Pick my next gun.
- Thread starter blargon
- Start date
- Location
- Yellowknife, NWT
The .280 is my favourite cartridge, and you don't have one yet. Get one. Then get that .338 Federal because I sense you need both.
Yup you need a .280 because you have a belly button, and everyone has one of those too. 
I voted for the .338 Federal because it's different. That's the reason I ended up with one as well. Down the road, you will be able to confuse the Hell out of guys you meet when they ask what your shooting as they probably will never have heard of it. I think the performance will be good too. You don't need 3000+ Fps to kill a critter, and this little round will still lay a thump on whatever it hits. I haven't heard a whole lot from others shooting this cartridge other than Todd on here, but everyone who I have spoken (or typed) to seems to be reporting good accuracy. I have 1 load that will put 3 bullets into 1 hole. And it just has that 'cool' factor. I've been having fun making brass and trying different loads. The .280 just doesn't have that mystique for me, as it's just another 7mm round. As good as it is, and it is a great cartridge, the 7mm's never really did anything for me. I've owned a few different rifles in one 7mm or another and they all shot good. But if you meet up with a guy in the boonies, I've got 5 bucks that says he's shooting a .30-06 or a 7mm Rem Mag in the top spots. If you want somthing fun, get somthing different.
I voted for the .338 Federal because it's different. That's the reason I ended up with one as well. Down the road, you will be able to confuse the Hell out of guys you meet when they ask what your shooting as they probably will never have heard of it. I think the performance will be good too. You don't need 3000+ Fps to kill a critter, and this little round will still lay a thump on whatever it hits. I haven't heard a whole lot from others shooting this cartridge other than Todd on here, but everyone who I have spoken (or typed) to seems to be reporting good accuracy. I have 1 load that will put 3 bullets into 1 hole. And it just has that 'cool' factor. I've been having fun making brass and trying different loads. The .280 just doesn't have that mystique for me, as it's just another 7mm round. As good as it is, and it is a great cartridge, the 7mm's never really did anything for me. I've owned a few different rifles in one 7mm or another and they all shot good. But if you meet up with a guy in the boonies, I've got 5 bucks that says he's shooting a .30-06 or a 7mm Rem Mag in the top spots. If you want somthing fun, get somthing different.
Have you tried .210gr tsx yet? Whats the length of the Tikka mag? I don't want a FED if I have to shoot 180's or 200's exclusively, cuz I can do that with the .308. The Ruger has a fairly long mag box.
He shoots brown eyes, not bulls eyes
I thought Elton John rode around on, er in Supercubs...
My Tikka magazine measures 2.837 inches. I have loaded up 215 grain bullets for mine, and data for 225's is in my manual. I think Todd was saying he was loading up some 250's for kicks. But he's shooting a Sako, and I'm sure you can handle longer bullets too with the Ruger.
- Location
- AB foothills
The answer is simple, the .280. If you want 338 federal performance, download the .338 you already own.
I was looking at both cartridges as well and opted for the 338. Only because it was the only one available at the time. I like shooting it, and it will kill anything I intend to hunt. Would love to get a 280 in a t\c. Where did you find the rugers? I thought the 338 was only available in the sako/tikka line and t/c pro-hunter.
