Far and away the 308. You have never seen a 270 win any recognized shooting matches. The sniper system must know something since it is their basic mission weapon. You can find 308 anywhere and reduced loads are offered when you introduce a young one to shooting or you just want some fun shooting.
In between 243 and 300 Win Mag
- Thread starter stownsend
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bobelk99
Member
I have 10 calibers to choose from, and the 270 is probably the most fun to use on deer size game.
I have acquaintances that hunt elk with the 270 and good 160 bullets.
For deer I personally can't see anything topping it.
I have a Rem700 that shoots near 1/2" groups with Nosler BT 130s.
I have acquaintances that hunt elk with the 270 and good 160 bullets.
For deer I personally can't see anything topping it.
I have a Rem700 that shoots near 1/2" groups with Nosler BT 130s.
22-rimfire
Member
For general whitetail hunting, the 270 win is hard to beat. I'd love to have a 300 win mag, but I just never felt the abuse (recoil) justified my use with whitetails. However, it is an excellent elk and mosse caliber or long range whitetail caliber.
You may be better off buying a 223 or 22-250 for varmints if you do much varmint hunting and continue to use the 300 win mag for whitetails. I used a 243 for wood chucks for a number of years and liked it. It was just a bit too much gun except for long range shooting where the bullet weight would help with bullet drift (wind).
You may be better off buying a 223 or 22-250 for varmints if you do much varmint hunting and continue to use the 300 win mag for whitetails. I used a 243 for wood chucks for a number of years and liked it. It was just a bit too much gun except for long range shooting where the bullet weight would help with bullet drift (wind).
stownsend
Member
Thanks for all the input folks, lots of good information!
I am not a reloader, so that can play into it.
I do most of my hunting in the river hills of South Dakota, so even though I am in Michigan, that's not where I do most of my hunting.
It might not make a lot of sense, but being that I already have a 30 cal. I was not thinking 308, but that does bring some strong points.
It seems like the 270 is winning the vote. I like the idea of relatively inexpensive ammo and easy to find.
22-rimfire: I had thought about going smaller with a more dedicated varmint, but I don't hunt enough varmint to really justify a gun strictly for that. I have thought a lot about a 223 many times, but have never taken the plunge.
Since I already have Remington and Winchester represented...thought maybe I should go with a Savage for this one, to keep a well rounded gun safe.
I am not a reloader, so that can play into it.
I do most of my hunting in the river hills of South Dakota, so even though I am in Michigan, that's not where I do most of my hunting.
It might not make a lot of sense, but being that I already have a 30 cal. I was not thinking 308, but that does bring some strong points.
It seems like the 270 is winning the vote. I like the idea of relatively inexpensive ammo and easy to find.
22-rimfire: I had thought about going smaller with a more dedicated varmint, but I don't hunt enough varmint to really justify a gun strictly for that. I have thought a lot about a 223 many times, but have never taken the plunge.
Since I already have Remington and Winchester represented...thought maybe I should go with a Savage for this one, to keep a well rounded gun safe.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
For all that I've killed a few deer with a .270, I wouldn't pick it as a "betweener" in the .243-.300 WinMag comparison. It's not really that much less than the .300, from a hunting standpoint.
One thing about the 7mm08 is that it functions well with a 22" barrel, and is commonly made with the short action. That results in a fairly lightweight and handy rifle which is easy to carry, quick to get on-point. (I really do like my 700Ti in 7mm08; it's 6.25 pounds, ready to hunt.)
One thing about the 7mm08 is that it functions well with a 22" barrel, and is commonly made with the short action. That results in a fairly lightweight and handy rifle which is easy to carry, quick to get on-point. (I really do like my 700Ti in 7mm08; it's 6.25 pounds, ready to hunt.)
GMFWoodchuck
member
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It's outside your caliber range, but I've been thinking about the 338-06 myself.
Perfect.
But if you already have a .300 Mag for the "long shot" and for mostly whitetail you might also like the 6.5x55 Swede or .257 Roberts+P. Better deer guns than the .243 IMO.
You also might consider the new .270 WSM which would also work for all lower 48 game.
hogshead
Member
308!
stownsend
Member
Art, you make some good points about the 7-08. I like the idea of it being a lightweight gun, although we don't do a lot of walking/stalking...it does take place and those few extra pounds can add up.
A lot of people are suggesting 308, and I really hadn't thought that much about it seeing how I already had a 30 cal. in the stable, but it does fit the bill for what I would use it for.
The secondary use for this gun would be coyote...after the deer has been gotten our hunt becomes a coyote extermination crusade. The 300 is overkill, unless there are 3 or 4 standing in a line, and the 243 works great for this purpose...does anyone use a 270 or 7-08 for coyote?
A lot of people are suggesting 308, and I really hadn't thought that much about it seeing how I already had a 30 cal. in the stable, but it does fit the bill for what I would use it for.
The secondary use for this gun would be coyote...after the deer has been gotten our hunt becomes a coyote extermination crusade. The 300 is overkill, unless there are 3 or 4 standing in a line, and the 243 works great for this purpose...does anyone use a 270 or 7-08 for coyote?
JimKirk
Member
I have a 25/06 and 270 WSM between.....
Jimmy K
Jimmy K
usmc1371
Member
+ 1 for the 25-06 or the short action version AKA 25wsm/wssm. Falls right between the 300wm and 243.
t george
Member
if you dont have anything against the short mags go with the 270wsm... not realy an in between round in aspects of velocity or energy, but caliber is a tweener! and it is just cool imo
AKElroy
Member
.308 for me. I just bought a Savage Weather Warrior Accustock / Accutrigger, mounted a Leupold VariX III 4X14 AO in DeadNutz mounts. It is CRAZY accurate, I love it. It is heavy and has virtually no recoil with the squishy factory pad; It actually feels less lively than my .243 from a recoil standpoint.
I do not think a well placed .308 would have any difficulty cleanly taking any lower 48 game.
I do not think a well placed .308 would have any difficulty cleanly taking any lower 48 game.
Maverick223
Member
Bought...and promptly sold...whissums.
t george
Member
lol common Mavrick thats why I said If you dont have anything against it... I like mine and cant wait till the next hog steps out!
Maverick223
Member
I liked it at one time...then I bought one and it went downhill from there.
To make it worse, it put a bad taste in my mouth for the .270cal. too. 
From here on out it will be 6.5 or 7mm for me as there is a better selection of bullets (with better BCs) available for both.t george
Member
I will agree with you that there is a better selection of bullets for the 7mm and the 6.5, but for the original poster looking for an in between round I think 270 is the ticket (jmo) either 270 win for ammo on ever shelf in america or 270 win short mag for somthing a little diffrent.
to me a rifles level of usfulness has more to do with the person pulling the trigger than the BC of the bullet that is fired... at least out to a certain point. I have a 243 that I shoot 80-105gr bullets through 270 wsm that I shot130s out then a 30-06 that I shoot 150 to 190s out of then a 338 that I shoot 225-250s out of.
Honestly with the game I hunt the 270wsm or the 30-06 could handle it all, but variety is the spice of life and I like variety!!! may have to get me a short barreled 7mm08 for grins
to me a rifles level of usfulness has more to do with the person pulling the trigger than the BC of the bullet that is fired... at least out to a certain point. I have a 243 that I shoot 80-105gr bullets through 270 wsm that I shot130s out then a 30-06 that I shoot 150 to 190s out of then a 338 that I shoot 225-250s out of.
Honestly with the game I hunt the 270wsm or the 30-06 could handle it all, but variety is the spice of life and I like variety!!! may have to get me a short barreled 7mm08 for grins
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
stownsend, I loaded some 100-grain 7mms for a coyote round. Been sorta lazy, lately, about calling. My "problem" is the typical Olde Phart's: Choices. .223, .243 or the 7mm08. They all work.
I'll note that I went for uber-light, initially, with the Ti. A Weaver 1x3 was only seven ounces. Even so, I was getting 3/4 MOA at my bench during early sight-in and load testing. I had an old Leupold Vari-X II 3x9 in the safe, so that's now on it. Doesn't make the groups any tighter; just easier.
.223, .243 or the 7mm08. They all work.I'll note that I went for uber-light, initially, with the Ti. A Weaver 1x3 was only seven ounces. Even so, I was getting 3/4 MOA at my bench during early sight-in and load testing. I had an old Leupold Vari-X II 3x9 in the safe, so that's now on it. Doesn't make the groups any tighter; just easier.
Guiding101
Member
I have to agree with the above posts, they all would be great. It is nice to go with a common round, i.e. .270, .308, .30-06, 7mm Rem Mag. for the simple reason is there are good factory rounds available virtually everywhere. If you reload it is often fun to go with an oddball cartridge that not all of your buddies have. The list of oddballs is endless. One cartridge I really like is the .264 Win mag. For whatever reason i never really gained the success that one would have thought it may have based on its balistics.
Stownsend;
Maverick almost got it right, & Float Pilot was first up with the correct answer IMHO. The 6.5 Swede is where I'm voting both here and with my wallet.
Just do a little research with sectional densities & B/C, and you'll see why this one has been a winner for way over a hundred years.
900F
Maverick almost got it right, & Float Pilot was first up with the correct answer IMHO. The 6.5 Swede is where I'm voting both here and with my wallet.
Just do a little research with sectional densities & B/C, and you'll see why this one has been a winner for way over a hundred years.
900F
Maverick223
Member
Absolutely, but it never hurts to have a favorable BC or more choices of weight, even if it is unnecessary for the intended use. The .270Win. is a fine cartridge, I just don't care for it.
PowerG
Member
I'd look at the 7mm-08 closely-it's a great deer cartridge, and the short length makes it available in many light rifles. Great in full-size rifles too.
Tough to beat the .06, it's hands down the most versatile rifle caliber there is.
Tough to beat the .06, it's hands down the most versatile rifle caliber there is.
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