.280 or .270: close decision

[advocatusdiaboli]

I am trying to purchase one near-all around hunting bolt-action rifle for deer through antelope to elk and I am in a quandary.

I hope to draw on people's experience and opinions but my intent is not to create controversy: demand has already favored the 270 by far though much of that is unfortunate timing and marketing. So let's just talk about personal choices and rationales and stay away from editorial pontification and proscription for others please. I am just interested in who chose which and why and how they reflect on it.

The 270 is much more widespread and so ammunition is cheaper and more plentiful and there is more competition in rifles, but 280 offers a wider range of bullet weights which is attractive for hand loading and tuning to a rifle (which I'll do in either case anyway). They are nearly identical ballistically so it's a really close call and it's a difficult decision.

[TMB 1]

I have a Ruger M77 280 Rem and really like it. Another option is 7x64 Brenneke if you can find a rifle in it and ammo for it is cheaper than 280 Rem too. They are ballistic twins.

[LynnJr]

With the 280 you can buy a freight train load of custom target bullets.
With a 270 the only target bullet is a Sierra MatchKing.
Simple answer get the 280.

[sprig]

7mm-08, all the .280 benefits and less kick.

[advocatusdiaboli]

7mm-08, all the .280 benefits and less kick.

The .284/7mm-08 was the runner-up. I just don't know enough about it and too few seem to shoot it. It was brought out to rival the .270 but in a short-action and that meant minor trade-offs. Still, those that do love it because the short action save weight when lugging a rifle around all day. It seems with a 200-yard zero, it is only .4" lower than a .270 at 300 yards and 1.1" less than a .308. so it's differences are in the noise margins in competition for an all-around hunting rifle. My question is rifle selection though bullet selection seems more than adequate.

[toby]

With the 280 you can buy a freight train load of custom target bullets.
With a 270 the only target bullet is a Sierra MatchKing.
Simple answer get the 280.

He wants a HUNTING rifle not a target queen.

OP the 280 is a great round. The 270 a great round. Ballisticly the 280 is heads above the 270 at extended distances when in reality that really means squat in a hunting rifle unless your a long range shooter, beyond 500yrds. Get the 270 you can get 160, 175 grain bullets if you want but they are a hand loading affair. 140-150 grain bullets are all you need I use 130's for everything. Once you find a good shooting bullet who cares how many choices are available, it will only take one to three different ones to find the one that works for your needs. Look at these if you need something different. http://matrixballistics.com/.277-Cal...e-bullets.html
Also check out www.longrangehunting.com

[advocatusdiaboli]

He wants a HUNTING rifle not a target queen.

OP the 280 is a great round. The 270 a great round. Ballisticly the 280 is heads above the 270 at extended distances when in reality that really means squat in a hunting rifle unless your a long range shooter, beyond 500yrds. Get the 270 you can get 160, 175 grain bullets if you want but they are a hand loading affair. 140-150 grain bullets are all you need I use 130's for everything. Look at these and I know of one more. http://matrixballistics.com/.277-Cal...e-bullets.html
Also check out www.longrangehunting.com

Thanks. I really plan to indulge in long range target shooting to improve my skills, but that investment in a rifle is farther off than I planned right now. So this is for hunting for the most part.

[Fjold]

The .284/7mm-08 was the runner-up. I just don't know enough about it and too few seem to shoot it. It was brought out to rival the .270 but in a short-action and that meant minor trade-offs. Still, those that do love it because the short action save weight when lugging a rifle around all day. It seems with a 200-yard zero, it is only .4" lower than a .270 at 300 yards and 1.1" less than a .308. so it's differences are in the noise margins in competition for an all-around hunting rifle. My question is rifle selection though bullet selection seems more than adequate.

The 284 is a rebated case mid length cartridge with the capacity of the 30.06. Your nomenclature of 284/7mm-08 may be confusing to some people.

The 280 is a vastly under rated round. It's essentially the same case as the 30.06 and 270 necked to 7mm. I have a 270 in a Ruger No 1 but I would have been more than happy if I could have found one chambered in 280. For a short time it was also called the "7mm Express" but people were constantly getting it confused with the 7mm Remington Magnum so Remington changed it's name back to the 280 Remington.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

If you are reloading, there is no reason not to go with the .280. Yes, .270 is more common. But who cares? You reload. There are more 7mm bullets out there for you to choose from. You can easily find 175+ grain bullets for it if you want. And go down to 100 grains or lower if that amuses you. .270 just doesn't have that same range of available bullets.

-Mb

[Thefeeder]

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270 is my vote.....you can find a box of shells anywhere.....been used for ever for a reason...when shells were on sale, 30-30, 30-06, 270 were always listed.

And it works...I have " Calif field tested " the round for many years.

[pennstater]

Hmmmm. I think the heaviest you can go with the .270 is 160gr. 175 for the .280. But, if you are hunting antelope, deer and perhaps elk, the 154gr Hornady in .280 works, as does the 150gr Barnes TSX for elk. But, that 160gr Partition in .270 might be the ticket for elk. Confused? That .280 tho,might be a pretty nice rifle to work with. Either way, you won't go wrong. Hmm, now I'm thinking about 160 in 270! Damn it!

[Coyotegunner]

I have owned rifles a few times in 270 and usually traded them or sold them.
I just prefer the 280 and the 7mm-08.I reload for both.
Reasons:Mild recoil,easy on brass,enough energy at hunting ranges to kill anything in the lower 48.

[SansSouci]

Were I given a big game rifle do-over, I'd buy a .280 Rem. I think it's the perfect cartridge for all North American big game.

[ElvenSoul]

If you get the .280rem...you will always wonder..Ackley Improved...it will drive you mad until you do it.

Just fyi Rugger is selling the #1 in 280 in the light A Style for just one more year!

[ElvenSoul]

If your reloading you can get the 7mm-08 to damn near 7mmSAUM Power!