.270 OR .30-06 for a new rifle?

[jro45]

I would choose the 30/06 because it can shoot alot of different weight bullets more than the 270 can. There for it can be used in a lot of different hunts.
I own both!!

[ringo]

I am usually hunting whitetail with my 270 when an elk wanders into the picture.  With careful shot placement and a premium bullet I have never felt undergunned.  I own and have used 30.06's, they too are accurate and reliable.  My preference is for the 270 as it fits me well, has slightly less recoil, and I am primarily a whitetail/muley hunter.  Anything larger, meaning elk/moose, I move to a 338 win mag with a 30.06 as a backup rifle. 

[butterman]

I would worry more about what gun to buy than caliber ,  There will be more differances between
guns than those two calibers.

[bgrdnr]

Excellent point butterman.  The available budget and access to different rifles within that budget is worth more consideration than the differences between those two calibers.

[Buckeye]

 HOWA  bout a 6.5X55   Little Big Swede....



Buckeye

[WingMaster]

I haven't read all of the replies so I hope I'm not repeating anything.

I can't imagine not having a 270.  I love mine.  Paired with a 338 Win Mag, I feel like I can cover about anything.

I took my 270 along on an Elk hunt as a second rifle in case my 338 broke a stock or the scope went belly-up - it's happened on our trips to some guys.  I had 150 grain Nosler Partitions for it and would have felt just fine using that if I had to.

I took a nice South Dakota Mule Deer last week with my 270.  100 yard shot quartering slightly away.  Handloaded 150 grain Ballistic Tips.  Shot entered behind the right shoulder and exited in front of the left shoulder.  Hole through the top of the heart.  Exit wound was nearly fist sized.  At the risk of being gruesome, there was a lot of lung material on the ground in the 10 feet between where he was hit and where he fell.  Didn't feel any recoil (who does when hunting) and I saw my hit through the scope.  It was an extremely clean kill which I am alway thankful for.  I couldn't ask for anything more.

30.06 vs 270 - flip a coin.  You really can't go wrong.

[emsemt911]

The .270 wes one of the first wildccat loads.  It is a 30-06 shell necked down to a .270 bullet.

I have both.  I will take my .270 any day over my 30-06.  I have shot numerous deer with them both, but I have not had a deer take more than two steps with the .270.  It could just be the type of bullet that I was using in the 30, but  I was simply using the bullet that my father told me I had to use when he gave me the gun.  Just know that they are both good rounds in my book. Just buy game specific rounds. 

My reason for going to the .270 was simply less kick.  I have a browning .270 and a Remmington 742 woodsmaster carbine in .30-06.  Now people will tell you that an semi-auto has less kick, well they have not shot my 30.  After 10 rounds my shoulder is too bruised to shoot another round.  I have the gun in my safe and it will be only taken out to hunt "Large" game.  I have shot other 30-06, but they have just about the same recoil as my .270.    The .270 has flatter ballistics, this is what sold me on the round for a new purchase.

You should not be dissappointed in either choice.  It will be a choice simular to chevy or ford.

[nasem]

the only time you see the balistic difference between the 270 and the 30-06 is after 300 yard mark and even then... its not awhole lot.

[Tackleberry]

   dedicated .270 fiend here, (and .280 also)....BUT

I really believe you need heavier bullet than a .270 can deliver for ELK...a .35 whelen or .338 even better....or drat....30-06 with a 200 grain or 220 grain bullet. (hell a .30-40 Krag would do nicely too)

but if you can only have one rifle for CONUS Game...go with the .270...

[fatercat]

i have killed 3 elk with 270 and one with 7 mag. and a few mule deer 130 gn. nosler partitions. it is plenty for elk. if some of you younger guys can find books written by jack o'conner, read them. he has probably done more hunting than all of us put togeather. they kill elk with bow and arrow and black powder smoke poles. find a good shooting "light" 270 and take anything up to grizz. i saw a hunting show on tv last week where a guy killed grizz with one shot from a 270. he was on foot to. i'll use my 35 whelen if i ever try that.

[Rem270]

270 for me

[dpastordan]

It's a tough choice.  From reading all these posts, maybe you ought to save your money so you can buy one of each.  They are both good calibers.  Probably what I would do is find the best deal on a rifle in either caliber.  Generally what I have noticed over the years is that a budding hunter will read all the books and magazine articles, discover that the .30-06 is highly recommended.  It is also one of the calibers a new rifle is offered in by the big companies...because it sells [the others that sell well are the .270, .308, .243 and when established the 7mm Rem. Mag and .300 Win. Mag].  Generally, first time deer hunters seem to buy the .30-06...and then as their income increases, buy another rifle in a different caliber.  I know...that's what I did about 30 years ago.

[sluggo]

....exact shot placement usually puts anything down regardless of caliber...hehe

[jvs]

I never read so much Blasphamy before.  Who ever heard of having a choice of between only two calibers.   My eyes hurt, therefore my head hurts. 

I wonder who manufactures a gun cabinet for only one rifle. 

Think of what you are asking us to consider, we could have a riot on our hands soon.