Long Action: .30-06 vs. .270 Win vs. .308 Win

[Rapier]

Hey guys. Have another hard question for you, fortunately, I already picked the rifle to go with it.

I was in the Funstore the other day, and they had a CZ-550 FS there, in 9.3-something mm. Now, I have a serious, serious soft spot for Mannlicher stocks, so naturally I decided I had to have one. I'll figure out some uses for it later.

Now, here's the problem. They only make the 550 FS in long action, so I have three choices of common ammunition I can pick from. .30-06, it's little brother the .270 Winchester, and oddly enough, .308 Winchester with a 4-round detachable magazine. The other two have 5-round internal magazines.

My guts tell me .308 is the technically right answer, being the most general-purpose of the three rounds, but I already have 40 rounds of primo hunting ammo in .270 that I was given (For free no less!), and .30-06 is a classic round.

Now, while I do have some .270 on hand, it is not really a cheap round to shoot, and once I burn through my first 40 rounds, it's all on my dime then. Plus, they don't really seem to make non-hunting (SP or HP or Balistic Tip is about all I can find) .270 ammo in a factory load. Since one of the uses of this rifle would be as a starter rifle into >300 yard shooting, this seems to hurt the .270 real bad, because you can still get all kinds of match-grade ammo in .30-06 and .308.

And, since I can get 168-grain, HPBT Match ammo in my choice of either .30-06 or .308 Win for around $20/box (the .30-06 is actually a little cheaper here) I'm thinking one of them is the way to go. Now, since the 550 FS is a long-action rifle, the .308 version gets a detachable magazine, and they're only $42 each.

So I'm thinking .30-06 is the winner here, being a long-action cartridge by default, having fairly cheap ammo, an extra round of capacity over the .308, but being marginally less accurate.

I dunno, what do you guys think?

 

[Maverick223]

Now, here's the problem. They only make the 550 FS in long action, so I have three choices of common ammunition I can pick from. .30-06, it's little brother the .270 Winchester, and oddly enough, .308 Winchester with a 4-round detachable magazine. The other two have 5-round internal magazines.

I would immediately cross the .308 off of the list. The .270 isn't ideal for target shooting due to poor choice of bullets, and no factory match grade ammunition that I am aware of. I agree that the .30-06 is the winner, but don't buy into the hype that the .308 is more "inherently accurate", it is just more commonly used (because it is currently fielded by the US Military), and there are more choices for factory match (though there are a couple). For this reason, you will probably have to reload .30-06 to achieve the best accuracy. You may also want to consider the 6.5x55 Swede, as I am pretty sure it is available (but too lazy to check) in the CZ-550 Manlicher. The 6.5 is a great long range cartridge and is ideal for typical hunting.

 

[C-grunt]

I would say the 30-06 is more general purpose than the .308. It can load a heavier bullet for big game. With handloading or Federal GMM the 30-06 should be very accurate itself. Plus you got the cheap surplus ammo out there too.

I would also look in the 6.5 Swede. Its a great round. I just got a Swede Mauser and she shoots really well.

 

[scythefwd]

Why would anyone want a .308 in a long action? It completely negates the only advantage the .308 has over the .30-06. The -06 can do everything the .308 can, plus it can be pushed further in the speed department. I would drop the .308 off your list. It is up to you on the .270, which shoots flatter, and the .30-06 which carries more umph and can shoot the heavier rounds. Either will do 1k shots, if you can.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

My advice is, don't screw with it. The 9.3x62mm is an excellent very large game cartridge, and it's just not worth the trouble to do what you're proposing, when you could just get a 2nd beautiful turnbolt as cheaply as, or just almost, re-barreling that one (and risking something not going right on the re-barrel by the smith). Are you ever gonna hunt moose, bison, yak, large bear, or African plains game and medium dangerous game (cats)? If so, then you've got the rifle for it right there!

The 550 FS also comes in .270 and .30-06, IINM, so just get a 2nd one! Can't have too many of these great rifles. Or, get the caliber you want in another fine brand of rifle.

And .308 in a long action? Not the greatest idea, primarily because of feeding problems potentially, but also because it negates one of the reasons for a short action - lighter weight. Only reason to put .308 in a long action maybe, is with a 9 or 10 twist barrel if you know you're gonna shoot solely 210s-240s out of it.

 

[benzy2]

Tad, I don't believe he bought the rifle the shop had, but instead is looking to buy one of the 550 FS options out there, which he is looking at their .308, .270, and .30-06. Or at least thats how I understood the post. Since he was talking about the .308 with a detachable 4 round mag and the other two being internal 5 round it also leads me to believe he has not purchased a rifle as of yet.

 

[essayons21]

Go for 30-06. More versatile, than .270 and .308, and with only a very slight loss of accuracy. I don't want to start any caliber wars, but .308 can be more accurate than 30-06 due to a shorter, fatter powder column and a sharper shoulder angle. That being said, 30-06 can be more accurate than any shooter could hope to achieve. My personal rifle for long-range precision work is a 30-06. Handloads achieve the best accuracy, but Black Hills, Federal, and HSM all make 30-06 loads with outstanding accuracy.

 

[Rapier]

Whoops, forgot I started this thread.

Yes, I have not yet bought any new rifle CZ's yet. Though the pretty much unanimous answer seems to be the .30-06.

Which is cool, because I gave away the .270 to some guy at the range today, for free. Hope I made his day.

 

[Maverick223]

Just checked CZs site, and sure enough the 6.5x55 Swede is offered in the 550FS, that is the cartridge I would choose.

 

[Uncle Mike]

30-06.........

 

[RonE]

Go for the '06, there are published loads for this cartridge from 90 to 220 grains and with modern powders it is possible to load 180 grain bullets to velocities approaching 3,000fps.

 

[Legionnaire]

I gave away the .270 to some guy at the range today, for free. Hope I made his day.

Dibs on the .30=06 when you decide to give it away!

 

[chas08]

If you're hell bent on changing it....30/06

 

[TCB in TN]

Nothing wrong with any of the 3 but the 30-06 is more versitile over the counter than the other 2. If you roll your own then it doesn't matter much.

 

[HydeSmyler]

30-06 yep thats the one

 

[Bart B.]

Maverick223's remark:

I agree that the .30-06 is the winner, but don't buy into the hype that the .308 is more "inherently accurate",

Then why, in 1963, when the .308 was first allowed in high power rifle competition, did it instantly test more accurate in machine rested rifles testing ammo then produce higher scores with equal quality rifles and shooters that quit using the .30-06?

Why did Sierra Bullets start using it a bit sooner to test all of their 30 caliber products (and get smaller groups) if the .30-06 is the more accurate cartridge?

 

[R.W.Dale]

Maverick223's remark:Then why, in 1963, when the .308 was first allowed in high power rifle competition, did it instantly test more accurate in machine rested rifles testing ammo then produce higher scores with equal quality rifles and shooters that quit using the .30-06?

Why did Sierra Bullets start using it a bit sooner to test all of their 30 caliber products (and get smaller groups) if the .30-06 is the more accurate cartridge?

This is 2009 and not 1963

are we required to load 30/06 with bullets and propellants avalible/required for 30/06 half a century ago......,NO, NO we are not

 

[Uncle Mike]

Say what you fellers want...but the 308 IS NOT more inherently accurate than the 30-06 or ANY other cartridge of similar dimensions.

 

[Maverick223]

Then why, in 1963, when the .308 was first allowed in high power rifle competition, did it instantly test more accurate in machine rested rifles testing ammo then produce higher scores with equal quality rifles and shooters that quit using the .30-06?

As Krochus stated above, better powders, that [for the most part] were not employed in the .30-06. I may be wrong but I have trouble believing that the .308 is more "inherently" accurate with modern loads. I will agree that it is easier for some to shoot (recoil), and that there are more factory match loads available, but not that it is just magically better due to the shorter case. I won't argue that the .30-06 is more accurate, but I don't believe it to be less either. Furthermore it is hard to argue that the additional case capacity doesn't have a positive effect on extending the range. I believe that the .308 case is better suited to smaller projectiles (6-7mm), due to the reduced case capacity.

 

[wilson]

I always thought that the gun (barrel) was the biggest reason for accuracy, not the cartridge.

 

[Maverick223]

I always thought that the gun (barrel) was the biggest reason for accuracy, not the cartridge.

It is.

 

[blackops]

The 30-06 and 308 have a lot more match grade cartridges whether you buy factory or reload your own bullets you will have more options. Personally I like the 270. I found Sierra HPBT 135gr will shoot 1/2 groups out of my rifle and out to 550yds it's pretty nasty. For hunting I have to use lead free so you might be open to a lot more bullets choices than I. I like the 30-06 more than the 308 though. Many people will express that the 308 is more accurate, but if you reload and do your part with the rifle I would find that hard to believe. I would take a 30-06 over the 308 every single time.

 

[natman]

The way I read it, the OP saw a CZ in 9.3x?? and liked it, not that he had one he was planning on rebarreling.

If a long action gun is a given, there is no point in the 308. Cheap practice and match ammo is more available in 30-06 and important to you, so there's an advantage over 270.

30-06.

 

[NWCP]

One of my favorite rifles is my CZ 550FS in .308. I chose the .308 over your other options for a couple of reasons. First I own a HK91 in .308. Consequently I already keep that caliber on hand. A .270, or 30-06 would just mean another cartridge to stock up on. Secondly I like the .308 cartridge. Manageable recoil, a good selection of hunting cartridges and loads and available most anywhere you are likely to be hunting. Last but not least a rifle with iron sights and a Manlicher stock just works for me. It is one good looking rifle.