Only one caliber
- Thread starter cougarman
- Start date
- Status
mcb
Member
I promised my love to just one women. The same cannot be said for my cartridges or calibers. Variety is the spice of life!
Arkansas Paul
Member
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
Caliber: .308
Cartridge: .308 Winchester
Why? I like the round. I have owned .270, .30.06 and .308 rifles. They are all great cartridges. For targets, I seemed to have better luck with .308 for accuracy.
Now, you don’t mention what you’re hunting and where. That’s important to know. If you’re hunting whitetail in a bean field I would go with the .270. If you’re considering larger game (elk or big bear) and need a heavier bullet I might go with .30-06. The .308 is a good all around hunting cartridge and a good target round.
Something else to consider. In a lot of rural areas it is easier to find .30.06 and .270 cartridges than .308 sometimes.
Cartridge: .308 Winchester
Why? I like the round. I have owned .270, .30.06 and .308 rifles. They are all great cartridges. For targets, I seemed to have better luck with .308 for accuracy.
Now, you don’t mention what you’re hunting and where. That’s important to know. If you’re hunting whitetail in a bean field I would go with the .270. If you’re considering larger game (elk or big bear) and need a heavier bullet I might go with .30-06. The .308 is a good all around hunting cartridge and a good target round.
Something else to consider. In a lot of rural areas it is easier to find .30.06 and .270 cartridges than .308 sometimes.
js8588
Member
Of those three Calibers, the .308 for sure. Most accurate of the three and load up down or sideways and a fine hunting round. Although there is more case capacity in the .30-06, short fat cases get much more consistent powder burn. You will see .308s competing in 1,000 yard F FTR and Palma Classes, but not 06s since Camp Perry days and even there replaced by the .308 Nato round. Also there are plenty of projectiles available from under 100 grains to over 200.
Get the correct twist though for the projectiles you intend to shoot.
Bob
Get the correct twist though for the projectiles you intend to shoot.
Bob
Last edited:
J-Bar
Member
Col. Townsend Whelen said, “The .30/‘06 is never a mistake.”
Who am I to argue.
Who am I to argue.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
None of the above; sorry. Already divested myself of all my .30 cals, and I've never been a fan of the .270.
If I could only have one factory-loaded cartridge, it would be a 7mm-08. Not sure which rifle. I'd want a lightweight for hunting, something heavier for targets. Split the difference and I'd look for a second-hand Remington 700 VSSF, although it might be a lengthy hunt to find one for $750.
If I could only have one factory-loaded cartridge, it would be a 7mm-08. Not sure which rifle. I'd want a lightweight for hunting, something heavier for targets. Split the difference and I'd look for a second-hand Remington 700 VSSF, although it might be a lengthy hunt to find one for $750.
CapnMac
Member
That's like asking us to pick just one chip [
]
]js8588
Member
That's like asking us to pick just one chip [
Pringles Sour Cream & Onion.
"I" would choose a .30-06, cause the other two are yucky......
If I'm recommending a gun primarily used for target shooting, and MAYBE hunting, then .308.
If I'm also recommending a sub 750 dollar gun for the same, well....Mauser M18, Ruger Predator, Howa1500/wby vanguard, Tikka T3x, Bergara b-14.....in that order based on MY perceived value of each, at current cost.
That's like asking us to pick just one chip [
Tostitos hint of lime....cause I can always find stuff to make my chips even worse for me ...and they taste pretty good on their own.
Tikka T-3, 308.
Modern 308 cartridges significantly out perform 30-06 from just a few years ago. Getting 2900 fps with 150's isn't hard and 3000 fps with longish barrels and handloads isn't impossible. For comparison the WW1 30-06 era loads were 2700 fps, by the 1940's it was only 2800 fps. Those were the numbers Townsend Whelen was looking at. Modern 30-06 loads are better still, but only beat 308 by about 100 fps. And the 30-06's reputation was built on loads that were less potent than todays 308.
Anything 30-06 does with bullets lighter than 200 gr 308 does as well with better accuracy and noticeably less recoil. If you need 200-230 gr bullets a 308 won't shoot them fast enough to be beneficial and 30-06 wins.
And don't get me wrong, I LIKE 30-06 and consider it the cartridge all others are judged against. It's just that the tiny gains in performance don't outweigh the 308's accuracy and recoil advantages.
The 270 is a great, classic hunting round and I understand why it has a following. It does what it was designed to do very well, but modern bullets, powder, and optics have negated its advantages. It was designed around shooting 130 gr bullets fast and flat. With todays optics a flat trajectory is far less important and heavier, more aerodynamic bullets perform better at longer ranges. Unfortunately 270 rifles aren't designed to use modern bullets. It was more by accident than design, but 30-06 and 308 will.
Another thing to consider is the future of the cartridges, 30-06 and 270 have been the standard for a long time, but both are in the twilight of their careers. It is getting harder to find new rifles in either chambering. Many new models aren't even being offered in either cartridge anymore.
That is my choice among your options. But a good argument can be made for 7-08 and 6.5 Creedmoor as well.
Modern 308 cartridges significantly out perform 30-06 from just a few years ago. Getting 2900 fps with 150's isn't hard and 3000 fps with longish barrels and handloads isn't impossible. For comparison the WW1 30-06 era loads were 2700 fps, by the 1940's it was only 2800 fps. Those were the numbers Townsend Whelen was looking at. Modern 30-06 loads are better still, but only beat 308 by about 100 fps. And the 30-06's reputation was built on loads that were less potent than todays 308.
Anything 30-06 does with bullets lighter than 200 gr 308 does as well with better accuracy and noticeably less recoil. If you need 200-230 gr bullets a 308 won't shoot them fast enough to be beneficial and 30-06 wins.
And don't get me wrong, I LIKE 30-06 and consider it the cartridge all others are judged against. It's just that the tiny gains in performance don't outweigh the 308's accuracy and recoil advantages.
The 270 is a great, classic hunting round and I understand why it has a following. It does what it was designed to do very well, but modern bullets, powder, and optics have negated its advantages. It was designed around shooting 130 gr bullets fast and flat. With todays optics a flat trajectory is far less important and heavier, more aerodynamic bullets perform better at longer ranges. Unfortunately 270 rifles aren't designed to use modern bullets. It was more by accident than design, but 30-06 and 308 will.
Another thing to consider is the future of the cartridges, 30-06 and 270 have been the standard for a long time, but both are in the twilight of their careers. It is getting harder to find new rifles in either chambering. Many new models aren't even being offered in either cartridge anymore.
That is my choice among your options. But a good argument can be made for 7-08 and 6.5 Creedmoor as well.
MedWheeler
Member
mcb writes:
My wife bought me this T-shirt about two months ago.
My wife bought me this T-shirt about two months ago.
Ironicaintit
Member
I may like the 30-06 more, but my favorite platforms are in 308, so that’s my pick
Garandimal
member
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
I am faithful to lots of one things. Firearms isn’t one of them.
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
7mm-08 x 2
sarduy
Member
From that list the 308, but if i had 750 I would get a Remington 700 tactical 20" to 24” in 6.5 Creedmoor just because the round is great for target shooting and hunting with low recoil with a primary arms 4-14x44 with acss reticle just like this one.
Presented with this question I only see one answer, anything else is simply bad advice IMO. Get the .308.
None, depending on what you hunt, I'd run .223/.224/.22-250, 6 cm, 6.5 g, 6.5 cm, and 7-08. Of your choices, the .308 almost appeals.
- Status
