.280 or 7mm-08
- Thread starter newisland
- Start date
I would personally like both, a 7mm-08 in a nice handy carbine something possibly stainless and laminate and the 280 in a really nice bolt action blued and wood or a remington 760 or 7600.
But advantage wise, the 7mm-08 has more rifles chamberred for it in more actions by more manufacturers. On the other hand the .280 drives similar bullets about 150-200fps faster and handles heavier bullets better. I know around here its about the same to find ammo for them.
Both are capable of killing every species of game we have from tickling distance to farther then most people have any business shooting. I love them both but wouldn't loose much sleeping if the gun I wanted didn't come in one so I had to settle for the other.
But advantage wise, the 7mm-08 has more rifles chamberred for it in more actions by more manufacturers. On the other hand the .280 drives similar bullets about 150-200fps faster and handles heavier bullets better. I know around here its about the same to find ammo for them.
Both are capable of killing every species of game we have from tickling distance to farther then most people have any business shooting. I love them both but wouldn't loose much sleeping if the gun I wanted didn't come in one so I had to settle for the other.
Have them both and love them both but seem to use the 280 way more than the other for hunting. Also impossible to find 280 locally which is one of the biggest reasons I got back into reloading rifle again 2 years ago after a 12 year break. Got tired of having to order 280 out west and pay 80 bucks shipping. 7mm-08 I could always find somewhere in NS
Great cartridge the 280 and should be much more popular than it is. I also find 280 holds it value better and sells real quick on the EE
Great cartridge the 280 and should be much more popular than it is. I also find 280 holds it value better and sells real quick on the EE
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- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
7-08 is vastly inferior to the LA offering.08 is a deer rifle at best, the 280 is much more capable into large bears and elk.
if i wanted a light weight mountain rifle it would be in 7 08. all round i like the 280 or 280ai. had both 7 08 and 280 in regular and ackley and have settled on a nice cooper in 280. don't think there is a lot of difference ballisticly. kinda like compairing the 308 and 30 06. both work fine.
The 280 does have a ballistic advantage over the 7-08. That being said the 7-08 is adequate for animals up to and including Moose and Elk. Not sure where the idea came from that you need a Magnum to hunt Elk and Moose...that notion is simply not true!
Both are good hunting choices.
Both are good hunting choices.
Both are excellent. .... Something to consider, however, throughout most of the year, rifles get used at the range, not in the field. And the 7mm-08 occupies that ballistic 'sweet spot' which provides both ample down-range power and flat trajectory (for hunting almost any game) and very low recoil (for accuracy and hours of enjoyment at the range).
I have owned two 7mm-08's and, because of the low recoil, I could happily shoot them all day long at the range. Eventually I sold both 7mm-08's to fund purchases for a .270 and a .30-06, and I have since regretted it. There is just something about 7mm's that is very appealing.
I have owned two 7mm-08's and, because of the low recoil, I could happily shoot them all day long at the range. Eventually I sold both 7mm-08's to fund purchases for a .270 and a .30-06, and I have since regretted it. There is just something about 7mm's that is very appealing.
mossyhorns
CGN Regular
- Location
- The city that rhymes with fun
I grew up hunting Whitetails in Nova Scotia. Either one is all you'll ever need so just go for the one that suits you best. My first 5 deer were shot with a 38-55 so your leagues ahead of that with either one.
OR you could buy both!
OR you could buy both!
It would depend on the action for me... In bolt actions I prefer SA calibers and have the whole ".308 Tribe" including 7mm-08... But I do shoot some LA's in single shot platforms, including .25/06, .280, .30/06 and .35 Whelen... Yes the .280 has a slight advantage in the speed department, but not enough to get excited about... And the advantage comes at the price of being a powder hog... I would say for most applications or in a bolt action go with 7mm-08... If you just gotta have bigger and more, then get the .280.
For reloaders it's no contest, the 280 is a clear winner. Loaded to 270 pressures, the 280, because of it's greater case capacity, has significantly more energy than the 270 for similar bullet weights and the comparison to the 7mm08 is even more stark. Having said that, the 7mm08 is a wonderful short action round that is available in light handy rifles and even in these light arms, has recoil that even recoil sensitive folks can handle.
I have a 7-08 in a model 7 and a 7 Mag in a Sako Finnlite. Could sell them both off and just get a 280 and never miss either. It basically comes down to what rifle you prefer, most game won't know what hit them as they expire.
