308 or 280?

[breeze900rr]

Time to add another rifle to the collection. I'm trying to decide between the 280 or the 308. I've owned a 280 before but never killed a deer with it before I sold it.
Anybody got one of these? If so whadda ya think about it?
I'm kinda lean'n toward the 308.
#1 cuz almost unlimited ammo choices.
#2 never had one.
I don't know whadda y'all think

 

[JSTEVE]

I have a Remmington 700 in 308. It really has stopping power. I have never used a 270 or 280. I know they will get the job done for deer. However, I have had to help track a few that were shot by someone else using a 270. With my 308 the deer usually drop like a ton of bricks. I had one run a little way once, which was really incredable seeing that my sholder shot had blown off his leg on the other side. He only went about 20 yards though.

 

[hunter drew]

280 anyday brother

 

[W.Seay]

I really like my abolt microhunter in 308! Unless you are into handloading, your bullet choices in 280 are nowhere close to what you can get for a 308. Personally, I would go with a 308.

 

[Cull Buck Hunter]

Can't go wrong with either, more ammo choices with .308. If you reload, the 7mm is a interesting choice.

 

[RUGER]

.308 because of the reasons you posted.

 

[JThuntsalot]

I got a .308 and it drops them in the tracks

 

[Greentimber]

.280 is superior in every way but one: ammo availability. 308 is much more widely available. If you buy in bulk online you won't have any issues, though.

Either one will kill deer-sized game fine. If you commonly shoot 300yds or more the .280 has a decided advantage.

 

[cole]

.308

 

[breeze900rr]

Thanx for all the input guys! That being said i got the 308! Ammo for now is Federal Premium 165gr gameking. Very accuarate in this rifle, we'll see what it does on deer!

 

[num1medic]

0.31

 

[jakeway]

Well, you already have the .308, so I guess I'm a little late. I would have said that I would have boght the .308, simply because I already have a .270, which is pretty close to the .280, andd if I bought another rifle it would be a short action.

As for the poster that complained of trailing poorly hit deer with a .270, don't blame the caliber. I shoot a .270, my son Joe shoots a sweet little BSA .308, and I've noticed no real difference in killing ability. The .270 has a definite edge in longer range/flat shooting, but we almost never hunt in a place where that edge would apply. (Maybe next year if we go on that Montana antelop hunt.)

 

[breeze900rr]

Well, you already have the .308, so I guess I'm a little late. I would have said that I would have boght the .308, simply because I already have a .270, which is pretty close to the .280, andd if I bought another rifle it would be a short action.

As for the poster that complained of trailing poorly hit deer with a .270, don't blame the caliber. I shoot a .270, my son Joe shoots a sweet little BSA .308, and I've noticed no real difference in killing ability. The .270 has a definite edge in longer range/flat shooting, but we almost never hunt in a place where that edge would apply. (Maybe next year if we go on that Montana antelop hunt.)

"BSA" never heard of that?

 

[CZ284]

This is a blonde or brunette question. However, if you compare the ballistics of the 7mm(.284 bullet) to the .308, the 7 mm is better overall in downrange energy retention.

I shoot a .284 Winchester in an A bolt that was rechambered (bought it in 7-08) and restocked with a Mc Millan synthetic, pillar bedded and floated. It shoots a Barnes 150 X bullet at 2850 fps into less than half inch groups. I'd put it up against any 280 any day, plus it fits in a short action. Downside to this cartridge is you pretty much have to reload your own, but it's well worth it. If anyone is interested in building an all around deer/ elk / antelope gun, try making one of these. I have a custom mauser 7 mag and never shoot it- like the .284 better.
Too bad this cartridge never really took off- it's great.

Bottom line, in the same bullet weight and velocity, you'll get better performance off the 7 mm than the .308.

 

[breeze900rr]

Does BSA stand for Browning Short Action?

 

[jakeway]

Does BSA stand for Browning Short Action?

BSA stands for Birmingham Small Arms...they were making firearms since the 1800.s, but went out of business years ago. A company started selling scopes called BSA, and even has the old logo (BSA with a wing on the B).

BSA also made motorcycles, but quit that business in the mid 70s.

Here is a pic of my son's BSA .308. Very sweet little lightweight sporter made in 1958.

 

[bighead 1]

I agree with Grenntimber ,i have owned both .

 

[breeze900rr]

sweet looking rifle!!!

 

[bohun10g]

.280 for sure.

 

[ROOKIE2323]

I have a 308 browning, love it