270 or 308

[NullMac]

Depends where you are doing it.

If you are up on the open hill all the time 270. Ranges will be a bit longer probably and it will be a bit easier to shoot

If you are in the woods all the time 308. You can get a big heavy bullet in it at shorter ranges and some would say that will help drop them. Also you will not be smashing a very fast bullet into a deer at close ranges. Needs a bit more shooting on the hill but really its only holding a bit higher than you would with a 270.

Otherwise either will be fine.

 

[Fair Hill]

I have both, I use the .270 more often since I got it simply because it's a lighter set up than the heavy barrelled .308.

I was warned before I bought the .270 that the recoil would be far greater than the .308 but there's no noticeable difference to me.

If cost of ammo is a factor then the .308 ammo can be bought cheaper, there also tends to be more variety of it in stock in most RFD's.

 

[Dave Lakes]

The myth that the .270 is a laser beam while the .308 is a mortar is just that - a myth. The difference in drop at standard stalking ranges is smaller than most people can hold.

Not a complete myth, if you zero both at 200 yds, then the spread between 100 and 300 yds is around 3 inches more with the 308. It’s hardly the end of the world, but I do think it’s worth considering.

 

[HonestJohn]

Hill - 270
Woods - 308 with 16” barrel and over barrel mod

Mix of the two, pick either

 

[david1]

Hello,
I’m after a rifle/calibre so shooting red deer, currently got a 243 with a permanent thermal on it. I’m either going 270 or 308 I’m wondering what’s best ? Hopefully not opening a can of worms.

I'm in Scotland, I shoot lots of roe and red, I've owned and followed like a sheep as quoted to the 6.5mm CM now replaced with .300wm. I own and still use my .308 with 130gr Barnes bullets and Nosler 150gr lead, but my go to calibre is the .300wm on copper, shot roe and red with minimal meat damage no more than any other calibre. And on open hills you have the advantage on distance on all the lesser calibres on copper.

 

[enfieldspares]

It depends. Long action rifle then use a long action cartridge. Short action rifle use a short action cartridge. But there's this to consider. The .308 Winchester with bullets of 150 grains and less weight will do everything that, for UK use, the .270 WCF will do. The .270 WCF won't do everything that the .308 Winchester can do if you want bullets of over 150 grains weight. Going forward in factory ammunition the .308 Winchester has the wider variety of ammunition. Me? I have now a .270 Winchester and a .30/06. The .270 WCF in a short barrel (that's 22" or less) unmoderated rifle will have considerable muzzle blast with, say, factory 130 grain ammunition.

 

[Suilven]

If you are Scottish, get a .270; otherwise, get a .308. All calibres other than .270 were banned in the highlands at the same time as they banned fruit and vegetables...

The definitive and funniest line on this subject was made back in 2018.☝

(I have covid currently and was entertaining myself looking through the rich history of .308 vs .270 threads, nearly spilt my lemsip).

 

[Tazz]

Depends , 308 more choice of bullet and more readily available than 270

Yes but almost all of them with a poorer BC than a 270 130g ( 270 fan )

 

[NullMac]

Yes but almost all of them with a poorer BC than a 270 130g ( 270 fan )

Well if you are on ballistics, it is about speed inside 300. 270 wins.

In reality, you are allowed to aim and the differences between the two are minimal

 

[Greener Jim]

Practically the same. Most of the usual suspects are. Bit of familiarity with one or the other and they'll do the same thing at all the normal stalking stuff.
If you don't reload then .308 is going to be most sensible purely based on availability.

 

[Tazz]

Well if you are on ballistics, it is about speed inside 300. 270 wins.

In reality, you are allowed to aim and the differences between the two are minimal

I am not sure the deer can tell the difference but it gives us something to debate

 

[paulbshooting]

I'm in Scotland, I shoot lots of roe and red, I've owned and followed like a sheep as quoted to the 6.5mm CM now replaced with .300wm. I own and still use my .308 with 130gr Barnes bullets and Nosler 150gr lead, but my go to calibre is the .300wm on copper, shot roe and red with minimal meat damage no more than any other calibre. And on open hills you have the advantage on distance on all the lesser calibres on copper.

What grain, make and model of bullet are you using in the 300wm? Have tried barnes and Yew Tree reloads myself. Thanks

 

[david1]

What grain, make and model of bullet are you using in the 300wm? Have tried barnes and Yew Tree reloads myself. Thanks

I'm currently using the 175gr LRX with devastating effects. On The magneto it's leaving The muzzle at 3000fps. Didn't see the point in any faster as I didn't gain much on fingers other than increase the recoil and slight muzzle flip. The rifle is a Sako 85 Long Range. With a 5x25x56 Minox ZP5 scope.

 

[paulbshooting]

I'm currently using the 175gr LRX with devastating effects. On The magneto it's leaving The muzzle at 3000fps. Didn't see the point in any faster as I didn't gain much on fingers other than increase the recoil and slight muzzle flip. The rifle is a Sako 85 Long Range. With a 5x25x56 Minox ZP5 scope.

Thanks. Interesting! Heavier than I have tried.

 

[Mungo]

Not a complete myth, if you zero both at 200 yds, then the spread between 100 and 300 yds is around 3 inches more with the 308. It’s hardly the end of the world, but I do think it’s worth considering.

3 inches at 300m is 1MOA.

You need to be able to consistently shoot groups of substantially less than 1MOA to notice the difference.

 

[johndeere]

I have owned both and they are both excellent calibres forced into making a choice 270 is my go-to calibre.
can't quite grasp why the 6.5 Creedmoor is not on your list

 

[Dave Lakes]

3 inches at 300m is 1MOA.

You need to be able to consistently shoot groups of substantially less than 1MOA to notice the difference.

Yeah I know, but that’s on top of what the drop already is, and the difference starts at 100 yds and gets worse all the way out to 300 (and beyond, not that it matters). Like I say, it’s not a huge deal, but a built in deficiency of a minimum of 1moa (without adjusting) is not insignificant, even to someone who is a very average shot….hence I have a .270!

 

[John.270]

The definitive and funniest line on this subject was made back in 2018.☝

(I have covid currently and was entertaining myself looking through the rich history of .308 vs .270 threads, nearly spilt my lemsip).

If you are Scottish, get a .270; otherwise, get a .308. All calibres other than .270 were banned in the highlands at the same time as they banned fruit and vegetables...

I’m stealing that

To answer the original question, I’d get a .270 every time, but mainly because it’s what I was brought up with. .308 is a bit nicer to fire, and in the stalking environment the differences in performance are pretty much negligible. Both brilliant cartridges that won’t disappoint you.

 

[Andy Mauthe]

I would vote for the .270 as well. Much flatter shooting than the .308 and plenty of versatility too. Long action (.270) vs short action (.308) but I’ve personally never seen a short action as a real tangible advantage. In the States .270 is very common so availability isn’t an issue. Not sure about the UK. The .270 has been and continues to be a popular choice here for Western big game like Elk and Moose and Sheep at range. It just shoots flatter than the .308 and has plenty of steam to get the job done.

 

[Home Loader]

I use a 243, 270 and 308 it really doesn't matter which one I pick up, they all put deer in the larder from Muntjac to Reds, from the south coast to the Highlands.
As long as you like and are comfortable with the rifle the calibre doesn't really matter.