30-06 or 270

[ExAgoradzo]

OK, which is better?

Are either of these 'too much' for the small deer we have in CA? If they are, what would you use? 30-30?

Just asking...new to higher caliber guns.

 

[Big Bad Bob]

PREPARE FOR MASSIVE DEBATE!!

The argument over .270 and 30.06 is legendary. Its rumored Elmer Kieth and Col. Jeff Cooper almost came to blows over it once.

Ok so i made that last part up but needless to say this argument has exsisted around many a deer camp.

In all fairness either does well, where .270 maybe a flatter, smaller round more suitable in CA. Either will do just fine.

We can hem and haw over ballistics but in the end this one is all about preference in my book.

 

[LoonWulf]

Elmer Keith and Jack O'connor...now that might have ended in a fist fight from what ive read LOL.

.30-06 gets my vote, hits harder shoots plenty flat enough.

 

[Gromky]

For just deer, for a new shooter, .270 all the way. Unless you shoot better with the other rifle.

For someone who might hunt elk, 06.

Neither is really too much for whitetail, but 06 perhaps bordering on it (and I'll hunt them with something 20% more powerful). They're both great. Use what you like.

All the arguments are caliberbation. People are turned on by what they like, and frown upon what they don't.

 

[mdauben]

Either the .270 or the .30-06 are perfectly adequate for deer size targets, and each harvest many deer each year. I would not really consider either "overkill" for small deer (although you might want to go with the lighter loadings in the .30-06).

As far as differences, the .270 is a little flatter shooting, making it a better choice if you are a good enough marksman to justify taking 300-400+ yard shots. The .30-06 can handle heavier bullets, if you think you will ever want to use the same gun for Elk or other larger game.

The .30-30 is another fine deer cartidge that harvest more than its share of deer each year. The strenght of the .30-30 is the small, handy rifles it is chambered in, and the weakness is the limited effective range (100-150 yards). Its a fine choice if you hunt in dence forest terrain, but not so much in the open plains or mountains.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I would select the .270 as you can shoot a bit lighter bullet with a good B.C. and for all practical purposes, would be fine for what you are shooting.

 

[jmr40]

30-06

 

[Pistol Ranch]

The Ought 6

I KNOWit will never happen, but you can find 30-06 ammo almost anywhere in the world (In case you forget to bring your ammo to camp!!)
It can also be handloaded with a wide variety (weights) of bullets..not nearly as many bullet weights are available for the .270.
That said I own two .270's and one 30-06 and I leave ammo for both at my hunting ranch.
30-06 advantages: Ammo available nationwide, sometimes at bargain prices.
.270 advantages: Flatter shooting, slightly less recoil than the 06.

P.R.

 

[biff47]

I have two 30-06. If I had gone down the 270 Win route I would be equally as happy. Both are very effective over normal hunting distances.

Find a rifle in either category that fits you well and you're good to go. .270s might be a hair lighter in the general realm of things.

 

[essayons21]

30-06. Slightly better availability, more options for hunting rounds, if you ever decide to reload it is more versatile, and if you ever want to step up to some of the larger game out west it will handle that as well.

Really can't go wrong with either round though.

 

[HOOfan_1]

For deer, flip a coin. .270 is good enough for Elk too, although many will debate that.

In hunting ammo, I would say the .270 is almost as readily available as the .30-06. If you are a reloader, .308 bullets offer a little more variety.

IMO the .280 Remington is better than both, but it never caught on.

If you have options for other rounds. If I were only hunting deer, and being a reloader, and or not worrying about ammo availability. If I were to start from scratch, I would go 7mm-08, .260 Remington or 6.5x55 Swedish.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

PREPARE FOR MASSIVE DEBATE!!

The argument over .270 and 30.06 is legendary. Its rumored Elmer Kieth and Col. Jeff Cooper almost came to blows over it once.

Ok so i made that last part up but needless to say this argument has exsisted around many a deer camp.

In all fairness either does well, where .270 maybe a flatter, smaller round more suitable in CA. Either will do just fine.

We can hem and haw over ballistics but in the end this one is all about preference in my book.

The only two hunting rifles I own are a 30-06 and a 30-30. I'm happy with what I have. I'm certain the 270 would do just as well. Of course, this makes for a good camp fire type debate in which there is no true answer.

 

[shootr]

Can't go wrong with either one and IMO, if you have one, no need for the other.

FWIW, long ago I had a .270. I ended up getting rid of it and getting an 06 mainly because of ammo availability where I hunted. At the time, .270 was hard to find whereas 06 and 30-30 was universal -- and all my hunting partners shot 06.

I also think there is minimal practical difference in trajectory, particularly if one handloads for the 06. "Practical" being the key word. My opinion only.

 

[WNTFW]

Find and online ballistic calculator. Do some comparisons between vaious grain weights in each, throw in .308 for kicks. The difference won't be enough to warrant too much worrying over.

IE there are bigger priorities: (you might have it covered)
Bullet choice
Shot placement
Knowing the drops
Ranging

.30 cal gives you more options

 

[Justin Holder]

.25-06

 

[WNTFW]

Shooter opinions:
"and all my hunting partners shot 06."
"I also think there is minimal practical difference in trajectory,"

I have to agree with and have said it myself in other threads. I think both are very practical, real world considerations.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

 

[Loggerlee]

Small California deer need a 243,or .223 maybe

 

[fallout mike]

Paul, breathe deeply and take your meds.

 

[WNTFW]

Yeah, the topic may be done to death. The new guy deserves an answer.

ExAgoradzo,
Welcome to THR!

 

[swiftak]

We all know the 30-06 is a perfect round. 30-06

 

[KodiakBeer]

Get a .308.

 

[CowboyTim]

I have a .270...love it! Bought it to replace a 30-06...loved that too! Just bought a .308(sweet little Model 99e Carbine, haven't had a chance to shoot it yet)...pretty sure I'm gonna love that one more in the brush!!! But really there's plenty of love around for all three.....just find the rifle that fits you best in any of the above and happiness will follow.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Oh, sorry bout that. I'm better now.
I like .30-06 myself as an all around caliber because you can load anything from 110 grain bullets to 220 grainers for the big stuff like elk and moose.
For whitetails, it just plain don't matter. One won't do a thing the other won't.
And welcome aboard.

 

[Water-Man]

Both good calibers. The .30-06 can do more however. Now that I've gotten older and wiser I use a 6.5X55 SE!