.270 a companion to 30-06?

[Nathanael_Greene]

If someone has already got a nice .30-06 rifle, is there any reason to add a .270? Is there something that a .270 will do that a .30-06 won't?

A .270 is a necked-down .30-06, correct?

Thanks...

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Correct. A .270 will drive a lighter bullet with a decent ballistic coefficient to a higher velocity than a comparable .30-06 bullet (for example, a 130 grain bullet at 3,100 fps, compared to a 150 grain bullet from the .30-06 at 3,000 fps.) The .270 will have a flatter trajectory, and less recoil.

The .30-06 comes into its own with heavier bullets, and is better for bigger game.

Jack O'Connor, the great proponent of the .270, probably used the .30-06 as often as he used the .270.

 

[BigG]

What Vern Humphrey said is correct. I would say for all practical purposes they are suited to the same types of work with no clear winner. In other words, six of one, half a dozen of the other.

 

[Art Eatman]

The '06 advantage is with 180- to 220-grain bullets, when heavier-boned and larger game is considered.

I've owned both; I've varmint- and deer-hunted with both.

Owning an '06, I see no point in adding a .270. Owning a .270, see my opening sentence.

Art

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If I could only have one serious game rifle, I'd make it a .30-06. If I could have two such rifles, the other would be a 7mm Magnum or a .338 Mag.

 

[MolonLabe416]

The game will never know the diff btw the two calibers.

I'd move up to a 9.3x62, 338/06, or 35 Whelen. Or 338 Win Mag if you like belts and unnecessarry blast and recoil. All will fit in a standard length action. The first three can be made from '06 brass.

Or, I'd move down to .223.

 

[Zeke Menuar]

I have a 270. It works well on anything here in Monsoon Central. Having said that, I have a great respect for the 30-06 and the other rounds in the '06 family. I see no reason why the 270 and 30-06 can't co-exist in the same gun safe.

ZM

 

[another okie]

If you can afford both, buy both. Personally I think a better second rifle for most people's purposes after a 30.06 would be a .243 or .223 or .222 Remington. You should also be aware that the two cartridges are very similar looking and that mixing up the .270 and 30.06 cartridges has probably blown up more rifles than any other easily mixed up cartridges.

 

[critter]

Okie,
Not to hijack the thread and not to rag on you but I have a question. I fail to see how mixing the .270 and '06 could cause a blowup. The '06 positively will not chamber in a .270. Also, a .270 chambered in an '06 and fired will just have the bullete rattle down the oversized bore with the powder gasses bypassing it and the bullet will be inaccurate and have a very low velocity. I personally have known of that being done more than once with no ill effects.

Am I missing something here?

 

[TooTech]

As already stated, significant overlap between 30/06 and .270.

You could go heavier, but most people will be able to use a light caliber more frequently than a magnum. I shoot my .338 about once for every hundred .243 rounds I fire.

I'd look for a .243, or maybe a 25.06.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Thanks for the input. I had the chance to pick up a decent Remington 700 in .270; thought it would make an interesting companion to a 30-06 I have.

Maybe I'll scout around for a .243.