What would you do?

Leica Geovid Pro - Green
SimpleSimon

SimpleSimon

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Hi folks,
Bit of a dilemma here, I really fancy a shiny new rifle (for no particular reason I don't really enjoy my 270. It doesn't put a smile on my face) and I'm toying with two/three potential scenarios. Which would you do?

A. Keep my current 270 as a "just in case" rifle to cover all bases, and fill my vacant slot for a 243 with a brand new rifle of choice (probably a Bergara, right price and reputation) to use for local foxing around my mate's permission and 90% of current and likely future stalking opportunities (the other 10% being if I should decide one day I really want to go and pay for boar/red stags, etc but this is currently pretty unlikely)
B. Sell the 270 and put in a variation, buy a short (18 or 20inch) barrelled 308 and forevermore use the 308 for anything and everything including any future boar, stags, etc. Potentially spend a little more on it as I'll have the proceeds of my 270 sale to add.
C. Sell the 270 and buy a 243 of my choice, use it for everything I currently do and in future use an estate rifle if the need arises for more "firepower".

(D. Stop whining, put up with the 270 and spend the money on more stalking)
 
Option D would be the logical one!

I'm sure you'd be pretty happy with a new Bergara .243 though, and maybe keep the .270 if you wont be able to sell it for much.
 
SimpleSimon said:
Hi folks,
Bit of a dilemma here, I really fancy a shiny new rifle (for no particular reason I don't really enjoy my 270. It doesn't put a smile on my face) and I'm toying with two/three potential scenarios. Which would you do?

A. Keep my current 270 as a "just in case" rifle to cover all bases, and fill my vacant slot for a 243 with a brand new rifle of choice (probably a Bergara, right price and reputation) to use for local foxing around my mate's permission and 90% of current and likely future stalking opportunities (the other 10% being if I should decide one day I really want to go and pay for boar/red stags, etc but this is currently pretty unlikely)
B. Sell the 270 and put in a variation, buy a short (18 or 20inch) barrelled 308 and forevermore use the 308 for anything and everything including any future boar, stags, etc. Potentially spend a little more on it as I'll have the proceeds of my 270 sale to add.
C. Sell the 270 and buy a 243 of my choice, use it for everything I currently do and in future use an estate rifle if the need arises for more "firepower".

(D. Stop whining, put up with the 270 and spend the money on more stalking)
Click to expand...


Stop whining. Nothing wrong with the 270, sounds like you just want a new rifle but we all know where you are coming from. When I felt the urge I just took the old PH and had a nice cerakote job done on it. Totally transformed the rifle and bought the grin factor back plus if it shoots well enough well why do you need to do some pocket lining on an itch.
 
long barrel 270 and use it on everything i hate the muzzle blast from short barrels i start to flinch if i am doing a lot of shooting thats my personnel preference
 
I wouldn't swap the .270 for a .243 if you think you might be shooting boar or reds. I'd have a .243 as well as a .270 for fox and small deer but not instead of.
There's nothing wrong with the .270 but its your rifle, you shoot it so its your choice. If you don't like it try a .308 or a .30-06 (personally I wouldn't have a short barrel though). Either will do everything.
 
When I had a 243's I used them for everything including foxing but then sold them some time ago. Among a few I have a 6.5x55 but never used it for foxing but do have a 7mm-08 which I've used for years both for foxing (using a Sierra Varminter 100gr HP) and deer until I got a 223 which is solely a foxing rifle. They both work well killing foxes although the 7mm-08 is better in the wind and has excellent terminal performance.

So how do I answer your question?! Well it would be 'B' but with an amendment. My 7mm-08 used to be a 308 until I had it re-barreled and I make this point because I've found the 7mm flatter for foxing and smoother to shoot than the 308. There is nothing wrong with the 308 but to cover all bases with one rifle the 7mm-08 does it a little better from fox to boar which the 243 can't do at all (legally). The amendment is up to you!

. . . there's also a couple of nice 7mm-08's on Guntrader. A new Sako 85 Laminate and a s/h Remington Riflecraft LSR1.
 
Sell yer .270

Buy a BLASER and get 308. 6.5. And a 222 barrel to go

when the dark cloud descends and thoughts of a new rifle enter the brain box, change calibres and your offskie :rofl:

or or just buy a another barrel every time the need arises. It's the cheeeepest option - honestly

all sorted, there's nuffink wrong in having 6 barrels. :rofl::rofl: 308,6.5,243.222,204 and a 22 and there are still loads more to collect :norty: you'll be hard pushed to fill the cabinet up. :D
 
What about option D/E and tart up the .270? New stock, maybe upgrade the trigger, cerakote it? Turn it into a rifle that does put a smile on your face.
 
Lots of opinions here, thanks. I won't be going down the Blaser route, I'm afraid. I've shot a couple and I like them a lot, they're even sentimental as my first deer was taken with one. But alas the price is beyond me. Maybe one day...

I'm leaning towards getting a 243 and keeping the 270 "for now". If it then doesn't come out of the cabinet for a while then I'll have answered my own question and it won't be worth any less at resale.
 
Sell the .270. Life's too short. It's only the rigamarole of the 1-for-1 that's put you off thus far. Get something you'll enjoy. I'm coming to the same viewpoint with my Boss. Been there, seen it, done it. Shot a day with the Boss, a day with my father's gun. Similar tally on both. And, with both, a couple of woodcock on each day's final drive. Enjoyed the day with my father's gun more because it was his gun.
 
SimpleSimon said:
Lots of opinions here, thanks. I won't be going down the Blaser route, I'm afraid. I've shot a couple and I like them a lot, they're even sentimental as my first deer was taken with one. But alas the price is beyond me. Maybe one day...

I'm leaning towards getting a 243 and keeping the 270 "for now". If it then doesn't come out of the cabinet for a while then I'll have answered my own question and it won't be worth any less at resale.
Click to expand...


There you go, you were just trying to find reassurance for buying another rifle - sounds familiar!
 
I used a Sauer .270 for a fair few years. I just had 2 loads. 130gr for big stuff and longer distances and a 110gr loaded to around 2700fps for .243 like recoil when woodland stalking (using bullets designed for 6.8spc).
 
What's your budget?

Do you reload?

What about the 270 don't you like? I think I remember you saying (if it was you, with a BSA something or other?) that the stock etc was a poor fit?

In any case, what I would do in your situation is to go to as many RFDs as I could and handle as many different rifles that were in my price range and universal UK deer legal/practical (i.e. most stuff above 243 and without the word "magnum" in the title) as I could. When I found the one that felt the best, I would put a deposit on it, and 1-for-1 unless you really luck out and it happens to be a 243.

I definitely would keep the 270 - you might get a stalking invite whilst your FAC is away being varied, and stalking with a rifle you're out of love with is better than not stalking!

The reason I ask about homeloading is that it widens the field if you find a rifle in a less popular calibre (good way sometimes to get a bargain) such as 7x64. It also gives you some options about the 270 - if one of the reasons you don't like it is that it's beating you up when you shoot it, you can play with the load a little to help make it more what you want it to be, and/or develop different loads for different situations/quarry.

Anyway, just my thoughts, you've got a slot on your FAC, and a budget for another rifle - it sounds to me like its time to go shopping!
 
Is it the cartridge or the rifle which is not doing it for you?
Is it a functional synthetic, and you want some nice blue and walnut?
Or is it a full rifle, and you would like something shorter and lighter?

7mm-08 in a Tikka T3 Lite has a lot of flexibility, and is fun to shoot.
7mm-08 in a Winchester M70 Featherweight or Browning BLR will shoot and please your taste for blue steel and walnut.

But a .270 Win has flexibility usually not exploited by many owners.
100-gr, as stated above, loaded mildly to 2,900 fps with H-4895, for fox and varmints.
115-gr FMJ for target practice and 115-gr SPT at 2,800 fps for a .257 Roberts-like deer rifle.
150-gr Hornady at 2,900 FPS for big deer, bear, long shots, matches the .30-06.
 
Call it fate, if you will...
I went for a casual look in a local gun shop today and handled Sakos (nice, but a little too pricey for my conscience to bear) Howa (didn't like it) CZs (nothing against them but not really what I wanted) and a few Tikkas. I wanted to see the Bergara as well but this particular store don't sell them.
Anyway, one of the Tikkas caught my eye immediately. Matte-stainless barrel in a greyish laminate stock, in my eyes a very good looking rifle. The one on the shelf was a 223, but the salesman told me he had a 243 boxed out the back. I loved the smooth action, the weight, the feel of the stock, and the look of it.
We made a deal for some free bases and rings, and I left a deposit on what will hopefully become a very dear friend.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

lead ban, what calibre too chose?
3 4 5
Replies
90
Views
5K
calumb
C
What ammo for scottish reds
Replies
12
Views
1K
wytonpjs
wytonpjs
Short stalking rifle calibre.
3 4 5
Replies
98
Views
5K
Lateral
L
6.5 prc should I get one?
2
Replies
38
Views
3K
Peakeyp628a
Peakeyp628a
Best take down .243 rifle?
2 3
Replies
42
Views
3K
North Cornwall Deer
North Cornwall Deer
The No1 App in Europe for Hunting Area Management - MyHunt
Back
Top