.308 vs. .270

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The 308 125 grain hunting cartridge is a good one, easily the reason I chose 308 over 270, much to chose from, few feet difference (3125 for 308 compared to 270s premier 130 at 3260)... Overall, 308 is a true, one gun hunters, dream:)

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=342270

Technical Information

•Caliber: 308 Winchester
•Bullet Weight: 125 Grains
•Bullet Style: Nosler Ballistic Tip
•Case Type: Brass


Ballistics Information:
•Muzzle Velocity: 3150 fps
•Muzzle Energy: 2754 ft. lbs.

Also remember...
All (270 and 308) is approximate velocity. Resulting velocity may vary...
 
watch out... this 308 load will create hole size of basketball if you use it on deer size game, plus 125 gr have low BC. This thing will be sonic @1000 yards, not good for long range shooting...
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (MOA)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 3150.0 2.821 2753.6 0.000 0.0 ***
100 -0.0 -0.0 0.8 0.8 2858.3 2.560 2267.3 0.100 17.6 16.8
200 -2.8 -1.3 3.5 1.7 2580.2 2.311 1847.5 0.210 37.0 17.7
300 -10.8 -3.4 8.3 2.7 2317.3 2.076 1490.2 0.333 58.6 18.7
400 -25.3 -6.0 15.7 3.7 2070.7 1.855 1189.9 0.470 82.7 19.8
500 -48.0 -9.2 26.0 5.0 1839.3 1.647 938.8 0.624 109.8 21.0
600 -81.0 -12.9 39.8 6.3 1620.6 1.452 728.8 0.798 140.4 22.3
700 -127.3 -17.4 57.9 7.9 1413.8 1.266 554.7 0.996 175.3 23.9
800 -191.2 -22.8 81.4 9.7 1221.2 1.094 413.8 1.224 215.5 25.7
900 -278.5 -29.6 111.2 11.8 1067.4 0.956 316.2 1.489 262.0 27.8
1000 -396.0 -37.8 145.6 13.9 1001.3 0.897 278.3 1.780 313.2 29.9
 
I just Hunt, I shot a Win Mo. 70 - 270 and the Bride uses a Rem. Mo 7 - 308, i just like the long action of the 270, it feeds so smoth that sometimes i find myself checking to be sure it loaded, where the shorter 308 round does not feed near as well,
 
I would hunt with either one but 270 first, partly because I have in the past.
I like federal premiums in 150 nosler for elk, 130 for deer/antelope. I would hunt with 308 if thats what I had. While sighting in my 270 rifles for hunting season, Ive got groups I would consider competitive, and would not hesitate to use for target. I have to think handloading would only improve that. I agree 308 has more bullet choices. but I would be more apt to use them in 30-06, which I think is a better comparison to 270. if you just like dinkin around with different loads
.308 probably overs the most possible combinations. bullets available for 270 will handle about any thing otherwise there would be more choices and weights.

this is all opinion.
 
There is no magic about 308, just militarized cartridge created to feed machine-guns to replace 30-06, so service rifles and sniper rifles had to be created around it, to be exact 175 grain M118LR, basically this is 175 gr Sierra Match King (B.C 0.505) loaded with military ball powder in LC brass with crimped primer. The velocity for this load is about 2800 fps, having high B.C this ammo more then capable for shooting pass 1K, energy @ 1K is about 600 ft*lb still good for soft targets. Nowadays you'll see more long range rigs build around 338 Lapua Magnum, this cartridge was design specifically to reach way out there with unbelievable B.C like 0.760+.
About most rifles used in competitions, depends on competition, like F/TR you only allowed to shoot 308 or 223, in F class you'll see more 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, most bench rest use 6mm exclusively, Palma that's 308 only.
 
Nola 5.56 Dont let anybody low rate your 270 , its a fine cartridge, every body has a favorite, and you owe no apologies for a 270. The 270 in a Winchester featherweight is one of the finest combinations you can have. my favorite was an Interarms 98 Mauser sporter. Odds are a survival situation will be about food , you'll be eatin steak.
 
There is no magic about 308, just militarized cartridge created to feed machine-guns to replace 30-06, so service rifles and sniper rifles had to be created around it, to be exact 175 grain M118LR, basically this is 175 gr Sierra Match King (B.C 0.505) loaded with military ball powder in LC brass with crimped primer. The velocity for this load is about 2800 fps...
Click to expand...

When the M118LR round was being developed (mid 1990's), Olin (Winchester) had the contract to operate Lake City, and so they used their own WC750 ball powder. It went into production in October of 1997, and those rounds have a headstamp of "98". However, ATK (which owns Alliant Powder) took over operations from Olin at Lake City in 1999, and quickly switched over to a non-cannister grade of RL15 powder (an extruded powder) for M118LR ammo production. M118LR is spec'd at 2580 fps at 78', although the 2007 lot that I have shot chrono'd at 2718fps at 12' out of my 26" barreled FN SPR. Also, the M118LR brass does not have a crimped in primer.

Don
 
Technicality Don, I see I was wrong on the speed, powder and crimped primers. Most LC brass I worked with have it crimped and M59 or M61 had ball powder, so I have an assumption about ball powder. In my experiments with 175 gr SMK and 175 gr Berger I used RL-17 which out of 24" barrel clocked at 2800 fps. Having it at lower speed -200 fps would only make it worse down range.
 
Casefull said:
You sound like a guy who is recoil challenged...most of your conclusions are not true. I hunt and shoot long range with 3 of the calibers you mention. Nothing wrong with .270...you can always let your wife and sons use it for their first rifle.
Click to expand...
...oohhhh!! That one hurt!!

I shoot with a .308 and the types of ammo based on need are widely used for hunting, but at the range, when your punching paper..you have a caliber that can be extremely accurate. Best of both worlds in my guesstimation. Unless you are a crappy shot...and the animal is at extreme ranges..the .308 will handle any duty you give it. I shoot mine up to 500 yards and it's pretty darn accurate! .308 is a very flat trajectory. I had the same decision to make when I bought my 1st rifle and decided on teh .308. The recoil is virtually nothing..(in my little mind) and it's extremely accurate! What's not to love?
 
Wow, 2800fps with a 175SMK out of a .308 is smokin'. I have never used RL17, but from everything I've heard, it's a great powder with heavy bullets in a .308.

Don
 
Yeah I guess smoking, but I sold my last 308, trying 6.5-08 now :)
 
hang in there kachok. the .277 caliber is as good as any (and better than most) at 1000 yards. apples to apples.

murf
 
The .277" caliber is lacking in long-range performance when compared to its 6.5mm and 7mm cousins because the selection of high-BC bullets (that is, above 0.55) is basically nonexistent.
 
i guess i'll take you up on your offer made in post #47. a berger vld 150grain. b.c. = .531, mv out of the 270wsm is 3000fps from a 24" barrel. can you run the numbers again and post the chart? thx

murf
 
It's only marginally better than the 130 SST I posted before
Code: 
>> Comparison
_Bullet_           _BC_ _MV_         0     200     400     600     800    1000 | YARDS
270 130SST        0.460 3260 >    0.00    2.35   10.03   24.29   46.72   79.42 | wind (inches)
270 150BER        0.531 3000 >    0.00    2.26    9.60   23.05   43.90   73.78 | wind (inches)
7RM/WSM 180       0.650 2950 >    0.00    1.87    7.85   18.61   34.94   57.84 | wind (inches)
7RM/WSM 162       0.625 3125 >    0.00    1.79    7.54   17.89   33.64   55.74 | wind (inches)
6.5-06 140        0.615 3050 >    0.00    1.89    7.95   18.90   35.58   59.07 | wind (inches)
.260 140          0.615 2900 >    0.00    2.03    8.56   20.35   38.38   63.81 | wind (inches)
.308 155          0.508 2930 >    0.00    2.45   10.44   25.18   48.19   81.26 | wind (inches)


>> Comparison
270 130SST        0.460 3260 >   -0.00    0.84    4.53    9.49   15.79   23.85 | drop (moa)
270 150BER        0.531 3000 >   -0.00    1.13    5.42   10.97   17.82   26.30 | drop (moa)
7RM/WSM 180       0.650 2950 >   -0.00    1.16    5.38   10.66   16.92   24.33 | drop (moa)
7RM/WSM 162       0.625 3125 >   -0.00    0.93    4.65    9.37   14.99   21.67 | drop (moa)
6.5-06 140        0.615 3050 >   -0.00    1.03    4.99   10.00   15.99   23.15 | drop (moa)
.260 140          0.615 2900 >   -0.00    1.25    5.70   11.30   18.03   26.08 | drop (moa)
.308 155          0.508 2930 >   -0.00    1.25    5.84   11.83   19.30   28.68 | drop (moa)


>> Comparison
270 130SST        0.460 3260 >    3260    2836    2448    2094    1773    1489 | velocity (fps)
270 150BER        0.531 3000 >    3000    2650    2326    2027    1752    1507 | velocity (fps)
7RM/WSM 180       0.650 2950 >    2950    2665    2397    2147    1912    1694 | velocity (fps)
7RM/WSM 162       0.625 3125 >    3125    2819    2531    2262    2010    1776 | velocity (fps)
6.5-06 140        0.615 3050 >    3050    2743    2456    2187    1937    1705 | velocity (fps)
.260 140          0.615 2900 >    2900    2603    2324    2065    1823    1601 | velocity (fps)
.308 155          0.508 2930 >    2930    2570    2238    1933    1655    1415 | velocity (fps)
 
Studied the same question,
I already own 270 (Interarms MkX) and several K31 (7,5x55), also considered 300WM and 308 win.

I selected 6.5x55, with an 24" barrel, 8" drall, very accurate, less recoil, no need for muzzle break.
got to know the cartridge in a 1909 swedisch mauser, fell in love instantaniously.

rifle selected: unique alpine TPG1, scope S&B PMII, 4-16x50, delivery by christmas this year.

@ zak: do you have balistics on 6.5x55 ( please )

Greetings

Peter
 
Not Zak, but, I shot the 6.5x55 in 1,000 yard F Class for 3 years. The 139-142gr 6.5mm match bullets have a very high BC, and as I recall, at ~2925fps only took about 25.5MOA of up from a 100 yard zero to reach 1k. Very flat shooting and light recoiling!

Don
 
Don, 2925 fps for 139 - 142 gr in 6.5x55 that's smoking! I use 139 Lapua and H4350 in 260 and I'm 100 fps less then what you getting in swed, maybe I should try that RL-17, but its temperature sensitive and I'm trying to develop consistent load.
 
DIM,

The Swede has got more case capacity than the .260, and typically runs 50 - 100 fps faster with the right powder. I could not do it with H4350. I have been using RL22 and N160. Kids - Don't try this at home with your old M96 Mausers.:D

Don
 
Don, right 6.5x55 is long action cartridge, and has plenty of freebore to seat those high B.C bullets so it has more case capacity for powder, right now I'm struggling with bullet seating depth which takes so much space and leaves less room for powder, in 260 I can't even fill to datum line, because bullet seats below it...
 
DIM,

Yeah, that's the thing with the .260 (great cartridge that it is), once you seat the bullet out to an optimal OAL, you now have a long action cartridge.

Don
 
270 is a necked down 30-06 casing, so it has more volume, as long as you hand load, and dont mind getting creative on where you buy your bullets you can have what ever kinda round you want for a 270

if you want ammo now that you want have to make, then the 308 takes it
 
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