It ain't going anywhere, but the rise in popularity of rounds like 308, 260, and 7-08 have certainly slowed sales of both 270 and 30-06. While both are certainly good rounds, I grew up on 30-06 and have used one for 40 years. But I'd no longer buy one, nor recommend anyone else buy one.
A 308 shoots the same bullet weights at almost exactly the same speeds as a 270, but with about 15-20% less recoil and from a smaller more compact rifle. The better BC of the 270 gives it an edge, but only at ranges farther than most folks have any business shooting. A 7-08 or 260 will do almost the same thing with better BC's than the 270
Comparing 270 to 30-06 in 2014 is almost a wash with common bullet weighs, with a slight edge to the 270 on paper. The two were loaded very differently in the 1920's, but modern 30-06 loads are as much as 400 fps faster than common loads from that era. A 30-06/150 can now be loaded to 3100 fps, only about 50 fps slower than a 270/130 bullet. No one will ever notice the difference in trajectory and no animal will ever know which hit it.
With modern 150 gr bullets fired from a 270 it will be slightly flatter than a 180 from a 30-06, and do equal damage. Where the 30-06 has a real advantage is it's ability to shoot heavier 200-250 gr bullets which the 270 has no answer for.
But, then you have to ask, who really needs bullets that heavy. A 270/150 or 30-06/180 will either kill anything in North America. They are on the light side for big bear, but will work. How many of us actually hunt those bear? and if we do, we can afford a much bigger gun.
A 308 shoots the same bullet weights at almost exactly the same speeds as a 270, but with about 15-20% less recoil and from a smaller more compact rifle. The better BC of the 270 gives it an edge, but only at ranges farther than most folks have any business shooting. A 7-08 or 260 will do almost the same thing with better BC's than the 270
Comparing 270 to 30-06 in 2014 is almost a wash with common bullet weighs, with a slight edge to the 270 on paper. The two were loaded very differently in the 1920's, but modern 30-06 loads are as much as 400 fps faster than common loads from that era. A 30-06/150 can now be loaded to 3100 fps, only about 50 fps slower than a 270/130 bullet. No one will ever notice the difference in trajectory and no animal will ever know which hit it.
With modern 150 gr bullets fired from a 270 it will be slightly flatter than a 180 from a 30-06, and do equal damage. Where the 30-06 has a real advantage is it's ability to shoot heavier 200-250 gr bullets which the 270 has no answer for.
But, then you have to ask, who really needs bullets that heavy. A 270/150 or 30-06/180 will either kill anything in North America. They are on the light side for big bear, but will work. How many of us actually hunt those bear? and if we do, we can afford a much bigger gun.