270 or 280?
 

I have a brand new Browning Stainless Stalker in 280, not made anymore, and I have a Remington 700 stainless synthetic in 270 with about 50 rounds through it, which one should I keep?

I'm going back to Kansas this year and I take two rifles to use, one for hunting spots that offer 150 yard or less shots and I'll take my Remington 700 in 300 Ultra Mag, killed my 160 class buck with it last year, for the open range stuff because of the heavier bullet weight to help with the high wind in Kansas.

I don't want to get offered a shot and be under powered in Kansas, due to the wind, range or the size of the deer. I'm also a shoulder shooter for deer, I'd rather take out their wheels and heart, which I have seen to be a hot topic for debate, but I am not trying to start a flame war. I know I'm anal about rifle selection, but I haven't lost a deer and I don't want to start.

I need to sell one or the other to finance a new varmint rifle.

I haven't done anything with the Browning, but put it in my safe, carry it down to my dealer for him to sell and list it on the internet.

The Remington shoots well, has very low recoil, it packs nice and the ammo choices are great.

Does the 280 have any real world adavantages over the 270? Ammo availability, performance or KO power?

I am planning to elk hunt one of these days, when my schedule permits, and may even have to try Caribou or some Canadian deer hunting.

I think I can sell the Remington quicker than the Browning, I've had the Browning for sale since early January and have had no bites at all, I know it isn't the best time of year.

Any thoughts?

RE: 270 or 280?
 

The only real difference you will find is 7/100 of an inch. Practically you will not find any difference. They are basically the same. You will get alot of opinions here and some will tell you and I believe it to be true, that ballistically you can find some difference, but real world practically speaking, they are the same. Good Luck.

RE: 270 or 280?
 

Take each rifle to the range. Shoot each of them. Whichever rifle you feel fits you better and has acceptable accuracy is the one to keep. I prefer the 280 over the 270 but you are really splitting hairs to say that one is better than the other. Shooting the same weight bullet velocity, energy, & trajectory are almost identical all the way out to 500 yards. So, there really is not a difference. A rifle that fits you well is always the best to have. You will shoot it more accurately than one that you have to adjust your hold to accomodate to the rifle.

RE: 270 or 280?
 

Like them both?

Put them both up for sale...first one sold makes your decision for you.

RE: 270 or 280?
 

dodger02 has the right idea. I have a 270 Model 70 and 280 A bolt. I prefer the 280 mainly because I like the Browning better than the Winchester. Just personal preference.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: 270 or 280?
 

Great replies.

I have confidence in the Remington, I nailed a 180lb doe with it at about 125 yards this last season in Kansas. So I'll guess I'll keep it and there are many more options for parts, gunsmiths, etc. if I ever decide to change anything.

I don't want to fire the Browning because it is new and never been fired and it would hurt the sale value.

I'm not attached to the Browning, but I've always heard how accurate their 280's were and I'm unsure if I want to sell it, but I need the cash for my varmint rifle.

I've got a 300 RUM and that fills the need for my large gun.

I don't have much use for a 45-70, it wouldn't offer me any advantages in the places I hunt, when the cover gets that heavy I break out my Benelli SBE or Winchester SX2.

RE: 270 or 280?
 

Real world, not much difference in the rounds. You're going to have to split hairs (.007 of an inch to be exact) to find a difference. It sound like you've decided on the 270, but if the 280 is NIB PM me I might have a buyer for it. I'm a big 280 fan, and have a few buddies that are as well and some are always looking for a gun. On another subject either of these calibers are plenty for long range whitetail (I can personally attest that a 280 is a hammer on shoulder shots at 430 yards), so you might want to think about just bringing the 270 as it should be plenty capable for the Kansas hunt.

Gordon

RE: 270 or 280?
 

i would keep whichever you like and feels best, but i prefer brownings over remingtons. this doean't mean i dont like remington, i have an 11-87 and it is my favorite auto loader i have ever shot, but i just like browning better. if you still can't make up your mind... do what was mentioned above and sell them both and keep the one that doesn't sell.

RE: 270 or 280?
 

I would keep the .280 Rem. because you have more of a choice in bullets, and it makes a slightly bigger hole, and slightly more energy. Good luck.

RE: 270 or 280?
 

i have owned both a 270win and a 280rem. both shot fine.

if you ask me i perfer the 280rem. even though i don't reload to get the full potential of diiferant selections of ammo.

fatory ammo for the 270win is alot easier to find in many grain selections and many ammo companies. the 280rem i know offhand has the 139gr.( hornaday ) 140gr. 150gr. and 160gr. from remington also there is a loading for federal in there TTBC i forget the grain.

i would base my decison on

#1 what shoots better ?

#2 what feels more like " an extension of your arm "

#3 do you mind paying a bit more for 280re ammo or just buy in bulk.

RE: 270 or 280?
 

..keep the 280...:eek:

RE: 270 or 280?
 

cardboard - you got some good advice. Except I have a better idea. Why not give me one to hold for you. That way if you think you made a mistake you could always ask for it back.
But you better give me the 280 to hang on to cause I already have a 270.

RE: 270 or 280?
 

NO! Ammo availability world-wide would favor the .270!

What I would do, if you can't keep both rifles (the best solution!!) would be to thoroughly test both for accuracy, and keep the one which shoots best! There isn't enough difference between the two rounds to select one over the other for deer sized game. If you intend to shoot elk and larger critters, then the .280 will allow you to use heavier bullets. This is not much of an advantage these days, with the wide selection of premium bullets available today!!

RE: 270 or 280?
 

Another vote for the 270, due to ammo costs and availability

RE: 270 or 280?
 

I see a lot of votes for the 270 because ammo is more available??? What do you guys do, buy one box, and wait untill it's gone to buy another??????

When i find a load that works in my rifle, i go buy, or load several boxes of the same, and have ammo for a long time. I don't wait untill i run out to go find more.

One thing about the 280 is, if you want to go for bigger game like elk on up, the 280 drives heavier bullets much better than a 270 will. For deer sized game, both are pretty much equal in the field.

I no longer even own a 270, but i built a custom light weight 280 that will last untill i take my eternal dirt nap!!

Drilling Man

RE: 270 or 280?
 

Cardboardkiller,

You are moving to Kansas, wide open spaces and the home of "flat shooting" rifles.
You have a 300 Ultra Mag., that will probably take care of the elk, moose, etc. if any such trip comes up.
You are buying a varmit rifle (22-250 etc.), that will certainly take care of the lower end.

Based even just on caliber spacing alone:
I would go with the 270Win hands down to "fill in" that middle ground.

Of course this is just my recommendation to Cardboardkiller who has both the 270 and 280 and neither has "won his heart". This is not an attack on 280 lovers anywhere. JMHO for a Kansas boy that already possesses a "big stick" gun.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
EKM

RE: 270 or 280?
 

The 280 in the Browning. You're looking at essentially the identical case but more variety in bullet designs and weight. And I'll take the advantage anyday of higher energy no matter how subtle the difference may be on paper.

RE: 270 or 280?
 

I'm not moving to Kansas, love the deer hunting, but the wind is a little much, the cold weather lasts a little too long and it just isn't home. I have a friend/coworker that lives in Kansas so I always have access to a land owner tag.

I like to maximize my hunting time and if a good deer steps out I don't want to be left hanging. I am going to keep the 270 and if I can sell my 350 Rem Mag I'll keep the 280.

Now I just have to figure out what scope to put on it.

You can't ever have too many rifles, just too many choices.