Deciding between a 270 or 25-06 for varmints up to deer/antelope, maybe even a elk! Opinions?

That question is like asking,"who should I ask to dance? Janet Reno or Julia Roberts"?<P>Live large,dance with the Belle of the Ball,the 25-06 is the logical choice........(grin)

Kinda like applles, Red or Yellow delicious?I'd say pick wichever floats your boat. The difference between the 2 is minimal.<P>One tie breaker to me would be do you hand load. The .270 ammo would probably be found a little cheaper, as it is a more copmmon caliber. If you roll your own, I'd go with the 25. A 270 would have better bullet selection for bear or elk, but for varmints and deer, I'd agree with Stick.<BR>7mm

sorry guys the logical choice is the .270, 130 grain bullet and a healthy dose of 4064, the ultimate deer whacker.

Shaping up,to be a GOOD thread........

Hey Big Stick, I have the burning answer to a question that has been nagging you for months. "Did Ralph ever get that 25-06 or .270 in left hand?" Well, I got that 25-06 in left handed, pretty tough to find, but worth it. Two words, "Love it". Loading 120 Hornady's with H-4831, it's a shooter. Maybe tries some 100 grainers next. Anyway great recommendation. I have not been posting much, but reading all the time. Hope all is well. Taurus, regarding which one, 120 grain bullet in 25-06 or 130 grain in 270, same case. I would say not much difference. Best Regards, Ralph in Sunny Cal

Sounds like picking at hairs here, but the .02 difference in diameter doesn't sound like much of a difference. The difference, since Elk and Bears were thrown into the equation is the fact that the .270 has heavier bullets available- 150-160 Grain for the bigger game. I wouldn't feel undergunned with a .270, 130 Nosler Partitions, and a stiff load of H4831 in my .270. I have no experience to draw on, though, since I have other rifles for the purposes, so take my opinion for what it is worth. [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img]<BR>Of course, Stick will counter with the Barnes advantage and I wouldn't argue with that at all. Either one will work with the standard caveat- put it in the right place and you will collect venison. I've seen the videos and know it to be true. [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img]- Sheister

I agree that there is little difference in potential. <BR> There is a difference in most factory rifles. .25-06 rifles typically come with magnum weight, 24 inch barrels. .270's usually come in 22 inch, sporter weight barrels. .270's are often lighter. <BR> There is a difference in factory ammo. There are lots of super premium loads for the .270, usually in the 140 gr. weight. There is a much narrower selection with the .25-06. <BR> If your a handloader, again, there is very little difference. <BR> If I were making the decision, it would come down to what rifle I liked and it's characteristics. E

Ralph,<P>Congrats on the 25 bore,hope you have great luck with him. I'm more than partial to mine.<P>On a somewhat serious note,I've had 5 seperate 270's that I can distinctly remember. I must confess all were accurate(one exceptionally so) and all killed critters with great satisfaction. That being said,they never impressed me in the manner the 25-06 does. I can't give you some impressive scientific life study,that I've conducted,but would submit that it is much more than a hunch.<P>I'm of the opinion,there isn't a critter alive,the 270 will kill deader than the 25-06,assuming good bullets in both and proper placement. But I will ASSURE you,the 25-06 is 10x more fun to shoot,punishes varmints in a way that must be seen to be believed(thank God for the 75gr V-max!) and packs the whoopasss for the bigger stuff.<P>I consider the 25-06 to be a little 257Wby and THAT is damn high praise. The 270 is in no man's land. It isn't better on the big stuff,isn't as much fun on the little stuff. A 270 usually makes good trading stock and that is what I did with mine(grin).........

270 only might still be to light for elk [img]images/icons/frown.gif" border="0[/img]

270 only might still be to light for elk [img]images/icons/frown.gif" border="0[/img]

Quarter bore!<P>that's my choice.

taurus-split the difference and go for the gusto with a .264 Win Mag! Can't find one? News flash!-Ruger has made a few of them, but not enough to list as a catalog gun. My brother bought one in CO Springs last week, its a stainless MkII with that new (not the boat paddle) synthetic stock. I just have to figure out how to beg, borrow or steal it!....cowdoc.... [img]images/icons/laugh.gif" border="0[/img]

Now fellas all this talk about what is better 25/06 or 270. Well forget all you know about either of them and look long and hard at either the 6.5x55 Swede or the New 260 Rem both are as accurate as they come and shoot that LOOOOONG 6.5 140 gr bullet. This bullet penetrates deep and hard, the way it's supposed to be. Thousands of dead Moose in Sweden and Norway can't be wrong.<P>Bullwnkl.

I've fired one three shot group through a .25-06 and have owned a .270 for the last 15 years and wouldn't say a bad word about either one on a bet! Just as everybody else has said "same, same" Just don't go off and do anything irrational like buying a crusty old .30 caliber and you'll be OK [img]images/icons/laugh.gif" border="0[/img]<P>Mike

Stick, Janet Reno or Julia Roberts? You are a disturbed, speed-crazed (as in bullet speed, heh heh) individual!!<P>Talus<P>Taurus, if you have in mind an individual rifle that you've shouldered/shot and luv it, then that's hard to beat. You won't be sorry.<P>If this is to be the only mid-bore in your arsenal, and you have any respect for conventional wisdom, the .270 is hard to beat. Especially if you throw elk in the mix. Lots of good bullets out there for the non-handloader. If you stuff your own, then that's another story.<P>Still, I won't argue with Stick on the issue [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img]

Don't listen to ROTR. Neither one is worth a hoot - get the real '06 (.30) !!<P>(Now where did I put those Nomex boxers ????)<P>Scott

Ralph, if your rifle likes the 120's, try some 117's they are usally awesome.<BR> As far as which is betterwhy not get the 25 and then convince yourself that you need an elk/ bear gun also, just so you'll have all the bases covered ya understand.

Wellllll, I'll have to throw in my vote for the 270. I can use 90 grn pills for varmints, 130 grn for deer & 160 grn Partitions for bigger game. I have no experience with the 25-06, but would probably want a 7mm-08 first. (That dang Stick has me intrigued about the short action 7mm [img]images/icons/crazy.gif" border="0[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] ) Ah, heck, get 'em both [img]images/icons/laugh.gif" border="0[/img] badger.

Dang it Stick! Now what am I gonna do with this 270 Mountain Rifle I just picked up? Sheesh, do I have to scrounge up a 25 cal barrel for it? Maybe I'll just rebarrel one of my 300's(don't need two) to 257 Weatherby and call it good.

Rembo,<P>I had two 270's in Mtn Rifles. One was the blued/walnut,the other S/S DBM. Traded both for mag boltface 700's. Both were very sound rifles,couldn't cuss them.<P>Do what I did,with my last 270. Build a 25-06 Ackley out of it. You can thank me later(grin).........

Hey There<BR> I seemed to have close to this same question 4 or 5 months ago and from all the thumbs up I got a Ruger in 25-06.I'm now a true beliver in taking advice from others.It is fastly becoming one of my favorites.Had a little trouble finding what it liked to eat,but now it's on a strick diet of,<BR>IMR 4350 @50.0 gr.<BR>Hornady #2552 117gr SP/BT<BR>CCI L.R. mag.#250<BR> This gun season we'll see how she does,but this is one fine caliber.<BR> Ruttin<BR> <P><BR>P.S. Hey big stick my 14 year old was wondering what your son used on his bear.He's full of questions his first bear hunt is this year.<P> Thanks

Ruttin,<P>He used a 25-284(short action 25-06)and 75gr X's..........

Hey Big Stick<BR> Thats a custom for sure,thats a heck of a trophy for a youngin.<BR> Mine will be using his Tikka .308,we don't have anything but little black bears here in TN.<BR> Keep the pics. coming and tell little stick great shootin.<BR> Ruttin

Hey Capt E I'm just amazed it almost took 24 hours for somebody to chime in on that comment. He,he...y'all are slacking!!<P>Mike

Well, since no one has responded in a while I might as well add my two cents. If elk are on the menu, go with the .270. If not, go with the 25-06. Personally, I don't hunt deer with elk guns, and I don't hunt elk with deer guns! Of course, that's just me. [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img]

I settled this dilemma years ago. Owned both .25-06 and .270, got tired of reloading for both. Bought a Weatherby Fibermark in .257 Wby Mag., and have never regretted the decision. If you look at ballistic tables, you see that with 120 gr. bullets, the Weatherby actually exceeds 130 gr. loads in the .270, with flatter trajectory and more downrange energy, due to its superior velocity levels. With good bullets like Nosler and Barnes, this caliber is adequate for a large variety of game, up to and including elk. By handloading, the cost of ammo for the Wby. is on a par with any other caliber. Just my 2 cents worth-

Well Boys,I think Bighorn and I are going to hit it off fine.........

Must be a genetic quirk that cause people to think alike on the first three letters of their handle and the cartridges they dote on [img]images/icons/laugh.gif" border="0[/img]<P>I really want a Ruger #1 in either .257 or .270 Weatherby Mag. Got the 26" Barrel without sacrificing portability and an awesome looking package to boot.<P>Mike

Big Stick,<BR>Probably the biggest difference I have seen over the years of using my .257 Wby. vs. a .270, on deer-size game, is the ability of the .257 to make sudden, dead-in-the-tracks kills consistently. I don't know what makes it so deadly, something about the bullet weight and high velocity just works like magic on game from antelope to caribou. The .257 definitely barks, but recoil is mild by anyone's definition- it is just easy to shoot well. No wonder it was Roy's favorite! Mine gets its next workout here in Colorado in December- I have a trophy mule deer plains hunt lined up. And, if that 300+ yard shot is my opportunity, I will take it with confidence.

Well I hate to change the subject too much, but I was also considering the .270, and then the .308, but I am really looking into the 7mm-08 and am very excited about first impressions I've had. Anyone have an opinion on what to go with?

I was doing some ballistic studies looking for the "best" necked down 30-06. after a lot of studying bullets BCs, SDs hunting bullets, match bullets. The conclusion I came up with was a choice between .280 and 6.5-06. for a caliber lighter than my .338 WinMag. The 6.5mm and 7mm bores have a wide bullet weight selection and generally better BC and SD than .257 or .277 bore. I think the Europeans broke the code on downrange power and deep penetration with proper bullet design while Americans are were chasing muzzle velocity. MM

MM, I'm with you, the 6.5 is my choise. There is a small problem in that the bullets tend to be a bit long. So a simple solution is use a 6.5x55 Swede in a 96 0r 98 mauser low presure loads from factory or use a 260 Rem (6.5 on a 308 case) My choise would be the 260 on a standard length action so the bullet could be seated out where it belongs and leave plenty of case capacity or even better "improve" the case by straighting the taper and maintaining the neck and shoulder angle. Think i may try this, wonder if Rent-a-Reamer has a reamer for this. <P>Bullwnkl.

I like a 270, although I've never messed with a 25-06...

Holy thread resurrection, Batman!!!

Since this thread dates back to waaaay before I joined the site, I'll throw in my 2 cents.

I own both, but I prefer my 25-06. No really good reason, just personal preference. They both kill equally well, the 270 is just a bit too mainstream for me. I like something a little different.

Dammit Tate....I was trying to see how long it'd go before anyone noticed.


Those 110 ELD-X would be rather interesting, .465 BC.

Yeah, the thread is so old that it dates back to when Stick was actually a good guy.

I was messing around with settings and sorted the threads. Old stuff is funny.....

I was shocked by that myself. He's been the site's number 1 a$$hole ever since I've been a member.

I also noticed there's a lot of screen names that I don't see in any recent threads.

And a 25cal slut.

270

Get both. That is what I did.

Guess he was not a hard charger....just a window licker back then.

Yeah, time, experience and evolving options never change a point of view.

Exactly. The 'Fire never fails to impress with stupidity.

There is a difference between stupidity and ignorance.

Exactly again. Stick is continually working on correcting his ignorance, many others are continually expanding their stupidity.

The scary ones are the ones who are to stupid to know how ignorant they are

I am sure most true gun nuts have faced a whole bunch of ignorance and stupidity when it comes to discussing firearms? I know I have

That being said, Stick could use a little work on his presentation.......

True statement. But he doesn't have to be a [bleep] [bleep] while he does it