ORIGINAL: HEAD0001
First of all some one needs to take a chill pill. Secondly I have sold more firearms than you can fit into a small warehouse. I would say at a rate of about 100 to 1, that is 30-06 to 280. I have not even heard you address the inability of the 284 to handle a large bullet. I have not heard you address the cost or availabilty of ammo. All I have heard you do is babble a bunch of statistics out of a book that anyone can read. If you want testimonials about 30 cal performance against 284 caliber performance, just ask an elk guide. He will tell you that if he had to choose between a 280 and a 30-06, he would take the 30-06 every time. And as far as resale value, ask a gun dealer if he would rather have a shelf full of used 30-06's or full of 280's. I know he will choose the 30-06. I have dealt with independent gunshops for years, and I know first hand what they prefer. I worked in sales for the largest distributor of firearms in the world for quite a few years, and you might be surprised how popular the 30-06 is. Alot of people do not like it because it is their father's and grandfather's rifle, but without it there would be no 280. And if you think bullet diameter is not an issue, and if you think only energy and velocity rules, just ask our fine soldiers if they want the faster 9 mm or the old slow 45 ACP, or do you feel the need to drag out another chart?
I understand your point about dead is dead. You are right there. I was merely pointing out that there are more things to consider when buying a rifle. And you are wrong about resale value, the 30-06 BDL will bring a higher price, and are more sought after than a BDL in 280. Tom.
What inabilitydoes the.284 to handle a large bullet are you refering to??.308 diameter bullet the one the 06 uses in 200 gr variety is equal to .284 diameter bullet in SD which makes up terminal performance. Where will you use your 06' with 200 gr bullet that makes my 7mm rem magwith 175 gr bullet unable? In reality very few use the 200 gr class and above with an 06'. 150-180 gr are most commonly used, compare them to the 140-160 class of .284 and your playing equal pool. The difference in game performance between the 2 bullets is spliting hair very fine. Any elk guide that refused me a hunt with my 7mm rem mag and suited bullet for the task in lieu of a 3006...
is all I am saying. I understand the idea of bigger is better but the 06' in .308 class isn't it, sorry!
Cost of ammo has never been my concern, small amount in comparison to the invested or spent on the sport each year. In any regards I reload so the cost is not that different in the components for the 2.
Nobody here is suprised how popular the 06' is...your post isn't a news flash. Why is it so popular, availability and age. Good cartridge sure but the best in its class not IMO.
Resale here for the 06 is not higher than any other standard cartridge. It is lower than magnums generally. I have no clue what is running off the shelf nor doI really care but factory ammo for 270, 308, 3006, 7mm rem mag, 300 wm is common and found virtually everywhere that sells ammo. Demand = supply so they must be leaving the shelf.
280 vs 3006 spliting hairs in performance as a handloader. As a factory shell user I agree the 06' is better suited. However IMO the 7mm rem mag a .284 chucker is equally applicable for the factory shell buyer.It hasn't showed me any loss to my 30 cal shooting buddies on the terminal side of things.BTWI use it to shoot more than deer,elk and moose are regulars for me. This year I harvested my 5th bull elk in as many years with the lowly .284 cal.Several moose have fallen to it as well. All 1 shot kills and never tracked any further than 100 yards.I'll choose the 7mm rem mag over the 06' any day.
Just my opinion though.
Enjoy your 280 frontier gander.
