So this is my first post here. I'll give you a little background story. I'm looking to expand my hunting rifle collection. As for rifles I have a howa 1500 .270 and winchester model 94 30-30. I hunt deer mostly but last season got a moose draw and was lucky enough to bag a nice bull With my .270. I am looking at something to compliment my .270 but am not sure what direction I want to go. I am looking at the howa 1500 again. 7MM Magnum is in my head and so is 6.5 Creedmoor. I know they are on opposite sides of the spectrum but my thinking is a 7MM has a little more power behind it and it would be my primary large game rifle (elk/moose) and the .270 I would run lighter grain bullets for deer and varmint. Or on the other hand I could get the 6.5 and use that as my primary deer/varmint rifle and gear my .270 towards larger game. I feel like my collection is missing something but just not sure where!
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Steve Milbocker
Member
The .270 covers nearly all the bases as far as I’m concerned. If your wanting a bit more horsepower the 300 Win mag would be my choice over a 7mag. There are a lot of 30 cal. bullets to choose from especially if you hand load.Just my opinion YMMV
glockgod
Member
.375 H&H. Run with the big dogs or stay on the porch! LOL!! Seriously, if you hand load the 375 could do deer AND big stuff! Just a thought. 45-70 also comes to mind! From mild to wild! In appropriate rifle of course!
KsSkaEnthusiast
Member
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If you plan on continuing the big game hunting I would second the move up to a 300 win mag. That gives more wiggle room between all of your hunting calibers to have more purpose driven validation.
Rubone
Member
I am also a fan of the 300WM. It is my go to Elk rifle and is very effective. And I have a variety to choose from.
Your 270 will kill anything in North America at ranges farther than you probably need to be shooting. Honestly there is nothing magical about any cartridge, it is the bullet that matters. You could pick anything 26 caliber and up and do the same thing. A 7 mag will recoil a bit more than your 270 and extend the usable range well past 500 yards. Your 270 should be good for at least 500. The question is, are YOU good enough to be shooting beyond 500 yards?
The 6.5 CM shoots the same bullet weights as 270 about 200 fps slower at the muzzle. But because of the better aerodynamics of the bullets the 6.5's will out penetrate your 270 on game and catch up in speed somewhere between 200-300 yards. Anything you can kill with your 270 a 6.5 will kill. And do it with less recoil.
The 300 mags recoil significantly more than 6.5 CM, 270, or 7 mag . And it offers no advantage until you start shooting moose/elk size game at ranges well past 500 yards.
If you're happy with 270 I'd suggest another much different rifle in 270. There are advantages to having different rifles set up for different hunting situations. Having them all in the same cartridge simplifies buying and/or loading ammo. I have 4 rifles chambered in 308, but each is set up very differently with very different optics for different uses.
Once again, nothing magical about 308. I chose it, but you could do the same thing with at least a dozen other cartridges including your 270. The Howa's are great rifles, but among the heaviest rifles made. A lighter, trimmer, easier to carry rifle is what I'd be going for. You can get a bolt action that will weigh less scoped than your 30-30, and have it in a much more efficient cartridge.
If you just want another cartridge pick between 6.5 CM, 7-08, or 308 in a light trim rifle and go hunt everything in North America.
The 6.5 CM shoots the same bullet weights as 270 about 200 fps slower at the muzzle. But because of the better aerodynamics of the bullets the 6.5's will out penetrate your 270 on game and catch up in speed somewhere between 200-300 yards. Anything you can kill with your 270 a 6.5 will kill. And do it with less recoil.
The 300 mags recoil significantly more than 6.5 CM, 270, or 7 mag . And it offers no advantage until you start shooting moose/elk size game at ranges well past 500 yards.
If you're happy with 270 I'd suggest another much different rifle in 270. There are advantages to having different rifles set up for different hunting situations. Having them all in the same cartridge simplifies buying and/or loading ammo. I have 4 rifles chambered in 308, but each is set up very differently with very different optics for different uses.
Once again, nothing magical about 308. I chose it, but you could do the same thing with at least a dozen other cartridges including your 270. The Howa's are great rifles, but among the heaviest rifles made. A lighter, trimmer, easier to carry rifle is what I'd be going for. You can get a bolt action that will weigh less scoped than your 30-30, and have it in a much more efficient cartridge.
If you just want another cartridge pick between 6.5 CM, 7-08, or 308 in a light trim rifle and go hunt everything in North America.
Grumulkin
Member
The 7mm Remington Magnum is a fine cartridge but if you're looking for something bigger than the 270 Winchester, I'd go to at least 30 caliber. The 300 Winchester Magnum has been suggested and that, or the 300 Weatherby Magnum, is where I'd probably go. The 300 Winchester magnum is capable of excellent accuracy and will kill anything from groundhogs to deer really dead.
So you killed arguably the 2nd largest animal in North America with a 270 but want something bigger with more power. It seems like the 270 did a good job. There’s a reason for that. But if you want something bigger, with more power, you need to define what you mean. The 45-70 has more kinetic energy. And it is very fun to shoot. But the range limited without knowing your trajectory. It can be loaded to shoot one handed or rattle your fillings out. The 300WM is going to be harder on the shoulder but definitely gives you more “power”. The 338WM with heavy bullets will have great ballistics but will need a brake to tame recoil. With 225gr bullets, it’s not bad. And the 375 H&H is one of the most versatile “classics” on the planet. A more modern version, the 375 Ruger is another option that is a favorite of one of our more active members @LoonWulf. The rifles do not require a true magnum length action like the H&H. If you handload, they are all very viable options. Factory ammo can get pretty pricey in these cartridges.
.308 Norma
Member
Well, your collection is missing a 308 Norma Magnum of course!
Just kidding around. My beloved 308 Norma Mag won't do anything that can't be done with a regular ol' 300 Win Mag, and 300 Win Mags (both rifles and ammo) are a lot easier to come by - at least during normal times.
Like, really REALLY dead.
I agree the .270 did a fine job.
wiscoaster
Member
Everybody needs an AR whatever you're going to use it for.
Hog huntin Harry
Member
You can't go wrong with a Winchester Model 70 Sporter chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum. The .300 Win mag loaded with 180 - 220 grain controlled expansion bullets will give you quicker kills on elk and moose compared to your .270 WCF, as well as more flexibility on shots you can take. If you're hunting in thick cover the .300 Win Mag will (with heavy controlled expansion bullets) provide adequate penetration to reach the vitals if a shot through the paunch is required.
Although if other than ideal shots are common, the .338 Winchester Magnum is a better option.
Although if other than ideal shots are common, the .338 Winchester Magnum is a better option.
ojibweindian
Member
See post #7. Nailed it.
earplug
Member
Saw a couple of boxes of 280 Remington sitting on the shelf.
Post # 7 has a good plan
Post # 7 has a good plan
In theory only. That’s important to note. Every animal is different. I shot a nice doe once at 12 yards with my 45-70 shooting the 325FTX. That heifer ran almost 100 yards. And it was a perfectly placed shot. Her insides were...well let’s say gutting her was bloody, jellied, mess. I stopped using those bullets after that. But, I don’t necessarily disagree with your post. There is however, often a difference between charted ballistics and real world performance. A bang flop is a bang flop, dead is dead and the 270 is very capable of both results.
I would be interested to hear how the OP’s moose handled the round, and what bullet he used.
Hog huntin Harry
Member
Ditto
I shot my bull at 120 yards using federal premium trophy bonded tip 130grain. Double lung and an exit wound! (Those bullets are tough!) he didn't go but 15 yards and tipped over. I was a happy hunter that fine evening.
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CowboyTim
Member
Well you have "handy brush rifle" covered with the M94, the original "fast and flat" with your 270. Sounds to me like a "heavy hitter" with reasonable recoil and five down kinda niche...maybe a 35 Whelen or a 9.3x62(Sauer makes one in the 100XT for around $800). Honestly though, it sounds like you have your bases covered, so get something cool.
My 2 cents....the 300 WM will have you covered for everything from deer to moose. I took one long range shot on an antelope with mine, dropped him in his tracks. Hand loading will give you a variety to load for different game. However, if you’re gonna go the 6.5 creedmoor route, I HIGHLY reccommend the Tikka T3x D-18. Search it up. I bought one and it is so much better than the Weatherby Vanguard I had in the same caliber. Smoother action and shoots better are what sticks out to me. Last piece of advice - buy whatever YOU want! Listen to your fellow posters, take it all with a grain of salt, and you do you. Want a 375 H&H? Go for it! Want a .243? Buy it! Buy it and enjoy it
So were I to make a suggestion for broadening your battery of hunting guns......it would be something YOU want to try, whether its a rifle, or a cartridge.
IMO the .270s one of the finest Jack of all trades hunting round currently available, especially for hand loaders and the available supply of excellent .277s designed for the 6.8spc. Where its lacking are extra heavy, and vld type bullets.
Thus if the idea of shooting a bigger gun appeals, I skip clean over rhe 7s and 30s, and look at .33+
At the same time I think the medium bores, especially the larger medium bores are rhe most versatile of the heavier rifles.
As @BigBore44 said, I personally really like the .375 Ruger, but theres plenty of other guys that really like other medium chambering.
If you want to try something set up for longer sleeker bullets, then a 6.5CM, PRC, or the like might be a good choice. Or because the 6.5s do cross over rhe .277s perhaps a 6mm/243 or a fast .22
Just my thoughts. I actually dont own a .270 anymore ( ill be installing a .270WBY barrel on a project gun here in the next few months.) But I have or had a cartridge in most calibers from 22 to 30. As others have said, unless you have a specific desire, most will do the same thing.
IMO the .270s one of the finest Jack of all trades hunting round currently available, especially for hand loaders and the available supply of excellent .277s designed for the 6.8spc. Where its lacking are extra heavy, and vld type bullets.
Thus if the idea of shooting a bigger gun appeals, I skip clean over rhe 7s and 30s, and look at .33+
At the same time I think the medium bores, especially the larger medium bores are rhe most versatile of the heavier rifles.
As @BigBore44 said, I personally really like the .375 Ruger, but theres plenty of other guys that really like other medium chambering.
If you want to try something set up for longer sleeker bullets, then a 6.5CM, PRC, or the like might be a good choice. Or because the 6.5s do cross over rhe .277s perhaps a 6mm/243 or a fast .22
Just my thoughts. I actually dont own a .270 anymore ( ill be installing a .270WBY barrel on a project gun here in the next few months.) But I have or had a cartridge in most calibers from 22 to 30. As others have said, unless you have a specific desire, most will do the same thing.
Then I’d say your 270 performed as well, if not better, than many other larger rounds have. 120 yards, and the animal ran 15 yards? You can’t honestly ask for much better than that. I mean, you can. But you’re just being greedy at that point. Congratulations on the bull btw.
I really agree with @Wyo82. Get what you want. There’s a lot of cartridges that have more power than a 270. But don’t count on them making a moose any deader than your 270 did.
I should get something cool.... how much does a barrett cost?? Asking for a friend....
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