If you had to choose between

triton

triton

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 99.4%
166   1   1
If you had to choose between
If you had to choose between one of these two fine calibres. Which one would it be? This would be your go to rifle for everything up to moose. Your choices are the world renowned 6.5x55 mauser, or the venerable .280 rem. You can make your decision on your own experience, using your own custom handloads. Which one, and why?

Dave.
 
Yeah I've never owned a .280 so I have to say 6.5 - not that I mind, but now I need to find a way to own a .280.

In my experience you'd be fine with a .280.
 
Wow...a comparison between less-than-identical cartridges! Kudos, Triton!
I've used a .280 for near on 20 years. GREAT round. So is the 6.5. and frankly, I'd have been just as happy, maybe even more so, with the 6.5 or the .260 Remington. I don't generally shoot past 200 yards, so the power difference is a non-issue. The 6.5 recoils less, which is a plus. And as to bullet selection: in 20 years, I've tried maybe 7 or 8 bullets (of the dozens available) in my 7mm Express. There are certainly more than enough bullet choices for the 6.5. I'd actually prefer a .260 as the factory ammo is a bit more powerful, but I'd say the Swede is perhaps a tiny bit better all-rounder than the .280 Rem.
That said, I wanted a .280 for years, and I will never be without one again.
 
I'd have to pick the 6.5 out of the two you mentioned, just because I never really had a use for 7mm anything.

But, if I had a "one gun" rifle, it would be larger than either of these choices.
 
That is a great response! Thank you! Most responses you rec on here anymore are from internet dicks that know the square root of S.F.A! I agree, there is a wide gap in tis comparision. Before my divorce. Lol. I owned a lot of rifles, Now, Not as many, I have hunted for a long time, 33 of my 37 years. I have seen many animals taken with many different calibres. My father used a 30/06 for everything from mice to moose. Once I became an advid shooter I realized you don't need a cannon, like some think to kill game. I once shot a deer with a .357 mag rifle at about 60 yards through the heart. I loaded 13.5grs of h-110 with a 180gr nosler partition. The old guys in the camp made fun of me for the small smoke cannon I was toteing. I have owned 5 different .280's, and beleive it or not, the the only one I din't love was the ruger hawkeye(nothing to do with the calibre) My main rifle now is a tikka t3 s/s in 6.5x55, with my handloads I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a moose at 300 yards, but given a choice for moose, i would feel better with a .280, but I know the swede would come through.
 
I love when people chime in on questions like this with answers that completely differ from the OP's specific question. The question was not "Do you think the 6.5x55 and .280 are too light for large game" FYI

While the only rifle I own in this class of rounds is a .270, I'm quite fond of the idea of getting a 6.5x55 one day. I love those old school metric rounds that are still getting it done today. Despite its ballistic advantages, the idea of owning a .280 makes me yawn. Just my .02
 
I own both and really like them, but Bill Leeper built my 280 so needless to say, thats my first choice. :)
The man certainly knows his way around a Mod.70 Winchester...
 
personally I would go with the 6.5 Swede.

One for sentimental reasons, it's a classic, second it can do everything a hunter needs and third around here ammo is quite easily found.

I've said it before: 100 years ago the 7mil Mauser, the 6.5 Swede and the 30-06 were already around. If nothing else would have come along for hunting we'd still be doing just fine.
 
The 6.5x55. There is a mystique to that round which cannot be matched by many. That said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a .280 - you would be well served be either. Functionally they are so close together that the difference is purely theoretical - only one has more class:)

As a side note, the 6.5x55 has killed more moose than almost any other cartridge on earth. Anyone who suggests it is not capable has little or no real world experience, and has probably been reading too much Elmer Keith, (or Craig Boddington in his magnum years.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom