7mm-08 to 270 WSM - worth the extra recoil/muzzle blast?

B

buckchaser

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
23   0   0
Location
Ottawa
I am considering a new "mountain rifle" and the 270 WSM has become a very popular round for that niche. The opportunity to hunt in Western Canada is a real possibility in the next couple of years. Target species would be deer / elk with the possibility of sheep should I suddenly (and unexpectedly) become fabulously wealthy ....

I have a lightweight "mountain" 7mm-08 I currently use as a backcountry rifle for hunting the Eastern Ontario "big woods" and the Adirondack mountains in New York state, where 100 meters would be a long shot. Would the additional range/flat trajectory of the 270 WSM worth the additional recoil & muzzle blast for Western mountain hunting applications - assuming the use of premium bullets, etc. in both calibers? I couldn't see myself shooting over 400 meters under any circumstances in a hunting situation - I simply don't have the opportunity to practice at that range enough to be proficient.
 
Given your stated max range and the game I would stick with the 7.08 (which I use for moose) - she will do all you ask and at least out to 300 yards, while it packs a little less punch then the 270 WSM, it shoots "nearly" as flat.

And if you are going to go the cost of 270 WSM ammo, which isn't cheap, particularly in premium stuff, there are harder hitting, flatter options - 270 Wby, 26 or 28 Nosler if you want to stay away from the 30 cal magnums...
 
Why not both? I have the 270wsm for long range mountain hunting and I shoot my daughters 7mm-08 (don't tell her I like shooting her pink gun) for closer stuff in a short rifle.
 
Little Seven and a Big Sister Seven? same projies an your Flavour of 7 WSM or 7 RM?

otherwise as a 7mm08 Shooter, I like you're thinking for the applications but I personally didn't like the WSM I used albeit it a 300wsm, maybe the 270 version would be that bit tamer... I was more accurate with my 270 Winchester at 300m than I were with the WSM..

My 7mm08 has a 2-7x33 scope an so I am not confident past 350m on Sambar (elk/bigdeer) and slightly closer for normal Deer (fallow/white/mule) class.

if it were setup, I could see it killing Sambar at 400m with an Accubond/Woodleigh/TTSX combo.... jus sayin :)

WL
 
I've got both, a Tikka 7-08 that I got for my youngest daughter and a .270 WSM in a Kimber Montana.
I've often said that I believe that the 7-08 is likely the most gun for the least recoil you can get, but realistically that is the only advantage it has over the 270 WSM. How important that is up to you, but when it comes right down to it the WSM doesn't have much kick either. Mine is so light that it pretends to but the reality is it does kick any more than a 30-06. To hear the 30-06 users talk, everyone can shoot one of those.

My 270 WSM effortlessly cranks out a 130 Ballistictip or Accubond at 3400 fps with 67 grains of 7828. That gives my STWs and .257 and 270 Weatherby a run for their money on trajectory. All of them will allow center body holds from zero to 400 or so, and with the ranges you mention holdover might turn into never. The 08 sure won't, it's not even close to being in that league.

Suppose you aren't in the MPBR camp and prefer subtention reticles. With the common B&C reticle as an example the 7/08 will fit in with a 200 yard zero and reach 500 with the infinity pin. The WSM is a 300 zero and 650 at the post. You may not need or want 650, but the 300 yard zero ups the odds of not needing the reticle at all.
 
chuck nelson said:
Effortlessly? :)
Click to expand...

Yep. Hodgdons lists 67 grains for 3200 and Nosler lists 65.5 for 3385. Mine takes 67 for 3400,right in the realm of possibilty. No pressure signs, and I've been using the same 50 cases since I got the gun. They are still hanging right in there. By any rational standard I have no reason to thing I'm pushing it hard.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom