270 or 30 06

[mereside]

I really don’t bother about how efficient the cartridge is I just shoot what I like. I started with a 270 and have always used one and love it. I shoot a 300 winmag and that is just wasting powder like nothing else but again I love it, I wouldn’t have an issue using 30-06 at I would probably love that too lol, buy what your heart feels as both will drop anything that walks the planet, bullet choice will be the one thing that will matter more than anything when you finally get what you want, good luck and happy shooting

 

[smullery]

I was highland stalking with my 6.5 x 55 and found with 120 gr Barnes homeloads that the rifle was not really up to it on the hill with hyped up stags in the rut. The Forestry who I was shooting with use 270's with 130 grain projectiles(they prefer 140 gr but have to standarize) and I applied for a 270 but have since talked to some of my friends who said that a 30-06 using 140 grain Barnes would be almost as flat and could also be loaded with 220 gr bullets for my annual Croatian wild boar shoots. The 270 would not be as flexible. I still wish to retain the 6.5 x 55 for Roe and Fallow and as my wife's rifle. Any thoughts please before the firearms officer arrives for his chat ?

6.5x55 with 140gr Nosler Partition at 185 metres. Up to it.



120 metres.



Stan

 

[Heym SR20]

Before rushing out to by a bigger and better cannon, have a closer look at your current set up. What 120gn bullet are you using. The 6.5s have a good reputation for killing big game, but with long for calibre bullets. Try some good 140 or 156 gn bullets and you will a very different Terminal effect. Try a good Norma load - they tend to be loaded with good bullets at good speeds, albeit you do have to pay good money for them.

if you want another rifle and given you have the 6.5, go to 30-06 and load with 165gn bullets - they shoot flatter with more punch than the 140gn.

 

[Odders]

As the two posters above have stated: Why not use a heavier bullet in the 6.5x55?*
After all, the calibre has been used to hunt European elk in the nation of its introduction for long enough. Sierra still produce the Gameking in 140gr & other bullets are available up to 160gr.

*OK, so having another calibre/rifle to use increases the fun factor...

 

[mchughcb]

Top load in a 3006 with a 180gr is about 290ftlb more energy than the top load in a 308 with the same projectile. And that extra almost 300ftlb is felt on the shoulder. Dont believe me? Load up 62gr of RL22 with a 180gr gameking and report back after a 10 shot group at 200m.

 

[mchughcb]

As the two posters above have stated: Why not use a heavier bullet in the 6.5x55?*
After all, the calibre has been used to hunt European elk in the nation of its introduction for long enough. Sierra still produce the Gameking in 140gr & other bullets are available up to 160gr.

*OK, so having another calibre/rifle to use increases the fun factor...

With a whole bunch of tracking dogs when the moose legs it after taking one in the chest. Ill take a 8x57 or a 30-06 any day over a 6.5 on moose.

 

[takbok]

I was highland stalking with my 6.5 x 55 and found with 120 gr Barnes homeloads that the rifle was not really up to it on the hill with hyped up stags in the rut. The Forestry who I was shooting with use 270's with 130 grain projectiles(they prefer 140 gr but have to standarize) and I applied for a 270 but have since talked to some of my friends who said that a 30-06 using 140 grain Barnes would be almost as flat and could also be loaded with 220 gr bullets for my annual Croatian wild boar shoots. The 270 would not be as flexible. I still wish to retain the 6.5 x 55 for Roe and Fallow and as my wife's rifle. Any thoughts please before the firearms officer arrives for his chat ?

You might find that your reloads are not fast enough so may be worth increasing the powder charge a bit. The copper bullets work best at high velocities. 6.5x55 load data can be very conservative which can give the calibre a poor reputation. Jackfish on here has a very good fast load with 120gr bullets that isn't far off .270 Win energy, and lots of others get on well with the 6.5x55.

I think that the 100gr TTSX at higher velocity would be a much better bet for the 6.5x55 up to 200-250m if you want to use copper bullets. I have used 110gr copper bullets in mt .270 to good effect on Red, Roe & Sika.

I don't think that a change in calibre is necessary but I agree that new toys are always fun if you can afford it.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

You might find that your reloads are not fast enough so may be worth increasing the powder charge a bit. The copper bullets work best at high velocities. 6.5x55 load data can be very conservative which can give the calibre a poor reputation. Jackfish on here has a very good fast load with 120gr bullets that isn't far off .270 Win energy, and lots of others get on well with the 6.5x55.

I think that the 100gr TTSX at higher velocity would be a much better bet for the 6.5x55 up to 200-250m if you want to use copper bullets. I have used 110gr copper bullets in mt .270 to good effect on Red, Roe & Sika.

I don't think that a change in calibre is necessary but I agree that new toys are always fun if you can afford it.

Our Fox non-lead factory load for 100gr 6.5x55 is pushing 3090fps 2130ftlbs,
the 123gr is 2920fps 2300ftlbs

Both loads are well under max pressure by 10-15%

the swede can be pushed much harder than the original spec

 

[Heym SR20]

Our Fox non-lead factory load for 100gr 6.5x55 is pushing 3090fps 2130ftlbs,
the 123gr is 2920fps 2300ftlbs

Both loads are well under max pressure by 10-15%

the swede can be pushed much harder than the original spec

thats getting towards 270 sort of territory with the 123 gn bullets.

 

[big ears]

I was highland stalking with my 6.5 x 55 and found with 120 gr Barnes homeloads that the rifle was not really up to it on the hill with hyped up stags in the rut. The Forestry who I was shooting with use 270's with 130 grain projectiles(they prefer 140 gr but have to standarize) and I applied for a 270 but have since talked to some of my friends who said that a 30-06 using 140 grain Barnes would be almost as flat and could also be loaded with 220 gr bullets for my annual Croatian wild boar shoots. The 270 would not be as flexible. I still wish to retain the 6.5 x 55 for Roe and Fallow and as my wife's rifle. Any thoughts please before the firearms officer arrives for his chat ?

just use 140gr in the 6.5. Took a royal at 270m with it.

 

[rodkayak]

I spoke to the FEO and the verdict is ....................................30-06. Can anyone tell me why the extra powder in a 30-06 case vs the 308 does not translate into proportionally increased velocity ?

 

[takbok]

If you're reloading you'll get a good increase in velocity over the .308.

 

[Jax]

I spoke to the FEO and the verdict is ....................................30-06. Can anyone tell me why the extra powder in a 30-06 case vs the 308 does not translate into proportionally increased velocity ?

Barrel length most likely. You need a longer barrel to make use of the extra powder capacity more often than not.

I also ran a 30-06 with RL-22 through a 26" barrel to get an average of 2960fps with a 180gr bullet. You won't do that with a 308. You'd have to use factory 300 Win mag loads with a 24" barrel to keep up according to Hornady data.

 

[mchughcb]

That is outstanding performance fron a 30-06 Jax.

 

[Jax]

That is outstanding performance fron a 30-06 Jax.

Yes, I was a bit surprised. This was with 60gr of reloader 22 and, like you, using 180gr Gamekings. I had slightly flattened primers with 62gr so didn't ever bother chronographing.

 

[mchughcb]

@ 3500ftlb from the 3006 makes those 308win look anemic in comparison. I could never get that high only 2820fps but i have a shorter barrel.

 

[Harry mac]

To para-phrase Michael Winner, "Calm down dear. It's only a cartridge".

 

[Chasey]

the -06 is not an efficient cartridge in any form

Loved the reaction to this

You might as well have said their wifes got a fat arse


I have quickly learnt that people are realy prescious about what calibre rifle they shoot and only those with a range of calabers in the cabenet can make honest comen't about them


I hear a load of old ******** about performance of X calibre over Y calibre, We have 270 and 30 06 users in our group and they kill deer just as dead as my 243.

Havent shot either one and no desire to.

I came away with two impresions of them:

.270? F##ing loud

30 06? OMG that cartridge is F##ing massive. What are you over compensating for

 

[User00035]

If you go back to the start of the thread the OP said he wanted a hill rifle for stalking big stags that will also cover him for an annual boar shooting trip. Would you seriously suggest a .243? A .30-06 isn't over-compensating for such a brief, its spot-on. It would be my choice over a .270.

 

[mchughcb]

Exactly right Finch. I would not recommend using a 243 Win on a 70-120kg running boar at 100m full stop. Apart from small branches etc that may obstruct the field of fire that the 220gr of the 30-06 will plow through. A quartering shot rearward shot from something like a 243 Win is going to not stop a boar and there will be a big follow up afterwards.