I'd like to add a more powerful .30 caliber rifle to my current centerfire line up which consists of the following:
Ruger M77 Mark II in 6mm Rem
Ruger M77 Mark II in 7x57mm
Remington M700 CDL in .280 Remington
Marlin 336CS in 30-30 WCF

I appreciate your thoughts on which .30 and which platform. Thanks, Dogger

My own choice would be a stainless synthetic in 300win mag for use on large game such as elk and moose.Perhaps a 700xcr.

Depending on how much wide open spaces you got in VA, either an '06 or a 300 Winnie. No flies on the 30-06 and it's a scream to load and shoot. But the 30-06 won't give you a lot more snott than the 280, so bump it to a 300 winnie.

If you are gonna hunt on the east coast then I would suggest a light 308 (Montana would be my choice that or my cheap mans Ti), if you're gonna venture towards the west from time to time I would suggest a 300 perhaps a Montana in WSM.

Mark D

700 youth 308 (20" tube is the reason for the youth), add a good Ti take off stock and or a Ti B&C and you've got one heck of a good rifle that = the Cheap mans Ti. I like a bit of weight in the tube so that is why I would go with the standard and not the mtn rifle iron.

Not much difference between a 7x57 and a .308 or a .280 and a .30-06. I'd go with a .300 Win Mag.

Being the Ruger bigot that I am, a Hawkeye, Standard or All Weather.

The 30-06 or a 300 of some sort.Myself I'd take the 300 Win mag.

300 winnie, or 300wsm

You have a 280Rem so I see no need in a 30-06. If it was me I would go with a 300 Win or a 300WSM.
RL..

a 300 win magnum

+1

I'm a big fan of the .30-06 but I think Kurtz's logic makes a lot of sense. (I have a .280 Rem and a .30-06 but not a .300 mag. I chose the .338 Win Mag as the next step up from my .30-06. Nothing wrong with a .300 mag, though.)

-Bob F.

Life would be pretty empty without chickenfried steak and at least one 30-06.

.300WM

The 7x57 and .280 do about all the .30-06 can do. The .300WM gives you more than either of those.

+1 on the .30-06 not giving much more than the .280 Rem.

If I had to stay with a .30 cal, I'd go 300 WSM. Make/Model is totally your preference.

You can't shoot 200gr bullets in a .280. Try finding some .280 ammunition in an eastern New Mexico Walmart.

30-06, 300 wsm or 300 win mag, not much real world difference in any of them, unless you are really interested is shooting way out there.

I bet you could find 300 Win mag.

As has been said 30.06 can do just a few things that the 280 doesn't. Throws bigger bullets ,Ammo is comman and its the choice of our country through three wars and is a classic. but its not all that different than a 280 for most critters.

That said if it were me, it would depend on what I would buy after this next rifle.

If this was my last rifle.. I would go for a 300wm or a 338wm. that way I would be well set for elk and bears if the opportunity came up. Probably the 338wm.

If I was going to buy a bigger rifle after this one, then I would do either 30.06, 300wsm, or 300wm. Probably the 300wm unless i saw a 300wsm in a rifle that tickled me. Its near perfect elk medicine and good for bears and follow it, when the time comes, with a 375 to round out the collection. I suspect that there are lots of 375s sold in the US to folks who just round out the collection and the rifle would never see an alaskan bear let alone a cape buffalo, but that doesn't mean you can't have lots of fun with it.

If you like short-actions, go with a .300 WSM. Else, the .300 WM would be the next choice.

Another vote for the 300 mag option, you could get a wm, wsm, ultra, h&h, dakota, jarrett, etc.

The bigger ones would allow you to shoot heavier bullets (200 gr) at the same velocities as 180 gr bullets.

Definitely the 300 Win. Mag. I'm a +1 concerning the 30-06 considering you have the 280. I also agree with Mr. Faucett's decision to go with the 338 Win. Mag. It would round-off your list very well.

I think that with todays premium bullets the difference between calibers is much closer than even ten years ago. I would also jump on the notion that a 30-06 or even a .300win is not enough of an upgrade over your .280. I would jump up to a .338 or .35Whelen, if you really want to stay in a .30 I was venture you would need to go 300Ultra mag to see a significant upgrade in field performance.

Currently Im reaching for a .260rem for most work and if I dont think it is enough the Whelem gets pulled out of the safe.

FWIW, do think about a Whelen...

the 300 win mag. it's a step up from what you already have.

The .280 is pretty close to a 30-06. I'd go 300 WSM, mine is more accurate than the 300 win I used to have.

From the looks of your current line-up your not a crazed magnum man. The .280 is pretty close to an -06 with say 160gr. partitions.

I love -06's but with what you already have I'd say either go .338-06 or .338 Federal.

-06 dose have great ammo avalibality.

Good luck and let us know what you deceide.

Old timer here, I would also go with a 300 Win, same trajectory as my 270 with 130 grain, with Win Mag using 165 grain and my main load is a the 140 grain which is about the same trajectory as the 300 with a 180, very close. I would say the 280 would push the 150 about that same as the 300 shoots a 180 and then the 300 will push a 200 grain about as fast as 270 with a 150 gr, or 280 with a 160 or the 30-06 with a 165, all shoot about the same trajectory. This is nice to have. My little 260 shoots a 120-125 about the same trajectory as 207 with a 150 and the 300 is close out 200 yards with 200 grain. Most are Nosler partitions or Sierra Game Kind, some Hornedy as that would be used in my 270. I like this same trajectory idea, save on having to adjust my shooting and settings as I move up and down for the long shots.
Therefore, I would go with the 300 Win. Mag.

.300 Win Mag. The .280 and .30-06 are very close.

Dogger, what would be the point of the rifle? Is it just to have a 30 Cal for paper punching or will this rifle be used for hunting bigger game not found in VA?

If it's for a trip out West after elk, I could see a 300 WM (sort of). Otherwise, I'd get a 308 Win bolt gun... the 308 will be more enjoyable to shoot and would be more appropriate for hunting Virginia IMO.

To me, the 300 WM is for BIG, big game and for shooting past 500 yards.

I'd go fer the Browning A-Bolt Medalion in .30-06 Springfield.

+10000

the 30-06 is a virtual twin to the 280.

Just keep in mind that many find the recoil velocity of the 300 magnums to have a critical mass in terms of pain. Some experts including the late Les Bowman found that most hunters can not handle that level as well as lighter kickers. Of course some can.

You did say that you wanted more power and the 300 mags will do that however a 270 WSM will kick less and range just as far or more in terms of bullet placement.

300wsm........Blake

Good thoughts here and thanks for them. I really like my current rifles, and I am not sure what niche I want to plug the .30 in. I see the .308 being a nice addition if it is in a weatherproof 20 inch carbine. Given I have the 7x57 and the .280 (the 280 is a 24 inch barrel by the way), the 30-06 adds benefit in a 22 inch barrel launching 180s as hard as I can push them. I am not sure I would be able to employ the 300 Winmag in a hunting situation where it could really strut its stuff. The .35 Whelen recommendation is an interesting one.

dogger,

you've got your bases covered already... can't think of what i wouldn't do with a 6mm , or a .280...
there is no rational need for another rifle... when it comes to fantasy time, i'd pick a favorite rifle from my collection and trick it out... stock, sights, barrel.....

If it ain't an -06 make it a 300saum

the 300 SAUM would certainly be an eclectic choice.

300 WSM in a short action or 300 RUM in a long action.

I could hunt happily with your 7x57 and 280 for just about everything . You don't really need anything, its totaly a want.If you really don't think you will be able to see the potential of a 300 then you really won't in a 35 either.However you asked what 30 cal would we pick , so if it was me I'd say a 300 either long and lean or short and fat what ever you like.

A .300 Weatherby Magnum... a half century old and still one of the very best .300 magnums.

I think 338 Win mag., if you are really looking for something more........

I hunted a lot for about 20 years with a 30/06 and took a couple dozen deer with it. Great old cartridge but when I wore out the barrel I upped the anti to 300WBY and used it for a long time on Deer,Elk, Black bear. I was and remain VERY impressed with this cartridge. For the past couple of years I have been using a model 70 classic in 300UltraMag and I really like it as well and have shot a bunch of African and American game with it but if I had it to do all over again I would go 300WBY but still in a Winchester Classic or some other CRF bolt rifle. Good luck and report back. The CZ 550 in 300Win would be a good one.

Thanks for the many suggestions as I think through this. All my current rifles are blue steel and walnut stocks. The 6mm, 7x57 and 280 cover the lighter bullets very well, so I think the .30 cal will be my dedicated rifle for nasty weather and heavy bullets, probably 180 grain Partitions. It is doubtful that I will get out west to hunt, so eastern ranges are the norm. 20 or 22 inch barrel. Nice recoil pad. Perhaps a variable scope in the 2-7 range. I am thinking the .308, 30-06, or perhaps the 300 RSAUM.

Oh, to heck with it. I will just use 150 Nosler Partitions in my .280 for everything. Nothing I see in the woods will ever need more medicine than that. Thanks guys.