The only thing better than a caliber thread or a poll thread is....

[DirtyHarry31]

Some nice calibers mentioned and not to put any of them down but surprisingly no one mentioned the 270 Winchester. A necked down 30-06, flat shooter, almost same dimensionally as a 280 Remington BUT, I can walk into any store to buy ammo in a variety of bullet weights and not pay with my arms & legs for it. This has been designated the caliber that can take all big game in North America. By the way, a 270 is a true 7mm (bullet diameter of .277). Why would anyone pick a round that when things get tough you know you can still can get ammo to shoot the rifle instead of using it as a club. But since you are set on these calibers I hessitate to pick the 280, but make that a 270 instead and you'll never go wrong (or out of ammo).

 

[Quoheleth]

My first choice and my vote is for the 7-08. Weight savings might not be significant, but having handled the same rifles in both long action and short action (Ruger, Remington and Savage - .308 vs. .270), the short action guns seem more lively to me.

My 2nd choice would be the .280.

My "not on the poll" favorite is .308, because of ammo availability - dang near anywhere you go, you'll have a (theoretically) decent shot of finding ammo, including at Greasy Gert's Gas & Grub - where you'll stop after you got to deer camp and realized you left that box of ammo on the counter by your Rolaids and Advil.

Q

 

[twice barrel]

I voted for 280 Remington because its closest to my favorite; the 270 Winchester.