Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 270, 280, 30-06. Which would chose?

.30-06 every day of the week, twice on Sunday!

While I love to tinker with more exotic rounds, out of those three choices it would have to be the ubiquitous .30-06 that is sitting in my safe right now. Steyr Model M Professional with a Kahles 6x42 scope in Warne QD mounts. It shoots exceptionally well with just about every load, factory or handloads, and absolutely loves the cheap Federal American Eagle and Federal Power-Shok ammo. I can’t beat their 1/4” groups with my handloads.

I've never had a 30-06, though I like the idea of one. Go back to the basics, like I did with my Win M70, 308 Win, Leup FX3 6x42.

Told a buddy I bought a 308, he said why did you get that, it has terrible ballistics. That's the point. Back to the basics, show you can kill stuff with the old and slow.

Taco, 308 is my favorite round for everything. What bullet you using/what bullet did you use on the pictured moose?

Thx

The late Col. T. Whelen did say, "The 30-06 is never a mistake." I'm inclined to agree. I guess I've probably done more hunting with the30-06 than either the ,270 or .280. Lately have stuck to using the .35 Whelen for elk. However, regardless of whichever rifle I take that's not an 06, be assured that the back up rifle has always been a rifle chambered to the 30-06. Sometimes both rifles for the hunt are 30-06s. They just plain work.
PJ

150 TTSX

The only thing a 30-06 can do that the 270 and 280 can't is fire bullet's over 175 grs! yet what you think you might need that 180 gr bullet for, the 270 will do about the same with a 150gr bullet and the 280 will with a 160gr bullet. The most important thing in the success of any rifle and cartridge is how well the user is able to use what he has! So, of the three, I have the 30-06 but really think the 280 is a great cartridge. So in it's place I have a 6.5x06. Even had a 270 at one time!

270 for me

Even Jack O'Connor said the .30/06 was better than the .270 so that leaves the .280 vs .'06.

The 280AI only equals the '06 velocities with like bullet weights, so doesn't that make the plain 280 a lesser option?

Then we have bullet weight range, 7mm Vs .308 caliber. We likely don't need either weight range but more choices means more options to find what your rifle likes.

With it easier than ever to find a bullet that fully penetrates most game, where do you draw the line with bullet weight needs per caliber?

Again, JO'C shot clear through a grizzly with a 180gn bullet in his .30/06 and declared no heavier bullet was required in the '06. Was he right?

Being younger and still knowing everything is terrific, until you meet an old guy with a battered rifle he's had a while and he pulls out a crumpled partly used blue box. Then you get to learn something you thought you'd already mastered. I hope everyone eventually meets the old guy.

I have made that choice...it is a 280.

I have all 3 and they are great.

No surprise here, 270 WCF. A few in the safe. Current favorites are a 1:8 twist and my Dad's old 760.

I own zero 280's and zero 30-06's.

30-06 all day, unless 338-06 is added to the list. In which case I leave the other 3 behind and never look back.

30-06

Brad & Taco
I have zero experience with the 308.
What loads and performance do you get?
Thanks

I'm getting about 2860 with Varget and a 22" barrel

30-06 for me. I’ve used one since 1976. Same with the 270 win. I could be perfectly happy with either but I’m convinced the 30-06 is more versatile.

Have found my old 700 with a short 18" barrel in 30-06 to be very effective with a variety of bullets. Shooting 155 scenars its quiet with light recoil. If I am going under 06, I drop down to 6.5x47 and never look back.

I have a 30-06 and 280. Dad left several 270's sold everyone as fast as I could. Nothing wrong with a 270 just don't have a use for it.

Any of those are good but given a choice I’d lean towards the 270 Winchester