action for it!
If all else fails, get a 50BMG, you'll need a long action for it!
#12
You know you want that model 20 I think it is with a .284win....short action...
How popular is the 280rem? the 270 and 30-06 hugely popular....
ie if you decide the 280rem, then why not get the 284win?
the 280ackley improved is also an option.
god there are so many options! haha. the 7mm-08 will kill a deer, but if you go short action, then why not get a 270wsm or 7mm wsm or 300wsm? or 284win?
btw IMO the 270 is a 130gr bullet, the 30-06 is a 165/180, so that may help decide things, of course then you may want the 280 with 140's 160's...haha.
How popular is the 280rem? the 270 and 30-06 hugely popular....
ie if you decide the 280rem, then why not get the 284win?
the 280ackley improved is also an option.
god there are so many options! haha. the 7mm-08 will kill a deer, but if you go short action, then why not get a 270wsm or 7mm wsm or 300wsm? or 284win?
btw IMO the 270 is a 130gr bullet, the 30-06 is a 165/180, so that may help decide things, of course then you may want the 280 with 140's 160's...haha.
#13
As soon as you say "everything gun", you know the .30-06 is going to offer you more choices of factory ammunition.
However, if you can use a 139gr. to 175gr. bullet to hunt everything you had in mind; you may want to look at a 7MM Rem Mag as well.
All the best with your decision.
BTW - I think you are doing the right thing (you'll get far more use from this new build) !
However, if you can use a 139gr. to 175gr. bullet to hunt everything you had in mind; you may want to look at a 7MM Rem Mag as well.
All the best with your decision.
BTW - I think you are doing the right thing (you'll get far more use from this new build) !
Last edited by Sheridan; 10-28-2011 at 03:19 PM.
#14
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northeast Texas
Posts: 442
Well, I ruled ONE of the 3 choices out.......the .30-06.
Why? Well, one of the reasons I'm looking at these 3 calibers is to have something not as "excessive for it's intended use" as my current .300 Win. Mag.
If found a really good recoil calculator that someone posted on another thread and pluged in some comparisons between the recoil of my .300 Win. @ 8 1/4lbs. with a 180gr. load VS. the .30-06 @ 6 1/4lbs. with a 165gr. load.
Guess what??? The recoil velocity and ft/lbs. of recoil are virtually identical. So, not that the lightweight .30-06 recoil would really bother me, but if I'm going to put up with a rifle that kicks like a .300 Win. Mag.........it might as well BE a .300 Win. Mag.
Now, when I compare my Winny to a 130gr. .270 @ 3150fps or a 140gr. .280 @ 3100fps, then the jab at the shoulder takes a noticable plunge.
RECOIL COMPARISON
.300 Win. Mag. 180gr. @ 3050 fps = 26.80 ft/lbs @ 14.46 fps
(out of my 8 1/4lb rifle)
.30-06 165gr. @ 2900 = 25.17 ft/lbs @ 16.10 fps
(out of a 6 1/4lb rifle)
.280 145gr. @ 2975 fps. = 20.99 ft/lbs @ 14.71 fps
(out of a 6 1/4lb rifle)
.270 130gr. @ 3150 fps. = 19.72 ft/lbs. @ 14.26 fps.
(out of a 6 1/4lb rifle)
Notice how the 165gr. or the 180gr. in the 06' jumps the recoil velocity up over the .300 Win.?
If the .280 with a 140gr. was pushed to around 3100 fps., the numbers would rise a tad. Probably just about in between the .270 and the .30-06.
So it looks like I'll be choosing between the .270 Win. and .280 Rem.
Why? Well, one of the reasons I'm looking at these 3 calibers is to have something not as "excessive for it's intended use" as my current .300 Win. Mag.
If found a really good recoil calculator that someone posted on another thread and pluged in some comparisons between the recoil of my .300 Win. @ 8 1/4lbs. with a 180gr. load VS. the .30-06 @ 6 1/4lbs. with a 165gr. load.
Guess what??? The recoil velocity and ft/lbs. of recoil are virtually identical. So, not that the lightweight .30-06 recoil would really bother me, but if I'm going to put up with a rifle that kicks like a .300 Win. Mag.........it might as well BE a .300 Win. Mag.
Now, when I compare my Winny to a 130gr. .270 @ 3150fps or a 140gr. .280 @ 3100fps, then the jab at the shoulder takes a noticable plunge.
RECOIL COMPARISON
.300 Win. Mag. 180gr. @ 3050 fps = 26.80 ft/lbs @ 14.46 fps
(out of my 8 1/4lb rifle)
.30-06 165gr. @ 2900 = 25.17 ft/lbs @ 16.10 fps
(out of a 6 1/4lb rifle)
.280 145gr. @ 2975 fps. = 20.99 ft/lbs @ 14.71 fps
(out of a 6 1/4lb rifle)
.270 130gr. @ 3150 fps. = 19.72 ft/lbs. @ 14.26 fps.
(out of a 6 1/4lb rifle)
Notice how the 165gr. or the 180gr. in the 06' jumps the recoil velocity up over the .300 Win.?
If the .280 with a 140gr. was pushed to around 3100 fps., the numbers would rise a tad. Probably just about in between the .270 and the .30-06.
So it looks like I'll be choosing between the .270 Win. and .280 Rem.
#15
#16
It sounds like this decision is more about (perceived) recoil, than the right rifle/caliber/cartridge/bullet for the job at hand.
Hunting rifle right, not a bench shooting gun...............food for thought ??
Hunting rifle right, not a bench shooting gun...............food for thought ??
Last edited by Sheridan; 10-28-2011 at 03:27 PM.
#18
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,425
Really too bad you have no experience with a 7mm-08, it's made to order in a lighter rifle...The same brother that bought the .280 also bought a 7mm-08 at the same time, in a Model 7...It's his woods rifle, that being said, he's made some pretty impressive shots down a power line we have...When he drags up a deer, you can't tell which did the killing...He shoots the CoreLokts in both...
The big advantages of the 7mm-08, reduced recoil in lighter rifles and short action...Someone that doesn't reload the .280 would never know the difference between the 7mm-08 and a .280...
The big advantages of the 7mm-08, reduced recoil in lighter rifles and short action...Someone that doesn't reload the .280 would never know the difference between the 7mm-08 and a .280...
#19
If you reload i recommend the 280 AI, you can load it light to 280 power or hotter and get 7mm mag power with a 140gr, 150g or 160gr bullet. A 280 AI can get 3222fps with IMR 4831 and a 140grbullet. A 270 win can't get close to that.