Got a question we all faced at one time or another.

[BriKW]

Long long time lurker, first time poster.

Getting ready to send a barreled action off to Mr. Mickey Coleman for a custom build. This will be a mid range hunting rifle. This is the plan so far.

Remington 700 action blueprinted.
24 inch Douglass #4 contour stainless Barrel
Action and barrel installed into a Boyd's JRS Classic Stock in pepper gray
Glass bedded, and fully floated.
Stock trigger adjusted to 3 pounds.
Luepold 3-9x40 and leupold rings
Was an ADL, but will be installing bottom metal to convert to BDL
Plan to duracoat action and barrel to black

Only thing I haven't settled on is caliber, and I'm kinda torn between a 30-06 on this build or a .280 Rem

I love both, and have total confidence in both calibers out to 500 yrds which I plan on shooting this rifle too. If I keep it a 30-06, or decide to go .280 route I plan to shoot the Berger VLD as I keep hearing good things about this pill. I better make up my mind fast because this rifle is getting shipped out first of the week. Decisions decisions.

So loaded question, which I'm sure will spark a decades old debate... How do you choose between two great rounds?

 

[cohunter14]

You are going to get a ton of different answers on this with everyone's personal opinon and people will probably suggest other calibers as well. The best thing you can do is do as much reading around here as possible on the different calibers. You also need to decide if 500 yards is the max you will ever want to go, or if there is a chance you will want to go farther. Again, everyone will have an opinion but the best thing you can do is come up with an opinion of your own because, in the end, it's your gun and you don't want to be upset if you get persuaded into something you don't want. Good luck!

 

[BriKW]

You are going to get a ton of different answers on this with everyone's personal opinon and people will probably suggest other calibers as well. The best thing you can do is do as much reading around here as possible on the different calibers. You also need to decide if 500 yards is the max you will ever want to go, or if there is a chance you will want to go farther. Again, everyone will have an opinion but the best thing you can do is come up with an opinion of your own because, in the end, it's your gun and you don't want to be upset if you get persuaded into something you don't want. Good luck!

500 yards is going to be about max I expect out of this rifle.. The places I'll hunt whitetails in my state won't require longer shots... I do plan on a longer range fun gun, but for now I'm going to have Mr. Coleman build my carry rifle.

 

[MudRunner2005]

.280 Ackley Improved......You will love it. And you can buy Nosler brass for it.

How do you choose? You pick which one you want the most that you will be the most comfortable with.

Personally, I have never had any desire to own a .270 Win or a .30-06 Sprg because they are SO common. I like having unique calibers or not very common calibers. So I like owning calibers that are designed off the '06 case because they aren't as common.

Also, alot of folks underestimate the 7mm bullets. However, when comparing similar weighted 7mm projectiles in a .280 AI vs .308 cal in a .30-06, the 7mm will win in trajectory and BC.

A .280 AI with some 168 Berger VLD's would be nasty for whitetails.

 

[cohunter14]

500 yards is going to be about max I expect out of this rifle.. The places I'll hunt whitetails in my state won't require longer shots... I do plan on a longer range fun gun, but for now I'm going to have Mr. Coleman build my carry rifle.

Either option should work fine for you, so again it is up to you. As I mentioned, you will get a lot of other suggestions as well. Read up on as much info as you can and make as informed a decision as you can.

 

[RogerPA]

A couple of years ago I did my first true custom rifle and asked myself the same question you are now debating. I'm not a super-long range shooter and didn't want to go the magnum route, so after hours of research, reading, and personal debate, I chose the .280, but in the Ack. Improved chamber. Honestly, the "cool" factor and being different than most everyone else was a big part of deciding factor. I couldn't be happier with my choice! (I've since done my second custom gun and "cool factor" helped me again. .338-06 A-Sq.). Whatever your choice, you can't really go wrong. Good luck... This part of the hunt is a lot of fun too!

 

[BriKW]

Poster on another forum made a great point for the .280.....

7mm pill in 168 grn VLD= a BC of .617 Cruising at 2800/2850 is bad news on the receiving end

As you put it, bad medicin for whitetails and pretty much anything else that crawls on all fours in the state of NC...

 

[BriKW]

A couple of years ago I did my first true custom rifle and asked myself the same question you are now debating. I'm not a super-long range shooter and didn't want to go the magnum route, so after hours of research, reading, and personal debate, I chose the .280, but in the Ack. Improved chamber. Honestly, the "cool" factor and being different than most everyone else was a big part of deciding factor. I couldn't be happier with my choice! (I've since done my second custom gun and "cool factor" helped me again. .338-06 A-Sq.). Whatever your choice, you can't really go wrong. Good luck... This part of the hunt is a lot of fun too!

For those shooting the 168 grn VLD in the .284 how are you liking it?

 

[MudRunner2005]

I shoot the 168 VLD in my 7mm RemMags and 7mm STW. They are excellent bullets!

And when I build my .280 AI, I will be shooting them as well.

 

[BROWN TROUT]

The 30-06AI is nice
You can load a 110gr for plinking or varmits and up to 220gr or so for big stuff and it has the cool factor of being different and cool look of the AI shoulder angle.

Better yet, get a 280AI and a 30-06AI BOTH!

 

[BriKW]

Leaning real hard towards a .280 Rem right now... Got to next Monday to decide lol... Once I write a check, it's a done deal....

 

[BriKW]

The 30-06AI is nice
You can load a 110gr for plinking or varmits and up to 220gr or so for big stuff and it has the cool factor of being different and cool look of the AI shoulder angle.

Better yet, get a 280AI and a 30-06AI BOTH!

Groundhawgs hated the 120 grain hornady VMax bullets out of my old 7mm magnum...quiet explosive results

 

[WildRose]

The 30-06AI is nice
You can load a 110gr for plinking or varmits and up to 220gr or so for big stuff and it has the cool factor of being different and cool look of the AI shoulder angle.

Better yet, get a 280AI and a 30-06AI BOTH!

Definitely. I'd go with the 06 because of the higher BC and energy.

The 280AI though offers very flat shooting at high velocity at that range.

Both will definitely do the job.

 

[HARPERC]

My bias is 30-06, I started out with one, and I have good luck with them. Good bullets, and Lapua cases have kept the old timer current. With todays turrets or reticles the differences in trajectory at the ranges you're talking isn't a big issue. I prefer the bigger wound channels offered by bigger bullets at range. Plus if you're in close the real heavyweights the 220's make an impression. It's about preference and your other choice isn't without it's merits. Good Luck.