280AI or 30-06

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280AI....cause I like 7mm bullets for some reason. Something from 140-160grain, bonded or TSX style would do everything.

That said, 30-06 with 165-180grain bullets does the exact same thing. Real world difference is nil. Grab whatever floats your boat and have at 'er!
 
i would go the 280ai. it almost matches the 7 mag and shoots flatter than the 06. i would use a bonded 140 to 160 or a tsx/gmx in 140 for everything. also i like sevens so it influances my choice. i have a 280, two 7 saums and a rem7 mag. theres not much difference in any of them.
 
Same old...same old debate.

I would always pick the 280
When you tell someone you have a 280 they imediately know your an experienced hunter & fantastic shot :)

+ the fact I have one :redface:
 
Philip said:
if using one bullet wieght for everything....deer, bear moose, which caliber would you choose....and best overall bullet weight?
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Although I have a Cooper Model 52 chambered for the 280 AI and kills game quite cleanly, however; the 30-06 is one of the most practical cartridges on the market. Pound per pound it is the best all around cartridge. My choise for moose hunting would be a 180 grain Nosler Partition. The best overall bullet weight for the 30-06 would be the 165 grain.
 
Ormachek said:
Real world difference is nil. Grab whatever floats your boat and have at 'er!
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Yup, this here is truth. It's more about the rifle, how it fits you and your type of hunting, than what it's chambered for.

Just don't fall for that 270 nonsense is all, that'd be a big mistake...:)
 
I would suggest the 30-06. If it is close in performance to the 280 AI and this is to used for hunting then it would make sense to use a widely available cartridge. It would suck to forget your ammo and not be able to pick some up at the Mom and Pop corner store at your hunting destination.
 
windy said:
I would suggest the 30-06. If it is close in performance to the 280 AI and this is to used for hunting then it would make sense to use a widely available cartridge. It would suck to forget your ammo and not be able to pick some up at the Mom and Pop corner store at your hunting destination.
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:agree:

If you are a handloader, the 280AI would be an OK choice, but if you are not, 30-06 all the way.
 
280AI with 160gr bullets. Used to have one (still have the dies!) and I shot everything with it, from deer to bull moose, never any need for more than 1 shot. Accuracy was excellent. I actually had a load that would push the 160's at 3000fps. Needless to say, I could only get 2 loadings out of the brass. Seriously overloaded? You bet, but I was in my 20's and had just started reloading. Just didn't know any better...
 
99.99999 percent of CGN'ers are not going to become a better shooter, or a better hunter with a 280 AI vs using a 30-06. Guys buy em because they want to be different and stand out, nothing wrong with that but it certainly has no "real world" advantage in the field or on the bench.
 
I'd choose the .30/06 because its what I know and trust. But either version of the .280 will do anything the '06 will do, and do it with less recoil too, if we compare bullets of similar SD. It shoots a tad flatter to boot. Why any of this matters on a general purpose big game rifle that's used out to a quarter mile, I'm not sure, but its nice to have an edge, allbeit a small edge.
 
scott_r said:
99.99999 percent of CGN'ers are not going to become a better shooter, or a better hunter with a 280 AI vs using a 30-06. Guys buy em because they want to be different and stand out, nothing wrong with that but it certainly has no "real world" advantage in the field or on the bench.
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Hunting with a 280 AI or 30-06 won't make a person a better shooter or hunter, however; I would bet that 99.99999% of CGN don't practice shooting their rifles on regular basis to make themselves better shooters or hunters. All the decades of shooting at rifle ranges and elsewhere I never witnessed a hunter advancing their shooting skills. From what I witnessed most just line-up their rifle or try new reloads at 100, 200 and 300 yards and then bugger off.
As pertaining to your comment about "guys buy em because they want to be different and stand out", well your psychic powers needs to be refreshed. Definitely not a comment from a rifleman or reloader. Wildcats and domesticated wildcats are unique cartridges that intrigue hunters/shooters who show a deeper interest than with the common cartridge.
 
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