Can't decide! 270 or 308

[savage shooter]

Originally Posted by raab

If your using it for hunting the 270. If you want a tactical/long range gun the 308.

A tactical X-bolt? Ooooookay. And recommending the 308 over 270 for long range? WHY!?

[raab]

Originally Posted by savage shooter

A tactical X-bolt? Ooooookay. And recommending the 308 over 270 for long range? WHY!?

The .308 is one of the favourites for long range shooters. A lot of selection with bullets/ammo, long barrel life, short action, etc... The 270 is fine for long range hunting too but you just don't get the selection you would with a 308. Like I said if its going to be used for general hunting out to 300-400 yards I'd take the 270. If you want a precision rifle that you can practice and shoot animals up to 600 yards and targets/gongs out to 1000 I buy a 308.

Also missed the part where he said he was buying an Xbolt Medallion. Given what the OP is looking for I'd recommend the 270 for him.

[kodiak4x4]

Hmmm, I think it depends more on what you want in an action...Short or Long. If your looking for a short action then go with the .308, if it doesn't matter to you then it gets to be a tougher choice. Based on the rifles you currently own i'd confuse you more by adding the .280 to the mix. Fast, reasonably flat, easy recoil, and fills the gap that is in your arsenal.

[Cal]

IMO the only reason to use a .308 over a .270 as far as big game hunting goes is if you want a rifle with a 20" or less barrel. Other than that I'd take a .270 for sure.

Not that the .308 is bad but I just don't see any advantage to it. The .270 has 3 times the bullet selection that it actualy needs so I fail to understand how even more selection is any kind of an advantage. I can flat out promise you that you will see no advantage in killing power of a .308, or even a 30-06, over a .270 so no advantage there either. The .270 shoots a little bit flatter, whether you think that's a big factor or not its something.

[Cal]

And BTW, the 6.5x55 is a real sweatheart of a round too. I like the .270 win because I prefer to use one gun for the majority of my hunting and its the best fit. If I wasn't using one gun for all my hunting I would deffinatly be using a 6.5x55 for most of my hunting.

[bdurnin]

.308 is my vote. Heavier bullets are the way to go imho for elk and moose.

[philthygeezer]

.270 Win for me. I'd just use the 150 grain partitions. Bit more oomph too.

[michaelmicallef]

I just got a 270wsm . i tossed up a couple of loads because i was dieing to try it out. Right off the bat I got 1/2 groups with nosler 140 bt and .25 group with 140 hornady interlock. This is a browning. Never had a rifle produce good accuracy so early in the game. If your thinking of getting a 270 consider a 270 wsm.

[Speckle55]

I have two 308 (Win Model 100 and Savage Model 99)so I am bias but here is a video of some 500 yds and 1000 yds shots ..I have done 500 yards on a mule deer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GThtU1fL_A

David

[dmacleod]

both are great cals but 308 takes the cake for knock down power

[FreeLantz]

I have both. A .270 BAR and .308 Winchester lever. I prefer shooting the .270 and I wouldn't hesitate to take an animal past 300 yards with it. I took my elk this year with my .270, shooting hornady 130 grains, paced at 330 yards and made a fine mess of the inside of the animal. Although one shot did separate the jacket off the bullet, leaving the jacket on the outside of the hide, not sure what happened there. Took my buck this year with the .308 at a much closer range with 180 grains and weirdly, it didn't make nearly the carnage the .270 did. You can talk about speed and ballistics and killing power and blah blah blah all day long, at the end of the day I prefer shooting the .270. It's just pleasant

[YZguy]

Both are good. The actual difference when hunting is not worth worrying about. Buy a nice gun and enjoy.

[stob]

anybody who is anybody @$%&@

get real

although the 270 is a great cartridge there is a reason you don't see or hear of them at accuracy events at distance

308 has a diameter that just plain works...for accuracy and knock out ... hence it's military roots

think about a 6.5 x 55 and a 9.3 x 62 as well

just stirrin the pot

[Highlander44]

Originally Posted by savage shooter

270. Flatter shooting, better sectional density, fewer compressed loads, does well with monometals.

The 308 has trouble with the heavier bullets and the longer monometal bullets and has trouble with the slower burning powders like IMR4350 because of the smaller case size and the larger diameter bullet (although 7mm'08 does okay).

If it was 30'06 vs 270 I would choose 30'06 but in this race, it's 270 all the way.

I shoot 175 gr's out of my 308 no problem.... Love it.

[rogo]

No Question - .270 is the way to go.

[foothillsman]

either. If most of your work is going to be in trees or thickets, go 308, shorter action and lighter gun for quicker off hand shooting. If you're a cutblock / seismic line / openings kind of hunter, go 270. Delivers more energy down range.
as for lethality of each round, use the Taylor formula. Energy/ speed alone is a poor indicator of lethality. Bullet diameter, weight and construction must be considered as well.

[Prairiewolf]

Originally Posted by Kevlak

Hey everyone,

I decided to buy a new rifle, a browning x bolt medallion left hand, I just can't decide the caliber. I already have a 300wm, 7mm rm, and a 243. I'd be using it for deer, moose and elk. No more than 300yds. Out of the 308 or 270, which would you guys pick.

Thanks,

Kevin

Not discouraging the purchase, but isn't a 7MM RM close enough to either for most applications that a more unique caliber could be chosen?

[a little redneck]

If you're reloading or buying ammo there seems to be a better selection of brass and manufactured ammo in .270 than .308. That being said there is a wide selection of .308 (30 caliber) bullets from which to reload.

[Bigmountainrider]

.308, CHEAP, EASY, EFFECTIVE. Being a military round it is way easier to find.

[teledogs]

Originally Posted by u_cant_rope_the_wind

neither I would go with a 7mm08

Like the man said.

[Highlander44]

x2 on the 7mm08

[Highlander44]

270's have taken a lot of game in the past, but if your starting fresh there is no reason to **** up a rope. 270's offer much less selection compared to any of the 7mm's and 30 cals- and their Ballistic Coeficients are poor compared to the rest..... have a look at the advertised BC's of the different bullets

[Kevlak]

Wow, have seen this thread of mine pop up in a very long time. By passed on the browning Xbolt and went with a tikka t3 in a 308, and can't begin to tell you how much I love the rifle!

Kevin

[amosfella]

Originally Posted by 260 Rem

I like the anology...but, the 308 is more like the "John Deere" of chamberings. Built to work!

.270 is like the Cat of the 2 chambering choices. Does the real work while the john deere pretends to look busy...

[rembo]

Originally Posted by MattSako

I dont understand why a 308 or a 270 when you have a 300 win 7mm and 243...

If you don't understand this logic you are not a true gun nut...

Right now I have a 7'08, a 280, a 280AI and a 7 Rem Mag

as well as a 270 Win....and two 30'06's.....and a 35 Whelen.

I think it's perfectly normal.......The wife,...not so much

[Battle Rat]

270 because Jack O'conner said so and 308 because Carlos Hathcock rocks.
Does that help?
One of those choices will make an elk deader than the other but I'm not going to tell you which one.

[roger]

nice old thread!!

Originally Posted by Battle Rat

270 because Jack O'conner said so

Marketing strategies of promoting, advertising are the keys to any successful business, industry celebrities endorsing products don't mean it better, it just makes it easier to accept.
by these standards, we should all be shooting T/C with laser bore-sights..'and you can too!"

not to be jerk, but as I get older its getting easier every year,

[west250]

'This caliber or that caliber' posts are ghey - buy one of each

[YAFORDDIESEL]

in 270 130 gr have shoot
was a bruno with set triggers

in 308 165 gr have shot
is a sako with trigger work


have shoot both

if your in the middle of no where you still find ammo for both 308/270

if your reloading same thing

would take 308

but great question

[Kevlak]

Originally Posted by rembo

If you don't understand this logic you are not a true gun nut...

Right now I have a 7'08, a 280, a 280AI and a 7 Rem Mag

as well as a 270 Win....and two 30'06's.....and a 35 Whelen.

I think it's perfectly normal.......The wife,...not so much

Totally agree!