Does the difference betwn 280 and 7mm-08 make much of a difference in the field?

[briannmilewis]

Just looking at different rounds and wondered if the actual ballistic differences between 7mm-08 and 280 Rem, would make that much difference on deer or elk in the field.

This is a Remington Ballistics comparison. Apart from the obvious extra range, at 300 yards, would the different energy mean you would get or miss your animal?

[Graybeard]

Energy Sminergy it has zip to do with anything and is merely a paperwork exercise. How you could think it could have anything to do with hitting or missing I fail to grasp.

An extra 140 fps is meaningless in the real world. If you want to talk about energy which personally I don't it's not even what a .22LR delivers so how could such a tiny extra bit matter? Chances are both bullets will exit anyway taking far more than the difference out the back side with them.

[briannmilewis]

Graybeard:

Sorry, clarity was my problem.

Rephrasing it all...I wanted to know at 300 yards do both rounds have the same killing power, which you answered "yes". I was concerned if an animal was hit in the right place by either round, does one have to be tracked and the other not.

Thanks as usual.

[Graybeard]

Nope no such difference no matter the range. That small difference is of no consequence at all.

[Bigeasy]

Yea, some differences-

The 7mm/08 can use a short action, kicks a little less then the .280, ammo might be a little easier to find, and it kills deer just as dead.  There is no difference in balistics between the two that would cause a good hit with one, and a miss with the other under similar conditions.  My Ruger compact in 7mm/08 is easy carrying, and kills way out of porportion to its size.

Larry

[briannmilewis]

Yea, some differences-

The 7mm/08 can use a short action, kicks a little less then the .280, ammo might be a little easier to find, and it kills deer just as dead.  There is no difference in balistics between the two that would cause a good hit with one, and a miss with the other under similar conditions.  My Ruger compact in 7mm/08 is easy carrying, and kills way out of porportion to its size.

Larry

Larry:

These are good field differences.

[yooper77]

7mm-08 Remington or 7mm (7X57) Mauser (higher pressure version) VS the 280 Remington, all will perform so close too small to notice.  I like the 280 Remington Ackley Improved, maybe some day.

Here are similar examples that are so close it doesn’t matter in the field of big game hunting.

257 Roberts+P VS 25-06 Remington, not far behind the 257 Weatherby Magnum

270 Winchester VS 270 WSM, not far behind the 270 Weatherby Magnum

308 Winchester VS 30-06 Springfield, not far behind the 300 H&H Magnum, 300 RSUM, 300 WSM, 300 Winchester Magnum or 300 Weatherby Magnum

338-06 A-Square VS 338 Winchester Magnum, not far behind the 340 Weatherby Magnum

yooper77

[charles p]

I have a 7mm Rem mag, a 280AI, a 280, and a 7mm-08.  The 7-mm08 is my hands down favorite for whitetail or anything else requiring up to a 140 grain bullet.  It is a very comfortable round in a user friendly rifle.

[Cottonwood]

I just got my H&R Handi Rifle in 7mm-08 and was very surprized at just how flat shooting and mild feeling this rifle had in this caliber.  Of any rifle caliber that I have ever owned, this is by far a real sweet shooting caliber.  I can't wait to hunt the prairie of Montana with it going after mulies weekend after next.