.270 vs. .308

[helotaxi]

A 130 gr. BT hand loaded will easily produce 3150 fps M.V. with the .270 win. The .308 doesn't have as flat a trajectory shooting it's best performing bullet. A 150 gr BT .308 bullet with a BC of .42 zeroed in at 300 yds. drops about 32" @ 500 yds. with a MV of 2900 fps. A 130 gr. BT .277" bullet with a BC of .46 zeroed in at 300 yds. drops around 25" @ 500 yds. with a MV of 3150 fps. Both of those estimates are based on a realistic obtainable velocity with reloaded ammunition, not factory. Factory will not likely produce as high muzzle velocity for either cartridge.

Shooting flat is only an advantage when you're looking at using a point blank zero or shooting at an unknown range (no LRF). If you are shooting at longer ranges and dialing your elevation and know the range. Being flat shooting is of no real advantage. Drop is very predictable. Using only the above examples, the .270 is the superior choice because of the higher velocity and BC. Not because of energy but because of wind drift. At longer, known ranges, a competent shooter will not miss high or low because the bullet didn't drop as expected, they will miss left or right because they misread the wind. A higher BC and/or higher velocity reduce the effect of wind as a whole and thus reduce the effects of a misread.

There are other bullets that will increase the BC by quite a bit. But BC isn't going to do anything for much needed velocity for a hunting application. I know I'll get hammered by the many .308 fans out there, but the simple fact is what may produce an excellent competition cartridge, doesn't always make a good hunting cartridge. Those who shoot 1000 yd. competition are not likely to pick the .270 win..

The .308 is a marginal competition cartridge at best. Pretty much the only people that shoot .308 in comps are those that have to because of the particular discipline that they're shooting, like F-TR. For those people it isn't a handicap because their competition is shooting the same thing, leveling the playing field. For competitors that have a choice, a different cartridge is the choice. The .270 COULD be a good competition cartridge except for the lack of efficient bullets. 6.5mm is the passing fad, but 7mm is the real deal and more competitors are going that way all the time.

 

[Sav .250]

It would be the 270 cal for me .....just a personal choice.

 

[303tom]

You know really if you are a reloader as I am & you have rifles in 7mm-08, .308, .270, .280, & .30-06 & so forth & so on, it all depends on what you want to take to the woods.......

 

[Shotgun wg]

Would not a .270/ 30-06 be a closer comparison. I have a 25-06, 308, 270, and 30-06. As an all around rifle I prefer the 25-06. It serves my purpose shooting hogs and yotes at guessed yardage. It is also deadly from a deer stand. The rest would be as follows 30-06 270 then 308. In my situation the 308 is a hindering weapon.

 

[Hizzie]

6 or half dozen. Neither you or any North American game will know the difference. The rifle that fits you better and that you shoot better is the better rifle.

Worry less about the tool you are using and more about how you are using the tool.

 

[WVRJ]

Had both,the 270 has the flatter trajectory,the 308 has a bit more inherent accuracy.I wouldn't feel handicapped with either.

 

[biggameballs]

Semi auto rifle I chose 308 becasue of the case design. Bolt Action I'd probably chose 270 since it's a little flatter shooter.

 

[TwoEyedJack]

When I went looking for a deer rifle after moving from the eastern woods to the western canyons and finding that a .30-30 no longer fit my needs, the first rifle I found for a good price at a pawn shop was a Remington Sportsman 78 in .270. I bought it for around $150 and it will put three Sierra soft points, Nosler Ballistic Tips, or Remington Core Lokts in 3/8" at 100 yards all day long. I would have bought .30-06 or .308 or .280 Rem had I found one instead of the .270. I found a real nice wood stock off a Model 700ADL that bolted right up.

One thing I really like about the .270 is that getting good accuracy is very easy. I get great accuracy using H450 (wish I still had some of that), IMR4350, H4350, Varget, Win760, and IMR4320. I wish some of my other rifles/calibers were as easy to load for.

I got one of my sons a left hand Ruger Mark II stainless laminated in .270. It has been a joy to work with as well. Not quite as accurate as the Remington, it will shoot the loads developed for the Remington into less than an inch.