Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 270 win vs 308 win

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.

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