.270 bolt: which one?

[AStone]

The 7mm express as it was labled 20 years ago or longer or better known as the .280 is an excellent choice especially for the recoil sensetive as it is down loaded from the factory to be safely fired in the auto loaders for which it was first chambered. Shoots easy. Can be hot rodded if handloaded.

OK, your post and a couple of others that I've read in the last few hours have opened another can of worms for me.

I'm now trying to make a decision between .308 and 7mm08. (Sorry, I know this thread is about .270, but I started it and broadened the range of calibers under discussion earlier, so...)

The main reason I've been leaning hard towards .308 in recent days is that - even though I like the fact that the 7mm08 has flatter trajectories and less recoil than .308 (even if marginally) - for factory loads (I don't reload...yet), the .308 has a significantly wider range of loads than the 7mm08. (125-180 gr. v. 120-140 gr)

But now I'm realizing - or I think this is correct (based on GeoW's comment AND a note on the Remington ammunition ballistics pages) that the 280 "express" are identical to 7mm08.

Now, I'm a bit unclear: is the 7mm08 the "same" as 7mm Express? That is, is "express" the name of a type of Remington ammunition that can be shot in any gun, or is there a different type of caliber out there? I suspect the former.

And if .280 & 7mm08 are identical in the sense that their ammo is interchangable (at least with express rnds???), then that significantly increases the range of rounds available for a 7mm08 to at least 165 gr in the .280.

Am I onto something, or just a nut job?

(Well, OK, definitely a nut job, but that's beside the point...

Thanks for any clarifications.

Nem

 

[GeoW]

See if I can sort this out. .280 Remington = 7MM Remington Express =
7MM-06, wich is the oldest name for the cartridge born from a wildcat of the same name.
All three of these are the same, identical, based on the 30-06 parent case.

The 7MM-08 Rem is a necked down .308 Win. Has no other name unless maybe a few monikers hanged on it before standardization. It's a darned fine round but not to be confused or interchanged with those listed above.

GeoW

 

[Wilburs Horse]

Handy feature to consider in making your cartridge choice is the fact that later when you start handloading if you have trouble finding 7mm Rem Express cases you can form them from 30-06 cases with a standard die. Note that you will need to turn the necks down to get rid of the excess neck brass, however, and trim the length.
Same goes for forming 7mm-08 brass from .308 brass.

 

[Meplat]

I keep on hearing about the effects of recoil, and just can't refrain any longer bringing up the subject of hearing protection as a means of lessening PERCIEVED recoil. I use both ear plugs and muffs at the range, and insist my kids and or anyone I take to the range who is new to the sport do so too.

The quickest way I know of to develope a flinch is from muzzle blast.

As an indication of just what a non-issue recoil can be, when my youngest sister finished her hunter's education course, she asked me to take her to the range. I took a .22 bolt gun for her, and figured since I was heading that way anyway I'd take a few of my other rifles.

With proper eye and ear protection installed (yeah, I know that combining plugs and muffs doesn't affect attenuation THAT much, but the muffs DO cut down on bone transmitted decible levels).

She soon grew bored with the .22 and asked to shoot my .308. Told her if she felt ready, we'd give it a whirl. After firing about ten rounds of that, she asked to fire the 7 Mag A-Bolt. I was leery, but reluctantly agreed. Ten rounds, darn good score, no complaints. She then asked if she could shoot the .375 H&H. I was VERY dubious, and told her I'd rather she not. She is not easily put off, though. Wanted to shoot the "big gun". Figured I was about to make a mistake, but know that experience is the best teacher.

After affixing a fresh target, we went back to the firing line, she laid the H&H on the bags, touched a round off. The recoil sort of spun her about half way round on the bench, and she just flowed with it. We walked downrange, and dang me, there was a nice hole in the black. Figured that would be the last time she'd ask to shoot it. I was wrong. She immediately wanted to shoot it again. I once again erroneously figured Maggie's Drawers were in peril, but to my amazement, the second hole was touching the first.

At the time, she was (and still is) 5'-0" tall and weighed in at around ninety pounds (if you let her carry a round or two in her pocket). Twelve years old.

Hearing protection. Best recoil reducer in the world.

That and no preconcieved notions about how bad something is gonna boot you. None of the calibers suited to North American game is too intolerable, as long as you have a stock that fits you well. It's just not an issue.

 

[AStone]

Funny thing.

After a solid week of thinking that .308 was the right caliber for me,
this afternoon, I briefly revisited .30-06 as "the one".

Yet, after reading ballistics charts on Remmington, Winchester & Federal web pages,
I'm once again walking into the .270 & 7mm08 camp.

The reasons are numerous, but include:

* love of reduced recoil
* realization that for equal mass bullets,
ballistic differences between -06, .270 & 7-08 are neglible
* acknowledgment of the wider range of bullets for 06,
but recognition that I - shooting mainly deer -
would be well served by .270 & 7-08.
* .270 has a fantastic range of bullet mass suitable all my targets
(from 100 (large varmits) to 150 (large deer, including elk)
* 7-08 could have an advantage due to
the focus required for its two bullet options (120 & 140).
If it's all you got, you get extra good with it, cause it's all you got.

Opinions welcome, of course.

Nem

 

[AStone]

By Jove, I think I've found my rifle

Thread here.

Thanks for all your help.

Nem