Well bringing this in full circle, when I think about the most successful cal./bullet combo (for me), for this country (N. Idaho)/& animal (W.T. or Mul. Deer) in just numbers of one shot kills, it's the .270 with the Noz. B.T. They sure were nasty until they thickened the jackets up, and even then I lost a lot of meat.
The ex used to say she didn't like bones hanging on the walls, so trophy hunting was exchanged for meat hunting, and with the .270 with your soft tips if you hit a big bone you could ruin a lot of meat in a big hurry.
Some of the unwritten things that go with a successful combo, is being very comfortable and confident with the gun. Having sufficient foot lbs. after 200 yards, knowing the trajectory of the load, and being correct on the distance I'm shooting . But no matter how old I get, that darn grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I see the new 270 WSM or perhaps Ruger's new .300 and off I go into ballistics land. It's all part of what makes it such a great sport.
I shot a buck a few years ago (plus a few years) that was dead without a kick, instantly, with a .22 Hornet. The only shot I had from the 75 yds was head/neck and that little 40 grainer split the spine in his neck and he never heard the shot, but it's certainly not something I'd make a practice of.
I would only shoot head/neck if it was the only shot I figured I was going to get, and I wanted that animal.
I really don't think that out to 400yds, (and that is a long shot in my book,) there is much difference between the .270, .280, or '06.'
(I do however like the .280 Ackley's ballistics with 140-160 gr.)
So when ya think about it, if a guy believes that he can't do much better than those guns out to 400.
He then very well might find himself on the short end of terminal ballistics with the "smaller" cased rifles.
I don't think you can argue that the .308 nato case will hold more powder than the 06 and when it gets down to it, powder and bullet shape, certainly have a lot to do with what goes on after 200yds.
This is if I hold the conversation to the 7mm-08 vs the .270
or the 308 vs the 06.
As one gentleman wrote here, I was probably guilty of trying to squeeze
7 mag performance out of the 7mm-08 although any of you who have the #12 Speer can attest to the
loads on 209-210 w/ 7mm-08 &
130 & 145 gr. Darn close !
But I buy guns because I like to shoot them not burn through barrels.
If I get a gun that will stay at 1/2 in.
with a given load that's 1 grain low of max. I'm very happy.
I wonder if I can talk Santa into that new .280 Ackley in a Kimber?
