Yeah, the BC's of .30 caliber bullets usually aren't quite as good as 7mm's, but let's look at some numbers, since this thread has always been about minutiae. We'll use Nosler bullets and data, since in general we've been talking about "normal" hunting ranges, not whatever is defined as long range.
One interesting thing about the .280 is the SAAMI maximum average pressure (MAP) is exactly the same as the .30-06, 60,000 PSI. Which means we're comparing apples to apples, even if somebody decides to boost either round a little over SAAMI loading data. However, Nosler's data for the .280 was shot in a 26" barrel, so we'll subtract 50 fps to match the 24" data for the .30-06, using the generally accepted 25 fps per inch of barrel:
Maximum velocity 160 .280: 2879 fps Maximum velocity listed for 165 .30-06: 3002
The BC of the 160 Accubond is listed as .535; the BC of the 165 AccuBond is .475.
Maximum velocity 175 .280: 2710 Maximum velocity 180 .30-06: 2812
The BC of the 175 Partition (they don't make a 175 AB) is .519; the BC of the 180 AB is .507.
Maximum velocity 200 .30-06: 2697
There is no 200-grain 7mm, but since one of the main points of .280 proponents is always the 175's, why wouldn't there be even more advantage in a 200-grain .30-06? The BC of the 200 Partition is .481, and the .300 AB .588.
Now, we can argue with the BC numbers. However, most of them hold up pretty well in Bryan Litz's testing except the 200 .30 AccuBond. But the 200 Partition actually tested a little higher than Nosler's BC number.
Anybody who wants to can run the numbers with this data in a ballistic program. I'm not going to bother, but they'll find the .30-06 bullets do very well out to 500 yards compared to the .280, despite the BC's not being quite as good, thanks in part to the higher muzzle velocities of the .30-06.
I am sure that's all true, John. Let's get real. There is really nothing that one of the three will do the others wont.
