.308 or .270
- Thread starter Antlerman
- Start date
I have both, use 130 grain in the .270 and it does the job very well especially as other have said at longer distance. My one is also lighter than my .308 so it gets used a fair bit, have to say though there is nothing like a 150 grain in the .308 for just dropping the Sika on the spot everytime.
I have a 270 and mainly use handloaded 140 grain ammunition with very good results, for the distances we shoot at in the UK, there is little difference in my opinion. People say that the 270 is very "flat" shooting, but if you look at the trajectory charts for say a 200 yard zero, i.e. Roughly an inch high at 100 yards, then there isn't a dramatic difference out to 300 yards. I would be happy with either. I think you do have more bullet weight choice with the 308 though.
One on top of two
Well-Known Member
Used a .270 for a couple of years ( Sako 75 ) lovely rifle and lovely calibre , used on everything from fox to fallow with superb results but sold it on , you know how it goes .Then I bought myself a tikka tac A1 in .308 for general use and loved it that much I bought a brand new tikka super varmint stock from a mate , so I just dump it in that for use when stalking for me best of both worlds and so easy to reload for with just about every manufacturer making bullets for it .
JWCS
Member
For me .270 all day long this season alone 13 stags and 20+ hinds this year for myself and clients. No recoil with mod and just a straight 8x56 scope had beasts out to 275m when needs must just aim at the top of the back bang on the shoulder and they didn’t go anywhere. Also had 4 foxes in the last few months with it too.
I take it that's neck shooting hinds
.It's either that or the Scottish Sika are much tougher. Never dropped Sika stag in Scotland dead on the spot with a chest shot. .270, 7x57, 7x64, they may go down, but the bas....s get up and run again. Always shot the Irish ones with 22/250, biggest allowed then, but neck shooting.
DaveW
Well-Known Member
If you plan to use lead-free ammo then .270 all day long.
It is quick (which means that copper ammo expands more effectively).
It is flat shooting.
I use Barnes TTSX on Roe, Fallow, Muntjac and Reds and i've never wished for anything more. I cannot comment for leaded alternatives.
It is quick (which means that copper ammo expands more effectively).
It is flat shooting.
I use Barnes TTSX on Roe, Fallow, Muntjac and Reds and i've never wished for anything more. I cannot comment for leaded alternatives.
I've always wanted to shoot a sika. They look at you like they think they'll beat you in a fight! Without a rifle involved, they probably would!I take it that's neck shooting hinds
It's either that or the Scottish Sika are much tougher. Never dropped Sika stag in Scotland dead on the spot with a chest shot. .270, 7x57, 7x64, they may go down, but the bas....s get up and run again. Always shot the Irish ones with 22/250, biggest allowed then, but neck shooting.
I've always wanted to shoot a sika. They look at you like they think they'll beat you in a fight! Without a rifle involved, they probably would!
Pretty much spot on
Calling one in is the pinnacle of stalking. They are the most combative, adaptable, cunning animals, with a thirst for life. I’ll never chest shoot another (crawling for hours in Sitka gets old real quick), it’s pins or necks!
And at the point of neck shooting, a big calibre is wasted I would have thought? A nice frangible bullet from a .243 will near on cut the head off of most things.Pretty much spot on
Calling one in is the pinnacle of stalking. They are the most combative, adaptable, cunning animals, with a thirst for life. I’ll never chest shoot another (crawling for hours in Sitka gets old real quick), it’s pins or necks!
Brave Echo Niner
Well-Known Member
If you shoot a big enough calibre it can genuinely cut the head off as I proved with my .300 and a high neck shot…
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
If you reload and want cheap (well less expensive) practice then anything 7mm or .30" will have less costly FMJ bullets to buy. In .30" that'll be both 150 grain and 180 garin. In 7mm likely 140 grain and 175 grain. If that isn't something you think you want to do then either .270 or .308 will do the job. But looking to the future lead free bullets in .277" will likely not be 150 grain but 130 grain and overseas where on some game there is a 10 gram (154 grain minimum bullet weight) you may struggle! Boar with a .270 WCF? Not a problem.
Deutsch - Drahthaar
Well-Known Member
Got a 270 and 308 and use 308 most. However, with the copper transition pending I think the 270 might have better advantages. 270 and 308 hits hard on bigger animals but as said (depending on ammo) the 270 can be a bit savage on smaller deer.
I have. 168gr eldm from a .308 at 60 meters. Down like a puppet with the strings cut.
However, that was the exception. They do like to run...
I've always wanted to shoot a sika. They look at you like they think they'll beat you in a fight! Without a rifle involved, they probably would!
Prior to taking a guest out one day, I took him out the night before with a lamp to just see deer. We picked up a bunch of stags at 30 yds. " Jeez I need a bigger rifle" was his retort as they all showed us the frown. Similar to the Cape buffalo described as "Looking at you as if you owed them money". Crawled a good few hundred yards under sitka with only 9" ground clearance, also through tangled Rhododendron. How they go through it with a rack of antlers and dead on their feet I'll never know.
Scotty99
Well-Known Member
I would go with .308. Plenty of available options on rifles from all the main manufacturers both new and second hand. Plenty of ammo options here and overseas, a very forgiving round for shorter barrels I.e. 20 inch. Ideal for boar if you have the opportunity.
Also what’s interesting on this thread the number of people now opting for a .243 as their foxing rifle often with dedicated night vision.
Is this a growing trend and is it related to the emergence of copper and the need for a heavier bullet? Will we see fewer .223s and triple twos out in the field after foxes?
I know I’ve sold my .223 and kept my .243 as a dedicated foxing rifle and am using only my 6.5x55 and 30-06 for deer.
Just deciding which dedicated digital NV scope to put on my .243.
Also what’s interesting on this thread the number of people now opting for a .243 as their foxing rifle often with dedicated night vision.
Is this a growing trend and is it related to the emergence of copper and the need for a heavier bullet? Will we see fewer .223s and triple twos out in the field after foxes?
I know I’ve sold my .223 and kept my .243 as a dedicated foxing rifle and am using only my 6.5x55 and 30-06 for deer.
Just deciding which dedicated digital NV scope to put on my .243.
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