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

[alien319]

I posted on this before but still haven't found that gem that I am looking for and just want to hear opinions.  Wil be used for deer sized game or smaller.  MAYBE just MAYBE an Elk?

[beemanbeme]

30-06, no contest.  This will bring shrieks from the .270 fans but anything a .270 can do, a 30-06 can do better.  Plus, for elk, you can go to a 200 or 220 gr bullet.

[thumbcocker]

I have more dead in the tracks kills with a 270 than any other caliber, including 30-06. Not meant to be argumentative just stating a fact from my own experience.

[killdeer]

For me it really boils down to the bullet.  .308 dia weighing typically 150 to 200 gr or .277 weighing 130 to 150gr.
 Confidence that either chambering will deliver said bullet with aplomb aint a guess.............

[longwinters]

For your purposes either would do nicely.  I probably tend to lean towards the 06 although I have a 270 that I just picked up..

Long

[jbadams66]

I have an 06 and it worked fine on the deer I shot with it (mostly bow hunter), my friend uses a .270 and he has killed a few with it

Flip a coin and then just go pick one.  If one is calling to you a little more then the other then go with it.  

The 06 will be able to carry a slightly heavier bullet if that matters to you.

[nasem]

both calibers are very very close in EVERYTHING (yes even balistics).  But I would personally pick the 30-06 for the following reasons:

1)  Larger diameter which causes more wound chanell, greater impact, therefor greater knock down power
2)  Heavier bullets, with the 30-06, you can get the 55 grain ALL the way up to 220.
3)  Ammo availability (Im sure 270 is pretty available) BUT 30-06 is just unbeatable in this department, nothing can compare to the ammo availability + different bullet weights and styles like the '06.
4)  30-06 ammo is cheaper (esspecially for practice at the range, You can buy them as cheap as 20 cents or even less a round, granted they are FMJ AND sometimes corrosive BUT if you clean your gun you should have absoloutly no issues)

a 270 is a great round, but the above 4 reasons are undisputed and gives the 30-06 my vote.

[Jim n Iowa]

You pose a tough ?. The 30-06 has many bullets available on up to 220 gn, brass is readily available (assume you reload). It was my first high power, and except that it was stolen I would still have it. Now having never owned a 270, but have compared it to a 7mm mag that I have, they are very close on the books in performance. A few years back a reloader would have a small selection of bullets for a 7mm, not so today. If you have the misconception that you are a one rifle owner, then Buy the "06". Otherwise I would recommend the 7mm mag, whether or not you reload the ammo is most everywhere. The 270 has been around a lot longer than a 7mm mag, and a great caliber, but is diminishing in sales,(MY OPINION).
Jim

[Idaho_Hick]

"

Maybe, just maybe an elk"

I would go .270, since you will have a bit less recoil, and lots of people would disagree, but I think your odds of getting an accurate .270 are SLIGHTLY greater than getting an accurate '06.  Plus, although bullet selection favors the '06 overall, I think the .270 has a better selection of the lighter bullets, which is what I would guess you will shoot the most of.  Now, if you lived in an area where you could buy an over the counter elk tag, I would suggest the '06.  
But really, when it comes to killin', you won't see much difference.

[ourabmen]

Cartridge    (Wb@MV)     Rifle Weight     Recoil energy       Recoil velocity

270 Win.     130 at 3140    8.0                   16.5                     n/a
.270 Win.    140 at 3000    8.0                   17.1                     11.7
.270 Win.    150 at 2900    8.0                   17.0                     11.7

.30-06        150 at 2910      8.0                  17.6                    11.9
.30-06        165 at 2900      7.5                  21.5                    13.6
.30-06        165 at 2900      8.0                  20.1                    12.7
.30-06        180 at 2700      8.0                  20.3                    12.8

Cartridge         MV (fps)   V @ 200 yds     ME (ft lb)          E @ 200 yds

270 130 Sp        3060           2639               2702                  2009
270 140 Sp        3100           2620               2990                  2140
270 150 Sp        2850           2183               2705                  1587

30-06 150 Sp     2910           2342               2820                  1827
30-06 165 BTSP 3015           2575               3330                  2428
30-06 180 Sp     2700           2023               2913                  1635

 
For deer there is a negligble difference in performance.  I have an 30-06 that is great, accurate, cheap to shoot etc.  

However I am getting a 270 this year for a deer gun.  Why you might ask?  We hunt over large open fields 250 yd. shot's on average, the 270 shoots flat as string with 130 grain bullets, hits with authority, I can by ammo at Wall Mart in pinch.

But the chief reason is , I dont have one. and I found a rifle that I love in the 270 caliber for a darn good prce.

My suggestion is that you get a 270 for deer, and if you do get to Elk hunting, get you a new toy for that hunt.  Life is to damn short to have only one gun.

OUrabmen

[ScoutMan]

Best trigger action. Placement and penetration are paramount. You can get good bullets in both. The launching system that you can use the best should be the one chosen iregardless of caliber.

[captdp]

Heck man, it's 2006 for God's sake!!!!!  '06 in '06!!!!!!!!!!!!! capt david

[crash87]

You forgot to add the .280 Remington into the mix! To all that own one they need nothing else. To those that don't buy, .270's & 30/06's.  Having owned and taken game with 2 of the 3, I'd say flip a coin.
                                         CRASH87

[Coyote Hunter]

If folks are honest, they’ll have to admit either one will work very well for you.  And if you ever do go after elk, you certainly don’t need 200-220g bullets – a good 150g .270 or 165g .30-06 will do nicely.  Been knocking them down for over 20 years with a 7mm Rem Mag and 160g bullets at similar velocities.

They say a man with a .30-06 doesn’t need anything else – a dang fine reason not to own one.  If you lived in elk country, though, I would suggest a .30-06 over the .270.  And a .300 Win Mag over the .30-06. For deer the .270 is a very fine choice.

Factory ammo might be a bit flatter shooting in the .270 – I’d have to check but the lighter bullets would suggest that to be the case.

[poncaguy]

For deer, it's hard to beat the 130 grain 270, unless it's the 270 WSM! :lol:

[nasem]

something turns me off about the .270..... I dunno why.....

[Savage .250]

IMO, either would be a good choice but as i don`t own a .270 i believe
    i`ll go with that.  Ya, good choice.

[simplicity]

I'm gonna have to go with crash take a look at the 280rem you get the best of both worlds shoots as flat as a 270 and hit's'em like a 06. but if it is just between the 06 and the 270 well I'd opp for the 06.

[Cement Man]

My hunting partner shot his last 9 elk with his .270.  I shoot an '06. He prefers the.270 and has been very successful with it. I prefer the '06, but his elk all ended up in the bed of the truck just like mine - so we don't argue about it because we both know that either will do the job if we do our part.

[canuck444]

I have 2 270's one Win model 70 and one remington 700, both are fine guns and shoot well, my brother and dad also have 270's and both are happy with them, lots of deer, moose and elk between the three of us with this calibre, grew up shooting it as a kid.  That being said, I think I am going to get rid of one of mine and buy either a 30-06 or 7mm rm (maybe both) so I can develop an opinion on which I like more.

[nasem]

Skip the 30-06 and go straight for the 7mm mag.....U"ll like it more for the real long shots

[Mikey]

06.  Mikey.

[qajaq59]

For deer, either one is going to do a great job with an accurate shot. So if I were you I would use other criteria to choose. Which will be easier for you to load, or carry, or whatever?

[qajaq59]

Nasem, you mentioned a 55 gr  bullt for the 06.

2) Heavier bullets, with the 30-06, you can get the 55 grain ALL the way up to 220.

I've never seen a load for one that light. Do you happen to have one?

[Jimi]

Having a preference for heavier bullets, I would opt for the .30/'06

[NYStillhunter]

For your purposes, I would get a 270.  It does not kick as much and shoots slightly flatter. It will work on Elk fine and is better suited for deer sized game. However, if someone offered you an 06 in a rifle you liked at the right price, take it. It is afterall, the King of all hunting calibers and more deer are probably killed with it then the 270. Good luck NYS

[glshop20]

It appears you live in eastern Pa.  I hunt the Delaware Water Gap Rec area and shots are not typically that long.  If you have the chance at longer shots, you might go with the .270(shoots flatter)  If you plan to include Black Bear in the hunt I would probably lean toward the "06"(heavier bullets).  It really boils down to what you prefer.  It's not like your deciding between a .223 and a.300mag.  Good luck

[aulrich]

Split the difference go 280 really!

The only practical option is both,  too close to call.  both are fine rounds I would let the rifle decide one that fits you and how you hunt and is a good deal don't let the cartridge do the deciding.

[CyberSniper]

Avoid the agony of trying to decide, and get both !

[Skeptic10787]

270 or 30-06?

Yes.