if you had the choice what would it be?

[CoRoMo]

What's with the "IF you had the choice..."? I did have the choice, I still have it today, and I made the right decision. My blood type is 270. Asking me to hunt with an '06 is like asking The Pope to hop into a mosh pit.

 

[Captcurt]

The 30-06 will shoot same weight bullets faster than a 270. And, although the BC of the 270 will be better PO Ackley said that most shooters couldn't hit a flock of circus tents at the distance that would come in to play.

I usually hunt with a 280 just because, but it would be hard to figure out anything it will do that the '06 won't. Same with the 270.

But you have so many great bullet makes and sizes for 7mm and 30 cal. If O'connor hadn't touted the 270 so much the 280 would have been "THE GUN". Well, right behind the 06.

 

[hirundo82]

f you dont mind why would you choose the .270 over the 30-06 if both were offered to you but you could only have one ?

All else being equal, bigger hole=better. Besides the larger caliber, the .30-06 can use bigger bullets (up to 220 grain) than the .270, which is useful when you are hunting some of the bigger game mentioned (moose, brown bear, etc.).

That said, I have a .270 but not a .30-06 (yet).

 

[The Bushmaster]

Would I be too repeditive if I said .30-06?

 

[wheelgunslinger]

'06, for sure.

 

[Legionnaire]

I'll chime in for the .30-06 ... especially for a reloader.

 

[Yarddog]

06 is the one I own ; )
Y/D

 

[frontloader]

30/06

 

[Sav .250]

I do like the 06 but I`d take the .270 and never look back. Maybe I`d pass on the
big bears though.

 

[CoRoMo]

I'd love to hunt in Alaska one day. However, I honestly doubt that I'll ever get rich enough to do so. Although, if I were to somehow end up on an AK hunt, and I brought along a couple .270 rifles and my handloads, the guide might laugh at me if I was hunting a big bear or one of their moose. Heck, he might flat out refuse to guide me if I was carrying one of my .270 rifles. He wouldn't know what I am capable of with my rifles. He really wouldn't even care, I suppose. He'd just fall back on that notion that a rifle like that isn't enough to rightly put down a big bear or an Alaskan moose. I can't subscribe to that notion though.

 

[JEB]

.30-06

 

[sureshot]

Ok so if you do handload then what if you didn't
I understand what you mean CoRoMo

 

[Ike R]

For any animal, 30-06, Like Art I have hunted squirrels and rabbits with a 30-06 loaded with light round balls. I even barked squirrels with larger lead with alot of success!

The big game list that the OP tagged on to the end though and them only...I would go with the .308 if I might have to take a shot at a long range. Just MHO, all could still be cleanly killed with the 30-06, I have just never had much luck with it in the reach out and slay something department.

 

[wankerjake]

Yeah the 30-06 would be my vote, although I do believe that they'd all be adequate if you knew what you were doing. There are situations where more is better, but a good shooter with a good load only needs something adequate. Take CoRoMo for example, if he shoots his 270's as well as he says he does, well then there's no reason to buy an '06!

 

[sureshot]

Ok well then I'll channge the original question. If you had a choice between 30-06, .270, .303, and a .308 what would it be?

 

[Legionnaire]

If you want a lightweight, short action, carbine-length rifle for walkaround hunting, I'd go with the .308 in something like a Remington Model Seven. Otherwise, .30-06.

 

[WYcoyote]

Out of those choices the bigger animals you mention scream for the 30-06.

 

[CoRoMo]

Ok so if you do handload then what if you didn't
I understand what you mean CoRoMo

It really doesn't matter much other than cost. There are outstanding examples of factory ammo that surpass anything that I currently reload, and of course they cost far more per round than my handloads. If those factory offerings group right, and if they chronograph at the upper end velocities, they would be the optimal choice. You just pay through the nose for it. I can reload a particular projectile that groups like match ammo, and I can load it to the velocity of my choice. I can do it at less expense, than buying a quality factory round that matches its performance.

...a choice between 30-06, .270, .303, and a .308...

Same answer as before.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I'd have to cry myself to sleep every night if I couldn't have a lever action 30-30 (first choice without a doubt - like it's lines, the way it handles, etc.). My second choice of those given would be a 30-06. In fact, those are what my two hunting rifles are. If I were ever to purposely hunt grizzly (rather than run into one), I'd probably want something bigger.