270 or 30 06

Originally Posted By: MPFDOriginally Posted By: hm1996Shoot what you like. There's not a whit of difference between the two. Shoot 125 gr. bullet in the '06 and ya got a 270. A 150 gr. bullet in a 270 and it becomes a 30-06.


Maybe recoil wise but BC wise the .270 wins hands down with both mentioned grain weights.

Can't argue the BC alone would seem to favor the .270, but let's compare apples to apples.

According to Nosler 5th:

In order to keep variables to a minimum, chose 150 gr. Nosler solid base in both and, since IMR 4350 shows to be most accurate load (at maximum suggested load) in both, here's the ballistics according to Norma Ballistic Calculator:

30-06 150 gr. SBBT...........270 150 gr. SBBT
59.0 gr. IMR 4350*............52 gr. IMR 4350*
3000 fps. BC .435.........2782 fps..BC .496
Trajectory @ Yards (scope 1.5" above bore):
100 = +1.5"..................+1.85"
200 = 00.................... 00
300 = - 7"...................-7.99"
400 = -21"...................-23.46"
500 = -43"...................-45"
600 = -72.4".................-77"
* Listed as Maximum Load and Most Accurate Load Tested

So, based on one load for one bullet with one powder, listed as maximum load/most accurate load in one (Nosler) manual, the 30-06 seems to hold a slight edge over the 270. Granted, I picked the favored bullet weight for the 30-06, actually, the 165 gr. bullet is a better choice in the 30-06. We're really splitting hairs to find any appreciable difference between the two cartridges, IMHO.
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Originally Posted By: Stu Farishif you take identical rifles, say model 700's, one in 30-06 and one in 270. Load each & hand it to me, so I don't know what I'm shooting, and I can't tell the difference in recoil.

Absolutely! Had a friend that I shot competition with. He shot a 308 because he "didn't like the recoil of the 30-06" and claimed he could tell the difference in recoil between 150 gr. and 168 gr. SMK's in his rifle (using same load behind each). That's in a 12-13# rifle!

Originally Posted By: FairChase93I guess I'd have to have somebody do the test with me maybe. Perceived recoil to me is very noticeably different. I've shot plenty of both calibers but never in a blind test.

Personally, given same rifle fit, I think the problem with perceived recoil is the "perceived" part.
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Regards,
hm
 
From my perspective, if you have a 30-06, a 270, a 308, a 7mm-08, just one of anything that range, you really don't need any of the others.

I have a 30-06 (have actually been shooting not just a 30-06, but the same 30-06 for 39 years now), so I never bothered to buy a 308, 270, etc.

I figured that if i needed/wanted a new rifle, I wanted something that was enough different to actually be different. A 223, a 22-250, a 25-06, a 444 marlin, a 30-30, a 6.5 grendel, a 338 winchester or a 375 H&H, for example.

Pick one you like and get it in an accurate rifle & you'll likely be happy, so long as it's a sufficient performer to do what you expect of it.
 
Originally Posted By: ninehorsesYou guys talking about BC...

Berger 210 VLD in .30 cal. has a .631 G1 BC

Berger 150 VLD in .27 cal. has a .531 G1 BC



Not exactly the same bullet weight now is it? And if the 150 grain bullet is leaving the barrel of a 270 at 3000 FPS (a stiff load but one I have used a lot) and the 210 grain 30-06 is only going to be going about 2600 FPS max. Starting off at 400 FPS lower the with only .100 difference in BC the 30 caliber bullet (assuming a 250 yard zero) is going to hit 41" low compared to the 270 bullet that is only going to be 32" low. That there is the difference between a good kill and a miss or worse yet a poor hit resulting in a not immediately dead animal.
 


Originally Posted By: FairChase93I guess I'd have to have somebody do the test with me maybe. Perceived recoil to me is very noticeably different. I've shot plenty of both calibers but never in a blind test.

Originally Posted By: hm1996Personally, given same rifle fit, I think the problem with perceived recoil is the "perceived" part.
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Regards,
hm

Kind of where I was going with that one. I'm not going to pound the table and say there is a definitive difference but to me and my shoulder and my brain there seems to be a LOT of diiference.
 
Originally Posted By: scouteyesA little off the wall here but the 280 is very hard to beat. 7mm version of the 30/06 .

Quote:I'd happily take a 280 Rem over either........

I bought a .280. Did a fine job. Problem was I had a hard time finding factory ammo when I needed it and selection was extremely poor when I found it. Then the price was higher than the old 06.
06 ammo everywhere, good selection and price.
 
Originally Posted By: RustydustOriginally Posted By: ninehorsesYou guys talking about BC...

Berger 210 VLD in .30 cal. has a .631 G1 BC

Berger 150 VLD in .27 cal. has a .531 G1 BC



Not exactly the same bullet weight now is it? And if the 150 grain bullet is leaving the barrel of a 270 at 3000 FPS (a stiff load but one I have used a lot) and the 210 grain 30-06 is only going to be going about 2600 FPS max. Starting off at 400 FPS lower the with only .100 difference in BC the 30 caliber bullet (assuming a 250 yard zero) is going to hit 41" low compared to the 270 bullet that is only going to be 32" low. That there is the difference between a good kill and a miss or worse yet a poor hit resulting in a not immediately dead animal.


Rusty, apples to apples, 150 grain, a maxed out 30-06 will get you over 3000fps with several published loads. I looked in a couple of places and found no, 270, 150 grain loads, over 2900. So you must be a lucky man to get that out of yours(No, I'm not doubting you). With the heavier bullets is where the old war horse leaves the 270 lacking. Better bullets for long range work. A 270 can't shoot 165-230 grain bullets, and there are lots of good .30 cal. high BC bullets. A 30-06 can run past 1000 yards with out going subsonic. Most long range work is done with a 100 yard zero, and then spin a turret. That seems to be the trend.
 
"What's a 280?" So says the guy behind the gun counter. Better? Yes, but... inside of 400 yards, where most people kill game, not so much. All three... pretty much a dead heat.

Oh, and for the record, one of the worst kicking I ever got was a left hand, custom stocked, .270, shot right handed. Beautiful AAA birds eye maple. Shot left handed it was a dream.
 
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Originally Posted By: ninehorsesWith the heavier bullets is where the old war horse leaves the 270 lacking. Better bullets for long range work. A 270 can't shoot 165-230 grain bullets, and there are lots of good .30 cal. high BC bullets. A 30-06 can run past 1000 yards with out going subsonic.

For what it's worth, I shot NRA HP competition (200-1000 yds) for close to 25 years and honestly, can't remember ever seeing a .270 on the line. Fine hunting cartridge, but never found a place in long range competition for whatever reason.

Regards,
hm
 
Originally Posted By: ninehorses
Rusty, apples to apples, 150 grain, a maxed out 30-06 will get you over 3000fps with several published loads. I looked in a couple of places and found no, 270, 150 grain loads, over 2900. So you must be a lucky man to get that out of yours(No, I'm not doubting you). With the heavier bullets is where the old war horse leaves the 270 lacking.

Well, it was a warm load to be sure. If memory serves it was out of an old PO Ackley book. Plenty warm but back on those days I loaded everything hot. And it did shoot good in both my Ruger M77 and my Winchester Model 70.

Nowadays, I have neither a 30-06 or a .270. Largest centerfire that I even own anymore is a 25-06 and I haven't shot that in quite a long while as I haven't hunted big game in 10 years or better.
 
.30-06 all day, my .270 never leaves the safe. Look at the factory loadings, the difference between a 130 grain .270 and a 165g .30-06 is less than 6 inches at 500 yards. Oooooh wow it's SOOOOO much flatter shooting
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ya ya ya with hand loading you can change ballistics on either cartridge.
 
Originally Posted By: tripod3
I've had members here get after me with a vengeance for calling the 06 boring. Too bad cause it fits.
It has been a winner since 1906 and still is.
If I remember correctly there is a few pounds more recoil with the 06, but most including me would have a difficult time discerning the difference.

Some people will intuitively know you are right about the .30-06. It IS boring. That is reality. It's the Ford F150 of rifle cartridges, you can put a spoiler and mags on it and it's a boring truck with a spoiler and mags on it.

It will take others longer to arrive at the correct conclusion, so they will argue with you in the meantime.

Look, here's the deal. If any gun maker wants to suddenly sell thousands more .30-06 rifles than they're selling now, all they need to do is rebrand it.

What? Rebrand it. Yes. Call it the 7.6 MM PowerMaster. Or the 7.6 MM KnockDown. Or some other macho name with MM instead of inch designation. Sales would skyrocket.

Chamber a "limited edition" in it, write a bunch of ad copy that says they will only be sold to: "Long range hunters and tactical marksmen (whatever that is) who are man enough to handle a true long action cartridge with this much power and versatility. Sissy boys and 7-08 shooters need not apply as you are too big of a wuss to handle the 7.6 MM PowerMaster."

Sales would skyrocket because it's new. Perception is everything.

Grouse
 
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Originally Posted By: The Famous GrouseLook, here's the deal. If any gun maker wants to suddenly sell thousands more .30-06 rifles than they're selling now, all they need to do is rebrand it.

What? Rebrand it. Yes. Call it the 7.6 MM PowerMaster. Or the 7.6 MM KnockDown. Or some other macho name with MM instead of inch designation. Sales would skyrocket.

WOW
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If die sales mean anything, the 30-06 is perennially a good seller, also evidenced by what the big box stores generally have on hand to sell quickly. All of them always have 30-06 rifles for sale.

Of the two, for hunting purposes, I'd take the 270 with a good 140 grain bullet and not look back when hunting deer or elk.
 
With new style bullets and powder a 270 does a lot more. I own a 270 308 two 06 two 7mm two 300 Weatherbys and I use a 270
 
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