So I'm at the range yesterday testing some loads for a couple of rifles. One is a 308 Norma Mag shooting 180 grain Accubonds at a little over 2900 fps. The other is a .270 Win shooting 140 grain Accubonds at a little over 3000 fps. Both turned out to be very accurate loads.
So I got to thinking about how much real difference there is between the two on game. For argument's sake, let's say the rifles are identical with the exception of chambering. Under what conditions would you choose the bigger of the two?
I don't have a .270 or .308 Norma, but I do have a .280 and a .300WM. The .280 gets 140g North Fork SS, Nosler AccuBond and Barnes TTSX. The .300 gets 180g Barnes MRX and TTSX and North Fork SS. The .280 has been antelope, deer and elk hunting, the .300WM has hunted deer and elk.
There is little I would do with one I would not do with the other. At 600 yards the .300WM probably has an edge and would be my first choice. Whether that advantage would show up on any particular shot is questionable a best.
