280 or 30-06, and bullet questions

[archerelk]

One week till I leave to take my wife hunting, and I am getting cold feet on some of my decisions. I need some help. I have been letting my wife shoot my 280 useing a 140 BST, I am beggining to think that may be to light. I was considering going to a 150 core-lokt, or even bumping her up to the 30-06 with a 165 winchester high velocity BST.

I know the argument that if the shot is straight it doesn't matter, but if the shot is an inch off, what would you choose, the 280 or the 30-06? What load would you use, and why?

P.S. My wife is adaptive so switching rifles isn't that big of a deal. We will be going to the range 2 more times in the next week for her so We will have time to re-sight. The only concern is takedown....

Thanks,
Blair

 

[Tuffbucker]

If your wife doesn't have problem shooting the 30.06...I'd go with it. Im just a big advocate of the 30.06.......but then again, Ive always shot a 30.06, 30-30, or a 300 WIN Mag.

 

[kingfish]

.06 with 180 grain is perfect. The 280 is plenty...Let her shoot whatever she feels most comfortable with...

 

[predator]

Go with the .280, just switch to a partition bullet, like a 150 Nosler. I've pounded many an elk with it, and have noooo problem. Nothing against the .06, but if the .280 is watch she's practiced with, I'd stick with that.

My .02

 

[archerelk]

Dumb Question, but is the core lokt a partioned bullet? It says its a PTD, I think that is abbreviated for partitioned???? And no, I am not a cheep skate, I have just had really good luck with the core lokt rounds on deer, and they also group really well for my wife at 200 yards.

I think after talking to her, we are going to stick with the 280 because it is so light, and we will be doing alot of hiking. The mark v ultra-light is 8 pounds total vs the savage 110 30-06 at 20 pounds.

Can anyone recommend a good partioned round? I will need a couple options as the 280s' are a little harder to find ammo for.

Thanks everyone for your help. I will be planning another coyote hunt in a couple months at my ranch, and all are invited.

Blair

 

[Bura Nut]

Blair: I have shot the .280 for years like Predator and they have winchester premium ammo here in Phoenix in the 140 partition round. Its a premium bullet even though the core lokt is pretty good I would stick with Nosler partitions out of the .280 for her. I bet the ballistic experts would be able to show that the .280 with that bullet will outperform or be equal to the 06...............call me if you cant find the bullets I think I have a box here at home........602-454-2146...... Thanks, Allen Taylor......

 

[archerelk]

Thanks Allen, I will take a look at the sportsmans wherehouse and see if they have any. You think the 140s' would be better suited then the 150s'?

Blair

 

[txhunter58]

Stick with the 280. Don't change horses in the middle of the creek, so to speak. She is more comfortable shooting that, so she is more likely to be more accurate, which is more important than the power edge the 06 would give her.

I probably would use a more premium bullet than standare core lokts. They have a new "ultra" core lokt that looks pretty impressive. I have always used nosler partition bullets and had great luck.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

 

[2_Point]

I will second (or 5th) many of the other posts. I shoot my elk and deer with a 280. They are all dead. Go buy some Fedral Premium 280 cal in 150 Nosler Partitions. The box is gold and the cost will be $20-25 (but you do get a nice 14x20 print with a purchase of shells).

I have killed quiet a few elk (and deer) with this set-up. Let her continue to shoot the 280. Good Luck

 

[whtailtaker]

Another answer to your question-
I took a Whitetail @ 542 paces using the below Ammo-in lots of open country
F E D E R A L ?
No. Primer-210
No. 180- Grains/Grams-11.66
Style Hi-shok Soft Point
Caliber 30-06 Springfield
Velocity in Feet Per Second
(to nearest 10fps)
Muzzle 2700
Yds 100 2470
Yds 200 2250
Yds 300 2040
Yds 400 1850
Yds 500 1660

I hit him mid chest on the lt side
it had enough punch to churn up both lungs and lodge in the lt side of his neck just below his ear-

I retreived 134 gr propeller shaped projectile-

hope this helps- I only use 180gr Ammo

or look up stats on this site
http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2e.rifle_cartridges.htm

whtailtaker

 

[etoh]

I believe PTD means pointed for Core Lokts. Partition is a name rather than a type of bullet. The only other bullet that I know of with a separate core is Swift A-frame. I guess your after elk. I think I'd be more comfortable with a little stouter a bullet as well and I would stay away from ballistic tips. BTs are not designed for penetration.

 

[archerelk]

Thanks yall..... We will be sticking with the 280. I will head up to the store this AM and see what they got in. I will probably look at the winchester rounds. I have had good luck with their BST, and High Velocity rounds, I will look for a partitioned round. I will try to avoid the federal premiums, as dumb as it sounds, I just couldn't get them to group when I tried them. Maybe I had a bad lot, but just not comfortable. I know alot of people like them, I just didn't have good luck with them.

Again, thanks for all the input. I really want to make this a great experiance for my wife, last thing I want is for her to make a good shot, and just have the elk laugh at us..... UNIT 8 here we come.

Blair

 

[Bura Nut]

Blair if they have Nosler 150 grain partitions I would use those instead of 140. This may sound strange but I really love partitions and if I only had two choices one being 140 partitions and the other 150 grain boat tails or some other factory load, I would go with the lighter grain premium bullet Partition.....thats probably just me but I have had great luck with partitions. If Sportsmans warehouse doesnt have them I bet the outdoorsman or AZ sportsman does........ Allen Taylor......

 

[30point]

20 lbs for a 30-o6! is that a typo?

 

[BigPig]

Shoot either rifle but don't use the BST (ballistic silver tip) on elk. They are for deer sized game and smaller. The Nosler Partition, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Swift A frame, Speer Grand Slam, are all good. I really like the Hornady Interloct too, although it is not considered a premium bullet. I wouldn't hesitate to use one on an elk with either rifle. If you ever have any doubt, just try to get a closer broadside shot.

 

[archerelk]

no, 20 pounds is an estimate, it may be more. That thing is the heaviest rifle I have ever owned. I still use it because I don't mind the weight and have always been great with it.

 

[archerelk]

I ended up with the Nosler Partition in federal premium 150 grain. Thanks to all for the help

 

[muzz]

If you reload I got some 280 brass and dies I will sell cheap. [email protected]

 

[txhunter58]

You mentioned federal premiums not grouping well, but didn't mention if you meant in that gun (the 280). I suspect that it has more to do with the gun than the ammo when they don't group well. With factory ammo, you have to try several until you find some that are "tuned" to that particular gun. My 7mm mag shoots tighter groups with federal premium than my brothers, but his shoots tighter groups with winchester. Same caliber, same make/model of gun, but one likes one brand and the other likes another brand. Find one that works for her particular gun AND has premium bullets.

Here is another good example. I did a lot to "accurize" my 270 (adjusted the barrel, floated the barrel, etc), but never got groups better than 1-1/4 inch until I tried Hornady light magnum 140 grain bullets. Suddenly my groups shrunk to 1/2 inch. I know it doesn't make that much difference in the field, but I just FEEL more confident knowing that the gun is that accurate.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

 

[archerelk]

This problem was in my 30-06, beleive it or not, the best round I have found is the core lokt. The federal premiums were all over the place, the core lokt groups are less then an inch. My 280 groups less then an inch with every round I have ran through it.

I think the problem with federeal premiums was a bad lot or something. When I say they were all over the place, I am talking about 5-7 inch variances from a sight vice. We will see if the federals work well in the 280.