25-06 or 270 for long range whitetail hunting

[.308]

I'd go with the .280 over the other two. It has the 26" barrel like the .25-06, less felt recoil than the .270 because of it's longer heavier barrel. More bullet choices, for the handloader. Even with the 4" of extra barrel it's same length as most bolt guns with a 22" barrel (42" overall) and about the same weight. The thing the 270 has going for it is that you can pick up a box of ammo most anywhere, sometimes not so with the 25-06 or 280.

This is just my opinion, I have all three and prefer the 280. My 25-06 is a Ruger 77V and with it's varmint barrel it still feels like it has more felt recoil to me than my 280. All three are certainly accurate enough for your purposes.

If my choice was  between the 25-06 and the 270 only, then it would be the 270.

[Norseman112]

The 25-06 is a fine big game stopper. The .270 will give you a little more I agree. I am completely confident I can drop a white tail or a muley at 300 yards with my 25-06. .......... Oh here are some interesting ballistics at 300 yards.

115 gr 25-06 core lokt ultra at 3000 ft velocity will give you 1342 ft-lbs of energy

130 gr .270 express core lokt at 3060 velocity will give you 1472 ftlbs of energy.

The .270 gives you 130 ft-lbs more at 300 yards..... I don't think the deer will notice the difference. The .270 is a great caliber and so is the 25-06.
I would pick a deer rifle that would be best suited for you and your son.
If you really want to find your true ballistics you need run your loads through a chrony

Norse

[mt3030]

Lot of good points stated here. Except for one. Do not care what ballistics tables say, there is no comparison between the 6mm Remington and the 25-06 in the field. Since '76 I've taken 14 head (antelope/mule/whitetail) with the 6mm and 18 with the 25-06. Trust me, no comparison.

Wally

[greenjeans]

I have both and have taken deer with both. Going to hunt with the 25-06 early this season just because I want to and son-in-law will be using the .270. I have no problem finding Rem. Core-Lokts and Winchester gray box at Wal-mart or the local sporting goods stores. I have 90, 100, & 120 grains in the safe now. Paid about $10. for the 90's on sale. My 25-06 is the Ultra and recoil is not a problem.

[mitchell]

ok are we talking long range or just mid range . caz 300 yards is yes a nice shot but not really long range . to me long range has to atleast be past point blank range . but if 300 yards is what we are talking about void what i said and get the 25-06 (the bullets are prettier)

[txpete]

as stated above.get your 270 out and shoot across a chrony you just might be disappointed :shock: with your fav load.
pete

[R.W.Dale]

Here is an interesting comparison between 300wby , 25-06 and 270 win. It shows that out to 400 yds there in no real diffrence in trajectory.

Index No.   Cartridge Type   Wt. (grs)   Bullet Style   Primer No.   Ballistic Coefficient
R300WB1   Remington Express   180   Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt®   9 1/2 M   0.383
R25063   Remington Express   120   Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt®   9 1/2   0.362
R270W2   Remington Express   130   Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt®   9 1/2   0.336
VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Cartridge Type   Bullet   Muzzle   100   200   300      400     500
Remington Express   180 PSP CL   3120   2866   2626   2398   2181   1976
Remington Express   120 PSP CL   2990   2730   2484   2252   2032   1825
Remington ExpressC   130 PSP CL   3060   2776   2510   2259   2022   1801
width=4
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
Cartridge Type   Bullet   Muzzle   100   200   300   400   500
Remington Express   180 PSP CL   3890   3282   2755   2298   1902   1561
Remington Express   120 PSP CL   2382   1985   1644   1351   1100   887
Remington Express   130 PSP CL   2702   2225   1818   1472   1180   936
width=4
SHORT-RANGE¹ TRAJECTORY*
Cartridge Type   Bullet   50   100   150   200   250   300
Remington Express   180 PSP CL   0.0   0.5   zero   -1.7   -4.6   -9.0
Remington Express   120 PSP CL   0.1   0.6   zero   -1.9   -5.2   -10.1
Remington Express   130 PSP CL   0.1   0.6   zero   -1.8   -5.1   -9.8
width=4
LONG-RANGE² TRAJECTORY*
Cartridge Type   Bullet   100   150   200   250   300   400   500
Remington Express   180 PSP CL   1.4   1.3   zero   -2.5   -6.4   -18.9   -38.7
Remington Express   120 PSP CL   1.6   1.4   zero   -2.8   -7.2   -21.4   -44.1
Remington Express   130 PSP CL   1.5   1.4   zero   -2.8   -7.0   -20.9   -43.3

[Mac11700]

Here's another factory ammo page you can check the ballistics on...http://www.federalcartridge.com/default.asp?br=1 like I said...the 25-06 has a slight advantage in trajectory....if your wanting to eventually go for larger game...normally one would go for the 270..but for whitetails..the 25-06 will work just as well if not better with the reduced recoil to the shooter.If the 270 Handi came with a 26" barrel...then it would be the hands down winner in this..but unfortunatly it doesn't( allthough you could get a 25-06 barrel and have it redone to 270)...The majority of time..you will come up well short of the manufactures claims of velocities..enough so..that the 25-06 will be better.They use 24" barrels for the norm on testing...and yes...you can handload to make up some of that difference...but again..that would hold true for handloading the 25-06 especially using a higher B.C. 25 caliber bullet.Check the balistics with Point Blank...and plug in the numbers.I've found it to be very accurate on what you really get in the field...if you don't already have the program...you can get it here......http://www.huntingnut.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3
..........it's a free download..


Mac

[bajabill]

I like the "Point Blank Range" calculator that PointBlank has

Using that with a 4" target (allowing 2 inch high trajectory before passing thru zero and heading down to 2" low) I feel you can really not worry about hold over/under, the differences between a flat shooting and a "real" flat shooting setup is not worth discussing.  We just are not that good at defining all of the parameters.  Such as distance, bullet ballistic coeficient, MV variances, etc.

There are real differences however, between a flat nose 30-30 and a 3000 fps spitzer   :cb2:

[.308]

If the 270 Handi came with a 26" barrel...then it would be the hands down winner in this

It does they call it the .280 Remington. :wink:  Only .007" difference in the diameter of the bullet (.284 vs. .277),  the same 30-06 case. Plus a larger selection of bullets than the 270. :money:

[Mac11700]

If the 270 Handi came with a 26" barrel...then it would be the hands down winner in this

It does they call it the .280 Remington. Only .007" difference in the diameter of the bullet (.284 vs. .277),  the same 30-06 case. Plus a larger selection of bullets than the 270. :money:

Your right...the 280 is a great caliber and will out do the 22" Handi in the 270...but make a 26" barrel for the 270...and it still will out do the 280...not by a-whole lot mind you...but it will...especially when using factory ammo...and some of the 280 loads...

For a handloaderthe 280 has a-lot of advantages going for it,you can load it up to a higher level than the lower pressure loads it was brought out for in the Remington autoloader...but....for those that don't reload and are wanting a good supply of factory ammo to walk in and buy...it is spotty at best.While some locations may stock various loadings...most don't ...so...to get the best from it.. it a reloading proposition...Now if someone wants to order ammo...this opens another avenue to getting better ammo for it..and most on-line suppliers have plenty to choose from in stock...this is another fine choice for a Handi...good suggestion :agree:

Mac

[nomosendero]

Mac11700 is striving to make a point here & far as I am concerned, he has made it well & I talked about it in my first post here. Since we are
talking about Handi's here then we MUST consider the offerings for these
2 rounds. When you use a 25-06 in a 26" barrel & the 270 is a 22", the
picture changes big time. It would help the 270 to have a 26" barrel, though not quite as much due to the bigger expansion ratio, it does not
matter because it is not offered, that simple. By reading these posts, I
would strongly suggest that some you need to buy a chronograph. It was
for sure an eye opener for me! And remember, a 26" barrel does not make the gun long, as this a single shot & is about the same length as a 22" bolt gun.

[Mac11700]

nomosendero:

Most folks would be suprised just how much difference it really makes in comparing the 22" 270 and the 26" 270...my 26"  Winchester Westerner caused me to seek out folks with those real expensive Ohlers..the old kind with the wire mesh screens to shoot thru if you remember them...several years ago...I had the first model Shooting Chrony to come out...but I thought it was acting flakey...the velocities were as high with normal handloads as some of the short-mag loads today,even the normal factory loadings showed 100- 200+ FPS with them...so I thought something was terrible wrong...so...do I want a 26" 270 in a Handi...you bet I do...and within a year I'll have one made if I can't order one...even though the 280 has a better bullet selection...I just like them .277 bullets...I guess I read to-many O'Conner stories growing up...

Mac

[.308]

I guess I read to-many O'Conner stories growing up...

Mac

Me too.  Loved his hunting stories and learned a good bit from him too. Especially about trajectory. I have a 270, but not a pre 64 Winchester model 70, love it. Love my 280 too. Love all my guns.

I would strongly suggest that some you need to buy a chronograph.

Just got my chrony.

Even with the 4" of extra barrel it's same length as most bolt guns with a 22" barrel

And remember, a 26" barrel does not make the gun long, as this a single shot & is about the same length as a 22" bolt gun.

[GrampaMike]

25-06 Remington vs 270 Winchester

For bullet weights 113 grains and under, the 25-06 Remington is the better choice.

For bullet weights 114 grains and over, the 270 Winchester is the better choice.

The average Recoil Energy for a 25-06 Remington weighing 8 lbs is 11.2.

The average Recoil Energy for a 270 Winchester weighing 8 lbs is 14.6.

So the 25-06 Remington “KICKS” 77% of a 270 Winchester.

Mike