Ok boys need some help!!!!!!

[handi243]

Just got some money for 1 barrel what do you think i have a  handi 243 and a remington 308 this would be for hunting not killing paper. I hunt mostly whitetail maybe black bear. I'm looking at the 280 (maybe AI later) thanks for the help.

[myarmor]

243, 308, and a 280...sounds like an excellent line up. Capable of darn near anything you wanna take.
That is unless you want a 45-70 to even take that
-Aaron

[quickdtoo]

Yup, the .280 is one that you should really appreciate, it and the .25-06 are the only two calibers offered with 26" barrels which is reall nice performance wise. But if you aren't in a hurry, there may just be some new caliber offerings in the near future!

Tim

[dw06]

But if you aren't in a hurry, there may just be some new caliber offerings in the near future!

Tim

Tim tell me more,any ideas which new cailbers maybe coming?handi243,the 280 would be a good one to add

[Swampman]

If you have a .308, I don't see much need for the .280.  I'd get either a .22 Hornet, .223, .45-70, or the .500S&W.  You already have 2 deer calibers in the .243 and the .308.  The .308 is superior to the .280 IMO.

[FLNT4EVR]

Get a 45-70, great fun to shoot and easy to reload for. It will take anything in north America. And you can load it mild,for targets and plinking,  or realy rock and roll with it, for stuff that might bite you back..You can use jacketed or cast boolits. Deer and bear just give up when they encounter one. a realy great round.

[northjdr]

When it comes to acquiring firearms, there are really no bad choices, just differences in the good choices. I personally fuss more about my optics. Do those of you with multiple barrells on the same receiver constantly swap scopes or do you have a different scope (if applicable) for each barrel. Here's some things that help in my decision making. Does this rifle ressemble any of my current rifles so as to avoid my wife's detection? Is it cool? If I get it will I look back 5 years from now and wonder why it took me so long? Do I dream in color about it? Hope this helps.  

[quickdtoo]

I'll let the facts speak for themselves on the issue of the .308 compared to the .280. This is from the Remington ballistics comparison page. As much as I like the .308, it is NOT ballistically superior to the .280, in any way, shape or form.

Tim

.280 vs .308 vs 7mmMag

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/quickdtoo/Shooting/ScreenHunter_16.jpg

R280R1 Remington® Express® 150 Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt® 9 1/2 0.346
R308W1 Remington® Express® 150 Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt® 9 1/2 0.314
R7MM2 Remington® Express® 150 Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt® 9 1/2 M 0.346

 
Velocity (ft/sec)
Cartridge Type Bullet------------------ Muzzle 100-- 200-- 300-- 400-- 500
Remington® Express® 150 PSP CL 2890 2624 2373 2135 1912 1705
Remington® Express® 150 PSP CL 2820 2533 2263 2009 1774 1560
Remington® Express® 150 PSP CL 3110 2830 2568 2320 2085 1866

 
Energy (ft-lbs)
Cartridge Type Bullet -----------------Muzzle 100-- 200-- 300-- 400-- 500
Remington® Express® 150 PSP CL 2781 2293 1875 1518 1217 968
Remington® Express® 150 PSP CL 2648 2137 1705 1344 1048 810
Remington® Express® 150 PSP CL 3221 2667 2196 1792 1448 1160

 
Short-Range Trajectory
Cartridge Type Bullet ---------------------50 100 150 200 250 300
Remington® Express® 150 PSP CL 0.2 0.7 zero -2.1 -5.8 -11.2
Remington® Express® 150 PSP CL 0.0 zero -1.2 -3.9 -8.4 -14.7
Remington® Express® 150 PSP CL 0.0 0.5 zero -1.6 -4.6 -9.0

 
Long-Range Trajectory
Cartridge Type Bullet------------------ 100 150 200 250 300 400 500
Remington® Express® 150 PSP CL 1.8 1.6 zero -3.1 -8.0 -23.6 -48.8
Remington® Express® 150 PSP CL 2.0 1.7 zero -3.4 -8.8 -26.2 -54.8
Remington® Express® 150 PSP CL 1.3 1.2 zero -2.5 -6.6 -20.2 -43.4


 

[aulrich]

For me I am not sure it would be the flatter shooter 280 or harder hitter 35 whelan would round out the collection better, mind you the 280 out of a 26" tube is not slouch in the hitting power department.

[stimpylu32]

Just my .02 worth , but the 308 and the 280 are close enough that i think a big bore is in order here to round out this frame , the 35 would be good but we all know that you are not complete without a 45/70 . 
Stimpy

[quickdtoo]

I have to agree, no Handiholic would be truly happy and complete without at least one .45-70 .....or three!!!

dw06, I can't offer any more info, you'll just have to wait and see when it happens, but I think everyone will be happy.

Tim

[stimpylu32]

Quick

Have you been talking to H&R again .

[handi243]

what do you guys think of the 450 marlin?

[quickdtoo]

what do you guys think of the 450 marlin?

The .450 Marlin is ballistically identical to warm to hot .45-70 loads, if you're NOT a handloader, it has the advantage of factory ammo that is above trapdoor factory .45-70 ammo, but that's where the advantage ends. There are no reduced .450M factory loads, so you're stuck with the recoil level that most .450M shooters don't care for, just as most .45-70 shooters don't care for.

Quick

Have you been talking to H&R again .

Nope, not me, uh uh, never!!

Tim

[handi243]

Wish i could get some inside info on that new cal. 

[The Chad]

I would seriously consider the 280 for one heck of a hunting rilfe. I just shot my new one today during my lunch break and was very pleased. It shot a 3 shot group 11/4in. Which is'nt bad considering that it is a brand new rifle and those were the 3rd, 4th and 5th shot out of a new barrel. I can now start to work with my loads and try the o-ring trick and see if it can do better. I bet it can.

Chad

[jack19512]

I really like my BC 45/70 and since you already have a 308 and 243 my vote would go towards the 45/70.

[RackWrangler]

The 308 and 280 are close enough.  You've got the middle covered. 

I'd say get either a 223 or 45-70.

If it were me...45-70 without question.

RW

[Tnbear]

If you already have a .308, that is a wonderful deer cartridge. If you hunt in close heavy cover as I do, I would go with a .45/70. I like the idea of having some heavy lead to throw at them (especially black bear) also the heavy bullet doesn't deflect as much as a lighter bullet in brush. My next barrels will be a .45/70 and a .22 hornet (for squirrels on the next ridge), too bad they don't offer the .35 Remington or the .375 Winchester barrels

[quickdtoo]

... too bad they don't offer the .35 Remington or the .375 Winchester barrels

But they do offer the .357Mag which makes a dandy .35Rem rechamber, been there, done it!!

Tim

[lik2hunt]

Go for the .280, one of the most notoriously accurate Handi barrels offered. The extra 2" of barrel is hardly noticed while carrying the compact Handi rifle. Stay with the 150 gr. bullets for best results. You'll probably be grabbing the .280 more and more and overlooking the 308. The AI option is definitely a good choice.

[PartsMan]

In my part of the country no gun collection would be
without a 30/30.
Woods cartridge that is plesant to shoot.

[dk17hmr]

Im not one to be bias but....45-70 is a great round out of the handi and it appears that you are in need of a big bore.  Could always get a 357 mag or a 44 mag and do a little work on them as well, 357 max, 35 Remintgon, 444 marlin, or leave them the same great rounds for close range hunting as they are.