.308 vs .270? (Or 6.5CM)

[monarman]

I've been a fan of 270 all my 20 plus years of stalking and indeed it was my one go to caliber for everything for a good number years.. I found a good overbarrel mod calmed things down nicely ..
However.... since I've become a woodland/lowland stalker AND have to use lead free ammo I chose to swap to 308... there is plenty of ammo choice available especially in lead free and I also use a heavier mod so recoil again is calmed nicely.
Losing sight picture generally happens when the scope is on 8x mag or above... but lack of recoil (actually it's muzzle jump) helps...
I also have a 6.5cm.... a heavier sporter (sassen barrel) than the standard tikka (308)... so recoil and muzzle jump are less, but not massively.

In answer to your query.... look at adding something that has good ammo availability local to you (and in general)... plan for the possibility that we may all have to go lead free..... make sure the stock dimensions fit you well (add a cheekriser... it will help if you haven't one already) and hold the forend when shooting off a bipod as that will stop the rifle jumping about ..

 

[308tikka]

None of those chamberings are unpopular - its easy to get ammo. Reasonably priced.

This should be the first consideration if you dont reload, or if reloading components are hard to get where you live/shoot.

Second consideration is ergonomics, fit of rifle for perceived recoil.

All chamberings will take all UK species.

.308 hard to beat as a woodland rifle. Easy to load for. Shorter bolt travel.

Friends have the other two calibres and are very happy. There is no right answer. Most people just recommend what they own. Depends what ground you have/species you stalk as to what you need to justify to FEO.

If I wanted a second rifle to add to .270 and didnt already own any, Id pick something that is pointable, cheap to feed, has a common thread for moderator which can be used on both rifles, and which is light enough to carry all day without being annoying. Thats it.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Cheers folks! I’m none the wiser and that’s probably because they all work. It is handy to hear from those that have used both as well though

My head says that if I ever get to Africa, the 6.5CM would probably be on the light side. At the same time, it sounds like a complete faff to get a rifle to SA in which case, I might use a hire gun and the 6.5 would do all uk species.


Funnily enough, the rifle is on 8X when I occasionally loose the image. Maybe 6x would give a much wider field of view.

It’s more fore boredom that I’m looking to change. I suppose if it ain’t broke.. The new gun itches are just an attempt to spice up what is otherwise the same thing year on year

 

[wildfowler.250]

Re. Forward pressure: it helps enormously to also hold the fore end, as if the bipod wasn’t there.

I sold the two .270s because I had problems with the rifles themselves. One was an ancient Sako L61r, and it needed more work on it than I was willing to spend. The other was a genuinely lovely Heym SR20, but it had a stock optimised for shooting standing, and I found it very uncomfortable to shoot prone. Both were wood stocked, with blued metal, and I was getting more serious doing culling work in nasty conditions, so wanted stainless and synthetic.

I moved to a 6.5Cm and a 6.5PRC. One for shorter range and smaller things, one for longer range and bigger things. But I could easily get by with just the CM (and did for about 2 years).

Do you find much benefit of the 6.5PRC? I home load but I assume it’s an entirely home load cartridge here in the uk?
I’m sure that what the folks I was watching hunting in Kodak were shooting. Either that or a 6.5WBY

 

[Nkawu]

I have both- boils down to the rifle more than the cartridge. My 308 is light and small which is great to carry all day (Ruger M77). My 270 is heavier and more steady (Winchester M70) which is great for longer pokes. 270 is a long action and 308 is a short action. In my option the gun makes more of a difference than the cartridge.

 

[wildfowler.250]

I have both- boils down to the rifle more than the cartridge. My 308 is light and small which is great to carry all day (Ruger M77). My 270 is heavier and more steady (Winchester M70) which is great for longer pokes. 270 is a long action and 308 is a short action. In my option the gun makes more of a difference than the cartridge.

Funnily that is what it boils down to.

Either I put a kroseg aftermarket on my 75, more for fit but also new looks. And a rebarrel later down the years whenever it’s needed.

Or I buy new,(probably schultz & Larsen) in which case, I could take a pick of a new caliber if I wanted.


Nostalgia with my first CF and a £1k new stock or £2.5K for a new rifle with an adjustable cheek piece and a switch barrel function if ever needed

 

[rem284]

I use a 270 usually daily(5 day/week). I use a 6.5x47 and a 6.5-284 at the weekends. I prefer to shoot the 6.5's because they are more accurate, especially the 6.5-284 and they are both easy on the recoil front. I have shot a 308 but not enough t comment. Out of the ones you listed, I would go for the 6.5cm

 

[Mungo]

Do you find much benefit of the 6.5PRC? I home load but I assume it’s an entirely home load cartridge here in the uk?
I’m sure that what the folks I was watching hunting in Kodak were shooting. Either that or a 6.5WBY

Love it. Superb hill round. Essentially does what a .270 does, but with a bit less wind drift and a bit more punch.

I have had no problem getting factory ammo for it - Hornady 147gr Eldm.

However, it is so similar to a .270 that if you have a .270, there is absolutely no reason at all to change.

 

[Dave_45]

They are all the same. The differences are minuscule, only apparent in specific instances and even then negated through the act of aiming.

Shoot what makes you most confident

I have had several 308 and 270. I currently run a 65CM. I shot 308 up the hill and the 270 in the woods as well as the other way round. Keep improving your shooting skills and ignore calibre.

Out of all the things I’ve read on here , this is the most wise advice.

 

[Essexsussex]

You don't "scrap" a 270
You pass it on to someone with taste who'll appreciate its charming little idiosyncrasies.

Someone’s scrapping a 270?

Pick me, pick me!!

 

[wildfowler.250]

Someone’s scrapping a 270?

Pick me, pick me!!

Haha it’s a sako 75 so I feel like it’s a sin to move it on but we’ll see. New gun itches.

I figure the 6.5 maybe gives me less options abroad but otherwise I’m none the wiser. Tempted to stick to “if it ain’t broke” .270 but also very curious to change flavour to an 06 or .308. Probably makes zero noticeable difference bar new dies and new brass etc!

 

[Loler UK]

If you get a 308 you could get a nice short, light barrel.
A 6.5x55 home loaded is all but identical to the.270
The 6.5cm is a bit anemic in case capacity compared to a 270 or 6.5x55 and doesn't do well with a short barrel unlike the 308.
If you have the bits to reload I'd say get another 270 or compliment the existing with a short 308
If you want a change for change sake get a sweed. (Note some countries stipulate 7mm min for boar)

 

[Alhamander]

Having hummed & hawed a fair while about .270 or .308, I have now ordered a new .270. I have a .243 already.

And - obviously - I now think I should get a 6.5CM instead, and change the order! It'll be a Tikka T3X Lite either way.

I'll be shooting Sika soon, which I have never shot (enough reds though). They are either a). armour-plated or b). normal deer. Might the .270's power help though...hmmm...

With a good moderator (Stalon) - the recoil won't be too much, I hope. Very used to my .243 and its (lack of) recoil.

It's a bloody nightmare when you want a new gun but can't test it. I don't know anyone with a moderated .270...or a 6.5CM at all! At least a car you can test-drive...

 

[angusb1]

Why not a 30-06? Great for boar and African plains game, and very usable in this country too

 

[HandB]

I have three .308 rifles and regularly shoot a pal's featherweight BSA .270. Weirdly enough I find that the .270 recoils less snappily than my .308s despite the larger powder charge and is a great cartridge in terms of flat shooting accuracy. I also own a 7x57 which nicely splits the difference between the .308 and .270 in terms of performance: as with 130gr bullets I am getting about 3100fps in my 7x57. For people who reload then I recommend the 7x57 as it is more economical with powder than the .270 yet almost matches its performance. For people who use factory ammo then the mighty.308 is the answer imho as there are so many loadings on the market. That might sound boring but the .308 is marvelously efficient and hard hitting for its size and if it was invented today it would be viewed as some kind of wonder cartridge.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

You dont say what you are shooting (aside from the European reference)

All of those can be sped up or slowed down with bullet weight change
I grew up on the .270 - great cartridge. Predominantly open hill stalking for 20yrs
Does what it says on the tin. Zero at 200m point and shoot to ranges most will shoot

Changed it for a .308 as I was doing more informal competitions and cheap target ammo off the shelf was too easy
Didnt notice a recoil reduction
I did notice a huge shortening of the barrel required to get the best of it
20” is more than enough to run 130-150s and deal with anything in the UK or abroad.
Huge range in bullets
Ran 110gr vmax which were fun!

Dont use a creedmoor but a short barrel mean the heavier bullets are running very slowly comparatively
It suits a 120-130gr round for UK stalking in my opinion
running high BC heavy for calibre/cartridge makes sense if also shooting longer range targets for a one stop shop

I do now use a 6.5-284 and am having to reign in my .308 windage history
Significantly easier to place on gongs at range in wind
Halving my wind calls with 143gr ELD-X vs my 130-150gr .308

Arguably it makes no difference at all
Nothing in the UK is walking away from a well placed, well chosen bullet from any of them
Choose the one you like and can feed locally

 

[375win]

The deer won't know the difference.
Had both, I would say choose the rifle not the caliber. A rifle you like, that fits you well, a rifle you know and that comes to the shoulder naturally is what you're looking for.

 

[VSS]

The deer won't know the difference.
Had both, I would say choose the rifle not the caliber. A rifle you like, that fits you well, a rifle you know and that comes to the shoulder naturally is what you're looking for.

Definitely this ^^^
Choose the rifle, and provided it's a 270 you're sorted!

 

[Dickie]

The deer won't know the difference.
Had both, I would say choose the rifle not the caliber. A rifle you like, that fits you well, a rifle you know and that comes to the shoulder naturally is what you're looking for.

It's been said many times before. never a truer statement.

 

[rem284]

It's been said many times before. never a truer statement.

I think it's more about the nut behind the butt. I've been told a few time I am a big nut!!!