Poll: For white deer hunting, 270 win. or 30-06.

[goodwrench6710]

I know this can cause a large debate for hours in a hunting camp. I was wondering what you guys like between the 270 win. & the 30-06. Why you like that choice?
The reason there is only 2 choices is that this always seems to be a big debate on these 2.
As far as my choice, I like the 270 win. I use the 130 gr. bullets, It's a nice flat shooting round.

Note: This is between the 270 Winchester & the 30-06. This always seems to be a big debate.

[Lead Poison]

The 30-06 Spfd. is my choice!

I own and use both, however, you simply CANNOT beat the 30-06 Spfd!

The 30-06 shoots nearly as flat as the 270 Win, and shoots heavier bullets (125 grain all the way over 200 grains).

My personal favorite bullet weight for the 30-06 is 165 grain.

My favorite powders for the 30-06 are IMR-4350 & IMR-4064. However, there are SOOOOO many powders that work well in the 06, you'd be hard pressed to make a bad choice.

30-06s are usually extremely accurate!!!!!!!!

[R.W.Dale]

 I've owned both, and with similar bullet weights there is virtually NO difference in recoil or trajectory, So all things being equal I'll select the most versatile round. In this case hands down the 30-06

[K.K]

While I will never question the versatility of the great old 30-06, for deer hunting, I like the .270. I generally use 130 grain bullets, flat shooting, accurate, low-recoil, etc. I own several 30-cal Magnums in case I need more horse-power, and they all exceed the 30-06 in that regard. But although I use them, they are almost never actually needed for my deer hunting.  I am also a bg fan of Jack O'Connor. If it was good enough for him, it's certainly good enough for me! Mark me down as a .270 fan.

[nyhunter863]

I don't think the deer will be able to tell the difference.  Same goes with probably a dozen other calibers as well.  Lots of unnecessary arguments over calibers, when in reality most hunting calibers will do the trick.  The real key is learning to shoot well.

[NYHunter]

The '06 does everything the .270 can do, only better, IMO. There is a wider range of ammo available giving a wider range of versatility.

[Land_Owner]

When I "reached out" for a hunting weapon the .270 Winchester Model 70 Classic Featherweight was right there waiting for someone to take it hunting.  It was the ONLY gun in the ARCHERY SHOP!  As soon as I saw it I didn't need another second to decide and took it home that day.  I never looked back.  I've never shot a 30-06.  Didn't need one.  I don't shoot bear, moose, elk, or caribou, but if I did, the .270 would do the job.

[Swampman]

"Well here we are in a new decade, which seems to be marked by some outstanding numerals! Take for example 1906, the date year of the landmark cartridge of our time. The 1906 cartridge, which was a modification of the 1903 cartridge previously standard, is as near perfect as things of that sort can get. It is amusing (and slightly annoying) to see how the purchasers of sporting rifles seem to think that improved cartridge design is the answer to everything. I have long taught that if you can't do it with a 30-06, you probably can't do it. Every time some new brass powder bottle appears for sale, all sorts of people, qualified or otherwise, leap into the breach to explain how this new round is somehow better than what has gone before. Whether it is better or not must depend upon what it is designed to do, and it is effectively impossible to say that a shooter accomplished his purpose in the field with the new cartridge in a way that he could not have done with a 30-06. As it is said in Lindy Wisdom's verse: "There ain't many troubles that a man can't fix with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six." We do not know about the $700, but we do have confidence in the great 30-06 cartridge."

Col. Jeff Cooper

[beemanbeme]

I voted 30-06 cause I got one and I ain't got a .270.  I've never seen much reason for owning one as a matter of fact.  Jack Oconnor not withstanding. 

[~Ace~]

270 ! Were talking Whitetail Deer, it's nice to have a lil meat left to put in the freezer, and the 130 grain .270 is THE Whitail Gun and bullet. It shoots Flatter, Less recoil, easier on the meat, Kills them DEAD. 

[.308 Win.]

  I have owned and hunted deer with both.  It was my experience that the .30/06 with a good bullet killed much better than did the .270 with an average bullet.  The playing field wasn't level because I did not use premium bullets in the .270 as I did with the '06, but MY experience makes me lean heavily toward the .30/06 just the same. I know there are legions of people who have a different opinion and I am sure justifiably so.  Also, as previously stated, there are so many more bullet choices for the '06 that both factory ammo. shooters and reloaders alike can have what they need. Better than either for deer, in my opinion, is the .308 Winchester.  

[wareagleguy]

I own, shoot, hunt both.

Here are a few facts.
The 30/06 can't do any better than the 308 with ANY bullet 150 grain or less.  Ask yourself why marines use the 308 and not the 30/06 for long range shooting.  The fact is the 30/06 ONLY will do better with a bullet over 150 grains.  PERIOD.  It makes no difference what type bullet it is if it is 150 grain or less, it is useless!!!

The 270 was created for a longer range flatter shooting 30/06.  I hear old timers talk about how the 270 can't kill as quick or good.  Only reason you hear that is because the 30/06 has been around since 1906!  Who doesn't own a 30/06!

Either is a great round...

     

[R.W.Dale]

PERIOD.  It makes no difference what type bullet it is if it is 150 grain or less, it is useless!!!

 What makes you say that? Cause I assure you that a 125grn Ballistic launched at over 3300 FPS from an 06 will do a rather good number on deer out to a very respectable range with a very flat trajectory. Useless? Not hardly.

 OH and BTW the 30-06 is still almost 200 FPS faster than .308win with even the light 125grn bullets. I don't care what the bullet weight is the 30-06 is ALWAYS that much more powerful than the magical 308

  Ask yourself why marines use the 308 and not the 30/06 for long range shooting. 

  The marines DO NOT shoot 308 for long range shooting/sniping they use 7.62x51 NATO. and no it's not the same as 308. And what the &^%^$ does this have to do with 270 winchester?

Only reason you hear that is because the 30/06 has been around since 1906!  Who doesn't own a 30/06!

 I guess you'll be surprised to find out that the 270 is only 19 years younger than the 30-06 I very seriously doubt that any of your hunting buddies have been around long enough to remember the days before that new fagled 270 came along

[rockbilly]

I own both, along with .308, 25-06, 7mm Mag, 300 Mag, as well as several others.  But my gun of choice for white tail deer is still the .243. I hunt fairly open country so I don't have to worry about plowing through thick cover, and most of my shots are less than 100 yards,   I shoot a mild load in the .243, but it doesn't destroy meat, and has never failed to provide me with table fair.

Most whitetail hunters are either over gunned, or under gunned, I think the .243 is a happy medium.

[High Brass]

I voted 30-06 since A) I have two of them B) I've killed deer with the cartridge and C) never used the 270.  That said, if someone gave me a 270 and it shot well with hunting ammo, I'd say "OK" and hunt like nothing happened.  Deer are too stupid to know the difference I'd say.

[Cheesehead]

The performance on deer size game is the same. As far as reloading components goes the 06 has the advantage. Military surplus ammo, 06 advantage. The range of 30 caliber bullets for reloading, 06 advantage. Penetration on larger animals with heavy bullets, 06. Variety of rifle chambered in that caliber, 06. There is nothing wrong with the 270, just more things right with the 06.

Cheese

[Don Fischer]

I kinda doubt that the 32 auto would do it at all unless you stuck the barrel in it's ear, pulled the trigger and hit it behind the head with an ax all at the same time. When that is done, just pull the 32 bullet out of the ear, reload it and go get yourself another deer! I think it's much better to step up to the 22 Hornet and lighter bullets!

[SHOOTALL]

I made that choice at the sales counter 30-06 ! that said i doubt any deer will ever know the difference !
the 06 will do every thing the 270 can do and a few more !

[poncaguy]

I've used the 270 for years, with 130 grain bullets, deer dropped in their tracks 90% of the time. Flatter shooting, less recoil, hard to beat for whitetail deer. I now use the 270 WSM which is better than the 30-06 or 270...........I know everyone has their favorite, mine is the 270 class rounds.

[30-30man]

I never really understood the 270.  It is not really that much flatter shooting and you are limited on bullet weights.  The 30-06 will tackle anything from varmints to elephants, why would you need anything else? 

[30-06man]

I voted for the 30.06 and i use hornaday  30-06 SPRG 165 GR SST LIGHT MAG in my remington 700.
 

[marinemagnum]

I also am a fan of the remington 700 and i prefer a 7mm mag. But I have to go with the 270 myself, I have never been a fan of the 30-06.

[ro]

i also have many rifles, my pick 30-06 150 gr core-loc, best all round rifle for me.

[James B]

Given that choice I would take the 270. The 30-06 is WAY MORE GUN than I need for deer and I would prefer the 250 Savage, 260,6.5x55 or 7mm-08. For all around big Game for NA the 270or 30-06 will do it for me as it has for thousands of other hunters for the last 100 years or so.