.270 or 7mm?

Either would be perfectly adequate, but the .270's cheaper to feed.
Once fired brass is usually obtainable for the .270, less so for the 7mm.
The 7mm has more recoil and muzzle blast than the .270.

Coot has some good points.
I like the 7mm for 1 big reason, much wider selection of bullets for handloaders.

Sam

Flip a coin 7mm-270-7 08- 308- 30 06- 280 all = dead deer. You can drive yourself crazy but there isn't a nickles difference in any of them. The 270 is a great round but if you reload the 7mm has an edge. I just bought a new deer rifle so I know how you feel. One day I wanted a 260 the next day a 270, then a 7-08 and on and on. Finally saw a nice rifle on sale at Galyans asked the salesman what cal. and he told me 308. I'll take it, the piont is it really didn't matter if it was a 270 or 7mm they all have more then enough power to kill any deer in the woods.

7mm.

why even consider anything else??

Tough Question

If it was me, in your situation for deer, I would get the .270. Less kick, less money ammo.

But, if it was me here in Washington, where I would be going after elk also, then I would pick the 7mm. I like being able to use a 160 or 175gr bullet better than a 140gr bullet.

Like the others are saying though, is, it isn't the kind of decision to agonize over...each will get the job done.

Nico, in a nutshell, the calibers compare as follows:

1. The .270 has a slightly lower effective range than the 7mm. However, it's academic for your area. The .270 will effectively take whitetail-size game out to 250-275 yards. The 7mm. (I assume it's 7mm. Rem. Mag.) will work out to 275 - 300 yards.

2. The .270 uses slightly lighter bullets than the 7mm. Thus, for bigger deer (e.g. elk, moose, caribou) the 7mm. is preferable. However, for whitetail use, the .270 is just fine, and is a superb rifle. It can also be used on elk, if you wish: it just calls for a somewhat closer range and good shot placement.

3. The price of .270 ammunition is slightly lower than 7mm. However, if you reload, this is academic.

4. The .270 has rather less recoil than the 7mm. This difference can be significant (as much as 30% to 40%, IMHO) depending on the ammunition used. If you plan to shoot a lot, you'll enjoy it more with the .270!

Whichever one you buy, enjoy it!

The $64 question is...

WHICH 7mm?

7mm-08?

7mm/.280 Remington?

7x57mm Mauser?

7mm Remington Magnum?

7mm Weatherby Magnum?

7mm Shooting Times Westerner?

One of the truly esoteric European 7mms?

Quite frankly, you'll be well served by any of the above, but less so by the big magnums.

Check a load book for MPBR.

Maximum Point Blank Range that is. Knowing the projectile weight, and its range of FPS should give you MPBR's for each caliber. Then you'll have real data to make your choice with.

.270win. took 2 rifles to the range yesterday. .270win and 8x57js the 8mm helped me remember why i like the .270. i also like the .270 when i weigh out a powder charge, the 7mm is more.

The $64 question is...

WHICH 7mm?

7mm-08?

7mm/.280 Remington?

7x57mm Mauser?

7mm Remington Magnum?

7mm Weatherby Magnum?

7mm Shooting Times Westerner?

One of the truly esoteric European 7mms?

Quite frankly, you'll be well served by any of the above, but less so by the big magnums.

Click to expand...

Ditto

Quite frankly, you'll be well served by any of the above

Click to expand...

.

If you're hunting short to mid range the .270 is just fine. I think that there a plenty of bullet choices for reloading in all kinds of weights. For deer you really don't need to get fancy.

"...WHICH 7mm?..." Exactly. Mind you, there's no game in North America you need a magnum of any kind to kill.

there's no game in North America you need a magnum of any kind to kill.

Click to expand...

Are you certain of that statement?

I'd take a .270 over a 7mm Rem Mag, if those are the choices. Nothing wrong with the maggie, but it's more thump at both ends than anybody really needs for most hunting.

No flies on a .270; I've killed a few deer with one. But if it's a choice against a 7mm08, I'd probably go with the latter. But, I handload, so that makes some difference. It's real close to six of one, half-dozen of the other.

Art

I'm a bit split; even though I do not own any rifles chambered for either, here's my logic...

there is no true 'one caliber does it all' in existence (for those that personally debunk such an idea, perhaps the .30-06 with its multitude of bullet weights and types is the closest);

if you want to hunt whitetail deer, mule deer, coyotes, hogs, mountain sheep, and smaller variety of bear then the .270 will do you well;

if you want to hunt larger critters such as elk, caribou, and larger variety of bears, then the 7mm magnum will be the better choice;

it all depends on your hunting habits and what animals you take 90 + % of the time; buying guns for the less than 10% aspirations usually sit idle in a safe or get sold off with very little use...you can always enhance the performance of a 'lesser' caliber by using Barnes All-Copper, Nosler Partition, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Remington Bronze Tip, or Winchester Silvertip which are designed for deep penetration and high weight retention;

there's no game in North America you need a magnum of any kind to kill.

Click to expand...

Are you certain of that statement?

Click to expand...

I didn't make the statement but I agree with it. Yes, a heavy loaded 200-220 gr .30-06 in the right spot will put down a big bear, even a well made 180 gr would work. Of course, it helps to have your guide backing you up with a .338 Win Mag just in caase.

However, the 4 Alaskan guides I've talked too, all said they'd much rather see a hunter show up with a .30-06 he can actually manage and shoot well than a big magnum rifle that he can't shoot well because he's afraid of it. All of them said that most hunters can't shoot magnum rifles worth a hoot, and they would be much better served by a good old .30-06. They all agreed that a .30-06, properly loaded, is the single most versatile cartridge in the world, even for the big bears, and I tend to agree with that assesment.

Sounds as if the .270 would be my choice if I were in your neck of the woods. Plenty of punch for whitetails & more pleasant to use at the range. As for "there's no game in North America you need a magnum of any kind to kill," I agree . . . however, if I were disposed to hunt one of the larger bruins, I'd personally want something more potent. Same with a once-in-a-lifetime hunt such as Dall Sheep . . . I'd increase my odds with a flatter-shooting magnum. As Dirty Harry said, "A man needs an edge " (or something to that effect).

A man's got to know his limitations. ... Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry)

I think that quote has more meaning and it certainly applies to the shooting sports.

True, rd . . . One must realize the line between "enough gun" and "too much gun."

My favorite from a handgun is 7-30 Waters out of a TC Contender 14" barrel w/ muzzle brake (TC also makes the 14" barrel without a muzzle brake if you like recoil better than noise).
From a rifle you can't beat 7mm-08. The ammo is more expensive but the accuracy and stopping power are perfect for deer. What's the cost of ammo versus tracking a deer for a mile because your shot was slightly off?

I'll take the 7x57 for no reason other than it's the only 7mm I have ever had. Got it in a weather beaten little Ruger #1 light rifle, that turned out to be one of the prettiest, handiest, rifles I have. Factory ammo is not loadet to potential, but reloading can push it up there, but at expense of added recoil.

I like to take it for what it is and enjoy, It will do anything I want it to do, and then there is always the progression to bigger and bigger calibers.

Essex thinks like Coot.........Essex

I've had a 270 for years and have hunted in eastern oklahoma all my life. It and my 308 have never let me down. I had an oportunity to hunt western oklahoma the other day were the ranges are open and took a 7mm Rem. Mag. with me for the first time.
I shot a good size buck (132lb 8 point) at the longest range I've ever shot a deer, 247 yards. The 140 grain bullet HAMMERED him into the ground! I've seen alot of deer drop in their tracks before, but never like this one! I've made the same shot placement several times with my 270, but never the same result.
I've never been a fan of the magnums and didn't see any need for one before. I'm starting to change my thinking to a degree though. Since my western hunts are few and far between, then I think I might like the magnum so there won't be any reservations about taking the shot if it's a little longer than I can get since I'm on a limited time frame. If I can only take one rifle with me and can hunt multiple species, then my 7 mag will be more versitle since I handload.
I can't tell any difference in recoil since my 270 is a featherweight and my 7 mag is a sendero. Actually, my 7 mag with the heavy barrel is more comfortable to shoot! The heavy barrel is actually not that noticeable carrying either. As far as the meat damage, I also couldn't tell any difference in the two either.
I'd say that if you handload, and can only have one gun, then I'd get the 7 mag. You can load it from 7mm-08 ballistics to full power for whatever you're hunting.