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... Then there's the argument that the 280 has 175 grain bullets but the argument doesn't hold much water with me because when I think about 175 grain bullets the 7 mag is the logical answer.
In comparing the 270 130 tsx to a 280 150 tsx I would take a 130 pushed at 3150 over a 150 pushed at 3000 every day of the week and so would most hunters who understand how Barnes bullets works.
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Concerning long range hunting IMO the 7mm bullets are stuck in a rut! There big enough for deer but fail in comparison to 30 cal bullets when hunting elk sized game. The 6.5s have deer covered by a mile with far less recoil and are more efficient. A 300 win mag is a better caliber for elk than a 280AI
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Trystan
Never found a need for heavier than 160's in my 7mm Mag. Hunted elk with it exclusively for 20+ years, have taken more elk with it than all other cartridges combined and never found it wanting. Last elk I took was with my buddy's 7mm RM at 411 yards, 4 steps and down. If the bullets are “stuck in a rut” I never noticed.
Run the ballistics on a 130g TTSX (B.C. .392) @ 3135fps vs a 150g TTSX (B.C. .450) @ 3001 fps and tell us gain which one you would choose. Using Federals ballistic calculator (see their web page) and all defaults unrelated to the specific bullets, at 500 yards the .280 has higher velocity, more energy and 2” less wind drift with only 2.3” more drop.
When it comes to long range B.C.s, the 129g .277” LRX comes in at .463, the .284” 145g @ .486 and the 168g @ .550. The heaviest .30 caliber LRX is 200g and comes in at .546. The winner is the .284” range.
Like Nosler LRAB bullets? The only .277” is the 150g with a B.C. of .591. Compare that to the.284” 168g @ .616 or the 175g @ .648. Inn 30 you have to go to 210g to beat the .284” 175g bullet.
Berger bullets? Neither the .277” or .308’ can match the .284” for highest B.C. values.
Hornady ELD-X bullets? Same story.
Not knocking the 300WM as an elk cartridge – mine has worked just fine but no better than my 7mm RM. Will probably be taking it again this year. The .284” bullets are stuck in a rut when it comes to high B.C. bullet selection? Hadn’t noticed.
