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> The 280 AI or the Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of?
The 280 AI or the Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of?
@ 01:59 pm (GMT) |
Lane SalvatoI've gotten a rare opportunity this fall to hunt pronghorns in Texas. I've done it once in New Mexico with my 25-06 and it was great. This year I was planning to use my new 280 AI but with ammo and powder shortages it's probably wishful thinking for custom load development. I can get some good ammo from Nosler but I do have another choice....I was gifted a great rifle a couple of years back in a rather popular new cartridge, and I use it in the same way as my 25-06. Ammo is much more plentiful and I've got some nice 143 grain ELD-M's that have worked great on deer and smaller pigs. I've been going back and forth on which one to use. The new rifle with the factory load that may be a touch heavy? "Or The Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of" with the ideal load?? I won't shoot on this trip past 400 yards because I just haven't been able to practice this year. So really it's six to one half a dozen to the other. But what would you guys do? And yeah this post is basically for fun, so nobody take it too seriously! |
Replies
@ 03:22 pm (GMT) |
Scott StruifRe: The 280 AI or the Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of?At 400 yards, bigger is better. |
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@ 03:44 pm (GMT) |
Lane SalvatoRe: The 280 AI or the Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of?Well gee whiz Scott! I've got a perfectly sighted in 308. I could just use that and the whole conversation is moot. You take all the fun out of this with your common sense, practical thought process! |
@ 05:42 pm (GMT) |
VinceRe: The 280 AI or the Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of?Simple decision Lane, take all 3! |
@ 04:21 am (GMT) |
Joshua MayfieldRe: The 280 AI or the Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of?Lane, since this is mostly for fun let me respectfully suggest that you're approaching this all wrong. This is all about synchronicity of your whole presentation. Some crucial questions must be answered.First, will you be sporting facial hair for the hunt and if so, what style? Clean shaven keeps options open. A full on manly untrimmed beard points you toward the .25-06. A nicely trimmed beard leans you in the 280 direction. Goatees, soul patches, overly coiffed mustaches, sideburns and so on impel you clearly down that third road. Second, what headgear can you wear (or not wear)? If you can't do a backwards baseball style cap (custom fitted, of course) then let's not mention that of which we do not speak. If you're a Stetson man then we have other issues to iron out altogether. Something very svelte and safari looking or anything from Filson will go nicely with the 280. If you've got a box of beat up hats that are completely utilitarian and smell faintly of WD40, axle grease, and bacon then I think you can safely rock the 25-06. Third, and most important, do you have any tattoos that will show in your hunt pics and if so, what are they? Here is the official key for this, drafted in at a secret meeting in 1970 between Carlos Hathcock, Elmer Keith, Townsend Whelen's ghost, Jack O'Connor, and Roy Weatherby, none of whom would admit that the meeting happened. Oddly, Hathcock was the only one with a tattoo. Don't fuss at me - the above named experts wrote it. Chinese script tattoos on a non-Chinese speaking person shall limit that person to shooting trendy, yet to be invented chamberings, the merits of which, though very real, become difficult to focus on amid overwhelming and obnoxious levels of publicity, marketing, and hyperbole. These future chamberings are likely to be in metric designations but paired paradoxically with an English/American name. (Side note: these guys really saw the future coming... amazing) Tattoos that are clearly military in nature must be treated separately from non-military tattoos and will be addressed in a later document. (Side note 2: sadly, that document was never drafted) Tattoos of high quality that display scenery, quote a religious text accurately, or commemorate the individual's first vehicle, dog, or horse shall direct the individual to shoot (list edited for space) ... 280 Ackley Improved if they select a 7mm chambering. Tattoos done non-professionally, tattoos that commemorate an ex-spouse (particularly when said tattoos have a line struck through them), tattoos commemorating a vacation or spring break trip from more than 12 years ago, misspelled tattoos, tattoos acquired under the influence of alcohol or on a dare are among those tattoos that allow the shooter to select the (list edited for space) .25-06... for hunting and pestilence control purposes. I hope that helps, Lane. I feel like I've done a good deed today. Bahahahaha |
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@ 03:11 pm (GMT) |
Lane SalvatoRe: The 280 AI or the Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of?Holy cow Joshua that was epic! If I were being completely honest and put everything in bar graphs I'm afraid the 25-06 would come out on top, followed closely by the 280 AI. Sadly the One We Do Not Speak Of would not even rate a distant third.I have to say that with the 25-06 it's like you channeled every western hunter that grew up in the 1970's and 1980's who wasn't completely married to the 270. I hit several nodes on the 280 but your knowledge of baseball caps, WD-40, bacon, and questionable tattoos really sort of sealed the deal. That said I found some extra components and I'm taking my 280! |
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@ 01:18 am (GMT) |
Joshua MayfieldRe: The 280 AI or the Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of?Understated elegance - I like it.I hope you end up with some pics to share, Lane. |
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@ 06:36 am (GMT) |
Scott StruifRe: The 280 AI or the Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of?Hats make my hair hurt. I will leave this earth the way I entered it, sans tat. My facial action has graduated from a 5 o’clock shadow to a 30-day, covid-induced, unkempt Bermuda-green, the caressing of which improves mental acuity. Pronghorn hunting is where Nathan’s research, particularly in “LR Cartridges”, is invaluable. Choose a frangible bullet, such as Sierra TGK, Hornady ELDM, Nosler BT, etc. If you can get your 280AI to shoot <=3” groups at 200 yards, take it - you’ll be okay at 400. I had a 150 grain Federal HiShock fail to expand at 450 on a pronghorn, from a 30-06. Luckily, it penetrated into the heart, where it came to rest. I’m not bragging about it. I got lucky. I had no understanding of terminal ballistics then. |
@ 09:39 am (GMT) |
Warwick MarflittRe: The 280 AI or the Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of?FFS Lane just buy a .264 Bleedmore and a box of fedwell blues shells and give to it man! Stop blabbing on and on and on about these old obsoleate horse n cart musket rounds..... what was so importantly important about the 25th of 2006 that they made a gun to celibrate?If you're stuck and not in a hurry you can borrow my dads BSA Lee Speed and some drilled MKVII fmj .311 mightilatary ammo.... good for volley shoots out to 1828.8 meters.... have Grandma's tattoo ta prove that it (moon landings) happened.... Disclaimer# all options and opinions are to be eaten with disregard for the fact that they originated from the cell of a covid free prison farm located on an island in the pacified southern ocean... Good speed and hunting for all.... |
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@ 07:29 pm (GMT) |
Warwick MarflittRe: The 280 AI or the Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of?
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@ 04:22 am (GMT) |
Scott StruifRe: The 280 AI or the Cartridge We Do Not Speak Of?That reminds me of my first pronghorn hunt in Wyoming. I traveled there from the deer woods of the Midwest, confident that my Williams aperture sight, zeroed at 100, was all I’d need. After lobbing eight rounds at nice buck, who stood obligingly broadside at 350 or so, I decided to change tactics. I found a watering hole to sit at (literally, not figuratively), and shot a trophy buck getting a drink. Lady Luck shined on me that day. But 50 yard shots at pronghorn are rare. The 280AI would be the obvious choice, all else being equal. But if your 308 is already on-the-money, that’s the one I’d take. |
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