Choice of Hunting Caliber

[Flatbush Harry]

I own all three calibers. If I'm going hunting in the western US, I'd use .270 Win 130gr for white tail and 140 or 150 for mulies, although a good 130gr bullet (I like Barnes TTSX, Hornady SST/Remington AccuTip or Nosler AccuBond) will get the job done. I like the flat shooting of the .270 for varying distances. I have had good results with both .308 and .30-06 with 150gr or 165/168gr bullets as well. Frankly, all three are stone killers with good shot placement.

FH

 

[snakeman]

Actually for deer the 243 would probably be my pick now if I were to go buy a new rifle as it is extremely accurate and light kicking.

 

[Texan Scott]

If you are SOOOO far away or the animal is SOOOO large that there's any chance of the difference between these three MAKING a difference, you need to get closer or go home.

 

[cpt-t]

RmB: I Have all 3 calibers, but I bought my first 30-06 in Seaside Calf right next to FT ORD in 1969 and still use it killed a deer 2 years ago, I didn`t go deer hunting last year. All three of the calibers you mentioned, are great choices for a hunting rifle. But if you were only going to have one rifle it would be a 30-06 IMHO. You can hunt any thing in North America with the 30-06, and find ammo for it at any MOM & POP store that sells ammo. At Wal-Mart you can find ammo for a 30-06 from 125 gr bullets to 220 gr bullets I have 4 30-06 rifles, I just prefer the 30-06 and I truley belive in and trust this caliber. GOOD LUCK TO YOU: ken

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Which of the following is most important to you?

1.) Mid-Long Range accuracy (300+)
2.) Cost of Ammo
3.) Power

If it's #1, go with the .270. If it's #2, go with the .308. If it's #3, go with the .30-06. All three can't miss as long as you don't miss.

 

[aka108]

The size rounds he asked about sounds like he may be thinking of hunting mule deer out West. Anyhow, if I could only have one rifle for hunting anywhere in the US I'd own a 30-06. I would prefer the old 30-30 for hunting whitetail in the woods of the East and Southeast.

 

[MrDig]

Of the Calibers you have listed I voted .308 it has more versatility depending on the Gun. In short light "Scout or Hunter" style rifles it can be used in heavy cover. In a slightly longer Gun it can be used for greater distances effectively. Sometimes One Gun can effectively do both for you.
Two Calibers you might want to consider are .243 and or 30-30. I don't know what kind of area you will be hunting in so either of these might well be all you need.

 

[mnhntr]

If I had to choose between those three the .308 is it. They all kill deer equally, they all have good ballistics for longer range.

 

[mdauben]

I have a certain emotional attachment to the .270, mostly from reading the works of Jack O'Connor when I was younger. That aside, I doubt a deer would notice the difference between any of these out to 300-400 yards as they are all more than enough cartridge for CXP2 size game.

 

[springfield30-06]

They are all so close it does not really matter... I'd just go with what I liked better... and as you can see by my name I'd pick .30-06!

 

[wyohome]

I grew up shooting .308 Win, and own 4 rifles in that caliber. It is more than adequate for deer and elk sized game. I would say the same of the others had I been raised around them.

 

[JEB]

i voted 30-06. i wouldnt say its any better than the rest, i just like it.

 

[JustinNC]

Six of one, half a dozen of the other, and 2x3 of the next.





If you have to ask this question (and nothing wrong with asking, we all have to learn somewhere), then chances are, they are all equal to your abilities.

 

[akodo]

All 3 will kill a deer 'double dead'

All 3 will drop an elk at ranges twice as far as you suggest. Heck, one of those three can be effectively used on grizzly...with the appropriate bullet.

So pick whichever one strikes your fancy...OR consider getting a 243, 257 Roberts, 25-06 or something similar.

 

[One_Jackal]

The 30/06 serves me best in my area. It's been years since I have shot a deer over 75 yards away. The 230 gr round nose bullets in the 30/06 put deer down yet have enough pep to make a 200 yard shot should the need arise.

 

[akodo]

In a without rule of law situatioln, I've been told that .308 is abundant since it is a NATO round.

Yes, the fact that you could run scrounged up M240 ammo through a 308 bolt action rifle may have a SMALL amount of relevance for selecting a TEOTWAWKI rifle.

It doesn't matter a hill of beans for a hunting rifle though.

 

[akodo]

Ok, to clarify, is 7mm too much?

you mean 7mm remington magnum? Yea, too much. It'll kill a deer triple dead, so I guess if you need it dead beyond normal that's fine.

However, you are taking on more recoil, a more costly ammo, and lower overall magazine capacity to achieve this triple-dead status.

 

[RmB]

you mean 7mm remington magnum?.

Yeah not 7mm-08

 

[threefortyduster]

.30-06. It's the one most likely to be found in the local hardware or general store anywhere you go. Followed by the .308, then .270. For the record, I want to own a gun in all 3, currently have the .30-06.

 

[One_Jackal]

I have 4 rifles chambered for 30/06. I sold a .308 to get another 30/06

 

[Kachok]

I have owned all three for years, the 308 is the best genral purpose deer cartrage of the three, the 270 is best for wide open country hunting and the 30-06 is the best if you throw elk and bear in the mix.

 

[fastpat]

I chose the .308 because it enables a short action rifle which is more compact, whereas the other two require a long action.

On the other hand, I own a Ruger RSI in .30-06 and it's quite short with its 18.5 inch barrel. A RSI in .308 would be even shorter.

As to performance of the three on deer, there's virtually no difference. All have more than adequate power, all are available in a wide variety of bullet weights and styles.

 

[Robert]

You can't go wrong with any of the three you listed. If it were me I'd go with the -06 but that is just me.

 

[joecil]

I agree with 30-06 or .308 but know little about the others listed. I have 2 rifles both lever type one in 45 Colt and 45-70 but thought long and hard on a gun for all game inside 200 yards. Hence went with the 45-70.

 

[riflefan]

I have one of all three and have taken a deer with all three. I would make my choice based on which was available in the particular rifle I liked best. 99.9% of us recreational hunters could not take advantage of the different strengths and weaknesses of each cartridge. Good Luck and Happy hunting.:banghead: