30-06 vs. .308 vs. 270 win. - Page 2

goredsox · September 27, 2012, 04:43 PM

There's a great deal of "all of the above" in your options. Most of the difference depends on WHERE you're going to hunt, moreso than WHAT you're going to hunt.

I live in the densely wooded eastern mountains where the .308 is superior to the others because it's more efficient with a 22in barrel, it's lighter because of reduced length allowed by shorter action/barrel, and controlled-expansion bullets are more reliable due to lower velocities (than the other two options) at our typical ranges. That said, I tend to only use my .308 for Moose up here. My 30-30 is obnoxiously superior for hunting these ridge-runners.

However, if you live in more open plains...I'd pick the .270 for the flatter trajectories and reduction in recoil over the 30-06.

If you lived in a mixed environment, or want a rifle that is not as niche as the other two... go with the 30-06.

Noreaster · September 27, 2012, 05:27 PM

I use a 308, but a 270 or 30'06 would be just as useful. I find the 308 recoil to be very user friendly. For me, deer and black bear with a chance at a Moose tag, the 308 if fine. If I hunted mostly bear then maybe, maybe I would opt for the 30'06 because of a slight increase in power. If I lived out West and hunted antelope at extended ranges then a 270 would be my choice.

45YearsShooting · September 27, 2012, 10:48 PM

The Lewis and Clark soldiers fired 10 shots into a 500-600 pound grizzly and remarked that the Grizzly was extremely hard to kill. In their journals, they said: "we Shot ten Balls into him before we killed him, & 5 of those Balls through his lights.”

After the bear was shot 10 times, Lewis wrote: “he swam more than half the distance across the river to a sandbar & it was at least twenty minutes before he died; he did not attempt to attack, but fled and made the most tremendous roaring from the moment he was shot.”

I read a fairly scientific study that queried Alaskan bear guides about the rifle calibers used and the effects of the hits. The data gathered indicated that the 300 magnums resulted in a larger percentage of clean kills than the .338 magnum.

I'm sure a 30-06 is a fine Grizzly cartridge, but I would use those Hornady Light Magnum loads if I were using that gun on a Grizzly hunt.

Jbotto · September 28, 2012, 12:42 AM

Like everyone else has previously said, it's really a horse apiece. If I was never going to shoot anything bigger than a Whitetail, I'd go with the .308, as from a reloader's standpoint, it's a bit more efficient (loaded with less powder that will obtain velocities that will kill something just as dead as with a .30/06). I'm a Savage Arms fan as well, but if this is your first centerfire rifle, I would advise against going with the Savage Arms long action. Their short actions feel just right to me, but their long actions are definitely LONG! I went from shooting a Stevens .223 to a Stevens .30/06 and it leads to some cursing on my end when I short stroke the bolt, when in a hurry. Just some more thoughts...

FairWarning · September 30, 2012, 11:40 AM

.308

.

RC20 · September 30, 2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

However, if you live in more open plains...I'd pick the .270 for the flatter trajectories and reduction in recoil over the 30-06.

I do like the 270. However, its recoil is not much less than a 30-06.

Load a 30-06 down to the 270 bullets and you will have a similar trajectory (so close as not to matter as once past 300 yards the drop gets to be so much its a mute).

On the ohter hand you can load 270 up to 180 grains and have a good short range match for the 06.

And not a 30-06 is not my first choice for a grissly, but far more have been taken with that than all those magnums.

And comparing black powder balls into a bear vs a modern bullet is invalid.

I know of one case (Elmer Keith) where the bear came after his party. Upshot was that they saw it and 5 experience hungers hit it with anything from 35 whalen up to 338 mangum. It finally died at their feet (fortunately an uphill charge by the bear). You never know about a Grizzly. I would guess only 5 rounds from a 50 caliber would drop one for sure.

September 30, 2012, 11:40 AM	#30
FairWarning Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: GA Posts: 691	.308 . __________________ 1944 Mauser byf K98 8mm, K31 7.5 x 55 Swiss, Rem M700 Classic 8mm, 1920s Colt New Service .45 LC, Browning Hi-Power and HK P7 in 9mm, SAIGA .308 22", SKS 7.62x39mm, S&W 686 Plus 6" and Taurus 617 2" in .357 Mag, Ruger MkIII Target 5.5" BB .22LR, Mossberg 500 & Marlin 120 in 12 GA, etc.

September 27, 2012, 04:43 PM	#26
goredsox Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 20	There's a great deal of "all of the above" in your options. Most of the difference depends on WHERE you're going to hunt, moreso than WHAT you're going to hunt. I live in the densely wooded eastern mountains where the .308 is superior to the others because it's more efficient with a 22in barrel, it's lighter because of reduced length allowed by shorter action/barrel, and controlled-expansion bullets are more reliable due to lower velocities (than the other two options) at our typical ranges. That said, I tend to only use my .308 for Moose up here. My 30-30 is obnoxiously superior for hunting these ridge-runners. However, if you live in more open plains...I'd pick the .270 for the flatter trajectories and reduction in recoil over the 30-06. If you lived in a mixed environment, or want a rifle that is not as niche as the other two... go with the 30-06.

September 27, 2012, 05:27 PM	#27
Noreaster Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2011 Location: New England Posts: 976	I use a 308, but a 270 or 30'06 would be just as useful. I find the 308 recoil to be very user friendly. For me, deer and black bear with a chance at a Moose tag, the 308 if fine. If I hunted mostly bear then maybe, maybe I would opt for the 30'06 because of a slight increase in power. If I lived out West and hunted antelope at extended ranges then a 270 would be my choice.

September 27, 2012, 10:48 PM	#28
45YearsShooting Member Join Date: September 9, 2012 Location: Colorado Posts: 94	The Lewis and Clark soldiers fired 10 shots into a 500-600 pound grizzly and remarked that the Grizzly was extremely hard to kill. In their journals, they said: "we Shot ten Balls into him before we killed him, & 5 of those Balls through his lights.” After the bear was shot 10 times, Lewis wrote: “he swam more than half the distance across the river to a sandbar & it was at least twenty minutes before he died; he did not attempt to attack, but fled and made the most tremendous roaring from the moment he was shot.” I read a fairly scientific study that queried Alaskan bear guides about the rifle calibers used and the effects of the hits. The data gathered indicated that the 300 magnums resulted in a larger percentage of clean kills than the .338 magnum. I'm sure a 30-06 is a fine Grizzly cartridge, but I would use those Hornady Light Magnum loads if I were using that gun on a Grizzly hunt.

September 28, 2012, 12:42 AM	#29
Jbotto Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Location: MN Posts: 312	Like everyone else has previously said, it's really a horse apiece. If I was never going to shoot anything bigger than a Whitetail, I'd go with the .308, as from a reloader's standpoint, it's a bit more efficient (loaded with less powder that will obtain velocities that will kill something just as dead as with a .30/06). I'm a Savage Arms fan as well, but if this is your first centerfire rifle, I would advise against going with the Savage Arms long action. Their short actions feel just right to me, but their long actions are definitely LONG! I went from shooting a Stevens .223 to a Stevens .30/06 and it leads to some cursing on my end when I short stroke the bolt, when in a hurry. Just some more thoughts...