270 or 30-06?

[Outdoorsman 95]

Looking to get a rifle due to the fact I moved hunting locations and am now hunting in the rifle zone. Was just wondering what people think is a better deer gun and for what reasons? Anything will help thanks

[Scott K]

I prefer a .308, but I also use a 30-06, and a .243

[WalleyMN17]

Both are devastating to a deer. Both shoot fairly flat out to 300. I shoot a .270 WSM and love it. Friend shoots a .30-06 and loves it. Can't go wrong as long as you practice! Best deer gun i've ever owned was a savage .260. Can't believe i let that gun go......

[nofishfisherman]

If you are comparing just the .270 and .30-06 there isn't much of a difference when deer hunting. Both seem to kill deer equally well and both are only as good as the shooter.

You could probably close your eyes and just pick one or the other and be perfectly happy with your choice.

Bigger decision is which brand/model rifle are you going to get.

What part of the rifle zone did you move into? One other thought is that if you've been hunting with slugs you could continue to do so and not suffer much disadvantage depending on your location. The area I hunt in the rifle zone is pretty heavily wooded with limited visibility. Longest shot I might take is maybe 50-75 yards max. Most shots would be under 50 yards. Don't really need a rifle to reach out and hit those distances with confidence.

[NoWiser]

I wouldn't say one is a better deer gun than the other. Both will work exceptionally well. If you ever thought about heading west for antelope or mulies I would probably lean towards the .270, but the 06 would work perfectly fine for that, too.

If you hunt in a group, I'd probably lean towards what most of your hunting party uses.

I personally use a 270 WSM and love it, since I switched to copper bullets.

Good luck! Gun shopping is fun!

[bigbucks]

I have a 30-06. I've shot an antelope & 2 muleys in my 3 combined tries. I've not felt I needed something different. I've hunted with friends, as well as my Dad & brother who have .270's. Like someone else said the gun's never been the problem, they're as good as the shooter.

[Outdoorsman 95]

I moved into zone 259. I have been hunting with slugs my whole life I use Remington 870 express with a rifled slug barrel and scope have killed deer upwards of 150 yards multiple times. A couple of the spots I would sit wouldn't be more then a 50 yard shot also but for the other stands I could sit in would be upwards of 300 yards. I was thinking about the savage 30-06?

[LightningBG]

Savage makes a nice affordable rifle.

Probably worth the extra $$$ to get one with an Accutrigger.

Either caliber will do for you. Personally I lean towards the 30-06, but that's just because that's what was presented to me many years ago.

Once you do get something, try out a variety of ammo. Mine certainly likes certain brands over others. (it's not a savage though, it's s remy)

[MUSKY18]

Basically the same gun, being a .270 is a necked down 30-06.

The .270 will be a faster shooting rifle, being just a bit flatter shooting. I shoot a Winchester Model 70 chambered in .270, and with my Hornady bullets I am hitting about 3060fps at the muzzle. 30-06 will be around 2800-2900fps, so not a real noticeable difference.

The biggest difference between the two, and I think the reason a lot more people go with the 06 is the ability to load up and down compared to the .270. You are limited to either 130, 140 or 150 grain bullets with the 270, where with the 06, you can load from a 140 grain all the way up to 200 grain bullets. Nice to have that available to you as well. If you are in some pretty thick cover, a heavier grain bullet would be better to shoot. In the open you can shoot a lighter grain bullet. I hunt in 259 as well, and have never had an issue with my .270. Everyone in our party either shoots a 270, 308 or 30-06.

[nofishfisherman]

I moved into zone 259. I have been hunting with slugs my whole life I use Remington 870 express with a rifled slug barrel and scope have killed deer upwards of 150 yards multiple times. A couple of the spots I would sit wouldn't be more then a 50 yard shot also but for the other stands I could sit in would be upwards of 300 yards. I was thinking about the savage 30-06?

I should have gone back and edited my last post and removed the part about being able to use a shotgun and not needing to go buy a new rifle. What was I thinking, I almost started to sound like my wife for a minute. Who cares if a shotgun will still work? You get to go buy a new rifle, such events shouldn't be bogged down with practicality. Enjoy the shopping trip.

By the way I also hunt zone 259. My area is mix of hard woods, small swamps, ponds/small lakes, and clear cuts. I tend to tuck myself away in the dense wooded areas but there are a lot of clear cuts in my area I could hunt over that would give me 200-300 yards of visibility. Problem is they are magnets for other hunters. Instead I look for funnels between some of the lakes and ponds back in the woods which tend to lead to very short distance shots.

A Savage in .30-06 is a fine choice. I shoot a .270 Savage Axis. Its an inexpensive rifle that is well suited for bushwhacking through the dense stuff without worrying about dings and scratches. Shoots tight groups and leaves plenty of money left for ammo.

[Outdoorsman 95]

My area is pretty much the same. I have a wide variety to hunt, and our land is land locked county land so I don't really have to worry about other hunter. I enjoy hunting over a area where you can see more though

[Gordie]

Both rounds are great, but I prefer the 30-06 due to the wide variety it offers. You have more choices of bullet selection any other rifle on the market.

BTW Musky you can load22 cal saboted bullets from 52 grains to a 95 grain bullet in 30 cal to 200 grain bullet. Like I said wider variety f bullets is why I chose 06 over the .270.

[Scott K]

If you are trying to reach out to 300+ yards, there would be better options then a .270, and a 30-06

[BobT]

I shoot an .06 and love it. I too was deciding between these two calibers and chose the first good offer I found. As already mentioned the .06 has more to offer in bullet choice but if you're only planning on deer hunting either will be good choices. A nice advantage with the .270 is lighter recoil.

[bigbucks]

Unless they've discontinued them, you actually used to be able to get 220 grain bullets for the 30.06. You know in case you're thinking of shooting an elephant or something...

[nofishfisherman]

Unless they've discontinued them, you actually used to be able to get 220 grain bullets for the 30.06. You know in case you're thinking of shooting an elephant or something...

That could be fun, when is the elephant season in Minnesota? I was thinking one would look really nice on my wall, or maybe I'll opt for the full body mount. Both would look killer in my man cave.

[fr0sty]

The dnr has done a terrible job of managing the elephant population in MN. I haven't see a one in all my years of hunting them, and I'm in an intensive harvest elephant zone.

Being strictly a trophy hunting and exclusively a meat hunter, I'm going to Iowa to shoot my elephants.

That could be fun, when is the elephant season in Minnesota? I was thinking one would look really nice on my wall, or maybe I'll opt for the full body mount. Both would look killer in my man cave.

[nofishfisherman]

That could be fun, when is the elephant season in Minnesota? I was thinking one would look really nice on my wall, or maybe I'll opt for the full body mount. Both would look killer in my man cave.

[bigbucks]

You guys crack me up. I know the elephant population is way down here in the LP area as well. I haven't seen one in years...

[eyeguy 54]

saw one at Cabelas

[MNice]

saw one at Cabelas

I think it was dead.....

[BobT]

Unless they've discontinued them, you actually used to be able to get 220 grain bullets for the 30.06. You know in case you're thinking of shooting an elephant or something...

I've also seen them in 55gr. and currently have a box of 125gr. varmint loads.

[corncob]

I saw one sitting on a bar stool the other nite!

[paceman]

I saw one sitting on a bar stool the other nite!

Must have been a pretty sturdy bar stool!

[MUSKY18]

You guys crack me up. I know the elephant population is way down here in the LP area as well. I haven't seen one in years...

You are right there Mr Gustafson! I was out sitting the other night, heard some really load crashing in the brush. Got the gun ready, all excited to take my first elephant, but much to my dismay it was a giraffe and 3 water buffalo. I aint got tags for them.