.270 vs 30-06... shoot flatter or hit harder?

[Bert the Turtle]

30-06. Never took a shot at African game where the flatter trajectory would have made any difference whatsoever.

 

[Velo Dog]

Hello LostinTexas_45,

I have owned more than one or two rifles in both calibers.
In N. America I've hunted with both calibers.
I've not used a .270 in Africa but it seems like with 130 grain spitzer, it'd be a very fine springbok getter.
Nonetheless, perhaps about 30 years ago, I realized that, anything I could consistently hit with my .270 / 130 grain bullets, I could also consistently hit with my .30-06 / 150 grain bullets.

The thing I could not do with my .270 was load it with 180 grain, through 220 grain bullets.
I have hunted in Africa with the .30-06 and with same, I enjoyed nothing but perfect success, using 220 grain Hornady round nose @ 2400 fps.

For most of my hunting, I prefer heavy for caliber blunt shaped bullets, with plenty of lead showing.
The .30-06 lends itself well to this.
The .270 generally does not.

PS:
If you had asked for votes between the:

.318 Westley Richards
.338-06
.35 Whelen
9.3x62

Then, I would have had to do some soul searching before making my choice, lol.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Thanks for the advice. However, for the record I already shoot and love my .308win and my 300 win mag. My goal for these topics are more of a caliber think-tank. I like to take two calibers that have overlapping abilities/uses, and see which of the two y'all prefer. Sure I could just google it and look up articles from countless blogs and magazines, but I feel that it is more interesting to hear the responses from hunters such as you guys.

Find an accurate 180gr load for the .300WM with one of the tougher bullet mentioned and you'll be set from smaller animals to Eland.

 

[meigsbucks]

The .270 is about perfect for game up to 400# and adequate for game up to about 800# plus, although declining in adequacy as weight goes up. The .30/06 however, is a solid performer on game up to about 800# and adequate to maybe 1200#.
For the lighter stuff in open country where shots may be longer, a .270 is an awesome choice. But a mixed PG safari means a number of animals in the 400-700# range and shooting ranges that seldom exceed 250-300 yards. Right in the wheelhouse of the '06.
Just an FYI, the .270 is one of my favorite cartridges for game in the US and I seldom use an '06 but I'll be taking an '06 to Namibia this summer as my lighter rifle.

 

[MAdcox]

I am a huge 270 fan and grew up with a father who was biased against -06s(never really knew why- he shot a 300 wm, maybe that was the reason).
So with that bias confessed, I would say- it depends.
I live and hunt mostly in Oklahoma, and I handload. The .270 was my only rifle for quite a while. I did it all with one gun. I have 90 gr varmint loads up to 140 gr Barnes TSX for my 270. It is great for long shots over wheat fields for everything in my state. I have also packed it to New Mexico and Colorado where the 140 gr TSX has killed multiple elk from 150 to 350 yards.
I love the round and would not have hesitated to take it to Africa, except... I decided I needed to own a 300wsm.
I used it in Africa with 165 gr Barnes TSX and have just loaded the 180 gr. A-Frame for my trip to Namibia. I tend to agree with @Philip Glass . Anything the -06 can do the 300 can do better.( understanding some may not agree on the recall, just speaking for myself).
So if I could only have one, probably the -06 for versatility’s sake now that Africa is part of my hunting, but I much prefer my 270/ 300 combo. Of course my 243, 223, and 22mag work well on the varmints now so the 270 is pretty much just a deer/antelope rifle. Just need a 375 or 404 now to round out the arsenal

 

[Bruce]

30-06 for sure. I hunt for trophy AND the meat, so prefer the less meat damage option. For the LOOOONG open plains shots at Thompsons and Grants gazelles ( Tanzania) I used my 300 WIN mag and it performed excellently. Locally, in RSA, in close ,thicker bush type vegetation, the faster bullets cause too much meat damage. I have hunted even Eland with a 270 previously... not at all ideal but it can do the job if shot placed correctly.

 

[flatfoot]

I am a big fan of the .270 .If you know it's limits and work with it no problem.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[larry4831]

I voted for the 270, however, in reality the 30-06 is more versatile. The reason I voted for is because I have one and have killed some game with it. I live here in Alaska, and up here you could hunt grizzly bear with a 30-06. With a premium 200 bullet I think you’d be OK , but personally I think the 270 is too light.

 

[Dr Ray]

Which do you prefer? Cast your vote and comment below why you made your choice.

The 270 shoots flatter,hits harder, and has more energy than the 30/06.
However the 39/06 would be better for African games plain because the bullet weight is heavier and slower but, note, it will penetrate more.
It’s the fact that the Bullets from the 30/06 penetrate deeper that’s the difference. I used 30/06s for years but have used the 270s for forty plus years. I don’t have a 30/06 any more but am on my 4th 270 - Sako synthetic stock topped with a Swarovski 3.5-18.
My 30 caliber is a 300 Winchester magnum. I figure what the 270 cannot take, the 300 will.

 

[Hunting Sailor]

The 270 shoots flatter,hits harder, and has more energy than the 30/06.

How do you make that the 270 has more energy than the .30-06?
Is it when both have 150gr the 270 carries more energy you mean? Or on really long distances, 400m +?

I cannot find any information for the same bullet weight on the sources I have at hand, but for a 150 gr Oryx in 270 and a 165 in .30-06 the .30-06 has more energy up to 400m. It also has more speed than the 270 up to about the same distance. Both shoots about the same trajectory.

The above are all theoretical from the Norma Ballistic App.

Not arguing, but rather trying to gain knowledge and information.
Anything you can share would be appreciated. Thanks

//Gus

 

[johnnyblues]

Sorry neither for Africa. Go to .300 Win Mag or Rem Ultra Mag then there are no problems.

I agree to an extent Phillip. I took black wildebeest and vahl rhebok with my 270 and would have taken my bushbuck with it but circumstances had my 375 in hand. I am not here to defend the 270, but will say I’ve shot several large animals here with 150 grain noslers factory loaded Federal Premium ammo. Including moose and mountain caribou. Both fell in their tracks. Although I do agree a 300 wm or wsm would be the better all around choice. But if a fella is taking his first Safari for medium sized plains game and is watching the budget in my opinion will have no problems with the right bullet.

 

[Dr Ray]

I am a huge 270 fan and grew up with a father who was biased against -06s(never really knew why- he shot a 300 wm, maybe that was the reason).
So with that bias confessed, I would say- it depends.
I live and hunt mostly in Oklahoma, and I handload. The .270 was my only rifle for quite a while. I did it all with one gun. I have 90 gr varmint loads up to 140 gr Barnes TSX for my 270. It is great for long shots over wheat fields for everything in my state. I have also packed it to New Mexico and Colorado where the 140 gr TSX has killed multiple elk from 150 to 350 yards.
I love the round and would not have hesitated to take it to Africa, except... I decided I needed to own a 300wsm.
I used it in Africa with 165 gr Barnes TSX and have just loaded the 180 gr. A-Frame for my trip to Namibia. I tend to agree with @Philip Glass . Anything the -06 can do the 300 can do better.( understanding some may not agree on the recall, just speaking for myself).
So if I could only have one, probably the -06 for versatility’s sake now that Africa is part of my hunting, but I much prefer my 270/ 300 combo. Of course my 243, 223, and 22mag work well on the varmints now so the 270 is pretty much just a deer/antelope rifle. Just need a 375 or 404 now to round out the arsenal

And a 338 Winchester magnum and a 7/08 and 416 Remington magnum and a ...

I’m not a good influence I know l.

 

[tomahawker]

30-06 is King. I won't rehash all the above so I'll argue...just say them out loud. Nothing sounds so good as 30-06.

 

[Goose Cracker]

After my first trip to Africa last year, I'm a firm believer in bigger is better and shoot heavy bullets for caliber. I voted for the 30/06 because of this, although a well placed 150g premium bullet from a 270 Win would probably be fine. I think a 200g premium bullet from a 300 WM is perfect for plains game but only if you shoot it well.

BTW, I don't have a 270 Win or a 30/06. I do own a 270 WSM and two 300 WMs. If I had to do it over again, I'd own a 270 Win over the WSM and one of those 300s would be a 30/06.

 

[Philip Glass]

My reasoning for a bigger gun for Africa stems from my experiences beginning with my first safari in 1997. I was hunting 2X1, I had a 30-06 and my partner had a .270. We spent quite a bit of time chasing his wounded animals and my 30-06 was stretched as I had almost all my shots over 300 yards with a Kudu at 400 yards. Again a few years ago I took a 30-06 or was going to when I had gun issues with my old Remington but my son's Ruger '06 was what we took. The PH allowed me to borrow a .300RUM after we struggled with the '06 on a couple occasions. I just remember climbing a hill in the dark to get my one shot at a mountain zebra just as the sun came up. One chance as they were leaving for the day for neighboring pastures where they knew they were safe. A shot off sticks at 350 yards with the .300 RUM and I had my zebra.
If you are on a well stocked game farm with 100-200 yard shots you can shoot most any gun you are comfortable with and not have problems. When the hunting gets tougher, as Africa has a way of doing to you, then you may wish for a bigger stick. I tell you these stories so you don't find me too critical as that is not my intention.

Regards,
Philip

 

[ve7poi]

I like them both and have both but 30-06 wins for bullet selection as a reloader

 

[gatekeeper]

This feels like groundhog day. Lets discuss something much more elaborate, how about Ford vs Chevy? Or, I know, lets get serious...chocolate vs vanilla!!!! This topic is quite mundane to all but the newest of shooters, who find it fascinating for a while, like most of us did, and then learn that, in reality, there isn't as vast a difference between the two rounds as most people, particularly gun writers, have claimed. Writers need you to buy, and read, their material. To generate interest, they created conflict, exaggerated and embellished their chosen round, inaccurately belittled the other round, and it worked wonderfully for years on this topic, until most shooters caught on.

 

[LostinTexas_45]

This feels like groundhog day. Lets discuss something much more elaborate, how about Ford vs Chevy? Or, I know, lets get serious...chocolate vs vanilla!!!! This topic is quite mundane to all but the newest of shooters, who find it fascinating for a while, like most of us did, and then learn that, in reality, there isn't as vast a difference between the two rounds as most people, particularly gun writers, have claimed. Writers need you to buy, and read, their material. To generate interest, they created conflict, exaggerated and embellished their chosen round, inaccurately belittled the other round, and it worked wonderfully for years on this topic, until most shooters caught on.

alrighty then...
Again as I have already stated, I know and like what I shoot. This isnt a "I dont know which to buy" situation (dont assume any of my similar topics are as such). And I wouldnt go as far as to say that this is merely a topic to entertain the "newest of shooters". If you find yourself too experienced to care about noobie topics such as this, you can find something else to entertain yourself with. I will be posting more caliber vs. caliber topics such as this, and if you find any that satisfy you, feel free to give your two cents then.

Because of the fact that .270 and 30-06 are different rounds they have differences worth discussing. They may be small differences, however, they are still differences that will cause a hunter to choose one over the other. So case and point being, if I post a topic such as 5.56 vs 5.56x45 it is not me being a "new shooter" it is me asking the opinion of you fellow hunters/shooters on which they prefer to shoot (because there ARE differences).

 

[Ray B]

the 30-06 is the Jack-Of-All-Trades cartridges however, the 270 is my choice, not that it is better than the 30-06 as an all-around cartridge, but that it is better for the applications for which I use it (deer,sheep,small elk) If I am after something bigger I'll skip right past the 30-06 and go to a 338.

 

[sandman0921]

It’s funny to me that this debate still rages on till this day, when the amount of print written on this debate could probably fill a small warehouse. I’ve heard tell that O’Connor actually took more sheep with the 30-06 Spg than the 270 Win but I wouldn’t swear by that...

I read an interesting article a little while back in Rifle Shooter magazine where the merits of both were discussed through the eyes of two legends, Elmer Keith and Jack O’Connor with Keith being a heavy-for-caliber kind of guy, and O’Connor being...well 270 Jack....

http://www.rifleshootermag.com/rifles/jack-o’connor-versus-elmer-keith/

Interestingly, each had to privately concede the merits of both (Keith the effectiveness of the 270 Win with heavy bullets of course, and O’Connor the 30-06’s versatility)

Ernest Hemingway, while having many guns, waxed poetic about his Griffin & Howe 30-06 Spg, and it obviously held a very special place in his heart.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/2/24/hemingways-guns/

Robert Ruark loved the 30-06 Spg as well, although one could argue the late and great legend Harry Selby helped him hone his skills with that rifle...

http://sportingclassicsdaily.com/one-hundred-years-of-the-30-06/


Being a gun nut, I love both. I recently had the first center fire rifle I ever received as a 12-year old boy (Remington 700 ADL in 30-06 Spg) completely redone into my light African rifle. Admittedly, it has nothing left of it other than the action, but I kept it chambered in 30-06 Spg and it is a tack-driver with a stiff load of RL 19 behind 180 grain Barnes TTSX bullets. I also have a FN Winchester Model 70 in 270 Winchester that will shoot sub-MOA groups with 130 grain Hornady SSTs, and I would feel completely comfortable taking a 400 yd shot with it at a big whitetail or Muley if the need arose.

With today’s modern bullets, especially the mono-metals, I think both of these cartridges would be completely adequate for most African plains game, assuming one could place their shots where they need to be. However, if I was forced to choose one, I would lean towards the old “ought-six” as my go to rifle, as it allows for heavier bullets at moderate ranges.

Now if I was to choose a rifle cartridge to hunt Alpine animals like sheep, my preference would be the 270 Winchester, or a more modern version like the 270 WSM.

I think the fact that both of these cartridges have been around a long time (30-06 > 100 years, and the 270 Win not far behind) and still sell as well as they do, are a testament to their effectiveness and versatility. The same thing can obviously be said for the venerable 375 H&H Magnum, as far as effectiveness and versatility.

It’s fair to say that these old boys have aged well....