.280 Remington for Elk?
I would like to know your thoughts on the .280 Remington cartridge for elk? Is it enough gun and what factory loads would you recommend?
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buckdodger, the .280 would not be my first choice for elk, but a well placed shot will do just fine. The .270 has been used for years and years to take larger game such as elk, and I can't for the life of me remember the famous writer's name that took so many large game North American animals inclusive of the elk (was it Jack O'conner, help me out on this one guys, I'm not sure) with the .270, and touted it for years to be the best "all around caliber" available. Well I say all that to say that the .280 is kind of right between a .270 (.277) and a .30-.06 (.308), but closer to a .270. It's really a 7mm diameter bullet, truth be known, being that it carries a .284 diameter. If I were you and was going to use the .280 for elk, I would choose either the 160 gr. or the 175 gr. bullet. The 160 gr. can be pushed to about 2800 fps with max loads, and the 175 gr. can be pushed to about 2,600 fps with max loads. If you're not anticipating extremely long ranges, you could even opt for the larger 195 gr. load that can travel up to about 2,400 fps. You're not gonna achieve the fps numbers previously listed with factory ammo, but you can with reloads. You can with reloads push the .280 pretty close to the numbers that you could expect to receive with say a .300 Win Mag. with shooting factory ammo in the .300 win mag. The .300 win mag is going to be running just a bit faster in factory loads than would your .280 at max loads (reloads). I don't want to bore you to death with this, but I do hope it helps. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll surely give you my .02 cents worth. Oh, I meant to tell ya, you should expect at least 200-300 fps less than earlier mentioned with .280 factory loads, and as I said before, the .280 will do just fine with a well placed shot.....I would suggest going with at least a 160 gr. and probably the .175 gr. for elk.
woodyd0 -
The .280 makes a fine Elk gun, at any REASONABLE distance. Use the 154-162 grain loads. If you reload, you can beat the factory loads by a couple hundred fps. Leave the 175 grain loads alone unless you plan to hunt in real thick stuff, and have close shots. Lots of good elk hunters here in wyoming swear by the .280
SEMPER FI MAC, SEMPER FI0 -
The .280 is a necked down .30-06 to 7mm. It'll drop an elk like a ton of bricks with the right bullet put in the right place. Have a look here: http://www.fishandhunttexas.com/280_remington.htm
I'll be ok, Woody. Sorry.0 -
Take this from a guy who has 2 .280's (had three, but you can only have so many) the 165 grn loads are great - with the spire point boattails. But I'm a tad partial.... They are almost as versitile as a 30-06 and flatter shooting - yes they are a little less flatter than the 7mm, but the same size bullet.......
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)0 -
Ron Shirks has a special on the Federal High Energy Trophy Bonded 150 grains for the .280. SGN ad for about $20+ frt.
Mobuck0 -
Yes, the .280 will kill an elk just fine with the proper bullet and that bullet placed in a vital place. There are better cartridges for large sized critters but MOST shooters will do better with a non-magnum cartridge. And yes also, it was Jack O'Connor who penned the virtues of the .270.
tax0
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