.308 vs .270? (Or 6.5CM)

[wildfowler.250]

Folks, as you may have seen, I’m having a little crisis of caliber. Shot a .270 for 15 years. First CF and have had no need to change it. It just flattens stuff. Hadn’t tried one before I’d got one and feel I’m in a similar boat if I change to .308.

I’ve used a 6.5x55 quite a few times,(the old man has one). Perks are, less recoil… but I only notice this shooting groups though. The .270 does recoil a bit when load testing,(after a while) but never noticed it in the field so to speak.

The new rifle crave has me at :

• .270, I have the dies/brass and I know it works.

• .308 , it seems incredibly popular. Maybe fractionally more bullet choice? People claim milder recoil. Heavier bullets should mean more recoil? Possibly a more accurate caliber?

• 6.5CM . Because it’s mild , good factory ammo if needed and generally ticks most boxes. Cons are that on the slim chance I go abroad, maybe too mild? But I can always use a hire rifle.


Has anyone had both .270 and .308 and preferred one over the other? One seems like a cult highland caliber and the other seems internationally popular. Although I swear more folk seem to be going into the magnums like .300wsm across the pond.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Why don't you keep the 270 and add another to the collection?
Get a light weight stalking rig if you don't, or a short barrel 308? Or a heavy barrel creedmoor? Stick a variation in and take your pick!

 

[big ears]

Or forget the trendy CM and the super obvious .308 and go for a classic calibre. The 7x57 doesn’t sound sexy but a .275 Rigby

 

[wildfowler.250]

Why don't you keep the 270 and add another to the collection?
Get a light weight stalking rig if you don't, or a short barrel 308? Or a heavy barrel creedmoor? Stick a variation in and take your pick!

One of them eventually starts to gather dust. I’ve got a .222 for the smaller deer which is fab and also a nice change. I think one ‘biggy’ is probably plenty from a use point of view.

- although variety is the spice of life and all that.

Or forget the trendy CM and the super obvious .308 and go for a classic calibre. The 7x57 doesn’t sound sexy but a .275 Rigby

Sounds nice in theory but had a look at the sako 90 and they’re not even producing the rifle in 7x57 . Even the currently ‘unpopular’ 6.5x55 made the cut.. Further down the road common things might be a lot easier.

 

[big ears]

Sounds nice in theory but had a look at the sako 90 and they’re not even producing the rifle in 7x57 . Even the currently ‘unpopular’ 6.5x55 made the cut.. Further down the road common things might be a lot easier.

Other rifles that the Sako 90 are available.
Some lovely ones on guntrader.

 

[Heym SR20]

Have a watch of this



There is not a lot between calibres. Find a rifle you like, that’s comfortable and fits you. Then look to see what calibre it is. And changing the load / bullet can make a difference in ballistic performance.

 

[trickie]

308, has a great, more cost effective availability of factory ammo, and less recoil (all depending on the overall weight of the rifles as weight (more) reduces felt recoil. 6.5 CM are a joy to shoot, not a lot between them and a 223 with a heavy load. Cartridges are more expensive and in the last couple of (and at least the next one) years will continue to be harder to obtain.

 

[nun_hunter]

308, has a great, more cost effective availability of factory ammo, and less recoil (all depending on the overall weight of the rifles as weight (more) reduces felt recoil. 6.5 CM are a joy to shoot, not a lot between them and a 223 with a heavy load. Cartridges are more expensive and in the last couple of (and at least the next one) years will continue to be harder to obtain.

I have a Creedmoor and a 308 and the ammunition availability and price is no different between them, other than cheaper plinking ammo for the 308.

UK importers have bought into the Creedmoor and supplies of rifles and ammunition are comparable to the 308 in most gun shops. Some shops that are a little behind the times may not have as much Creedmoor ammunition but those shops generally don't have much of anything.

If I had to choose just one rifle between my Creedmoor and 308 (assuming the rifles were the same) then I would choose the Creedmoor as it offers more flexibility than the 308 and is still more than suitable for all game in the UK.

 

[Lloyd90]

With all these wars and the shortage of components, bullets, ammo, knock on effect, I personally wouldn’t be buying any obscure calibres.

 

[Mungo]

Folks, as you may have seen, I’m having a little crisis of caliber. Shot a .270 for 15 years. First CF and have had no need to change it. It just flattens stuff. Hadn’t tried one before I’d got one and feel I’m in a similar boat if I change to .308.

I’ve used a 6.5x55 quite a few times,(the old man has one). Perks are, less recoil… but I only notice this shooting groups though. The .270 does recoil a bit when load testing,(after a while) but never noticed it in the field so to speak.

The new rifle crave has me at :

• .270, I have the dies/brass and I know it works.

• .308 , it seems incredibly popular. Maybe fractionally more bullet choice? People claim milder recoil. Heavier bullets should mean more recoil? Possibly a more accurate caliber?

• 6.5CM . Because it’s mild , good factory ammo if needed and generally ticks most boxes. Cons are that on the slim chance I go abroad, maybe too mild? But I can always use a hire rifle.


Has anyone had both .270 and .308 and preferred one over the other? One seems like a cult highland caliber and the other seems internationally popular. Although I swear more folk seem to be going into the magnums like .300wsm across the pond.

Had all 3 (.270, .308 and CM).

The differences are so small it come down to specific rifle, load and bullet.

You can pick one at random and be perfectly happy in all UK conditions.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Other rifles that the Sako 90 are available.
Some lovely ones on guntrader.

Will have a look! Schultz and Larsen is also sorely tempting me if I don’t stick an aftermarket stock on my 75. It works lovely but I’ve got an itch for a change.

Have a watch of this



There is not a lot between calibres. Find a rifle you like, that’s comfortable and fits you. Then look to see what calibre it is. And changing the load / bullet can make a difference in ballistic performance.

Will do. I do find that chaos videos quite interesting!

308, has a great, more cost effective availability of factory ammo, and less recoil (all depending on the overall weight of the rifles as weight (more) reduces felt recoil. 6.5 CM are a joy to shoot, not a lot between them and a 223 with a heavy load. Cartridges are more expensive and in the last couple of (and at least the next one) years will continue to be harder to obtain.

I’m being dim here. .308 will be the harder to obtain due to war? Or 6.5?
Certainly there’s a difference between managing recoil and enjoying it. The less recoil the better in many ways as long as the round has enough oomph.

I have a Creedmoor and a 308 and the ammunition availability and price is no different between them, other than cheaper plinking ammo for the 308.

UK importers have bought into the Creedmoor and supplies of rifles and ammunition are comparable to the 308 in most gun shops. Some shops that are a little behind the times may not have as much Creedmoor ammunition but those shops generally don't have much of anything.

If I had to choose just one rifle between my Creedmoor and 308 (assuming the rifles were the same) then I would choose the Creedmoor as it offers more flexibility than the 308 and is still more than suitable for all game in the UK.

That’s very interesting and certainly helps choosing between the 6.5 and .308 . I thought there would be hundreds of .308 advocates on here but it’s looking like stick .270 or go 6.5CM

With all these wars and the shortage of components, bullets, ammo, knock on effect, I personally wouldn’t be buying any obscure calibres.

TBH the whole reloading thing is a complete faff just now.

Had all 3 (.270, .308 and CM).

The differences are so small it come down to specific rifle, load and bullet.

You can pick one at random and be perfectly happy in all UK conditions.

Well that’s what I wondered. I can shoot the .270 reasomably comfortably and it may be my caliber for life at this rate but if the 6.5 is more pleasant to shoot for the same job, maybe I’m missing a trick.

Not to say the .270 kicks as such but I do definitely loose target picture on impact

 

[Mungo]

Well that’s what I wondered. I can shoot the .270 reasomably comfortably and it may be my caliber for life at this rate but if the 6.5 is more pleasant to shoot for the same job, maybe I’m missing a trick.

Not to say the .270 kicks as such but I do definitely loose target picture on impact

I shot .270 both moderated and unmoderated. I found I could retain sight picture even unmoderated if I made sure to hold the fore end firmly. With a moderator, I never had a problem. Losing sight picture seems to have much more to do with the fit of the rifle and how you hold it.

For about 3 years, I shot a moderated .270 and a moderated 6.5CM interchangeably. There was a difference in felt recoil, but really very little. It was not the reason I stopped using .270.

 

[wildfowler.250]

I shot .270 both moderated and unmoderated. I found I could retain sight picture even unmoderated if I made sure to hold the fore end firmly. With a moderator, I never had a problem. Losing sight picture seems to have much more to do with the fit of the rifle and how you hold it.

For about 3 years, I shot a moderated .270 and a moderated 6.5CM interchangeably. There was a difference in felt recoil, but really very little. It was not the reason I stopped using .270.

Interesting. I think I’ll also put a bit more pressure forward’ on the bipod. It’s not an issue unless there’s numerous animals and all hell breaks loose.
Shooting the .222 by comparison is a dream though, minimal bang and the rifle hasn’t moved and the deer keels over.


What did you end up using in the end? 6.5 and scrapping the .270?

 

[Rory]

@wildfowler.250 - I see it like this - .308 is to ammunition what Frijj is to milkshakes.
You might be tempted by the promises that Chocolush, or Waitrose's own, perhaps even what McDonalds is touting, but you know exactly what you're going to get every time with Frijj.
The same for .308 - reliable, predictable, satisfying and comes in all the best flavours.

 

[VSS]

What did you end up using in the end? 6.5 and scrapping the .270?

You don't "scrap" a 270
You pass it on to someone with taste who'll appreciate its charming little idiosyncrasies.

 

[Mungo]

Interesting. I think I’ll also put a bit more pressure forward’ on the bipod. It’s not an issue unless there’s numerous animals and all hell breaks loose.
Shooting the .222 by comparison is a dream though, minimal bang and the rifle hasn’t moved and the deer keels over.


What did you end up using in the end? 6.5 and scrapping the .270?

Re. Forward pressure: it helps enormously to also hold the fore end, as if the bipod wasn’t there.

I sold the two .270s because I had problems with the rifles themselves. One was an ancient Sako L61r, and it needed more work on it than I was willing to spend. The other was a genuinely lovely Heym SR20, but it had a stock optimised for shooting standing, and I found it very uncomfortable to shoot prone. Both were wood stocked, with blued metal, and I was getting more serious doing culling work in nasty conditions, so wanted stainless and synthetic.

I moved to a 6.5Cm and a 6.5PRC. One for shorter range and smaller things, one for longer range and bigger things. But I could easily get by with just the CM (and did for about 2 years).

 

[NullMac]

They are all the same. The differences are minuscule, only apparent in specific instances and even then negated through the act of aiming.

Shoot what makes you most confident

I have had several 308 and 270. I currently run a 65CM. I shot 308 up the hill and the 270 in the woods as well as the other way round. Keep improving your shooting skills and ignore calibre.

 

[Reloader708]

Sounds to me like you need a 7mm08!

 

[dlz90]

You make your choice and pay your money it won't make any difference to the deer.

I use the 308 it's doesn't do anything spectacular but it doesn't do anything badly either

Most shots on deer should be inside 300 yds ( I like to get close enough I could throw a stone at it lol ) so the 308 is my go to it works just perfect.

That along with multiple manufacturers chambering for it and large bullet selection for most everything the 308 ain't going anywhere soon.

D

 

[Uncle Buck]

I’ve used both 270.& 308. for serval years now.
270. 130g is a real flat shooter great knock down power bit sore on roe. (Velocity kills)).
308. 150g Granted a slower round but also a great killer. I tend to use the 270. On open ground. 308. For woodland, both do the job very well.
Have no experience with the 6.5 creed don’t need any what l have which some will agree / disagree work fine.
Advice wise stick with what you know . if it ain’t broke don’t fix it , best of luck whatever route you go.

Buck.