Trying to decide on a 270 or 30-06

I have 3 rifles in 270 Win. And 7 in 30-06, 4 or 5 308s, two 6.5s (6.5X55 and 6.5 CM)

I like them all but for just hunting up to elk size animals I prefer the 270 Win.


I found it to be a better long range round.

But to each their own.
 
Ill shed a little light on the rifle choice aspect. Owning both savages and a tc venture in 7mm08 i can say the venture is a darn good rifle for the money. The magazines are very very sturdy and have great retention. The stocks are the best short of a high dollar option. Very little flex, floated and has an aluminum bedding block iirc. 5r rifling is quite accurate, first load i tried was at an inch or less on good days so thats what i stuck with. (139 grain hornady interlock) i bought the compact model to get the 20 inch barrel, comes with one spacer for the stock which i have on. I put a neoprene stock cover on so you cant see or feel the seam in the stock. I love this little rifle and have already killed 9 deer in two years with it. Oh and it has a short bolt throw, i belive its only a 45° throw. Owning both 06 and 270 im little help choosing one or the other. Plus scoping long action savages is just a royal pain they are so looooooooog!
 
I appreciate that info on the THompson. I've only got one in a muzzle loader but they are one of the few that guarantee 3 shot 1 inch groups or send it back options. Dicks was running some sales on them about 2 weeks ago and they went quick. The one we looked at was used but looked like it hasn't been shot much.
 
As far as the reloading goes, I believe the 30-06 will give him plenty of things to do. Different bullet weights, powder combinations and seating geometry will keep him busy and happy for a long time.

I have had a 270 and it was a great rifle/round but not so much was available as far as variety for reloading.

I've had both, if I was to get another it would be the 06 first, followed shortly thereafter by another 270.
 
I don't think you could go wrong with either, chances are he wants both so he would love to receive either lol. Does he have a preferred brand of the two? And if not, I'd go with the easiest on the wallet because I'm sure he'll be equally as happy.

I don't know the price of these rifles so if they're about the same then you have quite the dilemma lol
 
Something to chew on, I have handled the Tika in 30-06 and it makes me nervous the action is so light. Fine in smaller calibers but not 270 or 30-06. I can't imagine is not fine but I don't care for it.

If he is reloading the 30-06 goes well with the 308, if he wants something different the 270 is it.

I like the Savage, have not even handled a Thompson.

An advantage to the Savage is you can get another barrel for it and as the cartridge are close to common, you could put a 270 barrel on and off it as you wanted to. I haven't done it but I have seen the video and its amazingly simple, turn the nut off, put in the new barrel down to the right head space gauge and tightened the nut back up.

270 is a challenge to get accurate as noted by others, some say not but they seem to have a rare good shooting 270
 
.30-06 advantages: Heavier bullets, slightly more energy, very common, can be used for bigger animals than .270, wider diameter, surplus ammo available if you want cheap bulk target ammo.

.270 advantages: Higher velocity, less bullet drop, flatter trajectory, good ballistic coefficient, some say less recoil than the '06 (but I still have yet to notice recoil from both calibers), very common.

.30-06 disadvantages: More bullet drop, not as flat of trajectory, some say more recoil even though recoil from an '06 has never bothered me, more compatible calibers for reloading, slightly less velocity.

.270 disadvantages: Slightly less energy, not as compatible of a reloading caliber, not as heavy of bullets available ( Woodleigh does make a 180 grain .270 bullet).

I know that there is some stuff I failed to remember to list.

I own both calibers in totally different guns. I like both of them alot but keep in mind that these calibers use the EXACT IDENTICAL BULLET CASING CARTRIDGE. The only difference is the neck diameter for the bullet diameters. .277 diameter for the .270, .308 diameter for the '06. Other than that these are identical rounds with nearly the same ballistics.
The .270 only beats the '06 with less bullet drop and higher velocity. In all other regards including the '06 is a winner. But both are excellent calibers.
 
With those heavier rifles he already has for larger/dangerous game, I would say get him the .270

.30-06 is a better fit for someone who needs a wider spectrum of use/has less rifles.
 
Having had both a couple of 30-06s and .270s, and handloading for them, the .270 Win, using Hornady GMX solid Gilding Metal bullets are a devastating combination of flatter trajectory and high impact. Side shots have all fully penetrated and displayed great permanent cavities.

The only one we recovered held 97% of original weight, with perfect mushroom after passing through about 30" of a buck shot from a tree stand while it was on a dead run, straight away. The bullet entered the back behind the shoulders and was found in the neck.
 
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Think outside the box.

Since your husband loads .308, and wants a truck gun - buy an AR10 or SCAR 17 and put a red dot on it. Will be rugged enough to not mind riding around in the truck, and with a little practice getting used to the red dot sight, he should be accurate to 200+ yards.
 
.338 federal would be a hell of a cartridge for north Georgia. Plenty of range for that type of country, heavy bullets that won't be as bothered by brush. .308 bolt face would simplify reloading, can make it from plentiful .308 brass. Will fit in a short action which will make for a lighter walking in the woods gun. Plenty of range and killing power for medium to most large game in this hemisphere.

Between the two, I'd probably go with the .30-06 but I have one and v rarely shoot it. More than I need for shooting deer in Georgia.
 
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"...the TC Venture or the Savage 110..." The Savage. Chambering for his purpose doesn't matter much. Neither will do what the other will not and both will kill any game he cares to hunt. Doesn't take a big heavy recoiling cartridge to kill Yogi. Even a big white or humpy shouldered Yogi.
 
I had the same choice 30-06 vs 270 ... I'm a Levergun guy 30-30 is favorite cartridge ...
I chose the 270 win .. Americas true 7mm .. And Federal 150gr RN housed in a Remington 783 ...
Those long 150gr bullets will penetrate and those RN frontal area will expand fast ..
 
Hmmmm! 30-06 or .270? The late great Col. Townsend Whelen once said, "The 30-06 is never a mistake."

I have IIRC, four rifles in .270 and six or seven in 30-06. Kind of shows which what my stick floats. ;) Probably the best answer would be to just flip a coin. Don't know anything about the TC but I like the idea of being able to switch barrels on the Savage. Get whichever cartridge the coin flip decide and buy the other barrel later on down the road. Could even add a 25-06 barrel or the .280 Remington or even my favorite the .35 Whelen which is a serious elk slayer.

All kidding aside, given my druthers I would go with the 30-06 first and the .270 as second choice, but that's just me. I just have used it for some very many years that it's like an old friend. I trust it. No matter what I take on a hunt, a 30-06 always comes along as back up if not the main rifle.
Paul B.
 
Not overly familiar with north Georgia, but I would think a .270, which is meant for long open range shots like here in AZ wouldn't be all that suitable where you are due to the woods/forests.

Before moving to AZ, I lived most of my life in south Florida, and you couldn't give a .270 away because there just weren't that many long range shots to be made.

Of the two, I would go with the .30-06, but ideally, I would actually prefer a .308, if I were using it in that area.
 
Maybe a good way to put it is hunting wise there is no difference.

Target shooting wise the 30-06 is it.
 
For a reloading "toy", the 30.06.

For a versatile truck gun, the .270.

But let's shoot some honesty; the OP's husband is going to end up with one of each eventually anyway, by the sound of things.
 
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