Help me choose a Caliber.....
08-10-2005, 07:59 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Northwest Alabama
Posts: 116
Help me choose a Caliber.....
I am looking to buy a new gun for this upcoming season. I'm about 98% sure i'm going with the Browning A-Bolt, but i just don't know what caliber to go with. I hunt in northwest Alabama and i hunt alot of clearings and also hunt woods. My longest shot i would probaly be taking with it is around 300 but that would be very rare. I have been considering a 7mm rem mag, .270, .280, .308. I just wanna know what yall thought would be the best all around gun for me, i'm open to suggestions also.
Thanks, BAMABUCK
Thanks, BAMABUCK
08-10-2005, 08:23 AM
#2
Typical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location:
Posts: 579
RE: Help me choose a Caliber.....
Of the calibers you mentioned I would choose the 280. I've been using on for years and I reload for this caliber. This year Federal has introduced several new loads and Hornady also has a new load out. This makes the 280 better than ever in my opinion. I guess it has become popular enough that even the local Wal-Mart carries core-lokt ammo for it now. The 280 is right on the heals of the 7MM and out to 300 yards you and any animal won't know the difference. The A-Bolt is a good rifle and is pretty light compared to a Remington or Winchester. All of the calibers you listed will work well I just am partial to the 280. If you choose the 280 I would look to the 140 gr. loads for your type of hunting. As I stated I reload but I have shot factory ammo in my gun. My best factory ammo load is the Winchester 140 gr. Ballistic Silver Tip. This ammo will consistenly group under an inch out of my rifle. In a pinch for deer hunting this would be the factory ammo I would go to. Also, if you ever get a chance at elk Federal has a 160 gr. Accubond load now available that could be just what the Dr. ordered. Good luck on your decision and purchase. Don't be influenced too much by everyone's opinion as you're the one that has to live with your purchase.
08-10-2005, 09:56 AM
#4
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central New York
Posts: 271
RE: Help me choose a Caliber.....
ORIGINAL: cma3366a
There's no point in going withthe .280 unless you simply want something "different", but if so that is understandable.
There's no point in going withthe .280 unless you simply want something "different", but if so that is understandable.
I agree with you on the 25-06 Rem. It shoots a little flatter then the270 Win., 280 Rem., 308 Win. and the 30-06. It does it with less recoil too! The 25-06 is a great whitetail deer round, but so aren't the others mentioned!!!
08-10-2005, 10:20 AM
#5
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 776
RE: Help me choose a Caliber.....
Any one of the cartridges you mentioned will do nicely for the deer hunting you described. No real need for a magnum here.
The 280Rem. is a great cartridge, but availability of rifles is limited compared to the others.
I'd opt for either the 270Win. or the 308Win. Just depends on if you want to go with a standard length action (270) or a short action (308). Both will do okay out to 300yds. The 270 will have a slightly flatter trajectory, but the difference isn't really that much.
My personal choice would be the 270Win., but that was dictated somewhat by the rifle in my case, a Rem.700 LSS Mountain rifle.
The 280Rem. is a great cartridge, but availability of rifles is limited compared to the others.
I'd opt for either the 270Win. or the 308Win. Just depends on if you want to go with a standard length action (270) or a short action (308). Both will do okay out to 300yds. The 270 will have a slightly flatter trajectory, but the difference isn't really that much.
My personal choice would be the 270Win., but that was dictated somewhat by the rifle in my case, a Rem.700 LSS Mountain rifle.
08-10-2005, 10:32 AM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Olive Branch MS USA
Posts: 1,032
RE: Help me choose a Caliber.....
The .30-06 gets my vote. Just as good as just about anything else out there for whitetail and probably better than most. The A-Bolt, while it wouldn't be my choice, will probably serve you well.
08-10-2005, 11:24 AM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location:
Posts: 592
RE: Help me choose a Caliber.....
All the cartridges you mentioned would do great,but add this one factor.Apparently you don,t reload so, i would prefer a cartridge one could buy military ammo for.You know for plinking and messing around.So that would bring the 308,and the 30-06 into just would fill that nitch. just a thought,vangunsmith
08-10-2005, 11:32 AM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Olive Branch MS USA
Posts: 1,032
RE: Help me choose a Caliber.....
ORIGINAL: cma3366a
One of the things you have to remember about the .280 is that while there is a large selection of bullets available for it, many 7mm bullets are tailored more toward the 7mm Mag, and as such in some cases the .280 simplycant push them fast enough fo good performance.
One of the things you have to remember about the .280 is that while there is a large selection of bullets available for it, many 7mm bullets are tailored more toward the 7mm Mag, and as such in some cases the .280 simplycant push them fast enough fo good performance.
08-10-2005, 11:40 AM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Northwest Alabama
Posts: 116
RE: Help me choose a Caliber.....
Alright guys, what if it was down between a 280 or .308 which would be an all around better gun. My buddy has a .308 and he has killed a bunch and i mean a bunch with it. Is there a whole lot of diffence between a .243 and .308