Which Is Better

[smacarac]

WHICH ROUND IS A GOOD ALL PURPOSE CARTRIDGE SAY FOR DEER GOAT ANTILOPE BEAR IF YOU COULD OWN ONLY ONE OF THESE 2 A 270 OR 280 ? JUST WANT SOME INFO MY WIFE IS LOOKING FOR A NEW RIFLE.:)

[Evan03]

flip a quarter.

[Jack]

Both are excellent, you can't lose choosing between those 2.
One small thing that might tip the balance: you'll find 270 ammo at every corner gas station. 280 ammo isn't scarce, but it isn't quite as widely distributed as 270 ammo. If you shoot strictly factory, that might be a small factor.
If you handload, pick the rifle you like in either caliber, and you'll be well equipped.

[Dutchboy]

We shoot both in our family. Haven't been able to find a difference yet. Pick the gun you like. JMO, Dutch.

[AZZAFOX]

More reloading choices if you choose the .280;)

[gd357]

Same parent case, only .007" difference in bullet diameter. There is no appreciable difference in performance between the two. These are about the closest thing to two identical cartridges out there.

gd357

[Cal Sibley]

I think I prefer a 7mm Rem. Mag. over either, but that's just my personal choice. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[Hi Ball]

It's left hand verses right hand to my way of thinking, as both are very fine calibers for light to medium big game animals in the deer family, why even elk with a premium bullet.

However, I myself wouldn't hunt bear with either of those calibers~! Should something go south, I would want something in my hands besides a .270 or 280 going after a wounded bear.

I have to much respect for all bears and have seen more than once a so called 250 pound bear end up being a 400 pound plus bruin. I like a medium bore in the .338 or .358 caliber and have no problem with the .444 or 45/70 either. Those are my black bear calibers of choice.

["yote"]

280 Rem Simply because you have a better selection of bullets.
Otherwise, Flip a coin!

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

Me I would into the store and check out what they have in both those cartridges and then pick the one which felt and fitted me the best, it would be rifle fit which decided the issue not the cartridge. As has already been pointed out they are much or a muchness.

Same goes for your wife, get which ever rifle fits and feels the best! to her:D

[kuntry kid]

Personally I would actually use a .270 Win for an All-around hunting rifle.

[buckhunter]

I have shot and owned a Rem 700 - 280 for about 20 years. I have shot just about everything that walks in New England including bear, moose and deer. I would have not problem taking everything except the big bears with it. With that being said I would feel the same for a good 270.

I chose the 280 because I hand load just about everything I shoot. I like the 140 Nosler for med game pluse for Moose and Bear I shoot the 160 gr Nosler Partition.

If I was to ever hunt Elk I would use the 160.

Again really ain't much difference between the two.

[Cossack]

If you load it's 280 hands down, much greater bullet seletion: 100 to 175 vs 90 to 150. If not, then it's the 270; ammo will likely to be more available in out of the way places.

[Hi Ball]

Cossack.........I believe you have the wrong figures on those bullet weights available for the 270 Winchester caliber!

I myself have been shooting the Nosler partition in the 160 grain weight for years.

.270 Winchester bullet weights as follows: 100grn, 120grn, 130grn, 140grn, 150grn, 160grn, 180 grain bullet.

.280 Remington bullet weights as follows: 100grn, 120grn, 130grn, 140grn, 150grn, 160grn, 175grn, 195 grain bullet.

So the advantage of the .280 Remington is in the availability of being able to get and shoot 195 grain bullets at 2400fps.

[L. Cooper]

Evan, I think he should flip a dime. The smaller diameter and better sectional density of the dime will provide much more reliable random generation. Anyone who flips quarters is just not going to get the results on those big, important, or dangerous questions.

Smacarac, can you see my point?

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

Hmm the heaviest bullets I have heard of for the 270 are 160 grain, and for the 280 (7mm) 175 grain.

Please enlighten me as to who makes the heavier ones:)

[JackRabbit]

I would choose the 270 myself but then again I just love the 270 rem pump I own. I sold my parker hale 7mm.mag. but kept my favorite big game the 270.It's to me a good all around caliber.It's also more readily avalable at any corner store that sells ammo. I've shot everything from jack rabbits to moose ,and I think it's the best choice personaly.Even though the two are probably almost exacly the same cartrige the 270 is more avalable. Ken;)

[PJgunner]

Originally posted by Brithunter
Hi All,

Hmm the heaviest bullets I have heard of for the 270 are 160 grain, and for the 280 (7mm) 175 grain.

Please enlighten me as to who makes the heavier ones:)

Heavier ones for which caliber? Hornady, Sierra, Speer and Nosler all make 175 gr. bullets in 7MM/.280".
For the .270, Nosler makes a 160 gr. partition, which is the only one I can find in any of the latest manuals. Possibly, some of the smaller companies making premium bullets might be making some custom heavyweight bullets, but I don't have a listing.
Paul B.

[PJgunner]

Which is better? Well, I have both, so I don't have to choose. However, the .280 is not loaded to it's full potential by the factories. This is IMHO, because Remington, in it's infinite lack of wisdom, decided that it should be used in pump and semiautomatic rifles. :rolleyes: Therefore, it must be loaded to a lower pressure. :mad: They also made their pump and semiauto rifles in the .270 Winchester. If you check out the latest specs on the .270, you'll see it has been downloaded as well. Nothing that cannot be cured by judicious handloading in a good modern bolt action.
If I had to choose between the two, my preference would be the .280. However, being a bit more practical, ammo for the .270 is a lot more available. My local Walmarts don't carry .280, but they have lots of .270. Your choice.
Paul B.

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

Thank you for your repies about the heavier bullets, although I cannot think of a use for them here, it's nice to know these things.............. just in case:)

Now last week I sighted in the reciever peep sight on my 270 win BSA Majestic featherweight, I am using Sierra 140 Grn BTSP bullets and chronographed them at 2900 fps from it's 22" barrel. However this load is uncomfortable to shoot from the bench. The rifle only weighs 6 1/4lbs. Due ot it's light weight think I need to get a longer eye relief scope than the one I have for it just now which is why I set up the peep sight. Need more practice with the peep though:rolleyes:

[Jack]

Before the Barnes bullet company got into solid copper bullets, they used to specialize in pure copper jacketed lead core bullets- many of them unusually heavy for caliber. I think it was Barnes that made the 180 grain .270 and 195 grain .284 bullets.
I believe Barnes still makes some of the jacketed heavyweights- called Barnes Originals, I believe.
Barnes also was a source of FMJ bullets in all calibers, back then.