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

There is no way to take a bad side of this debate, both cartridges are very good. Thank god we such good options. Win Win!

This fellow chose the 30-06, I have the book and it's exceptional...

Over 40 years ago, J. Y. Jones started his North American big-game hunting career, which ultimately evolved into a quest to take all the huntable species and subspecies of North America with the same .30-06 rifle (it was a Rem 700 ADL).

One Man, One Rifle, One Land
By J.Y. Jones
Safari Press, 2001
Non Fiction, Hunting
558pp, 300 color photos, large format, 8.5x11
ISBN: 978-1-57157-169-4

That's the kind of rifle that does work in the field. And a wing safety to boot. Very nice.

As a minimum I have to own an 06 and a 7mag.

I am primarily a whitetail hunter. My rack is stacked with a large complement of 30-06 and one 7mm-08. 280 Rem is an option, for sure. However, when I go looking, there are damn few .280 Rem options available. I'm sure that if a 280 fell into my hands, I'd adore it. It just has not happened.

Beyond that, I'm just not getting shooting opportunities that require 280 REM. Last year, I took the longest shot on a buck that I've had in 40-some years of deer hunting. It was with an '06 and a 150 grain bullet. The animal went toes-up before I could pull the scope away.

I can't see putting another gun on the rack to fill any gap between 7mm-08 and '06. If someone can help me see that hole, I'd love the input.

Get a 280 and you won't need the '06 OR the 7-08!

I have used the .25-06, .270 and .30-06 cartridges for a considerable portion of my hunting. I have been completely satisfied with each of them.

Have fired a few .280’s in my time, but never hunted with one. I am certain that it would do for anything practically speaking that the others would do.

But, that being said, I would take a .30-06 over a .280 any day of the week.

Agree completely.

Get both as well as 270, 6.5-06, and 25-06

It’s a fantastic round. I’m hoping to pick up another I found for sale.

M70 fwt XTR. Sweet little rifle.

Yes!

I like my 30-06 an awful lot, but no, I don't think it's better than the 280, just different.

Been shooting a 7mm express for about 2 months. Had it built this summer. Number 2 shilen stainless on a rem 700. I worked a load with 139 sst bullets and A4350. It's right at 3000 fps. Been pretty impressed with it on deer so far. It seems that a 280 with 140s, a 270 with 140s, and an 06 with 150s are dang near identical out to 450 or so. I think the 280 would shine with heavies and that's my next project with the gun, but in the end, 165s or 180s in an 06 is a thing of beauty.

I think Coyote10 is on the right track. I’ve had a pretty good sampling of centerfire cartridges. I liked a lot of them and killed a bunch of game with them but, in the end I always keep my 30-06. And my other rifles have been good and fun to work with. The ‘06 with 165s gives me a rock solid sense of confidence.

For a do all, 30-06 every time.
Whitetail only, I'm in the 270 with 130s interlock crowd.
Occasional mulie and elk, 280 rem with a 150 or 160 interlock or partition.
Elk first and foremost with the occasional mulie, 06 with a 165 partition.

That 06 with a 150 will run right up there around 2950 to 3 grand.
With a 165 it's still at 2850ish.

Dream rifle is a 30-06 improved. 165s at 2950 maybe more. Ain't nothing taking that.

Splitting some pretty fine hairs.

Right!

Never had an '06, but the 280AI does just fine

Exactly. Not much an 06 can't do.

30-06. No doubt about it, for both continents especially.

I own many 30-06s. Love it’s great range of game taking capability.



Having said that, my 2-rifle battery for NA is my:

280 Rem: Pronghorns/Deer
35 Whelen: Elk, Moose, Bear



My 2-rifle battery for Africa is my:

9.3x62 Mauser: PG & DG
404 Jeffery: DG



If finding ammo replacement is a great concern, I also have and would take:

NA & SA: 30-06.

Africa: 375 H&H & 458 Lott.


This may be TMI with the Africa info. Sorry if it is.