What caliber for model 70?

what caliber?

  • .270 win

    Votes: 15 14.7%
  • .30-06

    Votes: 53 52.0%
  • .35 whelen

    Votes: 18 17.6%
  • Something else? post it below

    Votes: 16 15.7%

  • Total voters
    102
  • Poll closed .
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I am building a long action Winchester model 70, and can't decide on caliber. I will be using it for anything up to and including moose.

Right now I'm looking at:

.270 win
.30-06
.35 whelen

But I'm open to other ideas.
 
Of the calibers listed I'd go with the 35 Whelen for a custom build. When I bought mine had that been an option I'd have gone with it but I went with 375H&H instead. My 375 give me 30-06 like trajectory with bullets that are nearly 100 grains heavier and less recoil and meat damage than the 338 and 300 mags. But 375H&H does not fit in a long action. Though 375 Ruger does...
 
The .35 Whelen has a lot going for it. If I was doing a custom long action it's probably what I would chamber for. The .270 would not be my choice for moose.
 
300 Win, it can do it all and the components available make it suitable for anything and everything.
 
It sounds to me like the .30-06 would be the perfect fit for your needs.
 
I voted .270 Winchester because I like it and I don't want it to fade away, so I always encourage new guns to be bought in this caliber!

That being said, I think .30-06 Springfield and .35 Whelen would work too.

Remington 180 grains bronze point in .30-06 Springfield has a good reputation on moose over here, probably because it is old, it works and it is available.

Moose have also been killed in great numbers by .270, .308 and .30-30. Some natives shoot them with .22 LR in the head and are successful... Which I'm not advocating in any way.
 
I'm on my phone and can't go into details. Will post again later with more info but short version is that 30-06 easily beats 35 whelen every where but at the muzzle
 
I'm on my phone and can't go into details. Will post again later with more info but short version is that 30-06 easily beats 35 whelen every where but at the muzzle
Or when you want a rifle for heavier game, which OP does ;)

30-06 has a flatter trajectory and higher BCs in general, but if that's what you want you should be in a 7mm mag instead anyways. The recoil is about the same.
 
300 Win, it can do it all and the components available make it suitable for anything and everything.

From the best of my recollection I'd need a long magnum action for that, mine is just a long action, not the magnum variant.

I listed the 3 calibers up here as I know they'll all down a moose (I have taken a few with .270), 270 will do it, but 30-06 might do it slightly better. I'm going to give a couple of these calibers mentioned a look though. If at all possible I'd like something based on a 30-06 case, so I can use the bolt that came with this action to save some time and money.
 
I am building a long action Winchester model 70, and can't decide on caliber. I will be using it for anything up to and including moose.

I did just that last year. A Lilja 10 twist barrel in 30-06. Shoots quite well, with hand loads or factory ammo.
 
More details from my earlier post.

For your stated purpose any of the 3 are adequate. A 270, or even 280 loaded with modern 150-160 gr bullets will do anything a 30-06 will do with 180 gr bullets. A little on the light side for 1200 lb brown bear, but adequate for anything else in North America.

The 30-06 gives the option of 200-230 gr bullets which moves it into another category. Most people never consider the heavies, but a 200-230 gr 30 caliber bullet will do anything a 225-250 gr bullet from a 35 Whelen will do at ranges up to 150 yards. Beyond 150 yards the 30-06 easily outclasses the 35 Whelen. 35 Whelen recoil is exactly the same as 300 WM. Start shooting those heavy 30's at 300 WM speeds and it isn't even close. If I'm getting 30+ ft lbs of recoil anyway it might as well be from a 300. Which is exactly why I sold both my 35 Whelen and 338-06.

When the Whelen was introduced in 1922, (and with the bullet technology of the day), it offered some advantages over 30-06. In 2016 it offers zero advantages, and several disadvantages. Aside from its lack of moderate to long range performance, it doesn't perform any better up close, even on big stuff. There have been multiple tests and studies done on larger African or Alaskan game and in every example the heavy 30 caliber loads out penetrated everything up to 375 magnum. If someone is looking for more performance than 30-06 or 300 magnum, the 375 is the next step up. There is nothing in between that offers any real advantage.

Recoil is always a factor:

A 270 will have the least, somewhere in the 17-20 ft lb range depending on the individual rifle and load. A 30-06 will be in the 18-22 ft lb range. A 35 Whelen loaded with 225-250 gr bullets has exactly the same recoil as a 300 WM loaded with 180-200's, about 30-33 ft lbs recoil. The 375 mags are in the 38-43 ft lb range.

I've owned most all of them. When you factor in everything including recoil and look at the option of having a lighter weight more portable rifle I keep coming back to the 30-06 as the best balance.
 
The rifle made famous in Vietnam by a (then) unfamiliar not so famous sniper. Cant say as i blame you. Does have a nice ring to it after all.

Though I'm partial for no reason in particular to that same 30-06 cartridge in that same rifle i just acquired a newer model 70 with a synthetic stock in 270 Winchester.

It was barely used ( one box through it) and a great price to boot (@ least to me).

Before i bought it i dug a little deeper on the 270. Seems the cartridge is loved by hunters for deer especially. Versatile and shoots accurate across the range of bullet weights.

If you are conflicted go with the 30-06 and it wont let you down. Been long proven for big game, accuracy, and competition.
 
I can tell you what I what I am doing with my pre war M70 currently in 30-06. .358 Norma. Moose are my main target and it seems like a natural. Plus a pre war 70 in 358 just seems cool.
 
Pop quiz answer

Pop quiz? Going moose hunting? I'd opt for the .35 Whelen. Second choice with be .30-'06, which would be my first choice for just a general purpose centerfire rifle. There's something about a big, heavy, .35 caliber rifle bullet jamming along and making terminal impact at, what, 2200fps that would comfort me when dealing with a big ol' moose, or maybe even to have around as a defensive weapon "way up north".

But since you ax, I'd give the .300 Winchester Magnum a look too, I suppose...

.35 Whelen First place
.30-'06 Tie for second, best GP choice
.300 Winchester Magnum Tie for second, bettter for specialized stuff like shooting moose or bighorn sheep.

ALL OF THE ABOVE IS MHO ONLY.
 
Recoil is always a factor:

I've owned most all of them. When you factor in everything including recoil and look at the option of having a lighter weight more portable rifle I keep coming back to the 30-06 as the best balance.

I was thinking about weight of rifle/recoil, before coming to the above. The weight of the rifle needs to be part of what caliber is chosen.
 
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