Which all around rifle caliber?

I found a dealer who is discounting his limited stock of new in box Remington 700 BDL Custom Deluxe rifles and has these left: 270, 30-06, 7mag, and 300mag. I have a perfectly fine 308 and really don't need another, but...for $500. I could find room in the safe....lol. My uses would be wild pig, whitetail (usually 200yds or less, mule deer (probably out to 300yds), and a long anticipated Idaho elk hunt. I'm leaning towards the 270 or 06, but is it mandatory to go with the 7mag or 300 for elk? Fire away all you rifle guys.

 

In my view a 30.06 is the best all-around cartridge ever produced, but you're close enough with the .308. I'd get either of the heavier rounds, especially for elk.

Buz

 

They will all do the job. Bullet placement is the key!!!Check out the price of ammo for each cal. mentioned it might lead you to your answer! Good Luck. PJ

 

I'd get the .270 and use your .308 when you get to go on the elk hunt.

Jim

 

Jim, you said you have a 308, it is basically the same as the 06. You do have more bullet choices with the 06 though. You should go with one of the magnums for Elk and long range deer shots...Dave

 

The stodgy, old, 30/06 is the Gold Standard. With a 165 gr Boat Tail, it is good to 300+ yards. It can also do good things on big critters with the 220 gr bullet, which will put down about anything!

Figure out your game, get or load the right ammo, take your rifle to the range, and know what it will do at various ranges.

Bullet placement is the key, not brute power.

 

Use your 308, it is about as good as anything he has and use the $500 to buy a new trap gun, you can get half a BT or a start on something good. If you gotta have one, then get the 300 as everything else is just a "little" better than the 308 (not the 270).

 

id get the 7mm or the 300

 

Buy all 4 and be done with it.

 

I just bought a .280.... That may do the trick...

LWL

 

The 308 you already have is good enough for most of the hunting you are asking about but for elk I would want more range.The 270 may give you slightly more range than the 308 but it is limited by bullet weight at 150 grs.The 30-06 is a 308 with more velocity and therefore more range and with the Hornady Light Magnum loadings it can approach 300 mag velocities.If I were in your position I would choose one of the magnums.If you are recoil sensitive I would pick the 7mm loaded with 175gr Nosler Partitions or similar.If you are not recoil sensitive than I would choose the 300 loaded with 180gr Nosler Partitions or similar.I would take a range finder to ensure distance to animal.And above anything else DON'T shoot over.Good Luck!

 

All of the calibers you mentioned are suitable--Just use the right bullet.

Trap-4

 

I would vote for the 30.06 only because of the different loads you can get for it, like Ikey Starks says Moose to Mouse and everything in between ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

I know of a .308 (brother's) that has a number of one shot kills in deer, elk, bear, and pigs and on one trip it put down 4 of 5 deer on a Colorado guided hunt.

 

I have a 7mm mag its great for anything you wont be sorry if you get that one.

 

You can lightin up on the mag calibers with reloading and have full house loads also if you want .

 

Id go with the .270 as you already have an Elk gun in the .308, with that you dont need the 30-06. Fair deals, seen new ones for a bit less, so I'd pass and use the money for other things I could use.
I use a 30-06 for all game, my pal uses a .270 for all his hunting. We both have made countless 1 shot Elk/deer/bear/pig/antelope kills with our calibers.

 

One of my distributors just came back from a Kodiak Bear hunt. He killed a 1,200 lb. little one with one shot from a .338. Darn bear just stiffened up and didn't move. Even the guide wasn't sure he killed it as the bear never twitched. Was that a great all around gun or what!!

 

Put the money on some quality glass for the 308. I would rather have a cheaper rifle with an expensive scope.

 

Given your choices, I still say the Ought Six. There is enough difference in them to warrant having them both, they are both military calibers with cheap brass still available, and they are both fabulous shooting cartridges.

The 30/06 will push a 165 gr bullet as fast as the 308 can push a 150 gr bullet. It will push a 190 gr pill as fast as the 308 can push a 175 grainer.

With bullets over 165 gr, the 30/06 starts to dominate the 308, and by the time you get over 180 gr, it is the 30/06 all the way.

As frugal as I am in most things, I have identical Game rifles in 308 and 30/06. One is a backup for the other. Same gun, Scope, Sling, trigger pull.

The 308 is more accurate with bullets under 178 gr. The 30/06 is more accurate with bullets over 180 gr.

I went through a Magnum phase years ago. The difference is not worth the extra drama and expense at the ranges you mentioned. Increased expense, bore fouling, and recoil, reduced bore life and less enjoyment to shoot.