.308 vs .270

[model 70]

What can the .308win do that the .270win can't? vice versa too.

[VinVega]

My vote says nothing.
Now there may be a few things one does better than the other, and vice versa, but I really think both are capable of killing basically any North American species with the right shot.

[Jack]

Nothing wrong with VinVega's answer.
The 308 makes bigger holes. The 270 shoots a bit flatter.

[mannlicher .270]

No contest 4 me;) 4 obvious reasons lol. But as to your question, Vega is right. It all comes down to taste, if you get what I mean. To each one his(her) own.

Mannlicher

[kt]

was my first and every time i think of getting something new i think, hell, i would get whatever i got in 308 cal any way. gotta love the short action. Although you dont see factory loaded 308's in 130 grain, and not 270 180gr factory stock. both are just great.

[Adirondacks]

I'd say the the high end of the 270 bullet weight range is
about 150 grns. There are alot of much heavier bullets
in 30 cal that the 308 is capable of shooting. This makes
it more versatile. (At least I think so)

[model 70]

So what advantage do I have with the .270? Reach?

[VinVega]

Originally posted by model 70
So what advantage do I have with the .270? Reach?

You have that, but also flatter shooting bullets at shorter ranges as well.

[Rocky Raab]

The 270 will shoot a few inches flatter at long range.

But hardly enough to make a real difference except from a benchrest.

For hunting, there's not a flea fart's difference between 'em.

[jon lynn]

there's not a flea fart's difference between 'em.


:D Rocky, your our technical poet!:D

[Bill Allen]

What would the recoil difference be between the .308 and the .270?

[Rocky Raab]

Actually, that's about the same, too. They'll both launch a 150-gr bullet at about the same speed. In rifles of similar weight, that means similar recoil.

You'd feel more difference due to rifle design and/or weight than from the round.

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

I think I actually prefer the .270 even though it's been the singel most unluckiest cartridge for me. Despite being the first full bore rifle brought, my BSA CF2 Stutzen has not taken a single game animal:( Yet on my first stalk using my then new CZ-Brno 601 in .308 I got my first Deer a Roe Doe.

The " sods law" with the .270 struck again yesterday, I had watched the Fallow Deer on the next property for a long time including seeing two Bucks sparring. I then visited a while with the owner before back down the paddock and wood to see about trying to thin the squirrels a little, I placed my unloaded 270 BSA Majestic (another rifle, still have the first one) against an apple tree and went down to the bottom of the paddock near the gully looking for squirrels. I had seen some one walking in the field to the south and watched them go into the trees by the gully and not given it much thought. The Fallow were last seen up on the next rise resting and grazing.

About half hour later I still had not seen the squirrels but suddenly a group of nine Does and yearlings come up through the gully just across the fence line heading for the paddock which of course I am standing in:rolleyes: they see me and start trotting up the hedge and are between 35-50 yards from me and I have a .22 R/F in my hands:rolleyes:

[PJgunner]

Well, let's see. I have two rifles in .270 and 8 in .308. Nuff said? :rolleyes: :D :cool: Seriously, any shot that you can reasonably take with a .270 can be done with a .308. Personally, I prefer to see the whites of my deer's eyes, if possible, and most of the time I can do just that. I have had to take only three really long range shots at game in 55 years of hunting, one, an elk at 530 yards laser measured, and two Mule Deer one at 250 yards laser measured and the other deer at 427 paces. Both deer were taken with the .308 cartridge, the shorter distanced deer with a Ruger 77 RSI and a handloaded 165 gr. Speer hot-core at 2550 FPS and the 427 paced deer with a Remington 660 and a 150 gr. Siera pro-hunter, velocity unknown. No chronographs way back then. :( Would any shots have been easier with a .270? I don't think so.
For the record, the elk was shot with a handloaded 200 gr. Speer hot-core at 2950 FPS from a .300 Win. mag. I would not have tried that shot with either the .308 or the .270, and mine spits a 150 gr. Nosler from it's 24" barrel at 3000 FPS chronographed.:cool:
The .308 does have the advantage of being able to handle heavier bullets up to 220 gr., even if most of the "egg-spurts" say it can't be done. It can, because I have done it. No, the 220s don't go very fast, but considering that the 30-40 Krag was considered a good killer in it's day with a 220 gr. bullet at 2000 FPS, why can't the .308 at an easy 22pp FPS not be just as good? I worked up to 2300 FPS in a 22" barreled Winchester M70 with 220 gr. Sierra round nosed bullets on a summer day with the temp at 105 degrees. Three of those bullets printed a .375" group. I'm thinking that would make a good elk buster in close range shooting to say, about 150 yards, maybe a bit more.
Paul B.

[Evan03]

270

pushn 130gr bullets recoil should be less than the 308 pushn 150s. 130s are plenty for most all game we can encounter. takn somewhere between 5-7 mule deer and 1 bull elk with my 270win and it has worked very well for me, so much so that i have decent list of calibers now but the 270win is still the only to draw blood on big game.

plus the 308 has never ever in my worst nightmare appealed to me. and more than likly never will.

[Bill Allen]

Why is the .308 so unpopular with you, Evan? Why do you like the .270 so much better than the .308?

[skeet]

Surprising to say the least but I have 2 308's and one...er 2 270's. One of the 270's is an as new pre 64 Supergrade M-70 Featherweight so I don't intend to shoot it..anymore. I am also like Evan...I have absolutely no use for a 308. The darn things just have too much recoil....at least they feel that way to me. Admittedly they are both Lever guns. A M-88 Winchester(pre 64) and a Savage 99 in 308. Kick the snot out of ya...IMO. The Ruger 270 I shoot is an early tang safety model and it is a pleasure to shoot. I also have a pre 64 Win 70 and an early Ruger 77 in 30-06 and they both kick much less than the 308's. I also have a 99 in 300 Savage and it is a pleasure to shoot even though I hardly shoot it any more. Lots of people like the 308 but they can have it. And I personally think the short action versus long action is a bunch of hogwash. 2 inches and a few ouces don't make all that much difference...at least in real life!:eek: :confused:

BOY I'll bet I just started something now!!:D :D

[Evan03]

i was interduced to the 270win as my first rifle givn to me by my father when i was alot younger. since then ive had a few 3006. both are gone now. but have also aquired a 270wsm.

i dont intedn to get rid of any 277 caliber rifles. im just very fond of them.

i have a 300win that ive had for awhile now that is unfired and might just stay that way, both my 270s are glassed and ready to go at a moments notice, just the way it should be.



the 308, i dont know what is is with the 308 that i dont like, just never have for some reason. even though it is very versitale caliber.

i just can think of other 30cals that stand out in my mind over the 308 when i start decideing i want 308 cal rifle. id much rather have a 3006 or 300win possibly 300wsm. thewe 3 308 calibers are the only 3 that ive ever conciderd. in my opion there isnt any big game anywhere that you couldnt use the 3006 or 300win on.

the same may also be true to the 308 but my mind would never put it in the same category as those 2. why ill never know

Evan