Got my first antlerless tag...

J

jon1985

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Carleton Place, Ontario
Got my first white tail antlerless tag today. Now to settle on a caliber and rifle. Torn between .270 and .308. I am not overly worried about cost of ammo because this will be a hunting rifle so I will shoot enough to be proficient with it, but it will not be a range rifle.

I am hunting in eastern ontario, and the property I am hunting 150yards will be the longest shot.

Thoughts on caliber?
 
I'm not familiar with all of Ontario's hunting regs but is there a caliber restriction where you live? I know in certain parts you're restricted to .275 diameter or less so that may make the decision for you. I prefer .308 but as I'm sure lots of members are going to tell you, both calibers are equally as effective. Recoil is similar and so is cost. .308 is short action so your rifle would be ever so slightly lighter than a long action chambered in .270, but that's about it. If you have the opportunity to try out some rifles chambered in those calibers that may be your best bet.
 
Either of your stated calibres would be good choices and will certainly do the job up to and including 150 yards. It boils down to what you prefer and what rifle you have or want to purchase. Both of these calibres have killed tons of deer over the years. I lean towards the .308 as it was what I grew up with. Cheers. Enjoy your hunt. Bac4
 
I do not have a hunting rifle in either caliber at this point as this will be my first year out. I have a 308 target rifle, but between the long bull barrel and the monster scope on it I wont be taking it into the bush.

I am considering 270 as something different since I already have a 308. Aswell as because it is a slightly flatter flying bullet at the distances I will be hunting.
 
Rodder said:
I'm not familiar with all of Ontario's hunting regs but is there a caliber restriction where you live? I know in certain parts you're restricted to .275 diameter or less so that may make the decision for you. I prefer .308 but as I'm sure lots of members are going to tell you, both calibers are equally as effective. Recoil is similar and so is cost. .308 is short action so your rifle would be ever so slightly lighter than a long action chambered in .270, but that's about it. If you have the opportunity to try out some rifles chambered in those calibers that may be your best bet.
Click to expand...

Presumably the WMU is also not a shotgun/black powder only area too. There is that to contend with in addition to caliber size.
Both are more than adequate to do the job at that range. If there is the possibility that you would want to hunt SW Ontario, .270.
 
270 , best of the both worlds, wait it's Gun Nutz Forum.:nest:

Read your regulation summary again and depending on you WMU,
it could be shotgun or bows only. So if rifle is allowed, 270 all the way.

we have another vote for 270 , oh yeah !
 
I believe I am hunting in the same area roughly...64Aish? I have been successful the last two years with a .270. Bought a Ruger American in .270 on the advice of a friend who has been hunting for 45 years (caliber advice), specifically for deer and moose. Wanted an affordable, yet accurate rifle that I don't mind walking through the bush with. Savage Axis II or a Weatherby would be great choices too. I reload for my .270, but my rifle did equally well with commercial ammo.
 
I'm going to be different, I'm also in that region but I like to still hunt in the bush and often end up needing to shoot off hand.
Hence I like to practice with my gun+scope+stance, not just zeroing with the final load.
308 allows you to get affordable non-corrosive bulk ammo (surplus can) and practice shooting positional, then zero with the final hunting load just before hunting season.
 
norlandgeese said:
I'm going to be different, I'm also in that region but I like to still hunt in the bush and often end up needing to shoot off hand.
Hence I like to practice with my gun+scope+stance, not just zeroing with the final load.
308 allows you to get affordable non-corrosive bulk ammo (surplus can) and practice shooting positional, then zero with the final hunting load just before hunting season.
Click to expand...

The only reason I would go with my .308 versus the .270, is if I was hunting in the bush. All of my places to hunt are open fields and old orchards.
 
Right, I also realize the OP said he doesn't care about cost of ammo. But I am just offering a rationale / hunting scenario where one might need to practice more than one thinks.
 
Congratulations on the antlerless lottery. I was not successful. My friend got one, so we can party hunt does on his license.
 
The average hunter is too cheap to put more than a couple of boxes if that through their rifle annually.At 150 yards max just about any run of the mill caliber will do if you can shoot.Harold
 
I enjoy target shooting and load development if I decide to load for whatever I buy. I also hate the thought of shooting at an animal and not being 100% sure of my ability to make a clean kill. Ideally I would like to put several hundred rounds through the rifle before heading to the field.

I am not opposed to 30-30.

We lucked out this year. 3 guys out in for 3 different areas, all pulled does. So we can hunt in all 3 zones.
 
If you're looking at several hundred rounds, it would make my case about 308 :)

I reloaded too but only in "action sport" calibre which I used to shoot in higher volume. Now I have no time.
I am considering selling my Dillon 650 setup to recoup some money, later might just get a single stage for tinkering.
 
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