Can the .30-06 do more than the .270 Win?
 

As stated in the title. Is the .30-06 capable of performing more tasks than the .270 Win?

People have been arguing this since way before most of us were born. It wa probably the first published "caliber war" of the smokeless powder era for rifle cartridges.

To the velocity crowd they dismiss the fact that there are more bullet weights available to the '06 as being insignificant, I don't. A deer hit with a proper bullet from either doesn't know the difference obviously, but the ability of the '0 to go up to a 200 gn bullet (or heavier) can't be ignored. Taking down a tough critter under adverse conditions, gives the "06 an advantage and yet it can go down to a 120-130 gn bullet when that is the proper choice.

Fanboys of both will argue for years but I grew up watching Keith and O'Connor go over it and the experience I gained in my youth told me that the .30 cal would be my choice.

Both due best with handloads IMO But there is much more flexibility to be gained with the .30. I picked up, or rather my wife picked up a .270 over a year ago (Remington 760) and while it may just be stock design, I find the .270 with a 150 gn bullet (what I would use for elk) distinctly less friendly to my shoulder than a 165 gn 06 load.

O'Conner made a career and a living out of championing the .270 against all arguments but if he had handloaded a 30-06 round to .270 spacs with the same weight bullets, nothing he shot would have known the difference.

I guess it depends on the tasks. The 30-06 can handle a heavier grain bullet, and still deliver higher velocity and energy. I believe the 30-06 has a slightly flatter trajectory as well.

You have the bolded part backwards. The 30-06 hits harder, the 270 shoots flatter.

I'd rather have a 270 out of the two, but I don't hunt anything bigger than deer.

Good catch. When I replied to the post I started thinking about 308 vs 30-06.

I would still go with the 30-06 over a 270.

Yep.

Same exact case. .270 obviously skinnier. When you get into heavier bullets, the bullets get long enough to start taking up volume that should be used for powder.

As far as trajectory goes, the difference is really insignificant until you start getting to 400+ yards. Even then it's only a few inches. If you know your rifle and have dope for your loads it makes no difference at all.

:goodpost::thumbsup:

Another thing about the two that is a consideration, is the 270 has a little more sectional density to it, which helps with penetration. With a properly constructed bullet, this gives a little flatter trajectory with the ability to take game like elk.

But, like others have stated, the 06 gets the nod if tough thick animals with alot of heavy bone and muscle are going to be hunted because of the heavier bullet.
They are both excellent choices, and probably in reality, the only calibers needed for most hunting in the lower 48.

Agreed,

People put far to much emphasis on a "flat cartridge" when what they should be concerned with (for long range) is wind bucking ability. It's a LOT easier to dope for trajectory than calling and doping for the wind. When considering each cartridge for hunting this really shouldn't be a large point of concern. The majority of of all shots on game are taking within 100-300 yards (with most within 100-150). At these ranges the difference in trajectory is minimal.

I'd consider the 130 gr bullet to be the mid weight standard for the .270, and 150 gr the mid weight standard for the .30-06. To achieve the same sectional density as a 130 grain .277 bullet, a .308 bullet needs to reach 165 grains in weight. Even at 165 grains, the 130 grain .277 bullet has a much higher ballistic coefficient.

As someone on here said, the argument is rather academic. Trajectory and impact energy are so similar that the differences don't matter for 99.9% of common application. I currently use a .30-06 and have never fired a .270 Winchester.

I think my question should have been - is there any game the .30-06 can take that the .270 can't? I have a feeling that in North America the differences between the two cartridges are academic.

I have used a .270 for decades. It is my preferred round at 130 grains. I find it very flat shooting and I have used it all the way to Elk with good success. Is one better than the other? No, just loading a have specific characteristics that you find you like. The closest bullet to the 130 grain I find is the 165 grain .30 caliber.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Not quite the whole story. In a given weight yes, just as in a given weight the 6.5x55 will have more SD than the .270. The 06 can meet or exceed the SD of the .270 with a heavier bullet and has the ability to go to heavier for diameter bullets than the .270 due to less pressure with the larger diameter and more case room.

This is accurate.. I feel there's no appreciable difference in the cartridges until the intended game get up to Elk size, and then it's still not a drastic difference but like said the ability to spit heavier bullets from the 06' can be useful on a bad shot where heavy bone gets hit..

I like them both, and for anything that exists in most of America it wouldn't make me any difference.. We don't own any .270's anymore but still load for a couple other folks... The 140 grain Barnes has yet to let a deer/hog move outta the immediate impact area..

Duplicate

The 165 is my "standard light" in the 06. it happens to be the weight most of my 06s like for accuracy. I wouldn't worry bout shooting too much with a .270 given a "perfect shot" , but on an elk or bear I like the option of a "raking shot" (diagonal to the "Off" shoulder or hip depending of facing towards or away) with a heavier bullet that I would have to pass on with a .270.

I just stick with 180 grain .30-06. The areas I'm hunting currently are best suited to my iron sighted .30-30. I'm using a 150 grain Federal Power Shok JSP.

I am not a fan of either round, but the 06 can handle heavier bullets w/ enough vel to take anything that walks the planet.
With 220gr solids, it has taken all the DG in Africa as well as the largest bears. I prefer a 280 & 338-06, but I am just a bit on the odd side.:cool:

I've shot many deer with my 06 and I would say 98% of them dropped dead in their tracks. Deer were shot with a Remington Model760 BDL using Federal 165 grain boattail ammo. All deer were shot in Ranges from 50yds. to 270yds.

I have factory 30-06 loads from 55gr to 220gr. Can load heavier. The 30-06 is a more versatile round but that does not mean the .270 is a slouch.

Short answer, yes.
That said, my favorite hunting rifle is a Ruger .270 bolt gun.
If I feel the need for a .30 caliber I pull out the Sako trgs in .300 Weatherby.

I think they both are *more* than enough for deer/wild hog sized game, but the 06' clearly gets has the edge when it comes to Elk, Moose, and bear due to the ability to use heavier bullets that are better at punching through heavy bone and continuing to penetrate. If medium sized game is what your after then either one will do a dang fine job, and I'd go with the cartridge that I like the most. Deer are not hard to kill, and I've taken as many with my 243 that I got in my youth as I have with my 308Win. I haven't had a deer go more than a few feet before piling up with either. Put the rounds where they need to go using a properly constructed bullet of a proper weight for the game intended and you'll have meat on the table. All other considerations are camp fire talk unless you also want to punch paper, and that's an entirely different discussion.

There is nothing in North America that a '06 cant kill. As for the 270, the only animal that I would hesitate shooting would be a grizzly bear.
I have shot dozens of deer with the 270, and none of them knew what hit them, and most fell in place without taking a single step. I know lots of hunters that have taken moose and elk with a 270 with similar results.
The one advantage that the 06 has is that you can load from 100 to 220 grain bullets if that is your thing. With most rifles I would bet that one one end of the scale accuracy would be an issue. The rate of twist on off the shelf rifles is probably sufficient for 150 to 180 grains. I doubt that most rifles would stabilize a 100 grain bullet. I have yet to find a 100 grain load that my 270 will shoot accurately.
Both rounds are excellent for the average hunter and I prefer 270. But, if my hunting area was in bear country I would take the '06

I had a Sako TRG42 in 300 Win Mag, but I wasn't aware that they were produced in 300 Weatherby?

Something that is baffling to me is internal ballistics(?). The .270 will throw a 130gr bullet at >3,100f/s, while the '06 has much less velocity with the equivallent sectional density bullet (165gr). The '06 can only come close with the 150gr bullet, which has a lower sectional density.

I would still pick the 150gr/'06 over the 130gr/.270. :) (for deer)