.270 for deer

Sako did make 2506 left handed rifles 3 months ago the classic wood and finnlight 2 and carbon light if they have stopped making them it'll be easy finding one may I recommend asking Steve beaty at iveythorn I'm sure he would find you one
 
If you can't find a new one, why not have a new barrel put on a shot out one? I'll do pretty much anything to get what I want, and what I want is often something really daft that is either hard to find or was never made. My Sako 75 .35 Whelen is a great example of that.
 
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
Considered 6.5x55? I've shot 270 and its fine but I love my 6.5 should handle the looming lead ban (one reason I bought it) and is legal for even large deer sp 👍
 
Plus 6.5x55 recoil is a breeze 😉
Big yep to 6.5x55 as a really sweet alternative which punches its weight as far out as you will reasonably shoot and much easier on recoil than the also wonderful .270/.308. See my earlier post #28 for interesting comparisons between 6.5, 270 and 308.
🦊🦊
 
Have to say I picked up a .270 when I was a skinny 18 year old and never felt it recoiled badly. I do get a bit of a flinch with most calibers if I’m doing load development and I’m out shooting 30-40 rounds in a morning but I’ve never noticed it while our stalking.

I can’t say I’ve had any need to change the .270. I’ve a 6.5x55 and it kills deer fine,(slightly different trajectory). Have shot .243, .30-06. I’m sure if I picked up a .308 it would work fine.


My take on it is that any of the common calibers will work well and tick most boxes. Pick one that takes your fancy be it local ammo availability or a particular rifle and go for it. Most deer are shot at relatively close range anyway
 
As others have said stock fit. I have refused to fire 2x 308.

One a German style stock in a stuzen, very wippy, some gents 375 H@H I stopped shooting only when I run out of of ammo.

The other, very stocky individual, his 243 was fine, 308 kissed me on first shot.

If you are getting a long action rifle you might as well get a 270.
 
270 - fantastic round for deer, especially when shooting at longer ranges. And there are plenty of good non toxic options for it.

308 - fantastic round for shooting deer. Not as flat shooting as 270, and lower velocity probably causes less damage at closer ranges. And there are plenty of non toxic options for it.

Much much more important is the rifle and whether you find something you like that fits well. And being a lefty that is more of a challenge. Don’t limit yourself to the cartridge - find a rifle you like and cartridge is secondary - 270, 6.5s, 7x57, 7-08, 7x65, 308 and 30-06 all pretty much do the same thing, especially when you pick similar bullets of similar BC. Zero a bit high at 100, they will shoot inside a clay pigeon out to 230ish and further difference in drop at 300 is a couple of inches overall.
 
Considered 6.5x55? I've shot 270 and its fine but I love my 6.5 should handle the looming lead ban (one reason I bought it) and is legal for even large deer sp 👍
I found that converting the 6.5x55 to non lead was straight forward, well it was once i'd listened to Richard at Yew Tree and used the correct powder and seating depth. Minor issues really.
 
Owning neither chambering I can honestly state that I do not have a horse in this race.

If those chamberings were my only choice I would be happy with either for deer in the UK, based solely on the fact that both are nearly as good as the 7x64...
 
The .270 went from my least favourite calibre to one of my favourites when then changed the law to allow moderators! Still the best hill red calibre in my book.

However, if you are mainly shooting muntjac could it be deemed a bit fierce? From my limited experience of muntjac stalking you are likely to not be shooting at longer ranges and they seem to like to skulk in cover. I used to use a .243 and .308 in England. On roe I would often switch to the .308 for bucks when the cover was up so I didn't have to worry about every blade of grass.

I wanted one calibre for all UK deer and about ten years ago went over to 6.5x55 (a Sako 85) with no regrets. If I was choosing again tomorrow I might go for the Creedmoor (ducks for cover...) and was amazed to learn that a Finnish company now don't make i.e. the S20 in the Swede but in Creedmoor
 
The .270 went from my least favourite calibre to one of my favourites when then changed the law to allow moderators! Still the best hill red calibre in my book.

However, if you are mainly shooting muntjac could it be deemed a bit fierce? From my limited experience of muntjac stalking you are likely to not be shooting at longer ranges and they seem to like to skulk in cover. I used to use a .243 and .308 in England. On roe I would often switch to the .308 for bucks when the cover was up so I didn't have to worry about every blade of grass.

I wanted one calibre for all UK deer and about ten years ago went over to 6.5x55 (a Sako 85) with no regrets. If I was choosing again tomorrow I might go for the Creedmoor (ducks for cover...) and was amazed to learn that a Finnish company now don't make i.e. the S20 in the Swede but in Creedmoor
Indeed I shoot a 6.5x55 Sako 85 and LOVE it shoots beautifully 👍 not shot a costsmore yet but maybe one day 😉
 
Hi,

The 270 and 308 will both do the same job, if it fits properly the 270 is a pussycat and when people say the 308 is a bit loopy just zero at 200 yds instead of 100, i sold my original 270 but missed it that much i now have a variation for another 1. I've seen what my 270 did to deer and what Hendrix's rifle 308 did and the deer didn't know any difference personally and this maybe just me but the 270 and 130 grain ammo are a match made in heaven. Shot everything from Wild boar to Reds with them and no complaints yet.

ATB
Scoby270.
 
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
In a standard weight 'scoped rifle it's no less different than, say, a .308 Winchester with the same weight bullet to shoot. Save that the .270 will have very slightly more recoil as the bullet base diameter is less.

In an un'scoped rifle it will be as unpleasant to shoot as, again, a .308 Winchester with the same bullet weight to shoot. Save that the .270 will have very slightly more recoil as the bullet base diameter is less.

IMHO the .270 got its reputation in the 1970s in the UK as being unpleasant through it being used in American rifles with 4x32 or 6x42 or similar fixed power 'scopes (they are lighter in weight than today's usual variables) with twenty-two inch long barrels firing Winchester 130 grain "Silvertip" factory loads. Then, yes, it's nasty. But so too would anything else throwing the bullet out of the muzzle a a supposed 3,100fps.
 
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