The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles 280AI or 338-06Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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| One of Us |
I have been hand loading for about a year now. I have fallowed the book to a T on every load. I have been looking at getting a new custom rifle made and I’m tring to decide which caliber I get. The 2 calibers that I have been concerting are the 280AI, 338-06. This rifle will be used for moose, black bear, sheep, and white tails I do life in Alaska so there is a chance on shooting an interior grizzly. Now I do know a guy that killed a 6.5 grizz with a 260 with one good placed shot. I have been looking at the books and I wanted to make sure that I have it right. From my nosler book says that a 160 Accubond out of a 280AI has a B.C of 531 and a S.D. of 283 at about 3000 FPS. The 338-06 shooting a 225 Accubond has a B.C of 550 and a S.D of 281 at about 2500 FPS. So from what I get out of this is that the 280 will fly flatter because of the speed and penetrate deeper even though it is a smaller caliber. I’m leaning with the 280 AI, but really like the idea of the 225 grain bullet. Any insight would be great | ||
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I'm curious why you're so concerned with ballistic coefficient? | |||
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Ya, I agree. Forget paper figures, build the .338, and go hunting. | |||
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 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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SD is a meaningless designator,often swooned by the Mall Rat Crowd. SD fails to take into ANY consideration,the most important component of any projectile and that simply,is it's construction/integrity. All bullets of like diameter/weight,share the exact same SD value,which is well beyond moot,even in passing. I'm no AccuBomb fan,in any diameter/weight...but the 280AI has it all over the 338-06,from start to finish. It also does very nice things from a modest tube and a 22" 280AI is rather quite an impressive machine...and I'd never go longer than 24"(if only because I have). Balance,portability and practicality are the money makers and few things shine as brightly as the 280AI. It easily the best use of the parent '06 hull,despite my fierce 25-06AI allegiance and 6-06AI Play Toy. The 280AI is akin to cheatin',which is where I like to be.(grin) | |||
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The 30-06 would be perfect your type of hunting. It is flat shooting and has the thump required if you come across a grizzly. | |||
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Kicks harder than the 280,drops more,drifts more,hits with less authority and that for starters. Pass the 22" 280AI and hold the fluff. | |||
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For Alaska, no brainer, go 338-06. I love my 280, but hunting where you might bump a big brown or grizz, I want a bit more gun. The 338-06 can do it all from deer to moose & still have enough gas for a big bear. The 210grNP or TTSX @ 2750fps gives up very little to a 160gr bullet @ even 2900fps (I doubt you get 3K w/ anything short of a 25"bbl). LIFE IS NOT A SPECTATOR'S SPORT! | |||
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Could it get any better than a Kalifornian wishing she was Alaskan? Yep...she could muse an NPT. Hilarious! | |||
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Busheler, did you loose your job this week or just recently discover the internet? ______________________________ "Truth is the daughter of time." Francis Bacon | |||
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Sugartits, Simply take notes and peruse same...you'll learn sumptin'. Thank me later. | |||
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338-06 my friend!!!!!!! Hands down IMHO. Great bullets, easy to form brass, light on the shoulder, great Elk cartridge, etc... Not that the 280 isn't all that...just my 2cents are w. the 338 big time! Good luck. | |||
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Run a ribbon. | |||
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There's noting magical about a .284 dia. bullet. Bigger bullet equals bigger game. The .280 is a fine long range jack rabbit gun, but not good for much more then deer. The .338 is many times better for the bigger animals that can encountered in Alaska then any 7mm. The .280 may be easier to hit with however for those that can not handle any recoil at all. But if that's the case, stick to hunting rabbits. | |||
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Nothing is all you've got...which frosts your cake nicely and succinctly to boot. Ignorance is bliss and admittedly,you are "blisseder" than most. Congratulations?!!? | |||
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larrys been drinking again... | |||
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I'll take my 280AI with the MK4 6x M3,as opposed to the 3.5-10x M3 and note that the Jolly Roger always adds 50fps to the fray. Just sayin'.   | |||
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I own a 280AI with a 24" barrel on a Sako Finbear action and it shoots great with 160 gr Accubonds. It give the 3000fps with N560 powder at great accuracy. I would be happy to use it for most N.American game. But with possibility of grizzly in the mix, I would go for my Simson 9.3X62, which should take any sheep out to 300 yards with a Norma 232 gr bullet or an Accubond 250 gr. No grizzly is going to escape the 286 gr bullets whether it is Norma, Lapua, TSX or Woodleigh "When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick." | |||
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WHAT?? LIFE IS NOT A SPECTATOR'S SPORT! | |||
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Well I've owned a 280, 280AI 338-06 and 338-06AI. Now I shoot a 280PDK and 340PDK. 280 case blown out shoulder forward. To me you are attempting to compare and apple and orange. I use the 280PDK on everything from small TX deer up through Kudu and elk. I choose the 280 over the 340 for plans game due to the longer point blank range. When I'm backpack hunting for Elk I take the 340 simply because I built it about 1.5#s lighter. I would not take my 280 on a Grizz hunt but would not have a concern with the 340. I happen to love the accubonds and have NEVER had one fail me. I happen to use the 160 7mm and 200gr 338. Why the AI in the 280 and not the 338? To me unless you simply want a wildcat or something different I would simply think 280 or 338-06. But don't ask me I have far more wildcats than factory. If I was living in Alaska and wanted only one of the 2 it would be the 338-06. Then again the plan old 30-06 would do everything you wanted to do as well. Like was said I don't put a lot of faith in SD besides nothing you are hunting is hard to penetrate. As usual just my $.02 Paul K | |||
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A svelte 22" 280AI is rather a tough act to follow. | |||
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I have a 26" barrel 280AI and couldn't be happier, however I don't live in an area with large bear. Why not build a 35 Whelen? | |||
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Exactly right.   | |||
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Nope. Ya follow it with a 338/06 AI. I dnt have a 280 AIbut I do have a 275 Rigby AI. I love that rifle but where I am going to be possible dealing with larger bears the 338/06AI I have would be my choice hands down. DRSS Kreighoff 470 NE Valmet 412 30/06 & 9.3x74R | |||
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I decided to go with the 338-06. I can shot heavier bullets with it and if the person that is building the rifle does a goos job I will just order a 280 AI next year. Thanks for all the advice. | |||
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Hey Woodelf, Sounds like a good way to go considering where you will be Hunting. But, I'd encourage you to flip open a Reloading Manual that has the 338-06 and compare it to the 338WinMag. You will notice the SAFE MAX Loads for the 338-06 are the Starting Loads for the 338WinMag. That means you can have the 338-06 performance level if you desire, but if you ever decide you want more, you can ease right on up to the 338WinMag level. Nothing wrong with the 338-06, but I'd prefer a bit more Power for Alaska. Good Hunting and clean 1-shot Kills. | |||
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Hotcore I did think about that. I have shot the 338WM and it seemed like a lot more recoil. Im only 160 and I perfer not shooting high recoiling rifles. I dont care for muzzle breaks, because I would be deaf. I have a ton of 06 brass and figured I could use some of that brass to make 338-06. I also go to MN and ND deer hunting so I thought I could load either 160 180 for deer. I have hunted in AK for 11 years and have not used anything bigger then a 30-06. Now if I was to hunt coastal bears I would get a 375, but that would be the only reason. | |||
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I'd go 338-06. I went with the Ackley Improved on my rifle I had built in fall of 2008. I chose to shoot the heavier 225gr Accubonds and TTSX's in this rifle. Thats why I built it to shoot heavier bullets. I love my 300WM with 180gr Accubonds and my 270WSM with 140gr Accubonds. | |||
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Hey Woodelf, It sounds like you thought through it very well. I do understand your reasoning and I understand each of your points.I seem to remember Phil Shoemaker mentioning a 30-06 is a great cartridge for all of Alaska. Kind of surprised me, but he has a lot of first-hand experience that I'd not want to argue with. Accepting that as well, then I'd agree your 338-06 ought to make a fine cartridge for you. ----- Venison Cube Steak, potatoes, biscuits and gravy will fix that 160# issue.  | |||
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not owning a 280 of any sort... I get the job down with a 7 x 57 or 7/08..or a 7 Rem Mag if needed.... I do own a 338/06....that is an impressive cartridge when it comes to getting the job done... I can run 180 and 200 grain bullets a little in excess of 2900 fps MV and 225 and 250 grainers ( RN preferred) at about 2500 fps... ( 2650 fps with the 250s if need be)..... each have more than enough thump to get the job at hand taken care of... so if I could only have ONE, I'd go with the 338/06... | |||
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woodelf, Nothing wrong with either caliber since you can reload for'em. But, here's my 2 cents: Why try to cover all that with 1 rifle? For example, a two rifle combo in 270 and 9,3x62 would cover all that better and provide more hunting flexibility in the long run than 1 rifle in either caliber. ________ Ray | |||
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After 25 years of living and hunting all over Alaska, with a lot of bear hunting thrown in. Also, i hunt with a 280 and a .338-06, taking my first head of big game with the .338-06 in the late 70's. Personally, i'd grab the .338-06 and run! Then use bullets heavy enough to get the job done properly on a bear, and they WILL work for everything else too... DM | |||
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Exactly correct! The 338-06 does everything the 338winmag can do in a lighter rifle w/ more rounds. Just get 75yds closer.  LIFE IS NOT A SPECTATOR'S SPORT! | |||
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Getting closer is the FUN PART !! As for round count, my 338-06AI is 5 in the clip plus 1 in the chamber. Should only need 1, maybe 2 - but if going for grizzlies its nice to have the extra I would say-eventhough I cant hunt grizzlies in Alberta. My rifle is Sako m75 Greywolf (IV action) with PacNor Supermatch grade #5 stainless barrel cut to 24" fluted, powdercoated with a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40 in gunmetal grey mounted with Sako Optilock Ringmounts. | |||
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I've got a 26" Rem 700 in .280 AI and a light weight 24" std .280 Rem. Both have accounted for elk, deer, wildebeest, waterbuck, impala and a few others. Also have a 24" Win 70 in .338-06 that has about the same track record. Though the African game runs a bit heavier and larger than what I have shot with the .280's. I'd say BOTH. Plus... I don't agree with the guys who use the LIGHT slugs in the .338 . WHY go .338" and shoot 200-210 gr slugs?? To me the thing that the .338-06 offers is tremendous penetration with the 250 gr slugs...with reasonable recoil. FN in MT 'I'm tryin' to think, but nothin' happens"! Curly Howard Definitive Stooge | |||
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Honestly, you can't make a bad decision. But going with the 338-06 is a better choice IMO. Higher velocity kills farther, bigger diameter kills better. With Alaskan critters, I think the killing better part is more important. I personally can not imagine needing to shoot anything with 250gr bullets out of 338-06. Not needed for 99% of the critters out there. And the other 1% (Africa), it is probably illegal. I shoot 210gr TSX's and NP's for elk and 200gr Hornady SP's for deer. Mine shoot to the same POI. From what I have witnessed on elk, I don't think more bullet is needed. But if you makes you comfortable a premium 225gr would take care of it. I do have some 180gr Accubonds that I would like to try on deer, but have not gotten around to working up a load yet. | |||
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| one of us |
unless the follower is a svelte 24" 7mm Rem Mag.... | |||
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| One of Us |
Now cut that out, I'm starting to drool.  | |||
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Sweet.  | |||
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