Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .284 Win or .358 Win or the Bob??

OK Gents....

I have a short action M-70 stainless that I'm looking to rebarrel.

Looking for a lightweight whitetail rifle for the Adirondacks.

Already have a .280AI Montana and a .280 FW...so 7mm bullets are on hand.

Also have 100 pieces new .358 brass.....for a caliber I've not yet owned

Not a need obviously...just an itch that needs scratching.

Opinions?

Fire away!!

284 works better on a Long action. But is a dandy cartridge.

444 Marlin would be my choice. There is a guy on here with lots of Adirondack experience and he says that is the thumper you need for there.

Me, if feeling the need to go 7mm then I'd screw on a 7mm08 tube.

Since you get 7mm's and want something different go 358.

Steely...444 makes a lot of sense, no doubt....just a cartridge I don't love.

I was being sarcastic as that dude is an idiot.

If it was me, I'd do a 25 caliber of some sort for certain, but you didn't ask about 25's.

If you're hung on the 284 case then do a 25/284.

I have one of those...the 280 Remington..

.358 Win. .35 cal bullets are pricey but the cartridge is a good one for hill country.

225gr Sierras should do nicely...

If your Win doesn't have a block in the magazine and can use the full winchester magazine.. its taylor made for the 284. the 284 is a squeeze in a remington box at 2.8, but the winchester at 3.1 is plenty of room for most all hunting bullets.

If it were me, I would ask myself

1) will I shoot over 250-300yds? if the answer is no..point to the 358 win

2) Is there something about my current 280 that would keep me from carrying it in the woods? (does it have a long barrel or a very high power scope? If your current 280 is a handy rifle to carry, I can't see what you would gain with a 284 that is just the same. might as well build a 358.

If your current 280 is unhandy then you could build a shorter,lighter, handier 284, that still has some reach.

Both are fine cartridges and despite seeming very different, they both cover about 90% of what a person would do. a 284 will kill a deer at 15 yds just fine, and putting a bullet on target at 350 yds isn't that hard with a 358 win. Between the two is 90% of all the hunting most of us will ever do.

1) No...shots are typically well under 50 yards.

2) No...280 is light, 22" barrel.

Good argument for the .358!

A 243 in a LIGHT rig would be sweet, just for conversation.

yep, would let the magazine decide with the 3.1 for the 284 and throat accordingly & if 2.80, the 7-08.

the 358 recoils significantly more in a light rifle and a waste of lead for deers...be a good cartridge to put holes in fat bears, I imagine

considering you have a 280FW, a light 7mm do appear redundant...sell the 280...:)

a 6.5x284...

.243.......7-08......6.5x284.....focus fellas!!!!

Damn...plain Jane .308???

I'll never sell that .280....one of my faves.

How about 338 Federal ? Nice rifle for the woods.....

You guys are killing me.....

I'd go 7mm-08 or .308

Plenty of room in the Model 70 S/A Box for most 7mm bullets,in a Rem 700 I'd go L/A.My .284 shot great with 140NPs. Monashee

Glad to see you posting!

That is about as far down as my focus ever focused...

If I were to do a light deer rifle for still-hunting apart as if I didn't have anything else and had a 3.10 magazine, I'd do a 7x57 or 7x57AI with 140g. There is always a chance (where I still-hunt) of seeing something really big poundage-wise and the terrain is wet or nasty thick, so tracking is a PITA. Still-hunting shots are seldom perfect... Would want a decent hole with enough velocity for lots of expansion with a cup & core and quick enough off the recoil for a second shot with a bolt...which has been done...:)

The 358 & 444 & their big-bore ilk thump me more than they thump the deer.

JMO...ain't an evangelist

Oh yeah, on the focus part, better change that to 284 for ya