caliber selection: .243 Win or .270 Win?

[oregonhunter]

You would never catch me hunting bull elk with a 270, sure a 270 can throw a 150gr well but you cannot shoot a 180gr 0r 200+ gr bullet with a 270, a 30-06 on the other hand will throw a 180gr core-lokt hammer of god 2800fps. I wont even get into the 220 gr beasts.

 

[kennyboy]

Definately .270 Win. .243 will still work, but it is mainly preferred only because of its minimal recoil. If you can deal with the recoil of the .270Win which is not harsh, then go .270. It is one of the, if not the most popular deer cartridge out there.

 

[aubie515]

Both calibers are great and will take deer. It all boils down to personal preference...despite all the "experts" opinions. I owned both calibers and I prefer the .243 because I do not like LA calibers. If you are recoil sensative, I'd suggest the 243.

 

[countryrebel]

+1

 

[sb350hp]

Threads like this crack me up. It began as what to purchase 243 or 270. All the sudden every ones success stories with thier calilber of choice comes out. Comparing a 270 to a 243 is like comparing 7mm mag to a 30-06. Both will all things but somethings better than the other.

If you are hunting primarily deer, go with the 270, if you are 50/50 deer,coyotes or other critters go w/ 243. I have no bones about deer hunting w/ either caliber but it is not about performance as much as it is preference.

As for "oregon hunter" from another oregonian. Many many big bull have been killed with a 270 with no follow up shot. For that matter my uncle bagged to bulls with a 243 out of neccestity not choice (wifes gun, his broke). His gun of choice for elk before he died... 300 win mag. 243,270,280,30-06,7mm etc not big enough for elk in his opinion. My gun.. A model 700 mtn rifle in 30-06. does all things I need it to do well.

 

[alfpwo3]

Came across this as I surfed the net. I just purchased my first 270axis. All my budget could afford. Haha wish I would have looked at it better before I bought it. First rifle I owned with a synthetic stock. Dont like how light it is. And all the cheap plastic...safty...clip release etc..etc... However So far every thing i pulled the trigger on has dropped. 2Deer a black bear and a bull moose. As for any some fur bearring critters...I think it would be too much..I want value for my pelts. That being said..even a 243 seems a bit much for critters. Unless ur into targetshooting then make ur pick. I would look and see how available shells are.. and cost. SB350hp.... He probably broke his 300 over a tree trunk cause the round couldnt keep up to the beast.lol jk

 

[toiville2feathers]

from an economic stand point I would buy the savage in a 270 and then you could do a switch barrel in a 25-06 or a 220 swift if you like for varmints. The only extras you need are a barrel nut wrench and two head space gauges.

 

[Inebriated]

EDIT - well dang, this thread is over 6 years old!

Welcome, alf.

 

[sixgunner455]

Zombies in the house! (At least, zombie threads)

 

[Dthunter]

From a target shooters perspective:

The 243 and the 270 are totally different cartidges.

If you reload, The 243 shoots flatter than the 270. Bullets with much higger BC are available in that diameter.
The 243 is night and day the better pick for varmints. Even though its a little big for that too. Less recoil/ easier to shoot for presision work.

Afrer 1000 yards the 270's energy has bled out so much that the 243 has nearly
Matched it.

The 270 win is a hunting mans caliber. It is/was intended to shoot big game form its onset.
The 270 has more energy than the 243, therefore by default(physics) can kill lager animals easier.
The .277 cal is seriously handycapped by a lack of high BC bullets.
If there was higher BC bullets like the 168gr .284 BergerVLD, it would shine for long range target as well as hunting!

I like both, shot many animals With both.
I have shot both out to 1000 yards many times, and the 243 out to 1300.
The 243 with 108 grain bergers just dont get easier to shoot long range. Fun stuff!

Both cartridges are great hunting calibers, in thier own class.


This time next year I will be shooting a custom 270 win tactical rifle. My goal is 1760 yards. I want to post a group with it at that distance. It will take some work, but I know it can be done.

Just pick one that suits your mood and go for it. Its all fun!

 

[jmr40]

With modern bullets a 243 is as big as anyone needs for deer. If larger game is on the menu a 270 with better bullets will cleanly take any animal in North America. It is on the light side for the larger brown bear, but that wouldn't stop me from using it if a 270 were what I had. It depends on what your long term uses are.

You would never catch me hunting bull elk with a 270, sure a 270 can throw a 150gr well but you cannot shoot a 180gr 0r 200+ gr bullet with a 270, a 30-06 on the other hand will throw a 180gr core-lokt hammer of god 2800fps. I wont even get into the 220 gr beasts.

Bullet diameter and weight have been largely irrelevent since smokeless powder came on the scene. Bullet construction determines how much damage a bullet does when it hits game. A premium 270/150 bullet will have pretty much the same effect on game as a 30-06/180. I'll conceed that the 200 gr and heavier .30 cal bullets offer a slight advantage on really large animals. But if a 270 ain't big enough to get the job done, I need a lot bigger gun than a 30-06. For game up to elk or moose a 270 is more than adequate.

 

[Elkins45]

243 is a varmint rifle, 270 is a deer rifle.

25/06 is both.

 

[wyohome]

243 is a varmint rifle, 270 is a deer rifle.

I wish I would have known this 30 years ago.
http://youtu.be/hY0w1c-gf18
Notice that the bullet goes clear through.

 

[sixgunner455]

Well, you could just get both - nothing wrong with a pair!

 

[itsa pain]

From a target shooters perspective:

The 243 and the 270 are totally different cartidges.

If you reload, The 243 shoots flatter than the 270. Bullets with much higger BC are available in that diameter.
The 243 is night and day the better pick for varmints. Even though its a little big for that too. Less recoil/ easier to shoot for presision work.

Afrer 1000 yards the 270's energy has bled out so much that the 243 has nearly
Matched it.

The 270 win is a hunting mans caliber. It is/was intended to shoot big game form its onset.
The 270 has more energy than the 243, therefore by default(physics) can kill lager animals easier.
The .277 cal is seriously handycapped by a lack of high BC bullets.
If there was higher BC bullets like the 168gr .284 BergerVLD, it would shine for long range target as well as hunting!

I like both, shot many animals With both.
I have shot both out to 1000 yards many times, and the 243 out to 1300.
The 243 with 108 grain bergers just dont get easier to shoot long range. Fun stuff!

Both cartridges are great hunting calibers, in thier own class.


This time next year I will be shooting a custom 270 win tactical rifle. My goal is 1760 yards. I want to post a group with it at that distance. It will take some work, but I know it can be done.

Just pick one that suits your mood and go for it. Its all fun!

nosler has a new 150 gr 270 bullet with a .625 bc . another company that I cant remember has ones even higher

 

[Art Eatman]

The problem with necrothreadia is that commonly, the question has been answered, long ago. Next is that the OP might well be dead and gone, so what's the point of the resurrection?