Sorry, but I'm not parting with it
!!!.270 for deer
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Evening all
Following from my post about the .25-06 (which I’v since been told Sako apparently do NOT offer in left hand on the 85) I am looking back to the .270 and the .308
The .308 seems to be the logical option with the ever looming threat of a lead ban...but...what are your opinions of the .270 !? It seems to be a some what love it or hate it Caliber...I’v read reviews and articles praising the .270 no end...and like the .25-06 it ticks a lot of boxes for me, but I’v also heard/read it can be a brute to shoot and not the nicest rifle to use regularly...is it that fierce !?
Someone I greatly respect (a deer stalker) told me the .270 is an amazing caliber, but a ba****d to shoot !? Is that true ? I only plan on buying and owning one “deer rifle” which is why I want to make the right choice. Again...this will be for muntjac, roe primarily and reds/fallow/sika on occasion.
Please give me your honest opinions ! Thank you, Benny
I’ve shot both, moderated and unmoderated.
Both are great. Both work extremely well in all UK scenarios.
.270 gets you maybe an extra 50-70 metres where you don’t need to worry about holding for elevation, but at the cost of creating a bit of extra damage at short range. Neither of these are big enough differences to worry about.
In a moderated rifle, you really can’t detect a meaningful difference in recoil. In an unmoderated rifle, all else being equal (and it seldom is), you might just be able to detect a difference, but it would be very hard to be sure it wasn’t just in your head.
If you were randomly handed one or other each time you went out, you would never notice a difference in outcome.
It’s not an issue worth worrying about. Go with whatever has better availability in rifles and ammo.
Evening all
Following from my post about the .25-06 (which I’v since been told Sako apparently do NOT offer in left hand on the 85
The .308 seems to be the logical option with the ever looming threat of a lead ban...but...what are your opinions of the .270 !? It seems to be a some what love it or hate it Caliber...I’v read reviews and articles praising the .270 no end...and like the .25-06 it ticks a lot of boxes for me, but I’v also heard/read it can be a brute to shoot and not the nicest rifle to use regularly...is it that fierce !?
Someone I greatly respect (a deer stalker) told me the .270 is an amazing caliber, but a ba****d to shoot !? Is that true ? I only plan on buying and owning one “deer rifle” which is why I want to make the right choice. Again...this will be for muntjac, roe primarily and reds/fallow/sika on occasion.
Please give me your honest opinions ! Thank you, Benny
Skip the rat guns and get a real chambering that will knock over everything bar whales perhaps, 7mm Remington Magnum
Shootgun
Well-Known Member
I always had an .270 , and now is my only deer caliber and I shot all six species with it.
Absolutely brilliant caliber, shooting non lead exclusively for over 7 years, my current setup shooting the 130 grains RWS HIT 1/2 MOA at 200 meters if I do my part.
I barely notice the recoil…
Absolutely brilliant caliber, shooting non lead exclusively for over 7 years, my current setup shooting the 130 grains RWS HIT 1/2 MOA at 200 meters if I do my part.
I barely notice the recoil…
A Guy Out West
Well-Known Member
The 270 is a very fine round. If your rifle has too much recoil, put a Pachmyer Decelerator recoil pad on it. It will smooth out the recoil
Impulse.
Impulse.
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
Hmm. A few details for comparison of recoil characteristics.
The columns are chambering&rifle weight/recoil energy and recoil velocity from Chuck Hawks:-
Also an extract from Sako’s data which I think is always interesting to read when comparisons are being made:-
Accepted that Chuck‘s info on the 6.5 is likely the military “Swede” rather than the modern SE/SKAN but when you also look at what each Sako round delivers there is food for thought on the “270 is best” viewpoint. Sooo you now have some info - your call……. Either of the three (or 4 incl. the .260) will do a terrific job on anything in the UK but you will need to consider ammo in light of availability generally and of course the dreaded lead/copper rabbit hole. For what it is worth I have shot all three, in fact my first deer was with the .270 (1 of 5 reds shot with it that morning) and I loved it. Many years later however I have a .308 and a 6.5x55SE both of which are more than enough for all UK species - the 6.5 however lets you see the bullet strike and heaven forbid is quicker to get off a follow-up shot.
Best of luck in your deliberations - rest assured whichever one you choose you will not please everyone!
The columns are chambering&rifle weight/recoil energy and recoil velocity from Chuck Hawks:-
| 6.5x55 Swede (129 at 2700) | 8.0 | 12.5 | 10.0 |
| 6.5x55 Swede (140 at 2650) | 9.0 | 10.6 | 8.7 |
| 6.5x55 Swede (140 at 2735) | 8.5 | 12.1 | 9.6 |
| 6.5x55 Swede (160 at 2300) | 8.0 | 12.7 | 10.1 |
| .260 Rem. (120 at 2860) | 7.5 | 13.0 | 10.6 |
| .260 Rem. (140 at 2360) | 8.0 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| .260 Rem. (129 at 2900) | 8.25 | 12.5 | 9.9 |
| .260 Rem. (140 at 2750) | 8.25 | 11.9 | 9.7 |
| 270 Win. (120 at 2675) | 8.0 | 10.0 | 9.0 |
| .270 Win. (130 at 3140) | 8.0 | 16.5 | n/a |
| .270 Win. (140 at 3000) | 8.0 | 17.1 | 11.7 |
| 308 Win. (125 at 2675) | 8.75 | 9.0 | 8.1 |
| .308 Win. (150 at 2800) | 7.5 | 15.8 | 11.7 |
| .308 Win. (165 at 2700) | 7.5 | 18.1 | 12.5 |
| .308 Win. (180 at 2610) | 8.0 | 17.5 | 11.9 |
Also an extract from Sako’s data which I think is always interesting to read when comparisons are being made:-
Accepted that Chuck‘s info on the 6.5 is likely the military “Swede” rather than the modern SE/SKAN but when you also look at what each Sako round delivers there is food for thought on the “270 is best” viewpoint. Sooo you now have some info - your call……. Either of the three (or 4 incl. the .260) will do a terrific job on anything in the UK but you will need to consider ammo in light of availability generally and of course the dreaded lead/copper rabbit hole. For what it is worth I have shot all three, in fact my first deer was with the .270 (1 of 5 reds shot with it that morning) and I loved it. Many years later however I have a .308 and a 6.5x55SE both of which are more than enough for all UK species - the 6.5 however lets you see the bullet strike and heaven forbid is quicker to get off a follow-up shot.
Best of luck in your deliberations - rest assured whichever one you choose you will not please everyone!
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.270 with a moderator is a pussy cat. I find it no more "difficult" to shoot than a .243 or .308.
Very flat shooting and suitable for all UK species.
If it does have a down side its the fact that the tend to have longer barrels, which may get in the way if you do a lot of work in thick cover
Very flat shooting and suitable for all UK species.
If it does have a down side its the fact that the tend to have longer barrels, which may get in the way if you do a lot of work in thick cover
@theroedeerguy
Well-Known Member
I now use a .270 exclusively as my only deer rifle.
I got a s/h Blaser R8 and put a Stalon XE149 moderator on it.
Absolute pleasure to shoot, easily able to see bullet strikes in your scope after taking the shot.
As a UK deer calibre it’s especially good, excellent factory ammunition availability in both lead and non-lead options.
It’s so good I didn’t even bother doing a 1for1 variation when I recently moved on a rifle, .270 for deer, .222 for vermin covers all my needs.
I got a s/h Blaser R8 and put a Stalon XE149 moderator on it.
Absolute pleasure to shoot, easily able to see bullet strikes in your scope after taking the shot.
As a UK deer calibre it’s especially good, excellent factory ammunition availability in both lead and non-lead options.
It’s so good I didn’t even bother doing a 1for1 variation when I recently moved on a rifle, .270 for deer, .222 for vermin covers all my needs.
.308 for the versatility and range of bullets - what will a .270 do that a 308 won’t? Whereas if you ever go to continental Europe to shoot you may find you need a .30 cal minimum.
308 must be one of the more common ammunition stock in most RFD’s whereas I don’t think 270 will have the same selection in most.
Regards,
Gixer
308 must be one of the more common ammunition stock in most RFD’s whereas I don’t think 270 will have the same selection in most.
Regards,
Gixer
Going to be contentious here but from what you've said your quarry is likely to be I'd go for a 6.5x55.
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gsxrhunter
Well-Known Member
It is a bit of an animal without a mod , but a mod will calm it down . 
N160 or N165 for 270win
6.5 x 55 is a lovely round. I use a 6.5 X 47 lapua a Schultz & Larsen with a gorgeous stock for the summer but my stainless steel Tikka .270 synthetic stock comes out in the winter or for when I need just a bit more oomph. Actually you could just stick with the 6.5x55 - very little in it either...
www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk
Hmm, so about this flat shooting business then...
Looking at the Sako data it seems that a 156gn bullet has less muzzle velocity & energy in a 270 than in a 308.
It also seems that out to 200m the 308 shoots just a bit 'flatter' than a 270.
But, at 300m the 308 is the definitely the 'flatter shooting' of the two...
Looking at the Sako data it seems that a 156gn bullet has less muzzle velocity & energy in a 270 than in a 308.
It also seems that out to 200m the 308 shoots just a bit 'flatter' than a 270.
But, at 300m the 308 is the definitely the 'flatter shooting' of the two...
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
Congratulations - you were the first to spot and comment!Hmm, so about this flat shooting business then...
Looking at the Sako data it seems that a 156gn bullet has less muzzle velocity & energy in a 270 than in a 308.
It also seems that out to 200m the 308 shoots just a bit 'flatter' than a 270.
But, at 300m the 308 is the definitely the 'flatter shooting' of the two...
Sooo -+Sako who know a fair wee bit about bullets seem to have presented a bit of a poser for the .270 v .308 debaters…..
Sonicdmb73
Well-Known Member
I have owned both. In all honesty with a moderator and a decent fit. You won’t tell much between the two.Evening all
Following from my post about the .25-06 (which I’v since been told Sako apparently do NOT offer in left hand on the 85
The .308 seems to be the logical option with the ever looming threat of a lead ban...but...what are your opinions of the .270 !? It seems to be a some what love it or hate it Caliber...I’v read reviews and articles praising the .270 no end...and like the .25-06 it ticks a lot of boxes for me, but I’v also heard/read it can be a brute to shoot and not the nicest rifle to use regularly...is it that fierce !?
Someone I greatly respect (a deer stalker) told me the .270 is an amazing caliber, but a ba****d to shoot !? Is that true ? I only plan on buying and owning one “deer rifle” which is why I want to make the right choice. Again...this will be for muntjac, roe primarily and reds/fallow/sika on occasion.
Please give me your honest opinions ! Thank you, Benny
A friend used a 270 almost exclusively for years on everything from Muntjac to big Reds.
Realistically either will be quite capable of dealing with any legal quarry in this country and much abroad too (subject to local laws etc).
Barrel life, you are more likely to ruin the barrel with poor cleaning techniques or rust. Than to actually “shoot” one out in normal use for deer. I have bought rifles twenty years or more old. That had fired less rounds than you might in one weekend of target shooting.
I started with a 308, due to FLD I had to change to 243 (308 too big for foxes apparently). Later added a 270 and swapped 243 for 6.5x55.
Would I buy another 308, possibly but I don’t think it would be much of an advantage over what I have.
I went with 270 originally because they were not “fashionable” so you got more rifle for your money. 6.5x55 because I found a rifle I wanted at a good price in that chambering.
What I am saying is that cost, availability and fit have taken (mostly) a bigger part in my choice than the perceived or otherwise differences between cartridges.
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