.270WSM, .300WSM or .308. HELP.

[Karbon]

I really need THR’s help making a huge decision. Which caliber for my new Tikka T3? I’m dead set on the T3, so no help needed there. I’m ready to buy and I can’t decide…

I’ve searched the site, but I really can’t get a good comparison.
My goal is a good, one rifle solution to all my N. American hunting needs (like so many…) I don’t want too much, but I want to make sure I can stop a running deer like my 3” copper sabots could. I also want an accurate shooter in case I ever get the chance to go out west for sheep/goats or???
I’ve hunted with my pair of 7400 30-06 and my 12ga for years but I want a little something different.

Is .308 too little for a powerful knock down shot at 50-150?
Is a .300WSM just too much kick for the extra 7-15% power?
Is the .270WSM just too darn light?
I’m leaning towards the .308 but the WSM look interesting (-shorter action). I just don’t want to get the flinch-ies with a ton of recoil.

Any other thoughts?

Help!

 

[hoghunting]

The 308 will be very similar to your 30-06 as far as bullet weight and velocity. If you want more power, the 270wsm would fit what you're looking for. It will work very well on deer, elk, sheep, goats or pretty much anything in the lower 48. The 300wsm will use heavier bullets, but also has more recoil.

I have a T3 Lite in 300wsm and won't trade or sell it for anything. It is the most accurate rifle I own. Recoil is definitely more than the 270wsm, that's why you should get the 270 if you want a wsm. www.limbsaver.com makes a prefit recoil pad for the T3, and I highly recommend it.

 

[Matt-man]

T3s all have long action receivers, so you don't save any weight by going with a short action cartridge. If I were buying a T3, I'd probably go for the 7mm Magnum.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Which cartridge??

Karbon--Let's try to sort this out. First, what do you mean by a "powerful knock-down shot"? There's not a sporting arm made that will knock a deer over like a hit with a truck. You have to place the shot in a vital area, then how quickly the game goes down depends on a lot of factors (Hit the CNS or the heart/lung area, for example. Or how how much adrenaline the quarry has in it at the time of the shot. If you just wound the animal it'll head for the next county. If you just scare the animal it'll head for the next state. Apparently you got good hits with your copper sabots. But if you had gut-shot a deer with the sabots, it wouldn't have fallen.) So, first of all you want a cartridge, and a firearm, that you can shoot accurately, at the distances at which you will encounter game.

That means one you can practice with. And practice. And practice. And no whining about how expensive the ammo is. It's not the gun that is an accurate shooter. It's the shooter.

BTW--running deer are almost impossible to hit consistently with a killing shot. (The body's bouncing too much.) Most of them stagger away to die later, never to be found. Just my opinion, but I think it's unsporting and inhumane.

I have a .300WSM that I like very much. It's a .30'-06 on steroids; the recoil is liveable for me. But it is a heavy gun. A light weapon might kick considerably harder. As to the difference between the .300WSM and the .270WSM, there's not a whole lot of difference. It's like asking what can a .30-'06 do that a .270Win can't, or vice versa. The answer is, not much. If you go with a WSM, I'd pick the one that I got a better deal on. Or flip a coin. In a rifle of similar weight, recoil won't be enough different to be a factor between the 2.

Now, you want an all-around rifle that's good for everything. To me, that says .308, not either of the WSM's. Not as flat-shooting at 300yd, but it'll do. Not as hard-hitting, but much less recoil, especially in a lighter rifle. The .308Win has been used since it came out in the 1950's as an all-around cartridge, and it still is good for that purpose. It won't knock a deer over, but as I said, nothing will if you don't hit 'em in the CNS. .308 ammo of all types is available in every crossroads sporting goods store.

That brings up the question, why would you want ONE rifle that's OK for everything? Why not get yourself a really good rifle for yr local conditions, that you'll use a lot, around home, and then buy a mountain climbing/sheep hunting rifle when/if you get to go after sheep? (Let me put it this way: When you can afford a guided sheep hunt, you can afford a new rifle.) Then the sheep rifle could be a very light WSM, that'll kick like a mule but you'll only fire it once or twice in a week of mountain climbing, so the kick is not as important as the weight you'll be toting around.

BTW, the lengths on a WSM and a .308's action are abt the same. A .308 is a bobtailed .30-'06, and a .300WSM is a bobtailed .300WinMag. So that factor is just about a wash.

Hope all this cogitation is of some help.

 

[rangerruck]

i think you only have two choices here , really. 270 or 308. the 270 will knock everything out in n. america with usually one shot, except for bear. It is also a very long fast flat shooting round. The 308, on the other hand , though more power and recoil, slighly, is about half or a third the cost to shoot.

 

[CB1961]

I like the .308win because you have a very good selection of factory ammo and it is easy to find in most places. If you reload then it is even better...but the .308win is about the same in most ways as your .30-06, so if you are looking for something different maybe the .270WSM is the way to go. I just don't see the advantage of the short magnums for most hunters...just MHO though...If you really want more power and broader application then maybe a larger caliber?...like .338win.mag.

 

[Karbon]

to add...

I just don’t want too much for a deer rifle and not enough for a good multi species gun.
What’s bad about the WSM’s for all around use?
As for the knock down power, I’m referring to the energy delivered at impact. I’m not an expert, but my thinking is the more energy the better for a more powerful hit. I almost always aim for the front shoulder, since I need the deer to fall asap (a-hole landowners next to us that allow no tracking-NONE). So with a properly delivered round to the shoulder…is any of these a clear winner? Most of my shooting (now) is within 125yds, but I’d like select the best for all around NA use.


Ammo: 150gr Win Ballistic Silver Tips (for ease of comparing)
Off of Winchester’s Chart…

Cartridge Muzzle Velocity 100 yd Muzzle Energy 100yd
.270WSM 3275 3041 3096 2669
.308 2810 2601 2629 2253
.30-06 2960 2687 2801 2404
.300WSM 3300 3061 3628 3121



I’m not recoil sensitive, but for a follow up shot (just in case ) I’d like to not over to it unless I have a clear winner.

Who has a good feel for how these cartridges will compare (recoil wise) out of a 7-8lb rifle?

Any help on ammo? My thoughts are sticking with something similar to the ballistic tip for good expansion and penetration.

Thanks for all the feedback.

I hope this helps to clarify some of my points.

 

[dfaugh]

Well...considering I'm a big fan of the original .270, I'd lean towards the .270WSM...The .308 doesn't give you anything over a 30-06, in fact just a bit less, unless you handload (Good variety of factory ammo, as stated, but ditto the 30-06).

So between the .270WSM and .300 Win Mag. Its a real close call. Personally I give the edge to the .270, as it will be slightly flatter shooting, a bit less recoil, and theoretically anyway, a bit more accurate because of the "short-fat" cartridge. If I was looking for a new rifle, in this class, i would definitely be looking at the .270WSM.

My .02