280 140gr bst for elk

A

archerelk

Guest
OK,

So I am looking for a little help. I am trying to decide if I want to shoot my 280 or my 30-06 for my elk hunt. When reviewing the ballistic charts for both rifles it appears that the 140 bst for the 280 has the best velocity and energy down range.

I always felt that it may be a little light, but after reviewing the charts I am wondering if I have always thought wrong about this?

Taking all other considerations into account, they both shoot great for me, the only real difference is my 280 is the weatherby mark v ultralight so it doesn't get my shoulder sore after hiking for a few days. My 30-06 is an old savage 110 and weighs a ton.

Any thoughts on 280 vs 30-06 for elk?
 
I think the 280 with a good bullet would be just fine..If you can hit what your shooting at and have good shot placement your good. I had a friend use a 270 with 130gr barnes tsx on a cali elk a few years ago, one shot in the right place did the job very well. IMO you would be good with either. Go with what you shoot the best. If it were me and I shot both the same and was going to be doing alot of hiking I would go with the 280. shot placement is the key not cal and gr of bullet,(with in reason, not saying a 22cal will be good) the biggest and toughest bullet wont work with bad shot placement.

Kevin
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-02-10 AT 11:59AM (MST)[p]I would think 160 grain bullets would be better, is there that much difference in the drop?. And there are other factors besides ft lbs of energy, kenetic energy I believe they call it. Its the reason a solid 500 grain 458 bullet going at a low velocity will out penetrate a solid 270 grain 375 bullet going much faster. Even though the smaller bullet has more ftlbs of energy.
 
I've killed several elk with my .280. I usually use 150 grain nosler partitions but I also love the 140 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claws. I've never shot an elk twice with these bullets. I'd go with the .280 if it were me. I even killed a Grizzly in Alaska this year with my .280. Center of the chest shot, it was facing me, with 150 grain partition= dead in its tacks.
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-02-10 AT 02:32PM (MST)[p]I have killed an elk with my 30-06 (180 gr Accubond) but I would have no hesitation using my .280 Rem loaded with a 150 gr Partition.

I'd shoot whichever one you prefer as neither are bad choices. Just step up to a 150 gr bullet in the .280 if you choose to go with that rifle.

Scott
 
Go with your 280, and 140 grn is plenty to get the job done on the elk. It's lighter and will not beat you down if your out there awhile.Ballistics don't mean anything unless you hit what your aiming at. I shoot 150 grn accbs in my 300wby for everything including elk.JB
 
+1 for 160 gr. bullets. Lots better if range gets on the long side. Better penetration and retained velocity.

Phantom Hunter
 
All good info above. I have the same ultralight .280 rifle you mention and have shot a lot of elk with it, mostly with full throttle handloads in 160 Nosler Partition and Barnes bullets, but recently have been using handloaded 140 Accubonds. I value every ounce of meat so all I ever take are rib shots and the 140's seem to kill a bit quicker, but as stated above, the 160's are a better weight for the efficient 7mm's and will pass up the 140's at long range with better penetration. The .280 is plenty for elk and the ultralight is a nice rifle to be carrying when the days are long with lots of vertical. One thing I would never do is poison the pie by sticking some gigantic variable on top of it, defeating the purpose. I never have understood that, but to each his own.
 
It is a great choice, I prefer the Accubond, but have shot as large as moose with my .280, and as said above-aim small, miss small and you'll come home with table fare.

Pred
 
Thanks everybody for the info. I have a few boxes of FP 150gr NP's, so I will probably go that route. I went to the local gub store here in LA (lower Alabama) and the 140 gr sbt's are special order, and cost an arm and a leg.

I always over think things when I get a good tag. When I drew my archery tag in 01 for unit 8, I shot my bow everyday for 2 hrs. Shot it so much that a week before the hunt a cam busted and I had to buy a new PSE.

I guess with the limited opportunities I get to hunt, when I get the tag I dream about I don't want to leave anything to chance.

Blair.....
 
For elk hunting with a 280, or 30-06, you'd be better served with heavier bullets. For the 280, you'd do better to use a 160 grain bullet, and for the 30-06, at least 165, and 180 would be better. Don't get so caught up with bullet drop, as out to 350 yards, either one will be fine, and you really shouldn't have to shoot that far with either rifle. Most likely, your shot will be under 200 yards, and those heavier bullets will do much better than a lighter bullet.
 
I shoot a hot .280 and i highly recommend that you either go to a little heavier bullet and/or use some of the other great bullets recommended above, Partition, TTXS, Accubond,...

I'm not at all a fan of Nosler Ballistic tip bullets on big game, especially a big bull elk!! Good luck!! :)

Joey
 
I have shot more critters than I could count from Hogs, Deer and Elk w/ my 280. Loaded with 54 Gr IMR 4350 w/ a Nosler 150 GR Partition. This is my all time favorite gun and load.
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-05-10 AT 11:49AM (MST)[p]I forgot to mention one thing that ended up being important for my particular .280, and I'm sure these handloaders will agree. Shoot a variety of k
loads before you decide. My particular rifle will not shoot SBT's with any degree of acceptable grouping. It took me about three boxes, but it loves Federal Premium loads. The difference was significant, and if you are going to an area where shots over 300 yards are a possibility, you don't want irregular groups.

My final .02? That .280 is one of the best all-round rounds for North American game there is.

Pred
 
My son's taken 3 elk, all one shot kills with my .280 and 140 grain bullets, 1 Partition and 2 X-bullets. Personally I have no problems with the 140 gr .280 bullets BUT that guns now shoots 150 TSXs for elk and 140 gr SSTs for deer.

Funny, although a nice, accurate, light gun, he's taken more game with it than me. The damn .338 just inspires confidence in me.
 

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