IF you are a handloader, get a .280 Remington. It has the greatest potential of the three, but factory ammo has never done it justice.

I seems to me that you already have maybe a 30-06 or a similar round but want to get into SS/SYN? I would get a short action cartridge that I could use there around home in all weather. Of those the 243, 7mm-08 and 308 are very popular.

As between the 270, 280 and 30-06 I would alwasys choose the 30-06 first.

Whatever you get make sure it has one of those new soft recoil pads on it like the Deceelrator.

I would pick the 30-06 as my first choice, the 280 as my second and the 270 as my third.

30 06. Not a doubt in my mind.

I'll say 280. I just got the MKII stainless/synthetic in 243. I really like the rifle. If you get one, plan on getting the trigger worked on or replaced though. Its pretty rough in mine.

If you are going to pick one I think that he 30-06 is the way to go. It will cleanly take all North American big game. While it will be overkill for a slight few, and maybe not as much gun as I would prefer for some others, it is still THE MOST VERSATILE caliber today.

This one's a "No-Brainer" if there ever was....
Which makes it possible for me to answer...
30/06.

I would suggest a 30-06 Savage. Then you can buy different barrels in 25-06, .270, 22-250, or .243 as you ahve cash. They are easy to switch and fairly inexpensive.

280 Rem. If for no other reason than it is different but as a reloader potential is certainly good in terms of bullet/ballistic gains with tolerable recoil. I really like the .284 cal. works just lovely for me on antelope through moose. I still own .277 & .308 calibers btw.

This is a happy problem, because you can't lose with any of them. If I were only going to have one gun, perish the thought, I'd probably go with the 30 06. Factory loads available from 125 gr.s to 200 gr.s and components galore. My go to gun is a M 70 in .270 but where I hunt I'm unlikely to encounter anything over 225 lb.s or that would likely eat me.

A Georgia boy should be shooting .308 or 7mm-08. I know they're not sexy, but it will let everyone know that you're smart!

When asked if he were forced to choose only one cartridge for all his North American hunting, the late Jack O'Connor, Mr. .270 himself unhesitatingly said, "The 30-06."
I have rifles in .270 Win., .280 Rem. and of course, the 30-06. If I could only keep one, it would be the 30-06, even though both the .270 and especially the .280 are more accurate. Not by a whole lot, but more accurate.
My vote goes for the 30-06.
Paul B.

30/06... 220 grain Round Nose....

It will take anything that walks in Georgia... and a lot of other places if you get the opportunity to hunt there...

within 250 yds, it is all anyone really really needs....

cheers
seafire

quote:

Originally posted by LE270:
My choice would be the 30-06, as it is the most versatile.

Ive seen that claim made in several posts but Im not buying it. With a bullet of similar SD the 280 is every bit as versatile, if not moreso. The whole argument is splitting hairs though and therefore it holds no water.

Mark,
I would pick the gun first. Find one you like. The way it fits, balances, points.

Then pick any of the calibers you listed.

I think the absolute most versatile is the 280 or 30-06. But for what you listed as primary species pick one out of hat. I am a huge 270 fan. I just happen to think it is best deer cartridge ever invented and loaded with 160gr NP's will kill anything in N. America.

But I don't let my emotion rule over a little common sense. With everything else being equal, a bigger hole is usually better.

I faced a similar question myself a couple of years ago. My potential hunting is mostly deer, with a chance of an elk down the road. I also am a handloader, so for me, at least the choice was obvious, .270 WSM. The standard .270/.280/30-06 are all very similar, and I wanted something different, but accurate with long range capability. The .270 short mag. can be loaded up to approach a factory 7mm Remington Mag. with 150 gr bullets, or loaded down to mild .270 Win levels (130 gr bullets at 2800 fps). Plus I like the short fat case design, as do most successful bench rest shooters. I acknowledge the 30/06 can be loaded with significantly heavier bullets, but if your primary game is deer and hogs, I really think a .270 150 gr Nosler Partition at 3,000 fps, or a 140 gr Nosler Accubond, or Barnes TSX at 3100 fps should be able to handle anything the original poster is likely to encounter. And if you do elect to throw big bears into the equation, wouldn't one be better off with something a tad bigger than the '06? Maybe a .338 Win Mag, or .35 Whelen.

I had a 30-06 and considered it my all round rifle.
Then I got a 300 Win Mag and considered it my all round rifle but it kicked too much...with trepidation I tried a 338 WinMag and found it kicked less than the 300 winMag so switched to it.
I'll stay with my 338s and would not hesitate to recommend them. Blessings.

Mark,
I'm in Georgia and of the few rifles I own, the 7mm-08 or the 6.5x55 would be my choice even though the .308 is tops as well as the 30-06. Hard to say no to the 7x57 as it is a pleasure to shoot. An oldie but a goodie is the 300 Savage but it's grown a long beard. A 280 Rem comes from the factory loaded down and is easy on the shoulder.. Much accurate. Not much Georgia game running after being tagged with a .243 either.
The older I get, the more I like the more recoil friendly calibers. Not a magnum in the house.... never

quote:

Originally posted by Gila Jorge:
I had a 30-06 and considered it my all round rifle.
Then I got a 300 Win Mag and considered it my all round rifle but it kicked too much...with trepidation I tried a 338 WinMag and found it kicked less than the 300 winMag so switched to it.
I'll stay with my 338s and would not hesitate to recommend them. Blessings.

I want this effect explained to me.

NOT because I disagree with you but because my experience matches yours and I still don't understand why....

AllanD

You're making the decision more difficult than it need be. Get one of each and be happy.

At the risk of jumping into the middle of yet another 'my cartridge is better than your cartridge' debate, here's the result of some 'just for grins' searching in Midway's factory ammunition listings:

30-06 = 80 listings

270 = 46 "

280 = 13 "

The only cartridge even close to the '06 is the 308 Win with 74 listings.

Yes, we are all - or should be, anyhow - handloaders here. But for any of us there is always the possibility, however remote, that we'll be caught somewhere trying to find some factory ammo for our old smokepole. So we're out in sagebrush territory on a combined hook and bullet vacation, and BareTail Airline has lost both our Orvis cane rod and our fine-gem quality handloads. What are the chances, do we suppose, that we'll find some 'shells' for our 280 down in East Overshoe, the only town within cel-phone range?

Of course, this never happens to Jim Carmichael, the great 280 protagonist. But for the rest of us, Murphy lurks.

Recently I was in the only gas station in a town in rural eastern Washington. On the shelf behing the register, amongst the cigarettes and motor oil, were some cartridge boxes. Most were 12ga, and 22s, and the only centerfire rifle ammo consisted of two boxes of '06, 150s.

invader66 had it right in the third post in this thread.

I'll take the 280 remington in a model 700.

Hoeram

I would go with the .280 but I do see that they offer a 350 mag. It might be a fun one to load for.

Mark in GA,
Save yourself the extra money and go with the Savage Weather Warrior series. If recoil or short stroking the bolt are problems for you ,may I suggest the 308 or it's off spring which are 7mm08 or 243. All three will do just fine for the job at hand. Just remember it is shot placement over caliber every time.

Well, as many have said the '06 pretty much sums it up for all manner of game and definitely a tried and true round; however, if you want an outstanding newer and yet superb round, might take a look at what was once called the 308/6.5 or now known as the 260 Remington. It will do about anything the 243, 257R, 25-06, 270 calibers can do and do it in a short action, light weight, very handy hunting rifle. Different?? Yes, but is a bit of a "sleeper" in performance and one you might want to consider. Round has been used for sometime now in match shooting groups both XC and Long Range as well.
Kind of reminds me of the current wildcat 284/6.5 cartridge and that would be another prime candidate. Outstanding round in all respects!! Check them out. Just a suggestion.

Might want to consider that Rem. titanium rifle in the 260 caliber. Deadly accurate round, based on 308 case, short action, lightweight, handy to sling over shoulder while climbing the shale slopes, dense woods, etc. and yet packs a pretty good punch with the right bullets. Good synthetic stock and the whole package pretty much takes care of itself other than pulling the trigger!!

Interesting question.

I owned a 280 for a short time and traded it for a 35 Whelen. No regrets.

I like the 30-06 with 165's for deer always opting for a larger hole if possible. Reloading the '06 is easy.

Picked up a 7x57 for my kid and had blast reloading and shooting it, 130's @ 2900fps. 5 shot group .5 @ 100 yds (ruger Mark II). My daughter "harvested" her first antelope at 325 yds and her first mule deer buck at 284 yds. Plenty of power and low recoil.

Worked up a nice deer load for a friends Swede with 129 gr Hornady's. He called back with news that his daughter knocked down a nice cow elk at 300 yds with one shot. I complained he needed more bullet for elk and will work up another load for this fall. again, a very pleasant gun to load and shoot.

Talked my friend into a 35 Whelen and watch him pound a mule at 313 yds through both shoulders with a 225 Northfork bullets last fall, which was not recovered. About 30 minutes later took a nice doe through the lungs at 200 yds, which dropped straight to the ground also. He was very impressed.

I think you should look at the 6.5x55, 7x55 and the 35 Whelen, then the '06.

I'll get in a bit late and vote 30-06, but I'm glad I don't own one. Not having one gives me a reason to own other hunting rifles.

Dean

If I had to live with one rifle it would be a 30-06, especially if handloaded. With bullet choices of 110 to 250 grains in a gazillion styles, tolerable recoil...it's a no-brainer. I'd opt for a Savage synthetic stainless with Accu-Trigger.

Like so many have suggested, any of the one you have listed will do the trick, on the critters you mentioned. If I had to choose? A 270 Win.
If I had the chance to take bigger critters than you mentioned? A 30/06, to get the heavier projectile.
JMHO, have fun with whichever one you end up getting!

Based on bullet selection alone the 30-06 hands down.

quote:

Originally posted by tom ga hunter:
How is your 257 roberts going?? I have all 3 many times over & there is really no difference in any of them. I would avoid the 280 because you are stuck with Remington brass which is trash & winchester only sells nickle plated brass. Last year my big field rifle was a 270 inspite of the fact that i have 8 30'06's including a Jarette & carolina precision '06. Next year my big field rifle may be an '06. But my swamp rifle will always be a whelen.

You need to get out more. Norma and a few others make 280 brass? Besides, I've used
Remington brass and find no problem with the
current crop.

I faced the same question 3 years ago and chose the 7X57. I have found it to be the ideal whitetailed deer caliber. While I haven't used it on hogs, I wouldn't hesitate.

TerryR[/QUOTE]

A .308 is all you need.

30-06 would make the most sense, but gave that sort of thinking years ago. I would look at somthing in 6.5x55 (non-milsurp). Animals hit with the 139-140 loads act like they want to go ahead and go to sleep. Remarkable. 30-06 works for anything. I am just being a horses' ass for not recommending it. It kills better than most anying this side of a 375 H &H.

Read my quote at teh bottum. Thats my opinion.

Good Luck

If I am recommending for a beginning hunter, first gun, 30-06.

As soon as they are comfortable with that gun, move up to a 300 mag.(H&H, Win., or Weatherby), after that, the next step would be either 338 or 340.

If I am looking for myself, 375, 35 Whelen, 458 Win. Mag., 45/70, in that order.

Yes they are all way too big for Texas whitetails, but a good behind the shoulder shot leaves about a half dollar size exit hole or less depending on the brand of bullet, and a really good blood trail.

I normally will not recommend what I shoot to anyone, because using the big guns is a specialized past time, and new hunters don't need to start out with something that is going to scare them. JMO

Mark, looks like you are getting all kinds of great advice. If you are still not certain, why not try this approach...decide which action you would like...single shot, bolt, lever, semi-auto, pump. Look at them, find out which fits you the best, and then decide on the calibre. You will not go wrong with any of the three discussed here, and with the premium bullets available, you will get by just great. Good Luck!

quote:

Originally posted by rugeruser:

quote:

Originally posted by Neverflinch:
I think it's odd that out of 34 responses only four said .270. My choice..........30-06.

That's because us 270 owners are out there using our rifles...

I love the 7mm's, and I think a 280 would be perfect. You can handload it up, and if you decide in the future you want wildcat, the 280 Ackley is possible with substantial gains,running just short of the 7 mags. A 160 around 2900 will handle anything up to elk and moose. The big bears are another game! But I got a couple of 06's last year, and they are easy to load with many bullets up to 220 grains. Never shot a game animal with one, (have a 7x57 for this fall), but they are not unpleasant to shoot and offer a lot of flexibility in loading. Remember you can get HE 06 ammo that runs right with the 300 short mags. Enjoy deliberating.

My "general purpose" rifle is a 308.
If I need longer range I move up to a 300 Win Mag. If I need more thump I go to a 9,3x74R or a 375 H&H. Still more thump 450/400 or 450 No2.

In reality anything from the 6.5x55 up to the 30-06, with the right bullet will serve as a general purpose rifle.