I agree with Bob. I've owned both a 280 and various 7 mags since the early 1980s. It's tough to beat a 140 for deer size creatures and a 160 for about anything else. I used to set up my 280 with a 145 Speer for deer and a 160 Speer for anything else. And of course shot deer with the 160. Both have enough velocity to make a mess with softer bullets. I wish I would have used Partitions in the early days. I threw away alot of shoulder meat with both guns. If my 270 didn't shoot so well, it be a 280 AI. I still may get one just because the 280 is magic. At least to me.
I can't comment on the 6.5 as a out the only one I've shot much is the 6.5x55. The ole MS is deadly at its sedate vels. All the kids shot either a 243 or 6.5 for their first rifles.
