.243 or .270 win?

bc-crawler3 said:
Looking into a sub 30 rifle for hunting. Anyone have some insight between a 243 and a 270? will be used for deer mostly. I live on the north coast so odd trip over to Haida Gwaii and inland as well. I already have a 30.06 and a 300 wm. Any thoughts appreciated!
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You state deer mostly, I believe the logical question that most posters are overlooking is, what else will it be used for?
I must admit that the .30-06 and .300 Win Mag make a lot of the .270's positive attributes moot other than softer recoil and the .243 trumps it there resoundingly while being very lethal to deer with proper bullet selection placed well. If you are looking for deer and larger game with less recoil than the .30-06 offers I'd look to the .270 or my favorite the 7mm08 and feel inclined to mention that the 6.5 Creedmoor is also a readily available option that appeals much more than a .308 to me. A .270 Winchester propelling a tough controlled expansion bullet would serve well for 85% of NA hunting with less recoil than the .30-06 or .300 Win Mag.
If you're going to be pursuing deer and varmints a .243 offers great performance and very little recoil, while bullet selection is much more important if you're pursuing game larger than the average deer.
 
243
Almost no recoil and very flat shooting. I tended to stick with the heaviest well made bullet when I used mine for deer.

Check out the Hornady Superformance ammo in 58 grn if you feel the need to blow up some varmints.
 
My first and only new rifle purchase was a Remington Model 700 243 in 1976.

I shot numerous deer and black bears with it, but then I lost a shot and wounded bear and bought a Mosin Nagant for bear hunting.

243 is great for blacktail deer (I lived on Vancouver Island and another small island) and mulies too, but if you may go black bear hunting as well, get the 270.
 
I hunt The Charlottes every year, pretty much any legal centerfire will work over there.
The deer are small, they aren’t flighty and normally they’re harvested at close range.
I’ve stayed with the ‘06 and used a 6.5x55 for several trips; both extremely capable in almost any hunt in Canada.
My partner has successfully used his 223 Mini14 numerous times.
I had a 6.5cm but never hunted with it; however on the bench I never saw any difference worth debating over several other 6.5’s...
So I sold it.
IF I was contemplating another 6.5 for hunting (and I’m not) I would be considering one of the Magnum chamberings (264WM, 26 Nossler, 6.5-300 Weatherby). Pros aren’t worth the cons for me but they do offer some benefits...

Of the two you posted for the purpose you stated the 243 is the clear choice in my opinion.
Short action, low recoil 6mm with the right bullet (non varmint) will do the job easily.
270 is just to close to the ‘06 in size, weight, recoil and ballistics (given the game and ranges).
 
Hi living on Vancouver Island. I hunt mostly with the 270 win, But have hunted lots with the 243 win also. Killed my biggest buck with the 243 win. I use a 100 grn Nosler Partition or Rem Core lock. You already have a 30-06 so go with the 243 win. Shot placement is the most important. Got rid of my 243win 10 yrs ago, But I bought another last year and shot a nice 2pt Blacktail with it. Ammo easy to find.
 
I like the 243, have been using it for a couple years now, still have yet to take a deer with it but I am sure it will with no issue.
If you are looking for a nostalgic cartridge, the 6.5-55 or the way I went the 257 Roberts it's a great deer cartridge.

David
 
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