280 or 30-06 for Elk

[midgetorama32]

I'm looking to rebarrel a model 700. Looking to have a nice lightweight elk gun that could potentially take elk out to 600 yards or so.

Does one of these have any huge advantages over the other? With the 280 I was thinking of lighter recoil with higher BC buillets but the 30-06 has ammo available everywhere and possibly more knockdown power? I will be handloading and am considering the 168gr 7mm and 185 gr 308 VLD's.

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Why not a 280AI it will get you very close to 7mm rem mag performance. That would be my pic any how.

Jon

 

[midgetorama32]

That was an option too but my gunsmith doesn't have that reamer.

 

[woods]

That was an option too but my gunsmith doesn't have that reamer.

It only costs $25.00 to ship anywhere in the US to another gunsmith and insured for $1,000, no return ship to FFL required. Either that or reamers can be rented cheap.

4-D Products Rentals

I would not let that stop me from getting a 280AI

 

[midgetorama32]

Does the 280 Ackley feed OK?

thx.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Get a diffrent smith use Kevin Cram at montoure county rifles. I have used Him alot as of late his turn around is super fast. I bet he has a reamer and if not he will get one he did for me.

Jon

 

[Chas1]

Do you want to reload etc. If not I'd keep it simple and of the two choices you mentioned I'd go with the old stand by 30-06...availability and choices are endless.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

280AI is a SAMMI spec round now and factory ammo is out there.

 

[Chas1]

Just for random comparison. Midway 280AI one choice 52 bucks for 20, 30-06 about 80 choices 14-91 bucks for box of 20 with many excellent choices for around 35 bucks.

 

[TOM H]

I'm looking to rebarrel a model 700. Looking to have a nice lightweight elk gun that could potentially take elk out to 600 yards or so.

Does one of these have any huge advantages over the other? With the 280 I was thinking of lighter recoil with higher BC buillets but the 30-06 has ammo available everywhere and possibly more knockdown power? I will be handloading and am considering the 168gr 7mm and 185 gr 308 VLD's.

Thanks for any thoughts.

I've never taken an elk with VLD bullet so cann't help you there. I own afew elk rifles and the calibers you mention I also own but I don't consider them as "potentially take elk out to 600 yards or so." I want alittle more rifle if it was me I have bolt face open build a 30 cal mag rifle or 7Mag.

I know this day and age we all want one rifle to fit all types of hunting. My first bull elk here in Co used a 7mag with 154gr Hornady bullet that was mid 70's that was the year we moved here. I later rebarrel that rifle to a 30-338mag.

Since you already have the rifle did you hunt elk with it before or what caliber are you using now?

 

[str8meat]

whatever shoots better, u can find rounds for the 06 anywhere not so much for 280, i love both of mine

 

[Guy M]

They're both fine cartridges. Take your pick, then put a good bullet where it counts. With elk, be prepared to send another before they make it to a 2,000' dropoff into a nasty canyon. Anchor 'em!

 

[TOM H]

Good for you Tom!
I can honestly say, I personally, have never taken anything at 600 yards in my life nor anyone in my family or group of friends. It's extremely rear to shoot over 100 yards at anything in Colorado let alone 600 yards. Elk in Colorado are seldom seen vulnerable, where legal. It is however possible to shoot from one mountain to another, but who wants to carry out a one thousand pound animal. Even so, I'm sure there some who need the validation for their choices. I'm sure I would find this too to be an overkill, but the more inexperienced hunters might disagree where using the Barrett .50 caliber to reach out over a mile, but I don't see its legitimacy for Colorado game. I'm just happy that my dentist doesn't use dynamite for repairing teeth. And yet, there are those who need to be validated for their choice of calibers, when logic prescribes otherwise. I'll say it again, the .280 is more then enough for North America without stepping into the 30 calibers. Also, super high vorticity rounds are another pet peeve with me; they burn up your barrel and are too fast to be effective. It's a good way to cripple an animal and end up losing it. And besides, they're over priced like your 7 Mag or anything in a .30 cal. A box of .280 on sale is $17 bucks and my .270 also...go figure. We can shoot all day without being hammered, which I'm sure you can't say that. But attempting to compare apples to apples using Remingtion's ballistic chart, both calibers using a 150 grain, nothing fancy, the 7 mag's velocity is 0.913% faster at 500 yards, Energy is 0.83% greater at 500 Yards and B.C. is the same at over twice the expense.

Please don't address any post to me again I enjoy this site too much.

 

[trueblue]

LonePuma,
You might be on the wrong website. This is after all long range hunting.

As far as caliber for the OP, either one will do.