.270 for deer

[Dunwaters]

In the real world there isn’t a gnats eyelash of difference between them.
Some think that the availability of .308 in a short action is a big deal, personally I don’t, but its not worth an argument.
Energy and trajectories are nearly the same with bullets up to 150Gr. weight.
Chances are that if you're buying second hand a .270 may have fired fewer rounds, they’re not popular with the F class crowd. It’ll probably be cheaper too, its not the fashionable choice nowadays.
Theres a greater variety of ammo available for .308, .270 is a hunting only cartridge.
Either one will suit you nicely.

 

[Dunwaters]

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...

That bullet weight is loaded to provide a moose and bear legal .270 round in Sweden, its round nosed and designed for relatively short range use. I think its the heaviest .270 load available commercially.
It knocks the snot out of Sika stags, I’ve never got one back yet.
Faster, flatter 150 gr loads are available but the .270 is at its best with 130-140gr loads.

 

[JohnSmith]

Both 308 and 270 will ethically kill any animal you hunt in your country. Recoil on both is fine. It comes down to ammo availability, cost, bullet size selection, barrel life etc.

I’d use a 270 to hunt any North America big game animal - except wood bison, only because the regs state you need a minimum 30 caliber bullet. They work just fine on moose with proper shot placement.

 

[Taff]

Never understood the flat shooting idea,this is better than that if you know your bullet drop it’s irrelevant, at hunting distances,270 recoil in a Gun that fits you is nothing, with a suppressed gun or not

 

[Ride walker]

I have owned both. In all honesty with a moderator and a decent fit. You won’t tell much between the two.
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.

I like the 6.5x55 on Roe, 140gn bullet. A lot more meat damage with the 270, but ideal for Red.

 

[Robbie45]

Possibly the greatest ever calibre..... I have both .270 and 25.06 and you will be hard pushed to tell the difference

I thought that the 25.06 would be a slighly better round, but max 120 gr..

 

[Robbie45]

My personnel preference is a 308 or 6.5 x 55 it is a slightly slower round but does not fragment on twigs etc., the 270 and 25.06 is a faster round but causes more meat damage.
Alot of guys love the 270 & 25.06 as they are straight shooting calibers.

 

[Ranger22]

I use a 270 daily at work. It’s a nice calibre to shoot with a mod on, without a mod it’s noisy but still very shootable. Flat shooting makes me laugh, no calibre is flat shooting. You go out and practise at the ranges you will be shooting at to see what drop is. Loads of ammunition available for it so you’ll never be stuck. It’s very capable of taking anything you’ll be shooting in the UK.

 

[NullMac]

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

I am running N140 not N160 or N165 with the 110 TTSX. Quickload not Viht reloading data

 

[NullMac]

Ok so everyone is piling on the 270 is great. Fine I agree, HOWEVER as regards the OP's original question, I would caution against the use of a hot 270 load at close range on small deer with a frangible buller. Traditionally this has been messy. If the plan is to go copper then fine that removes the problem for blowing them up with a frangible bullet. Hence my vote marginally in favour of the 308, lower impact velocity at close range.

 

[NullMac]

Flat shooting makes me laugh, no calibre is flat shooting.

^^ This. Me too. Smile every time.

 

[plumber01]

I have both , i have had a 270 for about 30 +years, i got rid of it, and a year later bought another!
From my experience the 270 has a lot more bark, and does kick more, but its not a rifle that you shoot a 100 target rounds off in a morning
Also ,if we compare a 150 gn bullet from each, doing roughly 2800fps, it takes about 45gns of powder in a 308, it will take just shy of 60gn in a 270 .
so roughly around a third more in a 270,(for the same wieght and speed) however slower burning powder. So a bigger bang ( use a mod and no difference) My 270 is also lighter so probably you feel a little more, however its nothing to be sacred about, its no 338 mag, and nothing worse than a shotgun .
The magic for my is, Ive never had a runner with a 270, nothing more than a stumble, where i've seen deer run off after being being shot by a 243, and even occasionally with a 308. ( im sure someone will point out that if the bullets carry the same energy etc there is no difference) but that is just my experience
Good luck, neither is a mistake.

 

[Outstanding in my field]

Straight away from these reply’s I’m thinking .270 is the one I researched it time after time but heard a few horror stories that put me off...I guess everyone’s idea of recoil is different...I’m not exactly huge but I’m not small and don’t/never have struggled shooting larger caliber rifles...I shot a .303 Enfield (no mod, standing unsupported) and that went with a boom and deffo some recoil but manageable...I’m guessing the .270 is a walk in the park compared to that !

Had a lightweight rifle and moderator and found myself flinching to the shot. Since I went for something heavier haven’t had any problems.

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Stick with the .308...after all it is Gods caliber

 

[VSS]

Stick with the .308...after all it is the Gods caliber

No wonder sermons are so dull.

 

[User00040]

No wonder sermons are so dull.

Would go everyday if she gave them

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Dunwater is right. In a real world scenario, you wont tell the difference. Here's a good read for you: 270-vs-308

As you can see, the muzzle energy and trajectory is pretty much the same. It only really changes at 300 yards and even at that, the differences are negligible and who is shooting deer at those ranges anyway. Both calibers will kill a deer just as dead as the other.

 

[User00040]

Dunwater is right. In a real world scenario, you wont tell the difference. Here's a good read for you: 270-vs-308

As you can see, the muzzle energy and trajectory is pretty much the same.

You are quoting an article that looks at paper/computer ballistics. A better test is to go out and compare both for yourself in the real world with a range of different ammo/bullets.

Having owned a .308, I sold it to buy a dog and he is more useful.

Still own my .270

It only really changes at 300 yards and even at that, the differences are negligible and who is shooting deer at those ranges anyway.

Speak for yourself.

300m is a perfectly reasonable distance to shoot deer at given the right ground and conditions.

Both calibers will kill a deer just as dead as the other.

Agreed, if you hit the right spot.

The difference is ease of doing it.

Depends on the bullet used, but a .270 zeroed at 100m will be pretty much point of aim from 50m to 200m. Keeps things simple.

Benefit of the .308 is cheaper ammo and much better barrel life.

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

You are quoting an article that looks at paper/computer ballistics. A better test is to go out and compare both for yourself in the real world with a range of different ammo/bullets.

Having owned a .308, I sold it to buy a dog and he is more useful.

Still own my .270



Speak for yourself.

300m is a perfectly reasonable distance to shoot deer at given the right ground and conditions.



Agreed, if you hit the right spot.

The difference is ease of doing it.

Depends on the bullet used, but a .270 zeroed at 100m will be pretty much point of aim from 50m to 200m. Keeps things simple.

Benefit of the .308 is cheaper ammo and much better barrel life.

I agree, the article was more for an example of data. I'm not saying you will get the exact same figures. As for the 300 meters, this is the "stalking directory" Sure some shots may have to be taken at those ranges but it the aim of the game is to get as close as possible. Lastly, the barrel life, both rounds shooting 150 grains are travelling at the same speed so how would one wear more than the other? Grant it, I don't own a .270 but assume you don't shoot 150g bullet so I'll take your word on that

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

I agree, the article was more for an example of data. I'm not saying you will get the exact same figures. As for the 300 meters, this is the "stalking directory" Sure some shots may have to be taken at those ranges but it the aim of the game is to get as close as possible. Lastly, the barrel life, both rounds shooting 150 grains are travelling at the same speed so how would one wear more than the other? Grant it, I don't own a .270 but assume you don't shoot 150g bullet so I'll take your word on that

Although, now that I think of it, powder volumes might play a part. I dont reload so not really in the know with that