Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 30-06 vs 280 rem

Have had and still have a .30-06 since 14 years old. It's boringly versatile. Had a .280 and was satisfied except I didn't reload, this along with factory ammo difficult to find in my area so I sold it.
It's the only rifle I've sold for this reason and the only rifle that a guy was lived pissed at me for doing so, we never spoke again after he let everyone on the net know!
It's amazing how entrenched people can get over their favored caliber, maybe even worse than politics.

Have whatever you want.

Never don’t have a 30-06.




P

The 280 arranges,what the Twat-Six cannot...a .796 BC at 2700fps+. Hint.

Just sayin'..............

(One of) My favorite Rifle(s) is my Winchester Model 70 Super Grade in wait for it...... 280 Remington.

Not only is it a nice looking rifle, it shoots my favorite 280 hand load: a 160g Federal TBT in Winchester brass over Reloader 26 at 2900 fps chronographed in 37 degree weather.

I also have a Model 70 Featherweight in 300 WSM so no need for a 30-06 here, but it's a fine cartridge. (As are most of them) I am also a big fan of the 7mm-08. (I have two of them)

If I couldn't load my own ammo, I'd likely favor something besides the 280 as it has been done a dis-service by Remington from the start and so factory ammo does not maximize it's potential at all.

Definitely the .280.....unless you want to be able to buy ammo for it. In that case it's 30-06.

neither, i'd go with my 270 Winchester.

I think some of the biggest handicaps for the .280 Rem are difficulty finding ammo unless he is a hand loader, the fact that Remington DELIBERATELY underloaded the round to favor their weaker (?) actions IE the pump and autoloaders. Funny thing and by funny I mean peculiar and not funny ha ha. Remington has no problem chambering those type rifles to the .270 Win. It almost seems Big R wanted the .280 to fail. I can easily hand load 160 gr. Speer Grand Slams, the older two core version to 2910 FPS with no apparent pressure problems and excellent accuracy. I'm thinking that if I can get another elk hunt lined up I'll give my .280 Rem. a try with my hand loads and see what's what. As usual my 30-06 will come along as back up gun or maybe I'll let the usual .35 Whelen play second fiddle.
PJ

30-06, you can get ammo wherever ammo is sold, try finding 280 ammo anywhere! Even if you handload, you better have all you need when you travel. For localized stuff and handloader, the 280 is fantastic.

A friend of mine once told me that if you only had one do-it-all rifle, it should be a .280 AI. I don’t have one and I let a couple of 7mm Express Remingtons slip through my fingers. Alas, I have never been inclined to own a .270 anything but I do have a .30-06 and .35 Whelen.

.30-'06 if factory loads, .280 for hand loading ...

Yes to both

I have both. Not sure there is a lick of difference is the average hunter’s (me) hands. I guess I like the puzzling look most guys have when I say “280” when they ask.

The 280 Rem is my all time favorite general purpose cartridge provided you handload and keep a generous supply of brass.
If you travel you want a 270 which does about 96% of what a 280 Rem can do unless you think you want to shoot at things farther than 400 yards or so. Then you need some sort of 7mm.

280 by several miles - just because. I've had one since 1982 and it's killed a truckload of deer. I really try to like the 30-06 and buy one every couple of years when I get bit by the practicality bug. But then I get out the RAID and it all feels better.

Well since I have a 280 AI, 3 270's and one 30-06 I'll say this. The 280 AI has only been out a couple of times. The 270's have had a pretty good share of field time and killed a few antelope, whitetails, mulies and elk. However the 30-06 has been out a minimum of 3 times as often and put truckloads of various game animals in the freezer. 180 grain bullets at near 2800 fps just seem to do the job no fuss. 150 grain bullets at near 3000 fps do the job just fine on lighter stuff if maybe just a bit messy. Long ago settled on the loads I use in the 30-06 and have yet to find fault with them. If I cared about closet space I would have two 30-06's, one sighted in for the 150 gr. load and one sighted in for the 180 gr. load. Maybe even better both sighted in for the 180 gr. load.

This exactly. Factory 280 ammo is anemic. But if you have a solid bolt action and you handload you can really push the 280. There was a great article in the January 2001 issue of Rifle magazine by John Barsness on loading the 280. I either saved it or printed it out. If anyone is interested I can try finding it.

Mine is built on a CZ 550 action with a Shilen barrel.

No difference at all out at 500 yards on most game, both have speed and bullet technology, especially because they are 7mm and 7.62mm. The 280 Rem and 30-06 are not separated by much however there are a couple of considerations. The 280 Rem is the easier button for long range capability having heavy for caliber high BC projectiles at high velocity. The 30-06 has long range capability with numerous 7.62mm projectiles for any occasion. It also has more horsepower for tackling the heaviest of game in close. Being able to throw 220 grain loads at 2,400 fps and 250 grain loads at 2,300 fps.

It really just depends on what bases you are trying to cover. Most likely that will depend on where you live, what you intend to hunt, and how you intend to hunt.

You DUMB Fhuqks never cease to amaze,by simply doing your best. Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!...............

Good ole Stick still shooting cross country at nothing, what a sage.

It's your Imagination,simply Pretend with it in the manner which soothes you most. Hint.

You Drooling CLUELESS Fhuqktards are a hoot! Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!.............