.28 Nosler? Or something else

Zastava223rem

Zastava223rem

Member
Curious what everyones take is on it. More looking for guys who have owned, used and shot animals with one, not the "i heard from my cousins buddy" kinda guys.

Looking to get one in a Browning Hells Canyon for a lighter weight pack rifle and was curious what you guys would go with as far as caliber. I will be handloading for it, MAYBE a box or two of factory will be bought to get started. Maybe.

I have the scope already, Leupold VX3i 3.5-10x50 CDS but may throw a Vortex RZR LHT on it.

I like the idea that the .28 can shoot heavy 7mm stuff like the 168 gr ABLR at reasonable speeds.

I know its probably a bit overkill for deer around here but it would likely get chosen if and when my father and I get to go on a western hunt before hes unable. I also seem to hunt more wide open stuff than i used to so a 400+ yard shot is not out of the question.

I can get the rifle with a discount for around $700 and dont really have any calibers that fit this bill in the stable, at least not in a lighter weight package. It is a 1:8 twist for the .28 Nosler

I can also chose a 7 Rem Mag, .300 WM, .270 WSM, .300 WSM, 6.5 and 300 PRC and .30 Nosler.

I was steering away from .300 PRC as quality brass manufactures are slim.

6.5 PRC is interesting to me but i feel if i am going to buy a rifle for this purchase, a little larger bullet with a little heavier options may make more sense.

Let me know your thoughts
 
I like speed, and the 28 Nosler has that.

That being said, in 50 years (this year) of big game hunting, I have shot one big game animal over 400yds (elk), one at about 300yds (antelope), and all the others inside of 250yds. Heck, on my 2016 sheep hunt, I had 16 rams standing in front of me between 148 and 160yds.

My 270 was sufficient for all of them, as would a bunch of other cartridges.
 
To be honest, not all that familiar with it, can’t imagine it will ever be that common. I do own a few semi-oddballs though.

The Creedmoor is all the rage now, plenty for Eastern deer. It may be a tad light out west for elk, just a tad. With the right bullets, just fine. Part depends on probability of that trip west some year.

The quintessential, versatile ‘out west’ round is the 300WSM, IMHO of course.

 
You don't need a cannon to kill an elk ,my wife uses a 257 Roberts. I used to hunt some property west of Craig CO.and the lady that owned the property was 85 years old and had never hunted with anything except a savage 250-3000 and we dragged her elk out for her every year.
 
Need and Want are two different things and each vary within all of us. Like K-22hornet, I like speed as well and my "go to" big game rifle is a 7mm RUM. Do I "Need" it for hunting big game here in Wyoming? No, I don't but I "Wanted" and flat shooting, hard hitting longer range rifle when I got it 15 years ago. I also like shooting lighter for caliber bullets at higher speeds so I shoot the Barnes 145 gr LRX in my 7mm RUM.

Before that rifle, I hunted for years and killed a lot of game with my 270 Win and it did just fine.

If I were the OP and buying one rifle that is light and would "do it all" for the game I would hunt here in North America, what I would buy would be the Kimber Mountain Ascent Subalpine in 280 AI.
 
Wyobull yes on want .I've used a 300 Win Mag for the last 35 years. It will push a 165 gr bullet at 3250 FPS and hits like a sledgehammer.I think next year I will try my 6.5 Creedmoore just for the he11 of it.
 
Mine is a custom fast twist for the 195gr Berger bullets.i really like it but I don't run her wide open top end seven mag loads.I wanted a 7mm but like rounds without the belt.
 
I ve loaded for a friends Fierce CT Carbon 28. Very nice rifle. Shooting 180 s at 3000 fps. A little throttled back. The 28 is a 'plus P' 7 Rem Mag in my opinion. IF you want, need or feel better about more H/P than a 7 RM then it's got it. There is a cost in brass, powder and barrel life. If it's mostly a hunting rifle and won't be shot much it ll last longer than your hunting career. If you like to shoot your hunting rifle for practice, steel, etc then figure 800 or so rounds assuming you don t shoot it hot. 7 RM will probably nearly double that.

No wrong choices, get what you want and fits your needs. As WyoBull mentioned a 280AI would do it all too. Might give some thought to whether you ll use a brake or not. S lightweight 280AI or 7 RM is manageable... when you start getting into a 28 lightweight it will be a handful with a brake! ( I personally don't like brakes and the noise/blast but some folks don't mind)

Good luck on your decision!
 
If your getting the 28 nosler because you want one do it, if your getting it cause you think its better than anything else on the list don't. They all kill just as good especially at the ranges you are talking about. The 300 wm and 7mm rm are easier to find brass for in the lean times.
If your going to load it down to make it more manageable whats the point get something smaller.
 
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