Is there anything it does that a say 270 or similar, smaller caliber, lighter recoiling rifle will not do?
What say you?
Gallons of ink and galaxies of electrons have been wasted trying to define some earth shattering difference between the 30-06 and the 270.
There really isn't one. The 270 is a 30-06 with a slightly smaller bullet. It shoots a little bit flatter, kicks a little bit less, hits with slightly less power.
That said, if you are talking about overall versatility I'd take the 30-06. While you can certainly kill an elk cleanly with a 150 grain 270 load, I'd rather use an 180 grain 30-06. If I had to face something big at close range I'd rather use a 200 grain Partition or a 220 RN in a 30-06 than anything that could be fired from a 270. So as a do-everything rifle the 30-06 has an edge. If you're hunting something in the deer / pig / black bear size range there's not enough difference to worry about. Either one will do just fine.
