.270 or 308

[Jack Fellows]

Hi everyone,

I've had a .243 for years now and I do love it but I'm putting in a variation for something bigger with some more stopping power and I wanted to get everyone's view on it.

So I'm looking at .270 or 308, hoping to shoot a few Reds this year and a boar trip in the pipeline but on the other hand I will be shooting a few muntjac aswell.

Next question is Mauser M12 OR Sauer 101 or 100xt

any help much appreciated!

 

[Eric the Red]

Both calibres will do the job. The limit for 270 is around 160gr - but loading down to 90gr and all variants in between will cover all your bases for shooting.
308 will go slightly heavier - you may benefit from a shorter. more pointable barrel - and if you reload - less powder.

Ammo availability would probably be my deciding factor. I do not believe 'military' calibres have the transport restrictions in the EU they once had - but I might be wrong, and worth checking if you are wanting to take your rifle abroad.

Mauser or Sauer - your emotional choice - both sticks go bang.

 

[caorach]

In the real world in terms of killing things there's nothing between them. People will tell you all sorts of silly internet facts like the 308 drops a lot more and so on but when you look at the figures you are looking at fractions of an inch at normal stalking ranges.

What does matter in the real world, however, is availability of ammo. So I'd suggest you see which one has the best range of ammo, best prices, and best availability in your area and that's how I'd make the decision.

 

[JTO]

You'll be able to buy a secondhand .270 cheaper than a .308.
Once I got a .308, I hardly ever used the .270, which I virtually had to give away because they're out of fashion.
Ask the people who have boar sessions for sale what they think is adequate.
Dorset Police ask for .270 minimum for boar so I'm told, but I don't know if they mean size or muzzle energy.

 

[Jack Fellows]

Thank you! 308 ammo seems to be more available. whats the lightest gr bullet for .308?

 

[Malxwal]

Thank you! 308 ammo seems to be more available. whats the lightest gr bullet for .308?

If you are buying factory, I think perhaps the Sako 123gr Gamehead (?) stuff is relatively common. If you're reloading, then I believe you can get 110 hollow point Varminter bullets from Sierra for example.
One load, 150- 165gr, one zero/POI, job done.

 

[caorach]

Thank you! 308 ammo seems to be more available. whats the lightest gr bullet for .308?

Lightest I've loaded was a 110 grain V-MAX from what I remember, that was due to my local dealer having some in stock at a very good price and I was just shooting them at targets. However, the bullet weight isn't so very significant as construction of the bullet is much more important. Again the internet will be telling you that you need a 115.5 grain bullet for some completely stupid reason, or to give one manufacturer a USP over another, but a 308 with a 150 grain bullet has been virtually a world standard for many years now and I don't imagine your shooting is so unique that you are going to want to do something different from every single other person on earth.

If you want to shoot targets then there are good reasons to go heavier and for something like foxes then a lighter and lighter constructed bullet will work just as well as a 150 grain bullet designed for deer but might take your fancy but for general non-specialist use then stuff a 150 grain bullet into it and be happy in the knowledge that what you are using works for almost everyone on earth

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Doesnt matter, deer don't know the difference
the difference in external ballistics are marginal at best

buy one that fits you for your purpose
(hogs back classic style stocks for standing shots don't suit prone or high onjective scopes for example)

buy one that you can feed reliably locally

Have some good used ones here but better going in a handling the goods for a personal fit

 

[Jack Fellows]

That's great thank you.

If you are buying factory, I think perhaps the Sako 123gr Gamehead (?) stuff is relatively common. If you're reloading, then I believe you can get 110 hollow point Varminter bullets from Sierra for example.
One load, 150- 165gr, one zero/POI, job done.

 

[Jack Fellows]

Tempted with .308 at the minute. 150gr bullet would be perfect for what I need, don't often do targets but itll mainly be Roe and Muntjac, but the odd Red and odd Pig

 

[The Singing Stalker]

(hogs back classic style stocks for standing shots don't suit prone or high onjective scopes for example)

well, you learn something every day.

 

[Sash]

I have a .308, and use the 123g Sako Gameheads for Roe, Muntjac and Fallow (have not had the opportunity on Reds yet, but sure it would do the job).
The Federal 180g Nosler are perfect for boar.
And I shoot milsurp for practice: nice and cheap.
Check out Decathlon stores in France: their website tell you which rounds are available in which store. They definitely have some .308 in stock for boar now. 10 years ago that was impossible.

 

[andychas]

Doesnt matter, deer don't know the difference
the difference in external ballistics are marginal at best

buy one that fits you for your purpose
(hogs back classic style stocks for standing shots don't suit prone or high onjective scopes for example)

buy one that you can feed reliably locally

Have some good used ones here but better going in a handling the goods for a personal fit

+1, having a gun that fits is the key. Both calibre's are suitable for what you're after but getting a rifle that fits will make life that much more pleasurable in the long run, get into a shop that ideally allows you to test fire a few different ones.
my tuppence worth would err towards a 30 cal as theres a great range of bullet weights available, but I home load so its relatively easy to find a bullet weight/design/load combination that is appropriate for the game involved. 270 is a great calibre though, I almost miss mine...

 

[Scotty99]

M12 Impact in .308. Job done.

 

[stubear]

.270 and .308 produce near as dammit the same muzzle energy (if you believe some of the ballistics books anyway) so theres not much between them in that respect.

.270 tops out weight wise about 160gn, .308 will go higher to around 200gn if you want. Inside 200yds they'll shoot to pretty much the same POI as well with the same bullet weights.

.270 has a slightly snappier recoil in my personal opinion but neither are unpleasant to shoot, especially with a good mod on them.

A light rapidly expanding bullet in either will do more meat damage than a heavier slower one.

Basically the only real difference in the most common standard factory load is that .308 pushes a heavier bullet slower and .270 a lighter bullet faster - 150gn in .308 compared to 130gn in the .270.

Both are excellent calibers and can be used in Africa as well.

The only "limitation" (inverted commas deliberate) with .270 is that some EU countries mandate a minimum of .30 caliber for boar and/or a minimum bullet weight of 10 grammes (155gn). Obviously you may find it hard to get heavy enough bullets in the .270 or not be able to use it at all if where you're going insists on .30 cal. But this is not an issue if you've no plans to go abroad.

Basically see which one you can get a rifle you like for the money you want to spend, and which you can reliably feed with factory ammo that doesnt cost the earth.

 

[ChesterP]

M12 Impact in .308. Job done.

This.

As near to the ubiquitous do-it-all (or very nearly all) calibre with loadings available world wide as you're likely to get.

I use 150gr for Munty and Roe in my .308, not loaded too fast and 155gr HPBT or 175gr TMK for target. All, coincidentally, have the exact same POA/POI for a 100 yard zero in my rifle. Job done.

 

[ileso]

get both, I have a 270 and now also want a .308.. hehehe...why not?!!

 

[I. Farticus]

Hi everyone,

I've had a .243 for years now and I do love it but I'm putting in a variation for something bigger with some more stopping power and I wanted to get everyone's view on it.

So I'm looking at .270 or 308, hoping to shoot a few Reds this year and a boar trip in the pipeline but on the other hand I will be shooting a few muntjac aswell.

Next question is Mauser M12 OR Sauer 101 or 100xt

any help much appreciated!

Photos en route

Rgds
iain

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

The 270 and the 308 achieve pretty much the same thing, 270 a bit lighter and faster, 308, a bit heavier and slower.

Given you already have a 243, my suggestion is to skip both and go straight to the 30/06. It is the universal hunting cartridge...

You can thank me another time...

 

[jon15]

Have a 243 and a 270, sold my 308 as did not get on with it, I would say there is nothing between them. Make sure you get a gun that fits (probably what went wrong with the 308), with a moderator on i would not be able to tell the differences in a blind test when pulling the trigger. As regards to boar, I consulted all of my friends who shoot a lot of driven boar in France and they all told me that the 270 was perfect with a 150g RWS KS bullet, i am sure the 308 would do the same job but until recently it was not allowed in France, thus, i bought a 270, it does what is supposed to, shoot driven boar well and longer range deer. Good luck choosing, but get one that fits you!!