Hi power rifle question.

[mrmom61]

Hi guys. I'm a plinker not a hunter but the one firearm I'm missing is a hi powered rifle. I'm thinking about getting either a 30-06 or a 270. Could you tell me the pros and cons of each?

 

[elmerfudd]

30-06 is more available and somewhat harder hitting. 270 is flatter shooting and kicks a little less. Both are suitable for any game you'll find in the lower 48 and they're both based on the same case. A 270 is just a 30-06 necked down.

30-06 is right around the limit of what I find to be comfortable to shoot.

 

[lefteyedom]

There is only one way to settle this 270-30.06 grudge......

Mr Peabody lets go to the way back machine...

In this corner from the Great state of Idaho none other than,,,, Ham Fist Elmer "hit em hard" 220 grain Keith.

And in the other corner The Professor of Sheep Slaying The 270 kid JACK O'OCONNOR!!!!

Tonight fight is a 80 decade winner take all bout.

Tonight ref is none other that General with the most-est NRAs VERY OWN Gen Hatch......


Ding Ding......

 

[cbrgator]

If you are just plinking you probably aren't going to want to use heavier 180gr+ rounds that a 30-06 allows, and thus you should probably just go .270. If you ARE looking to shoot some real heavy rounds, go 30-06.

 

[mio]

around here the 06 is just a touch cheaper and its more availabe. if youre not going to hunt with it thats the main difference and if you are going to hunt with it thats the real difference.

 

[woof]

What exactly do you mean by plinking and what kind of plinking calls for more "power?" Are the pop cans getting away wounded?

 

[mrmom61]

It would be nice to have something that would reach out.

 

[jkingrph]

Back in my college days the only high power I had was a Win 70 featherweight 30-06. I think I tried every kind of bullet available then, in the early-mid '60's. 110 gr was ok but nothing special, my rifle shined with 125 and 130 gr varmit bullets, extremely accurate and mild on the shoulder. 180's and above were brutal in that rifle, 165 gr was the most accurate, but with a bit more recoil than the varmit bullets . When I got the rifle there was no choice on caliber, dad won it in a sales contest, so I never thought about a 270, but to my way of thinking it can do everything the 270 does plus some, bigger more dangerous game with heavier bullets.

 

[cbrgator]

He doesn't hunt...

 

[jmr40]

Both are fine, but if you have no plans to hunt a .223 or .308 would be a better choice in a centerfire to me. They are a little cheaper to shoot, especially the .223. The 223 makes an accurate gun out to several hundred yards and recoil is almost non-existant. The .308 will pack a bit more punch and will hold up a little better for longer ranges and if you ever do decide to hunt it will do 95% of what either the 30-06 or 270 will do.

 

[Chuck Dye]

A plus for the .30-06 is relatively cheap practice/plinking ammo from the Civilian Marksmanship Program. There is a bit of nuisance to establish yourself, but once done you get $.30±/round ammo.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I have to agree, if you are plinking, a .223 has plenty of power. It will go lengthwise through an old junk car with 55g ball ammo (like they use in Iraq).

It will be a lot cheaper to shoot, and will not kick really at all, to speak of.

OK, since you asked specifically about 30-06 vs. .270, the .270 is basically a 30-06 casing necked down to a bullet that is .270" diameter (or thereabouts). The 30-06 bullet has a larger diamter (.308").

If you are just plinking, the 270 would be less kick, but still extremely powerful. It would also be a bit flatter shooting at long distances than a heavier '06 bullet.

 

[mrmom61]

I could become a hunter if I had to. I just don't have a hi powered rifle and you guys know how it is not to have one of ever thing.

 

[Cohibra45]

Both would be fine. That said, you can go to gunshows and pick up surplus 30-06 ammo relatively inexpensive. Also, if you ever do hunt, the 06 has more versatile bullet selection and can be found everywhere!!!

I have two rifles in 06 and love them both...Husky and Winch Pre-64.

 

[snowpro440]

rifle choices

me myself if i were going to hunt prairie dogs to deer, elk ,shoot target and only choose one caliber it would be the .308 cheap to shoot, ammo is available everywhere and so many bullet weights

 

[woof]

The best plinker you could find would be a CZ 527 Carbine in .223. Next would be a Marlin 1894c in .357/.38 spcl. I'd do the former if I wanted a scope and the latter for irons. I own both.

 

[Sinixstar]

me myself if i were going to hunt prairie dogs to deer, elk ,shoot target and only choose one caliber it would be the .308 cheap to shoot, ammo is available everywhere and so many bullet weights

I was recently trying to decide on rifle caliber - and came to the same conclusion for the same reasons myself.
Wanted something more than a .223 (or even .243 for that matter), in which a hefty variety of ammo was available, and not costing an arm and a leg. .308 fit the bill perfectly.

 

[moooose102]

i would go with the 30-06 JUST from the ammunition availability standpoint. no other rifle caliber has such a wide variety of ammunition available. anything from 55 grain remington sabots to 240 grain bear/semi-dangerous game bullets are available in factory loadings. the only real decision, is what rifle to buy?

 

[lefteyedom]

buy both decide which you like best. Then the one you don't can be your loaner gun.

 

[Shawnee]

Do yourself a HUGE favor. Do NOT buy a .270 or .308 or a 30/06. And do NOT worry for even one second about ammo "availability" or savings of a few pennies.

Get a bolt-action rifle in .223 or .22/250, or .243 - OR - get a lever-action rifle in .357 magnum, or 30/30. You will have a ton of fun, you won't be getting kicked to soreness or blasted to deafness and you won't be driven into the Poorhouse. You will simply have a VERY good rifle that is Fun to shoot.

Trust me.

 

[jbauch357]

As stated multiple times already, the versatility/availability/economy of 30-06 is going to be superior to that of a .270.

If the recoil bothers you (shooting full power hunting loads with 180 or 200 grain bullets is the end of what I consider comfortable) get a muzzle brake, if the noise bothers you get better hearing protection.

 

[Clipper]

Let's see...High power, cheap plinking...Mosin-Nagant. Simple.

 

[Hurey03]

do you reload? if so get yourself a 257 ackly dont hardly kick once you got the set up cheap to shoot to. between the two listed i would go with the 270 flatter shooting plenty capeable of killing deer elk or black bear with less recoil. i think a 25-06 would also be a winner for plinking around and hunting

 

[Shawnee]

"If the recoil bothers you (shooting full power hunting loads with 180 or 200 grain bullets is the end of what I consider comfortable) get a muzzle brake, if the noise bothers you get better hearing protection."


ROTFLMAO !

Better yet - don't be stupid enough to buy a caliber that kicks hard and rings your ears.



ROTFLMAO !

 

[NCsmitty]

mrmom61, I'm curious and wonder just what do you want to use these calibers for, if I may ask? They are not real good for enhancing your plinking skills if you haven't fired a "hi power" rifle much before. In fact, you may develop negative habits due to recoil and muzzle blast.
There are many other calibers that will "reach out" without the negative effects.
But if you want a 270 Win or 30'06, both will get the job done.

NCsmitty