270 winchester vs 30-06 springfield

A full magazine emptied from a 338 into a sow grizzly did not save two poor souls along the Sikanni Chief river while elk hunting many years back. I would prefer 375 or bigger myself. His hunting partner was carrying a 30-06, they started shooting from a fair distance away and she still got them both. The empty brass are nailed into a tree with a plaque as a memorial.

I was stalked for over half a mile once in 1998 not too far from Christina Falls, BC. I was carrying a 308 M77 MkII and felt like I was holding a Red Ryder BB Gun when the biggest bear I have ever seen followed me back to my partner. He was as close as 25 yards at times, but as time went by I kept losing sight of him. He must have lost interest after a while, but it was the most nerve wracking afternoon I have ever spent in the bush.
 
Cleftwynd said:
A full magazine emptied from a 338 into a sow grizzly did not save two poor souls along the Sikanni Chief river while elk hunting many years back. I would prefer 375 or bigger myself. His hunting partner was carrying a 30-06, they started shooting from a fair distance away and she still got them both. The empty brass are nailed into a tree with a plaque as a memorial.

I was stalked for over half a mile once in 1998 not too far from Christina Falls, BC. I was carrying a 308 M77 MkII and felt like I was holding a Red Ryder BB Gun when the biggest bear I have ever seen followed me back to my partner. He was as close as 25 yards at times, but as time went by I kept losing sight of him. He must have lost interest after a while, but it was the most nerve wracking afternoon I have ever spent in the bush.
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The problem those boys had was shot placement, there was nothing wrong with their cartridge choice, and its tough to find a .338 game bullet that doesn't work on game under 1000 pounds. The tendency these days is to load .375s with lighter rather than heavier bullets, and a.338/250 is bound to have better terminal performance than a .375/250, despite the higher velocity of the latter. You can't break a committed bear attack with a chest shot; small bore, medium bore, big bore, it matters not. Once the lungs are shredded and the heart explodes, the critter still has a minute or so to get you. Remember Cactus Jack, found frozen in the snow with the rifle that killed the bear that killed him? Although fictional, he sort of gets the point across. Defensive shooting starts at about 30', on a big animal that can get up to 30 mph, and that doesn't allow for much reaction time. Because you don't have much time, the tendency is to shoot, shoot anywhere, but without the self control to place your shot surgically, you're chances of stopping it decrease exponentially. The entire premise of defensive game shooting is to break something that will stop its forward progression, a shoulder, a hip, the spine, or the cranial vault. If he can't touch you, he can't hurt you, at which point you have time to gather your wits and make a killing shot. When I'm doing protection work, I tend to carry a .375 or a .458, but when hiking alone I'm just as happy with a heavy loaded .30/06, or a 12 ga if I'm close to town.

Was that the last bear defense post of the year?
 
philthygeezer said:
Why not?
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When my south paw son was in need of a rifle after moving here last year, I looked around for a .30/06, but instead found an as new Ruger Hawkeye in .270 Winchester for a very fair price. I loaded up some 180 gr Woodleighs only to discover they wouldn't stabilize, but no matter, a 160 Partition or a 150 TSX will perform admirably. The .270 worked for grizzly expert Hosea Sarber, and with today's premium bullets, the .270 is even better than it was in the early 20th Century.
 
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While I haven't read every post in this discussion has anyone asked the OP if there are restrictions on rifle caliber size in the areas he is looking to hunt in? I bought a .270 because I can use it for Coyotes in Southern Ontario and go up north and try for moose. If he was looking for versatility then maybe that would be better to look at versus the exhaustive .270 vs 30-06 debate (I will eventually get a 30-06). Just a thought :)
 
270 vs 30-06?? WOW - is it 1970 again?? That brings back some memories - I had a flashback to a skinny 12 yr old reading Outdoor Life Magazine. I didn't realize anyone actually gaf about the 30-06 or 270 any more. Cool.

Jack O'Connor preferred the 270 but he said the 30-06 was a better all round cartridge. Jack was a smart man and a gifted writer but gun writers tend to exagerate everything because controversy sells. There really isn't enough difference to fuel a debate.

If you can shoot reasonably well, either cartridge will do fine for deer to moose.
If you don't shoot well neither cartridge will turn a bad shot into a one-shot kill.
Ammo is readily available for both - everywhere that sells ammo sells 270 and 30-06, at least in western Canada.
If you can't decide - then go with the '06. But there is no right or wrong choice.
 
jethunter said:
270 vs 30-06?? WOW - is it 1970 again?? That brings back some memories - I had a flashback to a skinny 12 yr old reading Outdoor Life Magazine. I didn't realize anyone actually gaf about the 30-06 or 270 any more. Cool.
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When I was a skinny 12 year old it was 1955 and this debate was on-going in Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, Field & Stream and True (who the he** remembers "True"?) Magazines and in every hunt camp in the country. It will never end! I am highly entertained! Keep her rollin' boys.:stirthepot2:
 
jethunter said:
270 vs 30-06?? WOW - is it 1970 again?? That brings back some memories - I had a flashback to a skinny 12 yr old reading Outdoor Life Magazine. I didn't realize anyone actually gaf about the 30-06 or 270 any more. Cool.

Jack O'Connor preferred the 270 but he said the 30-06 was a better all round cartridge. Jack was a smart man and a gifted writer but gun writers tend to exagerate everything because controversy sells. There really isn't enough difference to fuel a debate.

If you can shoot reasonably well, either cartridge will do fine for deer to moose.
If you don't shoot well neither cartridge will turn a bad shot into a one-shot kill.
Ammo is readily available for both - everywhere that sells ammo sells 270 and 30-06, at least in western Canada.
If you can't decide - then go with the '06. But there is no right or wrong choice.
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:agree: I have both but like the .270 better because it's flatter shooting. 30-06 as others have said, has way more bullet weights available.
 
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I have 2 of each. I love both the 30-06 and the .270. When it comes right down to it both are suitable for the same kind of animals. Basically right up to Moose. The same can be said for anything else in the 30-06 class.
 
Take my 270 once in a while, like the caliber, for my 30 caliber needs nothing beat one of my 308... Cheers. JP.
 
Cleftwynd said:
A full magazine emptied from a 338 into a sow grizzly did not save two poor souls along the Sikanni Chief river while elk hunting many years back. I would prefer 375 or bigger myself. His hunting partner was carrying a 30-06, they started shooting from a fair distance away and she still got them both. The empty brass are nailed into a tree with a plaque as a memorial.

I was stalked for over half a mile once in 1998 not too far from Christina Falls, BC. I was carrying a 308 M77 MkII and felt like I was holding a Red Ryder BB Gun when the biggest bear I have ever seen followed me back to my partner. He was as close as 25 yards at times, but as time went by I kept losing sight of him. He must have lost interest after a while, but it was the most nerve wracking afternoon I have ever spent in the bush.
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I hope some of the folks that appear on here from time to time read your post! I'm talking about the ones that say one has a much greater chance of winning the big lotto or being struck by lightning than seeing or being bothered by a bear in the woods! The hair on the back of my neck is still standing after reading your post! I go in the forest a lot and never never ever am I unarmed!
 
two-dogs said:
I hope some of the folks that appear on here from time to time read your post! I'm talking about the ones that say one has a much greater chance of winning the big lotto or being struck by lightning than seeing or being bothered by a bear in the woods! The hair on the back of my neck is still standing after reading your post! I go in the forest a lot and never never ever am I unarmed!
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The thought of a Big Bear rolling down on you really is chilling.

I have the hair on my neck up as well two-dogs but for a slightly different reason.....

I've been sick with a bug and fell back asleep this morning while my wife made me breakfast. The dream....as always for me was terrible one, short and terrible.

I was standing at dawn on a snow covered road with a partner who was glassing to my right with his rifle slung on his right shoulder, I'm guessing we were Moose Hunting. I noticed at the last moment, a large Black object to my front, his left, very,very close and unnoticed. I realized it was a Black Bear, and in the dream as big as a grizzly and ready to charge. I told him cover his ears this was going in front of his face, as I proceeded to try and chamber a round in a Model 700 .300WinMag, I don't own either can't imagine why I had one but anyhow,......I didn't stroke far enough back to strip a round in the mag. My wife calling for breakfast woke me as he neared within 5 feet to strike. I still get sick the feeling was so real.
Why did I dream this? Was it because I've always defended push feeds and was being warned of my future doom trusting in this type.........I'll never know but again a Big Bear charge must require absolute discipline as boomer said to get the stopping shot and from my dream I didn't cut it!!
 
Cleftwynd said:
A full magazine emptied from a 338 into a sow grizzly did not save two poor souls along the Sikanni Chief river while elk hunting many years back..................I was stalked for over half a mile once in 1998 not too far from Christina Falls, BC.
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My brother had a very similar experience while hunting alone near Lumby, BC years ago. That experience spooked him pretty good. He later traded in his .270 Win for a .375 H&H. He has since paired back to a 30/06. Some people forget or don't realize BC bears can be nasty creatures with major attitude! Hell, even our mule deer are coming into town with a chip on their shoulders, lol!
 
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