270 Win 140g ballistics better than 30.06 150 ?

[Capn27]

Many reasons for either of those classic calibers. The .30-06 might have a small advantage when you forget to pack ammo for you hunting trip and have to buy some more in a drugstore in Frozenass, Montana. I'll bet they've got .30-06 ammo on the shelf right next to the Trojans.

But then, Jack O'Connor chose the .270 . . .

 

[Bkat]

Why then buy the 30.06 .

One word: versatility. Bullet weights range from 110 to 220 grains, a spread of more than a hundred grains. IIRC, factory load availability is almost as great. The handloader can squeeze even more versatility out of this cartridge.

Then again, I still love the flat-shooting .270.

Bkat

 

[I_Like_Pie]

Here in TN deer hunting territory....you wouldn't believe it, but they are about equal in popularity, selection in the stores, and offerings in firearms.

Might be regional, but I almost see them as equivalent with respect to intended purpose....wheat field deer hunting.

 

[Rancher Will]

This will not be a difinitive answer but wioll give my experience.

From the time that I was about 11 year old I used a Winchester Model 92, .25-20 for deer and small game. I did cleanly kill a few deer with it using home-made bullets made from empty .22 LR cases filled with lead, and black powder. Then in 1947 I bought a Remington Model 720, .270 Cal that I have used ever since that time. That rifle has accounted for over 130 deer, 27 Elk and numerous other smaller game and varmints. I load Sierra 130 Gr Boattail bullets for deer and 150 Gr bullets for Elk in my .270.

I have four sons and one daughter, all hunters and all adults (and even Grandparents now). I also have Grandchildren who are hunters with vaious caliber rifles.

The rifles that my 5 children use are, 1- .30-06, 2- 7mm Mag, 2- .270.

Over the years I personally have never been able to tell any difference in the game-getting ability of any of these.

 

[mattsbox99]

Many reasons for either of those classic calibers. The .30-06 might have a small advantage when you forget to pack ammo for you hunting trip and have to buy some more in a drugstore in Frozenass, Montana. I'll bet they've got .30-06 ammo on the shelf right next to the Trojans.

But then, Jack O'Connor chose the .270 . . .

They have them both, but most people use a .22-250 or .243 for deer here. :D

 

[96/44]

There is no right or wrong answer to that question! If ballistics were the only measure of a cartridge, we should probably all be shooting 6.5x284's. There is little practical difference between the .270 and the .30-06. While the .270 has a bit flatter trajectory, it does so with lighter bullets, so the 06 has a slight edge with heavier bullets for elk, moose, etc. To get right down to it, we probably only "need" maybe a half dozen rifle cartridges, but where's the fun in that?

 

[Mobuck]

Basically comparing beans and well, other beans. While the 270 shoots slightly flatter IN SOME CASES, it doesn't offer appreciable reduction in recoil which would make it preferable over the 30/06. If you want to go with a lighter recoiling, flatter shooting deer/antelope hunting round compared to the 30/06, bypass the 270 and go with the 25/06. I never liked the 270 since it offered no advantage over the 30/06.

 

[kelbro]

I had a 270 for a long time and it put a lot of meat in the freezer. Got a good deal on a nice lefty 700BDL in 30-06 and thought I was set up. I have yet to find any REAL advantage to the 30-06 over my old 270.

 

[BCB]

Looking at ballistics comparison between the 30.06 150g vs the 270 Win 140g, it seems that the 270 has better numbers both energy & velocity all the way out to their max ranges.


Why then buy the 30.06 .

Looks like a “baited” question to me…

It will arouse the debate concerning the 270 Winchester vs. the 30-06 Springfield…

It has been argued and debated ‘bout 4 billion times throughout many websites and this debate will last for time everlasting…

But in one article I read ‘bout 40 years ago, O'Connor said he actually preferred the 30 caliber—go figure—who was paying him to do his writing? And that is what most writers base their topics on--$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$...

My opinion is—Who Cares?...

Should the need arise to shoot a man in the chest at 500 yards with a 270 Winchester or a 30-06 Springfield. I’ll bet he doesn’t get out a set of $200 Starrett micrometers and measure the entrance channel to see if it was a 0.278” bullet or a 0.308” bullet. Plus, I suspect the weight of the bullet would also be of little concern…

That’s my answer…

(But, I do have four 270 Winchester caliber rifles)

Good-luck…BCB

 

[Paul B]

"But in one article I read ‘bout 40 years ago, O'Connor said he actually preferred the 30 caliber—go figure—who was paying him to do his writing? And that is what most writers base their topics on--$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$... "

I remember the article. Jim Carmichel was interviewing Jack O'Connor and asked him what cartridge would he use to hunt North America if restricted to one. According to the articcle, O'Connor said without hesitation, "The 30-06". coming from Mr. ,270 that's says something.IIRC, it was in a 1973 issue of Outdoor Life.
Me? I have the best of both worlds as I have both plus a .280 Rem. in the middle. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Paul B.

 

[nvbirdman]

I like Maryanne, but if you prefer Ginger that's ok with me.

 

[COR]

270 vs 30/06, this has been done before, 100's of times literally! They'll both kill just fine.

If one digs deep enough into O'Connor you'll see he really loved the 9.3's.....but the 270 "paid the bills"

 

[mattsbox99]

Hmmm, I don't own a .270 and my only 30-06s are M1 Garands. I have a complex about oddball cartridges so that is my interest. :) Quite honestly there is very little that cannot be done with a .223 and proper bullet.

 

[COR]

Hmmm, I don't own a .270 and my only 30-06s are M1 Garands. I have a complex about oddball cartridges so that is my interest. :) Quite honestly there is very little that cannot be done with a .223 and proper bullet.

Well Matt that .223 jazz should get some folks going....myself as a Goerg fan and "disciple" I know what he did with an XP in 221 Fireball and a 22 Jet so I'll get on your bus... but I'm only riding until we run into a Moose. :lol:

 

[2Late45]

Looking at ballistics comparison between the 30.06 150g vs the 270 Win 140g, it seems that the 270 has better numbers both energy & velocity all the way out to their max ranges.


Why then buy the 30.06 .

I heard the same question asked when I was twelve,(1st trip to deer camp). That was almost 50 years ago, and I gave up waiting for a definitive answer. I still occassionally use a .35 Rem. Pump...

 

[mag41vance]

Why then buy the 30.06 .

One word: versatility. Bullet weights range from 110 to 220 grains, a spread of more than a hundred grains. IIRC, factory load availability is almost as great. The handloader can squeeze even more versatility out of this cartridge.

Then again, I still love the flat-shooting .270.

Bkat

Having a wide bullet weight range doesn't mean much unless you have a twist rate to accommodate a particular bullet weight.
Having a bullet weight range within 50gr is better but still challenging when trying to feed them all accurately down 1 tube.
I would say versatility in a hunting rifle would be 1 bullet weight that would cover the game spectrum, IE 168gr for the .30-06 which should anchor just about any animal on any list, and the 140-150gr range in the .270.
With the availability of solid bullets that expand well, lighter is a good option these days.

 

[Bucks Owin]

"If I were going to hunt all over the world and could use only one rifle, it would be a .375 (H&H magnum). If I could have only two, one would be a .375 and the other a .270"

Jack O'Connor in his classic "The Complete Book of Rifles and Shotguns"

 

[Tommy Kelly]

I have loaded for over 40 years and used both the 270 and 30-06. The difference is very slight in comparable weight bullets. The main difference is in the variety of weights and bullet styles offered in .308 compared to the .277. I have killed a lot of deer sized game with both calibers and sierra makes my favorite bullet style for both and I am a happy hunter.

 

[Ruber]

I must say, this year alot of deer sausage is getting made by result of Remington Woodsmaster 30.06. Alot.

:D :D
My 30-06 740 is a fine pig gun out here too!!

I load my own, so never saw a need for a 270. A heavy .30 at a moderate rate of speed has always worked for me. That 30-06 is just fun to load for. If I need a hot rod, I'll get out my 7mm mag BAR.

 

[GaSidewinder]

Personally, I shoot my 270 when I take a notion to and shoot the 30-06 when I don't. Just depends on the notion.

 

[dougader]

I got a 30-06 because that's what my Dad had, and I got a bunch of ammo, brass and bullets from him. So, my start-up costs were less.

Besides the wider selection in 30 caliber bullets, brass was everywhere... and in backwater towns you are more likely to find 30-06 on the back counter than 270. Never made any difference to me because I loaded my own and took plenty, but everyone carries 30-06.

If I had a choice to make today, I'd probably pick a nice 280 Remington over either the 270 or the 30-06 for deer, antelope, elk and black bear.

Like other posters here, though, I have hunted side-by-side with other hunters and I have seen no real difference in dropping deer and elk out to 400 yards with any standard caliber.

The 30 mags do a better job at distance than the '06 offspring on elk, but I haven't seen a 7mm mag do any better than '06, 270 or 280 Remington, either.

If I want something more for big game, I stick with the '06 case and step up to 338-06. Something to be said for a case that necks up or down and makes great hunting calibers from 243-06 up to 35 Whelen.