.30-06 vs. .270 - A basic question

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gunsrfun1

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Hello - I have a Rem 700 in .30-06 that I am perfectly happy with. I used it last year to harvest a deer at 150 yards. I'm not a big-time hunter, but I like having a "general purpose" hunting rifle. (I also have a .243 for smaller game, which I recently acquired, but haven't shot yet.)
I have an opportunity to pick up a used rifle in .270, but other than the price, I am wondering if I really need it.
I know there are debates galore about which cartridge is "superior," the .30-06 or the .270, and both have their fans. But that is NOT the purpose of this post.
My question is pretty simple (I think): Is there a particular animal or hunting condition where there will be a significant advantage of my having a .270 vs. the .30-06 that I already have?
From everything I've read, there isn't a major difference between the two calibers, other than the .270 shoots a little flatter. But I probably would not go beyond 200 yards in my shooting (maybe 300 maximum), so I'm not sure that would be a factor.
What are your thoughts, especially if you have experience with both calibers. Is there a compelling reason to buy the .270?
Sorry, the reason of "you can't have too many guns" will not be accepted. :)
Thanks
 
gunsrfun1 said:
Hello - I have a Rem 700 in .30-06 that I am perfectly happy with. I used it last year to harvest a deer at 150 yards. I'm not a big-time hunter, but I like having a "general purpose" hunting rifle. (I also have a .243 for smaller game, which I recently acquired, but haven't shot yet.)
I have an opportunity to pick up a used rifle in .270, but other than the price, I am wondering if I really need it.
I know there are debates galore about which cartridge is "superior," the .30-06 or the .270, and both have their fans. But that is NOT the purpose of this post.
My question is pretty simple (I think): Is there a particular animal or hunting condition where there will be a significant advantage of my having a .270 vs. the .30-06 that I already have?
From everything I've read, there isn't a major difference between the two calibers, other than the .270 shoots a little flatter. But I probably would not go beyond 200 yards in my shooting (maybe 300 maximum), so I'm not sure that would be a factor.
What are your thoughts, especially if you have experience with both calibers. Is there a compelling reason to buy the .270?
Sorry, the reason of "you can't have too many guns" will not be accepted. :)
Thanks
Click to expand...
If you are hand loading, the .270 gets you game taking with less recoil......oh wait you have a .243, nope you're good.
 
The 270 and 30 06 are a good pair to back up each other up in case a rifle goes down. They're different enough so you can choose one rife over the other for certain applications, and similar enough that you can substitute one for the other for most situations. You get both choices and a safety net that might save your hunt one day.
 
With a .30/06, you have the standard to which everything else is compared to.
The .30/06 in commercial ammo drives a 150gr bullet to 2900-3000fps which is same speed the .243 drives the 100gr bullet. The .243 has a slightly flatter trajectory but has the advantages of lower powder charges and recoil. But burns out barrels faster (not a concern for the typical hunter).

The .270’s claim to fame is similar power to ‘06, but a slightly flatter trajectory (similar to .243), but lower recoil.

My opinion is that the .243 doesn’t kill as quickly as a .270 or .30/06, but either of those two are considered overkill for deer.
But, you really need a .270! Because everyone needs one to round out your collection! I’ve got two! Not because I need them or can justify them. But, I do like them! Some what better than my 6.5Creed or .260.
And yes, I also have a .243, too! Just because I can. (Actually, I especially like the platform, a Marlin XS7).
 
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My opinion is that the .243 doesn’t kill as quickly as a .270 or .30/06, but either of those two are considered overkill for deer.
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I friend of mine was a .243 guy for decades and wound up buying a .308 and then a 450 BM. Not sure if he needed them but he did used to hunt in “open country” where you might shoot an animal at over a few hundred yards and could see it for more than a thousand.

Then in lots of places you could fire a kill shot at 100 and never find them if they were in another 100 yard radius.

I go back and forth myself mostly because I am after varmints like feral hogs but lots of stuff will do he job and if your picks are .270 or 30-06 you are well above the power/trajectory curve of most folks.
 
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Demi-human said:
Uh, oh. Oops, that wasn't supposed to happen...:D

It's not too late! You could rebarrel it to Thirty Five Whelen, or Six Aught Six.

Are you sure there aren't any other firearms we could talk you into? You know, to help...:)
Click to expand...
You forgot to go in between with a 6.5-06, or a .280 aI! Now he'll never realize how empty his life/gun safe are!!!
 
gunsrfun1 said:
Is there a particular animal or hunting condition where there will be a significant advantage of my having a .270 vs. the .30-06 that I already have?
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Nope.

If I were shooting factory rifles and wanted a back-up in case my primary rifle went down, I wouldn’t buy a different cartridge. Having a back up and primary in different cartridges just doubles your inventory cost and volume. If I were really worried about a rifle going down, which doesn’t really happen with bolt guns anyway, I’d have a matching twin, ready and waiting.
 
Back up for distance but 06 shoots more standard ammo in comparison. In some instances 06 ammo will be cheaper and more available than 270. Your 06-243 combe is good for distances you mentioned.
 
I really don't see any practical reason why you would need both, as they really pretty much fill the same role. The .270 may be a bit flatter shooting, the .30-06 may be able to hit a little harder but I don't think either does that enough better to justify a second gun.

Of course, if you are just looking for a reason to buy a new gun then go for it!
 
For deer sized game, properly loaded, I've not found any difference in how a 270 or 30-06 kills game... BUT, for bigger big game, like elk, moose ect…

I'd take the 30-06 EVERY time.

DM
 
earlthegoat2 said:
No advantage. No disadvantage.

There is no gap between a 30-06 and .243 that a .270 will bridge.
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++1 There is no appreciable difference between the '06 & .270 for deer sized critters & reasonable ranges.

Personally, if I didn't have a rifle & needed to buy a new one tomorrow, It'd be a .270
 
They are both fine hunting cartridges, but aside from nostalgia, if you have one, you probably don't need the other.

Generally, the 06 will have the ability to take heavier bullets and land a slightly more substantive punch at the close range most game is taken, so it is given the nod on bigger, heavier game in timber. The .270 will shoot a slightly more aerodynamic bullet with decent velocity, and will shoot slightly flatter a moderate distances, so it is typically given the nod on lighter game, esp in fields and prairies.

I grew up in a family of 06s but my first hunting rifle was a .270 Win. The cartridge has a special place in my heart, so I would always lean towards a .270 Win over a .30-06. But this is not based on performance so much as a 14 year old boy's first hunting rifle is like a high school sweetheart. You never forget your first time with a girl or your first real hunting rifle. In truth, the two cartridges overlap so much that most game in most circumstances won't be able to tell the difference. So no, there is no particular reason to get a .270 Win if you have a .30-06, other than maybe being a little classier ;)
 
I took my first buck with a 30-06, a Winchester Model 70 lightweight carbine. It was also the last deer I shot with an '06. I prefer the .270 WSM and .270 Win. So, I would try to trade off the 30-06, and pick up the .270 Win. It shoots flatter and kicks less. Unless you live and hunt in grizzly country and load your 30-06 exclusively with 200 gr Nosler Partitions for that reason. Only reason I would consider the 30-06 over the .270 Win. But if you like your 30-06, then you should at least buy another one, just in case. You know, as a backup. :thumbup:
 
2ndtimer said:
I took my first buck with a 30-06, a Winchester Model 70 lightweight carbine. It was also the last deer I shot with an '06. I prefer the .270 WSM and .270 Win. So, I would try to trade off the 30-06, and pick up the .270 Win. It shoots flatter and kicks less. Unless you live and hunt in grizzly country and load your 30-06 exclusively with 200 gr Nosler Partitions for that reason. Only reason I would consider the 30-06 over the .270 Win. But if you like your 30-06, then you should at least buy another one, just in case. You know, as a backup. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I think they're too close to spend money trading from one to the other, with the only point of real differentiation being that, as you point out, you can load an '06 up a bit more with larger bullets for heavier game. I don't think there's enough of a recoil difference to be meaningful, especially if you stick to lighter bullets in the '06.
 
This has been argued for decades. In real life I don't see much advantage of one over the other. If you owned either one you would have a good general purpose hunting rifle. The one advantage that I see with the 30-06 is with the vast selection of bullets. Both calibers have proven themselves many times over.

But, I understand that any excuse to buy another rifle is a good excuse! :)
 
gunsrfun1 said:
My question is pretty simple (I think): Is there a particular animal or hunting condition where there will be a significant advantage of my having a .270 vs. the .30-06 that I already have?
Click to expand...

The only advantage of the .270 at short distances is reduced recoil. Either one can be sighted to shoot point blank out well past 200y, and the .30-06 has an advantage in terminal performance with the right bullets.
 
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