Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Help: 280AI vs. 30-06

I have owned Kimber Subalpine rifles chambered in both of these cartridges and recoil is very minimal no matter bullet weight......Hb

I reload 6.5CM and 308 mostly and occasionally some 5.56 and 300blkout but that's a rare occasion. So I'm not opposed to.

I could easily make the argument that I'm going to shoot it so little that it wouldn't kill me to load a few rounds a year. I could also make the argument that I'm going to shoot it so little i could go buy premium 30-06.

The bigger question I have is 280AI suitable for all the things mentioned initially?

X3

A good bullet in the right spot is more important than its diameter and the case it came out of.

The rest is what you feel like saying when bubba asks “whatcha shootin?”

your sweating apples vs apples, these cartridges perform so similarly its not worth the bother, if you want the "cool" cartridge get the Ai if you want the practical cartridge get the 06' ...Its not that hard 👍......Good luck ....Hb

+2 or 3 for "Flip a coin"...

The 280ai is much more effective when trying to act cool around your buddies. I’ve had both, the 30-06 just plain works and brass is easy to find.

Well the 06 has killed a few animals as well as humans. 280AI is similar to 7mm Rem Mag, long considered the best long range belted magnum cartridge in the field. Coincidentally it was developed to obtain the same energy down range as an 06 with better long range capability. Neither will let you down if you do your part. FWIW the 06 is probably a better cartridge if you are comparing a 22 inch barreled action.

I moved to 280AI, 180 grain bullets are about the most kick I want to stand, and they have better drop given the profile.

Lot's of nits you can pick but in the end if you aren't shooting past 500 there's not enough difference to mess with.

If you're considering recoil as a deciding factor between the two, you're probably better off going with something that has a smaller case capacity.

Some asked about the rifle earlier. The rifle, mag box length, and chamber/throat can play a part in the decision if you consider them. "Rough" (very rough) general rule, the shorter the mag box, the more favor to a bigger diameter bullet (on the same case).

30-06 = Budweiser

280 AI = Imperial Nutlicker Manbun Porter

Either will work just fine if the operator can put in the right place!




Top: Custom Sako AV, 280 AI, 140 gr. Accubond


Bottom: Sako 85 Bavarian Carbine, 30-06 Springfield, 168 Gr. TTSX

ya!


GWB

I have both and the 280AI is going to make it's first ever appearance at the lease. Both have Limbsaver pads on them and with the same weight bullets I really can't tell if one kicks harder than the other though neither bothers me. I don't sit around shooting groups for fun with either just regular load workups and go hunting.

Hmmmm I dunno....the 280A.I. kill looks kinda deader.

I was just sitting on my sofa with this same decision to make for my Christmas present, but I had the 280 Rem in the mix as well. Seems like for my needs staying at 450-500 yards being my max range and that will be a once in a lifetime event, as most shoots are limited to 300 yards. A 30-06 in a 22” barrel will be the choice. But it’s boring and a Kimber hunter in 280 AI sounds like a foreign car to the folks I hunt with. Maybe I could get some cool points!
My choices were
Kimber Hunter 280AI
Browning Xbolt 280 AI or 06
Rem 700 MTN in 280 rem or 06

I don't have a LW 30-06, but I have a very light Pierce Ti receiver, pencil barrel, custom Kevlar stock rifle in 280AI. Felt recoil is sharper than my Weatherby Mark5 in 300 Weatherby.

Good eye!

Ya!

He was shot first!



GWB

I have both the 280AI and several '06's. I like both cartridges.

I like 7mm's I have or have had, 7mm-08, 7x57, 280's (& a 7mm Express), 280AI, 7mm RM's. 7mm TNT, 7mm TCU. If I had only one 7mm, it would likely be the 280, but 7mm-08, 7x57 and the 7mm RM's are very nice cartridges too.

I have more 30's than 7mm's.

If I were to have one rifle it would be a 30-06. If I were stuck with one bullet and one gun it would be a 180 Grain Nosler Partition in a 30-06.

But a 280 or a 280 AI or a 7mm RM with a 162 grain Hornady or 150 grain Partition would work very well too.

None of these cartridges have significant recoil - very mild recoil in fact. And unless you're thinking of shooting 400+ yards, the trajectory doesn't much matter. And If you're thinking 400+ you might want something more powerful such as a 300 Weatherby or 300 Winchester or something bigger.

I have owned a 7MM Rem Mag, a 7MM Weatherby Mag and a standard 280 in my past and used all of them for hunting deer and the 7MM Remington for killing elk too.
After a few decades of experience were behind me I sold all my 7MMs (one I wish I had not was my 7X57) but there is no way I'd get rid of my 30-06s.

In the real world I found the 30-06 did all the 7MM mags did and for the most part did them better. If the the 280 AI is not going to beat the 7MM Mags. So from what I have learned in hunting several states most years and killing game as large as elk with various 7mms and also with 30-06s, I would say that the 30-06.
You can go a different way, and unless you had opportunity to kill 20-30 animals with the 280 and also the same number with the 30-06 you'd probably never know any difference. Many fans of various calibers have a long histories with their favorites yet have no long histories with anything else so never really have a qualified opinion.
If you take the 280 AI I am sure you'll like how it kills game. But my experience is that it won't cover the bases as well of put game on the ground quite as fast as a good 30-06
your mileage may vary

Cartridges by age group:

20 to 30 - 6.5CM
30 to 45 - 280AI
45+ 30-06


Cartridges by hat:

Flatbrim - 6.5 CM
Kuiu/First Lite/Sitka/Killix - 280AI
Whatever was hanging by the door - 30-06

Cartridges by hairstyle:

Man bun - 6.5CM
Receding - 280AI
Combover or gone - 30-06