I had always been under the impression that the .270 Winchester, being Jack O'conner's favorite game cartridge for Western American game, would offer a considerable amount of aptitude over and above the .308 Winchester.<P>In reviewing the ballistics tables at Winchester's website, I find that the two chamberings do about the same thing with 150 grain bullets. Trajectories are quite similar. Downrange energy seems to favor the .270 by about 1 to 3 per cent.<P>What advantages might the .270 offer over the .308? I don't purport to say that there are none--I am certain that advantages for each cartridge exist. I imagine the .308 gets the nod in the accuracy department. What is the .270's claim to fame?<P>Wizard

Wizard, compare apples to apples. The 130grn bullet is the 270's cup of tea. Look at the ballistics charts comparing the 130 grn in the 270 to the 150 grn in the 308. You will find that the trajectory favors the 270 in this comparo. The 308's short fat cartridge should give it the nod for accuracy, although the 270 is a very accurate cartridge in it's own right. There is no substitute for size however [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img] , I would prefer the 30 caliber for larger game, even though my primary hunting rifle is a 270 Sendero. badger.

I have both of these fine calibers, and they both will do about the same things. Another good comparison is the 140 grain in the .270 and the 165 grain bullet in the .308. The .270 is very flat shooting, but so is the .308. I am partial to the .308 simply because I like 30 caliber bullets, and .308s are noted for their accuracy. The .270 with good bullets is a western mule deer hunter's best friend. I wouldn'd lose any sleep over choosing either one because they are both excellent choices.

Thanks for the info so far. I have an opportunity to purchase a .270 and am trying to decide whether I have a niche to be filled or not...<P>My uncle hunted with a Model 70 270 Winchester for many years, and always had quite good results. I'm reminded of a story told of him. It seemed he had emerged from the woods on a whitetail hunt and didn't realize until he was half way across a fenced off pasture that a large bull was being kept there. He had nearly completed his trek across the field before the bull noticed him, and took chase.<P>My uncle was able to get to the fence and cross it before the upset bull got to him.<BR> When his friend, who owned the land (and the bull) asked with a chuckle if that bull had my uncle scared, my uncle replied "Nope, I wasn't scared at all... I had my 270 and my checkbook."<P>Regards,<P>Wizard

As a big fan of the .308, the .270 does have a point or two. When comparing the trajectory of the standard 130 gr. .270 vs. the 150 gr. .308, the point blank ranges are pretty close, but it does favor the .270. The .270 drifts significantly less in a cross wind. The .308 fits a short action vs. a long action for the .270. Recoil slightly favors the .308. But the big, practical advantage to the .308 is the availibility of cheap surplus ammo for practice. On top of all else, the shooter, and his abilitys, makes much more difference than small ballistic differences. Good shooters practice. The cheaper, and easier, it is to do this; the more one shall do so. E

Wizard, the capabilities of the two cartridges are so close that it makes little sense to get one if you have the other, from a practical hunting point of view.<P>For example, if you have the .308, you would be better served to get a rangefinder and have a target elevation turret put on your scope.<P>However, if their are other reasons for the purchase, then practicality is out the window. Have fun with it. It would be hard to beat the .270 as a loaner or backup rifle for general purpose hunting.<P>Good shooting, Tauls

the only real advantage if it exists is more area of expasion on the larger pill after penetration, and larger wound channel of the 308.<BR> now that being said if the advantage exists it would be on specific sized game at specific ranges, and that is actually the only true advantage besides possibly some downrange accuracy from less bullet drop, but actually a shooter should know where the pill is headed for whatever caliber pill combo he is using at whatever ranges he or she intends to shoot, that would actually be the real advantage knowing your weapons point of impact at the ranges you shoot.

Wizard, as a user of both calibers, my experience is that with steppy 130 gn reloads (3100+ FPS)in the 270 it shoots noticably flatter than the 308 with 150s particularly noticable on making hits on medium sized game out at the 300 - 350 yard mark in open country. WHILE ON PAPER IT MAY NOT APPEAR MUCH IT FEELS MUCH BETTER TO ME! I have also found it hard to get 150 gn loads in the 308 to 2850 fps in a 22 " barell. I like the 308 for the brush where you want a hole and blood trail and the 270 for the open country.<P>cheers<BR>WT

Sounds like a Win Win situation, he,he [img]images/icons/laugh.gif" border="0[/img]<P>Mike<P>I don't think it's fair to compare a standard short action round with a standard long action round!<P>My first centerfire was a .270, I still own it! I've had two different .308's which are no longer in my collection! They just didn't impress me as being anything more than what I had! i don't feel their is all that much advantage in a sporter rifle to have a short action so if I desired a .30 Cal I would just buy a 30.06 and I would never desire a .30cal [img]images/icons/laugh.gif" border="0[/img]<P>Mike

I'd say take your pick....

I think if you do th same comparison with the30-06 280. 7-08 and other mid sized cartridges that under 300 yards the performance is quite similar using bullets of 130-150 grs or so. A intersting article is one from. A few years ago where JB aka Muledeer compared the trajectory of the 308 and 300 mag.

I'm always amazed by folks that will argue about the difference of 2-3 inches in trajectory at 300-400 yds when the cross hair of their scope covers that much space.

I prefer a short action. If you need slicker numbers on paper, the 260 rem is pretty flat shooting, and handles wind well. It is a top silhouette cartridge for that reason, and really the best world of a refined flatter "308".

Why bring back a 15 year old thread?

Yep!

Kinda what I was thinking.

But in the spirit of the orginal 15 yo question: Compare bullet BCs. The 270 has a bit of an advantage. But I find fly crap in my pepper all the time.

I have and love both.

If I'm hunting east of the Mississippi I'm toting my Tikka T3 Lite stainless .308

If I'm hunting west of the Mississippi I carrying my M70 Fwt .270

No real logic to it, just feels right.

Didn't note the old date. Good point.

Might as well bring it back after 15 years because it keeps getting asked anyway.

I was a 308 fanatic for many years. Swore the 270 was a wank. Then bought a 270 and hunted and shot with it and became a convert.


Recently I decided to consolidate a few rifles into one including a couple of 308s, a 270, a 250 Sav AI and miscellaneous others. Guess what I got?

A 308 Win cause it just does the business, soooo fuss free...

I own a number of each and find they both work. For eastern deer hunting in the woods, where shots are rarely much over 100 yards, I like a short barreled .308. This year, I've drawn a Wyoming antelope tag, and my Tikka .270 is going along.
As far as accuracy goes, every .270 I've owned has shot well. Most of the .308s have shot well, but a couple were pretty fussy. In my experience, the .270 gets the nod for accuracy.
The .308 does the job with less powder. Typically 45 gr vs 60 gr. So I can load 4 .308 rounds for the same grain weight as 3 .270 rounds. Yes, I know they use different powders.
Both are a good choice.

In cyberspace time stand still

Thought it was kinda funny actually. The more schit changes, the more it stays the same.

I think the main difference is platforms. I have both cartridges but set up differently for different purposes. My 308 is a 22" Montana, my 270 is a 24" Montana. It would seem that the 2" of barrel wouldn't be much of a thing - but the two rifle handle completely differently. The 308 has a VX 3 2.5-8; the 270 VX3i 3.5-10 CDS. The 308 is my Whitetail gun - used for treestands and still hunting. The 270 is my carry long range rig. Both will see action this fall but in different states. One cam certainly cover for the other but I prefer dedicated rifles for specific tasks.

Rifle looneyism at its finest..............

I just carry a light 22" barreled 270 everywhere..except when I feel like carrying something else.

This eliminates the comparison and any conflict.

It's a platform issue for me, somethings I like short actions in and I'd go 308, others I'll take the 270 with. A savage 99 or browning BLR in 308 are two that come to mind fast handling fit me well and have good reach for the occasional long shot, my main bolt rifle is a 270 CLR/NULA hybrid that handles bean fields, recoil is very light is death on whitetails and adequate for elk when it needs to be.

Based solely on my experience, I'll have to give the edge to the .308 Winchester.

I have never owned a .270....


A friend does have one and it kills the hell out of deer.

270 is a flat shooter. Love mine.
308 is better choice for someone who shoots paper a lot.
I prefer the 06 for hunting.

Because he couldn't go back 30-50....

This^^^^^^

wizard,

I own both. Either will reliable kill every big game animal in North America, although I'd want something in the ballpark of a .45/70 were I hunting our largest bears.

Eskimos & Inuits use the '06 for everything including Polar Bear.

Go with the one with which you're most comfortable.

Quit it - practicality has nothing to do with it

Next thing you know, you'll be recommending a 22" barrel 30-06 for everything with a boring 180 gr Partition.

Could be worse,he could have recommended a 22" barrel 7x57 and 160 gr Nosler Partitions for everything.

Pure sacrilege. Just like punching paper with hunting bullets. Partitions are way too yesterday too. Just sayin...

Yup,Noslers are so.....yesterday.

My two favorite whitetail hunting cartridges, and I don't think there is any practical difference between the two for hunting light, big game. Like the S&W M27-2 and the Colt Python - both so good you really need one of each to end fretting about the "which is best" question.

If shooting factory ammo, I think that the 270 will generally have flatter-shooting loads readily available.

You mean....




vs.

About the same time of the OP I went to a gun store to ask this very question to the expert behind the counter.

He grabbed a 308, said it was the most "inherently" accurate round ever made. For affect he slapped the bolt and sniffed with authority.

I asked, well if a 270 was flatter shooting wouldn't that make things easier?

He responded no, a 308 arcs- but it arcs to the target.

So there ya go.

In my opinion, the advocacy of Jack O'Connor. It has pluses and minuses as it relates to the cartridges that bracket it from both above and below, just like all others. Had O'Connor, with his prolific writing of the day, used and wrote about one of those other "bracketing" cartridges so extensively, it probably would have had the same success in the pantheon of American cartridges.

Sleek hunting bullets maximizing speed vs. BC for shots inside 400yds:

270 Win - 130gr E-tip with .459 BC at 3,100fps
308 Win - 150gr E-tip with .469 BC at 2,950fps

There's really not that much difference there downrange.

How much does B.C. matter inside of 500 yards?




P

That's simple, the Python.

kwg

Most commercially successful (not military) high velocity cartridge designed for BG hunting and suited to bolt action rifles. It didn't have the help of cheap surplus rifles, Uncle Sam, or abundant surplus ammo to make it popular(unlike the 30/06, 308,and 223,7x57 etc etc. All these were government sponsored, tax payer supplemented cartridges).

OTOH the 270 had to earn its popularity the hard way.....in the hunting fields in the hands of BG hunters who actually paid out of their own pockets to use it. Guess they liked it....a few million BG animals later that is....



Ushered in the light bullet/high velocity/moderate recoil trend that so many cartridges emulate today( Whether most realize it or not,much cartridge development sought to do nothing more than equal the ballistic performance of the 270. Count 'em and weep..... Most got run into the dust bin by the 270).

Used successfully on every major continent and about every major species of BG pretty much world wide..

Light rifles, light recoil,flat shooting (effective about as far as 98% of BG hunters have any business shooting at anything living),ample killing power and sufficient for about anything. Millions of rifles, millions of rounds of ammo, millions of dead animals....literally.

What's its claim to fame? Kidding right!?

Why would anyone bother asking the question....

Methinks you're cherry picking a little there. Compare any other comparable 130gr 270 to 150gr 30cal, and the BC advantage goes to the 270. Not sure why the etip would be different?

Also would say it's probably easier to get to 3100 with a 130/270, than it is to get to 2950 with a 150/308. Comparable factory ammo is 3060 fps for the 130/270 versus 2820 for the 150/308.

Talk about pizzing in someone's cereal huh Bob. Earlier today, as I was driving home from work, I was thinking I've never shot any big game animal with my 270. Does that mean I still have my man card???

bsa: Not pissing. Those are all facts.

308 all the way...........

270 is way gay.................

I like my 270. I'm glad I bought it and glad my buddies talked me into buying it... . Now I just need to use the damn thing!!!

Bob's answer is spot on.

Right now I have four BG rifles... two 308's and two 270's. Personally I think they're equivalent on game, with the nod going to the 308 for frugality of powder consumption and barrel life, and likely to accuracy (across a wiiide sample). I also prefer SA's to LA's, so my favorite is the 308... but the 270 is a helluva a cartridge.

Either is fine for any of the game found here in Montana...

Define "way gay" for me in English......thanks.

That's to distinguish from "a little" gay......


like "a little pregnant" !!

Really tho, it's for those who don't know any better or have anything beneficial to add.


Jerry

Surely you jest (joke) !

If you're not joking, you must be a novice BUT you are familiar with JOC's use, so that doesn't add up.

So, BobnNH has given multiple correct answers.


Jerry

That's sorta amazes me. I had a Ruger UL 308, 20" bll. I hunted and killed deer with it. It was my 2nd (second) really lightweight rifle. I loved hunting it in 'woods'. I can't remember how long it's been since I sold it.....

I haven't missed it one day!! I guess it's a personal preference thing.

Jerry

No kidding! What dumb feuck thought that old thread was so interesting that he/she couldn't just start another?

I can hear that DirecTV Comercial with Bonjovi now

Did someone force you to read it?

Chumming for idiots. Careful, the hooks are sharp....

Agreed.

The current responder probably didn't notice the date but regardless, the question remains as pertinent now as it was back then. No reason to start another other than personal preference.