270 vs 30-06

Oh,

I thought we were talking about the diameter of the hole, not the energy delivered by a heavier slug.

Care to address the diameter part? Compare a 150 grain .270 to a 150 grain .30-06 to keep bullet weight constant.

In that situation the 30-06 would deliver more energy closer. The greater surface area of the bullet allows for greater transfer of the energy to the animal. If the bullet is narrower and, say, escapes the body of the animal, that energy is wasted beyond the animal. The greater surface area (20%) slows the bullet down in the animal more by transferring its energy to the animal.

Additionally, it will create a slightly larger wound channel which may nick a vital organ which could have otherwise been missed.

That said, the 270 bullet may have a better balistic co-efficient at the same weight but quality bullets generally eliminate that.

The flip side is that the 270's lesser surface area will allow it to travel further and flatter while losing less energy to wind resistance. Beyond 250 yards, it will deliver more energy to the animal simply because there is more energy left with the bullet.
 
If you know you may have to shoot more than 350 yards this is were a 270 with a good bullet of 130 gr SST, Nosler will shine, a 270 130 gr at 400 yards is a deadly combo, myself have shot many mooses accross ( read 400-450 metres ) the lake with that combo and i never lost one... JP.
 
In that situation the 30-06 would deliver more energy closer. The greater surface area of the bullet allows for greater transfer of the energy to the animal. If the bullet is narrower and, say, escapes the body of the animal, that energy is wasted beyond the animal. The greater surface area (20%) slows the bullet down in the animal more by transferring its energy to the animal.

Additionally, it will create a slightly larger wound channel which may nick a vital organ which could have otherwise been missed.

That said, the 270 bullet may have a better ballistic co-efficient at the same weight but quality bullets generally eliminate that.

The flip side is that the 270's lesser surface area will allow it to travel further and flatter while losing less energy to wind resistance. Beyond 250 yards, it will deliver more energy to the animal simply because there is more energy left with the bullet.

First people say the .30-06 hits harder because of sectional density, but when I hold bullet weights constant all of a sudden SD disadvantages the .270. :confused:

Keep the bullet construction the same eg. 150 grain Nosler partition.
Keep the range the same eg. 150 yards.
Keep both bullets in the boiler room.

Now what's the difference? One's got slightly more diameter, one's got better SD. So which hits harder?

If you know you may have to shoot more than 350 yards this is were a 270 with a good bullet of 130 gr SST, Nosler will shine, a 270 130 gr at 400 yards is a deadly combo, myself have shot many mooses accross ( read 400-450 metres ) the lake with that combo and i never lost one... JP.

That's interesting. How do you think the bullet would perform at 75 yards? Could it be an all-round loading?
 
First people say the .30-06 hits harder because of sectional density, but when I hold bullet weights constant all of a sudden SD disadvantages the .270. :confused:

Keep the bullet construction the same eg. 150 grain Nosler partition.
Keep the range the same eg. 150 yards.
Keep both bullets in the boiler room.

Now what's the difference? One's got slightly more diameter, one's got better SD. So which hits harder?



That's interesting. How do you think the bullet would perform at 75 yards? Could it be an all-round loading?

The 30-06 150gr. has more muzzle velocity and less SD - More chances for poor penetration in short range shots . The 270 150 gr. leaves the barrel a little slower and has better sd...better chances on a closer shot and should hold its own better at long ranges in the wind......

Of course that comparison completely favors the 270 and handicaps the 30-06....must compare bullets with equal SD.

Im going to throw another variable in the mix lets load a 175 gr. 277 VLD with a .7828 BC....now we are talking :)

With Heavier bullets I favor the 30-06 as Woods Cartridge and Ill take the 270 every time for open country work.

Back to the OP: You and your buddy can both argue until you're blue in the face...once constant remains...whatever you point both rifles at should expire fairly quickly.
 
The 30-06 150gr. has more muzzle velocity and less SD - More chances for poor penetration in short range shots . The 270 150 gr. leaves the barrel a little slower and has better sd...better chances on a closer shot and should hold its own better at long ranges in the wind......

Of course that comparison completely favors the 270 and handicaps the 30-06....must compare bullets with equal SD.

Im going to throw another variable in the mix lets load a 175 gr. 277 VLD with a .7828 BC....now we are talking :)

With Heavier bullets I favor the 30-06 as Woods Cartridge and Ill take the 270 every time for open country work.

Back to the OP: You and your buddy can both argue until you're blue in the face...once constant remains...whatever you point both rifles at should expire fairly quickly.

Seems pretty sensible. What is the B.C. of a 150 grain .270? Would be interesting to have a table of B.C. for various calibers and bullet weights. I know someone who swears by 6.5 mm as the perfect caliber for ballistic performance in a rifle of reasonable weight and size.
 
Just tell him that you're a much better shot than he is, so really it doesn't matter what calibre he is shooting, you will always be more accurate. That should end the argument
 
The only time I'd purposefully reach for one of the other is if I was hunting something that fights back. Black bear don't take a whole lot of killing but they can be unpredictable if wounded, so I carry a .30-06 with 220's when shooting over baits. Otherwise I could care less which one I'm carrying, just flip a coin in the morning or bring both, one for backup just in case.
 
Certainly haven't read all the replies here, but might as well add my opinion.
If two equal rifles were laying on the table, I would take home the one that was closest to me and easiest to pick up.
There is no difference in inherent accuracy between the two.
Most 270 bullets break up too easily to be good for big game.
For big game I would load just one bullet for all hunting and even long range competetive shooting in the 270. That would be the 150 grain Nosler partition. There may be better so called "premium," bullets, it is just that I have never used them. The 270 Nosler is excellent for big game, plus close to ideal as a long range cartridge for handling windy conditions in the mountains.
In factory loadings and in the reloading books, the 270 is loaded to higher pressures than is the 30-06. The only reason for this is because the 30-06 has been around for over 100 years and every country that ever manufactured sporting rifles have probably made them in 30-06, plus they have been made in every type action ever designed. SAAMI considers there may be some weaker actions out there, someplace, so they keep the pressures down in the 30-06.
Thus, with a modern, made since WW1, 30-06 bolt action rifle in good condition, there will be many reloaders who will load it up to equal the pressures designed for the 270. So loaded, with a good 180 grain bullet such as a Nosler partition, it will be great all around hunting cartridge. It won't be quite as flat shooting as will the 270, with 150 grain Nosler, but it may break bones in big animals a bit better. I doubt if it will kill them any deader!
 
Six of one and a half dozen of the other. I had never owned a 30-06 until I inherited my Dads model 4000 Husqvarna light weight.

30-06Husqvarna.jpg


In addition and thinking back over the years, I've never owned a 270 either. I thought, as I've still got quite a few years of shooting and hunting ahead of me, but before those days come to an end, I should correct that caliber defeciency. To that end, I picked up a model 3000 Husqvarna in 270 from Why not? on this site. ;).

Husqvarnamodel3000270Win.jpg


"It doesn't rain but it pours" I believe the expression goes. As luck would have it, I was looking to purchase a rifle with full length wood and one came up that belonged to a friend and former work mate, a Sako in 270 which I purchased from Grizz on site.

SakomodelAIII270Win.jpg
 
I shudder to chime in on this topic, but...

Both work. Period. Full stop.

BUT....if I had to pick one, I'll take the 270 everytime. A 140 gr 270 will hit with almost the same energy as a 140 gr 308 bullet. The difference is the 270 has a better BC.

It's splitting hairs, but my hands were tied. :p
 
Try finding a 180gr bullet for a 270. Surprised to see even mention of a 175 since all I could find for a 270 is 150gr. My 30-06 is loaded fairly warm wit 180gr Accubonds and thats all it eats. My 308 spits 150 or 165. Thought about a 270 a while back but I think I am covered.
 
Try finding a 180gr bullet for a 270. Surprised to see even mention of a 175 since all I could find for a 270 is 150gr. My 30-06 is loaded fairly warm wit 180gr Accubonds and thats all it eats. My 308 spits 150 or 165. Thought about a 270 a while back but I think I am covered.

If you're really lucky might find barnes orginals in 180gr. maybes next to hen's teeth but 160gr. Partitions should be no trick to find and there is also No problem getting the 175's from Matrix in BC
 
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