Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles If a person didn’t

.270 would be my pick.

30/06

Before I finished the sentence, I thought "ah, he will want the 6.5". Then I saw your caliber selections.

Any reason to avoid the caliber that fits exactly what you want?

Elk and down - check
All the factory ammo you could ever want - check

I have a model 70 fwt in 264 win that shoots less than 3/4 moa with 140 vlds I reload for that.

Wanted something I don’t have to reload and I can buy anywhere.

I have a 270 Forbes and a 30-06 NULA, with are both very similar to the FC. If forced to hunt with only one, I would definitely keep the 270 on that platform.

BTW, that is hard for me to say because the 06 has always been my favorite cartridge.

Of the choices given I would probably choose the '06. I've only had a couple of .270's and shot a few more, but have never shot any 270 factory loads that chrono'd as advertised. Typically not even close (others will disagree) just my experience . I personally would choose the 308. As for the latest and greatest, at most distances game are shot I'd prefer better blood trails as opposed to high bc., because I don't always get drt's. A .650 vs .450 bc at 400 yards don't mean sheit, but a good blood trail in a wild cat thicket does.

Where do you live?

What do you hunt? (if anything)

What will the rifle be used for?


Asking "what caliber should I get" is like asking "what tool should I buy?"

What are your needs?

Out of those choices the 7mm-08. If I did not reload, I would take a 308 over a 30-06 any day. Reload... take an 06. 270 is an awesome caliber.

Hunting everything that walks.

However this is just a general question.

If you don't hand load 7-08 would be my last choice. Of all your options it is the one cartridge that is the hardest to find ammo for and with the fewest options, and I never see it at good prices. If you want a short action and do handload the 7-08 has a razor thin edge over 308. But we're talking about less than 3" bullet drop and less than 50 ft lbs energy at 500 yards. If you are buying factory loads 308 beats 7-08 every time. And the 6.5 CM does everything the 308 and 7-08 does. Ammo for it is already easier to find and cheaper than 7-08.

Long action, same thing. In 2018 there isn't enough difference between 270 and 30-06 to argue about.

In the order you listed them ... ^^^^^

"hunt everything that walks."

Well that would make my choice easy.

For north America it's a 30-06.

If I were to include buffalo it would be a 375H&H, but that was not one of the choices.

Have a 700 375 already.