270 or 30-06?

[hunterjoe]

Either would work. But if I were buying a rifle just for deer, it'd be a 25-06. Light on the recoil, but flat and fast as all get out. But if you're limited to those 2 choices, either will work. 30-06 ammo is probably a bit easier to find so maybe lean that route?

[BobT]

Yes, I hear a lot of good comments from owners of 25-06. I've often wondered though if the bullet diameter is starting to get down there a bit. Of course, the .243 has proven itself well too so I guess my question may be a moot point. The next question you already brought up. How available is ammunition for the 25-06 compared to the other two? Seems that the .270 and 30-06 are both more common, by my experience anyway.

[collegepaul]

Wow, I'm looking for my first rifle and I'm trying decide which caliber to get as I'm new to hunting. A .270 and a 30-06 are two that I'm considering as well.

Does a 30-06 have more recoil using a 150 gr. than a .270 using a 150 gr. or is it the same? Also, do you get more recoil as you get into heavier ammo with a 30-06?

Paul

[monstermoose78]

If recoil is what you are worried about in a 30-06. Try a Browning with the Boss on it. It reduces the recoil by about 60% and it is so enjoyable to shoot. The difference between the 270 with a 150 grain bullet and the 30-06 with a 150 grain bullet is a pound more recoil with the 30-06. Also the heavier grain bullet the recoil goes up some. They are so close and I like the 30-06 seeing you can get some many different loads for it. Both will be great deer guns.

I never felt the recoil while hunting. I shoot my dad's and brother's 30-06s at the range and the have a lot more recoil than my Browning with the Boss.

[fr0sty]

I believe you can get managed recoil loads for both 30-06 and .270

[leechlake]

if you want to be "successful" at deer hunting close your eyes and pick the gun. 270 or 30-06 either is great. Get it sighted in, learn the gun, learn the distance you feel confident in shooting it and then spend you're time finding a good area to hunt, picking stands, learning about deer (you mostly learn by hunting). Learn to be patient, most guys who shoot a deer spend a lot of down time in the field waiting for that opportunity. When it presents itself you will have a gun you're confident in and can shoot well and you'll be dragging a deer out in no time.

[JeffB]

My advice is for deer both those rounds are great. Worry more about the gun and scope than the bullet especially if shopping for used guns. Let the gun, scope, and price determine which is better since they are so close to the same. Go through the store pick up a lot of guns see how they fit and feel and look through the optics. Then look at the caliber and think about whether it fits your needs.

[DonBo]

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

Think you're confused. I believe that was a buffalo.

[nofishfisherman]

I believe you can get managed recoil loads for both 30-06 and .270

The Remington Core Lokts are available in a managed recoil load for both 30-06 and .270. I thought that Federal also made a light recoil load but haven't seen them around so I can't confirm. I shoot the managed recoil load in my .270 while I'm at the range and it is VERY comfortable to shoot. You can shoot all day long and never feel a thing.

Last year I shot a 30-06 with 165 grain bullet and then shot the .270 with the managed recoil load and there was no comparison. The recoil was probably 50-75% less. Makes for a very comfortable day at the range.

Also the accuracy of the managed loads didn't suffer at all. If anything it improves accuracy if you are a new shooter because you aren't thinking about the recoil, you can focus more on the fundamentals and less about bracing for the recoil. After 20 rounds I think my furthest off bullseye was maybe 3-4 inches and that was when I started playing around by shooting faster and faster.

If you shoot the Core Lokts they claim that the managed recoil and normal rounds will both be on target without needing to adjust the scope. So in theory you should be able to shoot the managed loads at the range and the normal rounds in the field and not notice an accuracy issues. Although you should probably confirm that at the range first by shooting both rounds to see that one isn't hitting higher or lower than the other.

[MUSKY18]

Wow, I'm looking for my first rifle and I'm trying decide which caliber to get as I'm new to hunting. A .270 and a 30-06 are two that I'm considering as well.

Does a 30-06 have more recoil using a 150 gr. than a .270 using a 150 gr. or is it the same? Also, do you get more recoil as you get into heavier ammo with a 30-06?

Paul

Another thing to consider when thinking about recoil is the stock that you have on your rifle. A composite stock is lighter than a nice wood stock and will have more felt recoil when shooting. My 270 has a composite stock and packs a pretty good punch.

The BOSS systems are nice too. My brother has a 243 with the system on it. Recoil was like shooting a 22, but good lord was that thing LOUD!

[Mr Special]

can you get 2 rifles? one in a 270 and another in 30-06?

that would be the best choice if possible =)

ive owned some Savages in the past and i think they're very good guns for the money.

when it comes to recoil

compared to slugs, i personally think the 30-06/270 are alot less recoil and hardly notice them. even with 220gr

esp if there's a deer in the sights lol

[rockman]

How about that. A caliber choice thread, and not one reply/post, about using a 300 win mag. I'd get both. Oh, yeah, I already did. No choice to make if you get both, except which gun to use when.

[BobT]

Quote:

i personally think the 30-06/270 are alot less recoil and hardly notice them. even with 220gr

esp if there's a deer in the sights lol

This is most certainly true.

[FISHINGURU]

Winchester .356

[Mistermojo]

I went through this a couple of years ago when I bought my rifle, and I ended up going with .308. Looking back, I wish I would have gone with the .270 or .30-06, mainly the '06.

First, you can still get ammo for either of them versus the .308 which gets horded by the AR guys shooting 7.62x51. I went .308 because I thought I'd be able to get cheap surplus target ammo for that reason. Wrong.

Second, the recoil on .308 vs. .270 vs. '06 is pretty negligible. A 150 grain bullet in .270 and '06 has the same recoil energy and recoil velocity. I'd rather have a bigger bullet than a little flatter trajectory. Check out Chuck Hawks' HSOforum for great info on this topic.

Third, I think the '06 is just more common overall and in a pinch you'll be able to find someone to borrow ammo from. Our deer camp is '06 and .30-30. No .270's.

Fourth, I also looked at great but rare deer calibers like 7mm-08 and .25-06 as I did not want to get pounded at the range, as I like to shoot for fun, not just for 2 weekends once a year. The ammo price per box is almost double compared to .30-'06 and .270. I can take a little pounding to save $10-15 per box.

All in all, I would go with the '06 if I had it to do over again. I picked the Thompson Center Venture as it has guaranteed 1MOA accuracy, has a shorter bolt throw than a Weatherby Vanguard or Browning, made in USA, Lifetime warranty, and included scope mounts (not rings.) After I bought mine, Savage came out with the Nikon scoped package for around $500 which I think is a pretty nice rifle as well. If nobody has told you, it's worth spending extra $ on optics, you won't ever say, man I wish I bought the crappy scope.

Good luck on your decision!

[lakevet]

Having a .22 long rifle, a 12 gauge and a 30-06 covers the bases quite well.

Get out into remote areas of Canada and Alaska and you will find ammo for these long before most other types. Other two rifle calibers common are .338 and 375, mainly due to large bears being around. You may never deal with having to find ammo, but the fact that you can readily find 30-06 ammo in those places where a gun is as much a part of everyday life as a cell phone or car is around here says a lot about it.

Lakevet

[collegepaul]

If recoil is what you are worried about in a 30-06. Try a Browning with the Boss on it. It reduces the recoil by about 60% and it is so enjoyable to shoot.

I've never shot a 30-06 or .270 before, so I don't know if recoil is going to be an issue to me. Having something to reduce the recoil, if needed, would be nice.

Are the BOSS systems only for Browning or can they be placed on other brands? Do other brands have something similar?

I'm looking for a versatile rifle that I plan on using in an open field environment while sitting on a stand using a scope as well as being able to walk with through brush and all. The variety of bullets available to the 30-06 seems to make it the better choice.

I'm looking at bolt action 30-06's, now I have to find which bolt action seems to be the easiest/quickest to use. I looked at a Remmington 783 which was nice. Any other suggestions?

[LABS4ME]

Tikka T3 lite. Awesome gun!

Good Luck!

Ken

[monstermoose78]

The Boss is for browning. I believe you can have any good gun smith put a muzzle break on a rifle. I also seen a clamp on muzzle break somewhere.

[Gordie]

Boss is a Browning trade mark, but there are aftermarket ones that can be installed on rifles by a gunsmith,you can also have a gunsmith install a muzzle brake. Lots to choose from.

also there are so many recoil reducing buttpads out now that it can remove as much as 70 percent of the felt recoil. Some are direct fit but most will need a grind to fit by a gunsmith. Another option for recoil reduction is reduced recoil loads for it.

My brother bought a Remington 783 and loves it I shot it and it is a very nice shooting gun and it is very accurate out of the box. It was patterned after the savage style rifles.

also you really can't go wrong with a Savage these days.

Another one to look at is a Weatherby Vanguard made by Howa great gun and I love mine specially since I upgraded the trigger to a Timmney, its like a whole new gun.

[swamptiger]

Quote:

I'm looking at bolt action 30-06's, now I have to find which bolt action seems to be the easiest/quickest to use. I looked at a Remmington 783 which was nice. Any other suggestions?

Check out the new Ruger American. Bought one in .243 last spring, and I haven't found anything I don't like about it. Available in .22-250, .243, .308, 7mm-08, .270, and .30-06.

[Whoaru99]

The Boss is for browning. I believe you can have any good gun smith put a muzzle break on a rifle. I also seen a clamp on muzzle break somewhere.

The negative about muzzle break is that the report is typically much louder from the shooter perspective.

[bassinboy3]

I have always shot a .270 I love it

[NoWiser]

If you are concerned about recoil I'd probably lean towards the .270. There is nothing that you can hunt with a 30-06 that you can't hunt with a .270 just as effectively.

I'd also give the Tikka T3 a gander. I love mine and the thing is flat out accurate. I also really like the looks of the Browning X-Bolt, especially the fact that you can work the bolt without taking the safety off. I personally would never get a gun with a muzzle brake. I'd rather deal with a little extra recoil than go deaf.

[Musky Buck]

Get 1 of each ? I think depends on your age some. I have a 30.06 bolt but someday that may be too much. My dad had a heart attack/quad bypass recently during hunting season and he now realizes his 30.06 bolt days are likely over, that recoil is pretty heavy, he will now go to something else so I'd say depending on your age and if you plan to have the gun forever etc go with a .270 maybe at least it seemed to kick less than a .06 and you could handle it for a few extra years as you get older down the road. I noticed my grandpa's 30.06 eventually collected dust as they went with a softer recoiling deer rifle.