That 0.027 difference

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a0jc

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I'm caught in a riff between .243 and .270. I'm looking for all around calibre that is easily found (Walmart easy), easy to reload (stuff is around), cheap to reload (bullets/brass reasonably priced), and ranges out to at least 500m for some paperwork. By all around I mean a decent Varmint and Deer+ rifle round. I've considered the .223 and the .308/.30-06 but they seem to be in the extremes of my spectrum of use. The .308 being overpowered for some varmint and the .223 underpowered for larger game. I know I can do different loads for them, but I'd prefer if I can find what I wanted in factory just in case if I'm not around reloading equipment for whatever reason. These two rounds seem to fit the bill, but I'd like to hear those who have experience in the use of these two rounds, and if you had to choose one, which one? I'm leaning on .270 because bigger can have it's advantages.

"Why?" you ask. Because I'm planning to get a scout like rifle that I can just pick up for any situation that I may need it at and to stream line my ammunition and reloading equipment. Currently, less is more for me. I have experience in .22LR, 7.62x39mm, .303, .308, .410 & 12g.

Of course, I could be completely wrong with my research and if I am, please guide me in the right direction and not be a ass about it, thanks.
 
A .223 does not share the versatility of the .308 or the .30/06. If you intend to have a scout rifle built true to the concept, the .308 or 7-08 are the go to options. Anything less becomes a problem on some species of big game, and anything more is unnecessarily powerful for 90% of the things you want your rifle to do. Either cartridge when loaded with light weight spitzer bullets would be fine for pest shooting, but unlike the .223, when loaded with heavy for caliber bullets, they are also suitable for any big game anywhere. But the point of the scout rifle is not to shoot varmints as well as a heavy barrel varmint rifle, or take elephants with the aplomb of a .577 double rifle. These are specialty situations, and while the scout rifle when loaded with an appropriate bullet could handle either job in an emergency, the .577 wouldn't make much of a varmint gun, and the .223 wouldn't make much of an elephant gun. And there lies the charm of the scout rifle; a go to rifle that will handle any situation that can be resolved by the sole individual with the talent to quickly bring accurate, powerful fire onto a target from a distance.

The scout concept can be addressed in one of two ways. The affordable solution is with an off the shelf rifle, modified to meet the scout rifle definition. Such a rifle might include the Savage Scout, the Ruger Frontier, the Styer Scout, or any number of other bolt action carbine type rifles that are commonly available. Another option is to have a scout built on an existing military rifle like a Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine, or the carbine version of the Russian 7.62X54R Mosin Nagant service rifle, but it is unlikely that you would get these rifles down to the 3 Kilo weight.

The optimum solution is to have a rifle built by a talented gunsmith who understands your vision, and can include things that help make your rifle special. Things like: a high quality synthetic stock, a ghost ring that folds down into a scope base, a cartridge trap or magazine well in the rifle butt, a stripper notch in the rear of the action, a disappearing bipod, a custom light contour barrel, and or any other number of things that make your rifle more versatile and user friendly for you, not for anyone else.
 
There is no rifle/cartridge combo that's really good at both varminting and big game hunting.

What is your primary use going to be? Let that be the deciding factor and go from there. If your varminting consists of some coyotes, a 270 will work fine. If you plan to shoot a lot of small varmints like ground squirrels (where you an easily shoot 200 rounds per day) then you need a dedicated rifle for it.
 
For the types of shooting/hunting you describe, the choice between the two calibers has to be the 270. You can handload it down to varmint or up to moose. And if you are going to be a one-rifle guy, you sure should take up handloading.

Hugh
 
It would depend on the varmints that you were planning to shoot. If you are hunting coyotes/big game I would recommend the .270 It is enough gun to do both jobs. If you are talking about shooting gophers/prairie dogs/small game as your primary then get a .243. You haven't really indicated what your primary action is going to be so it is difficult to say what is a better calibre. I personally like the .308 Win but if you don't want it then there isn't much to say about it.
 
What about one of the 26 cal 6.5x55 or 260 maybe not so common on the shelf but you can still get it anywere and a very sensable cal its like owning a Diesel you dont wait till the tank is empty then look for fuel
 
if it's only coyotes and deer then either or will do the trick.
I prefer the .270 which is why I have an SBII in .270 that goes in the yard truck with me.
Single shot accuracy and no worries about beauty marks ;)
 
the 30-06 has those 55gr loads from remmington, and the sabots are available for reloading. which could work in ought6 or .308

in think its just a 55gr .22 cal. but clocks close to 4000fps
 
Calum said:
There is always the 7mm-08.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7mm-08_Remington
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Ugh, why did you just do that! :p

Boomer said:
The scout concept can be addressed in one of two ways. The affordable solution is with an off the shelf rifle, modified to meet the scout rifle definition. Such a rifle might include the Savage Scout, the Ruger Frontier, the Styer Scout, or any number of other bolt action carbine type rifles that are commonly available. Another option is to have a scout built on an existing military rifle like a Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine, or the carbine version of the Russian 7.62X54R Mosin Nagant service rifle, but it is unlikely that you would get these rifles down to the 3 Kilo weight.
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Yea, I looked into these options. I'll probably have to follow you're latter opinion. I'm asking peoples opinion on which calibre in their experience is more capable for my intentions. I'm not looking for true to specs scout because if I was, I'd run with the .308 a long time ago. Even then, I'd probably not end up following original specs of a scout :rolleyes:
I'd probably go for a shorty Norc M14 in a scout setup. Heavier, yes, but the ability of a quick follow up shot would be extremely useful when hunting bigger game, multiple varmints or in a self defense situation if I ever were to find myself in one.

jethunter said:
If you plan to shoot a lot of small varmints like ground squirrels (where you an easily shoot 200 rounds per day) then you need a dedicated rifle for it.
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For squirrel size varmints, I use my .22LR so I have that base covered and one of the reasons I tossed .223 out of the race. So it'd be yote size varmint to deer or possibly larger.

Glock4ever said:
You haven't really indicated what your primary action is going to be so it is difficult to say what is a better calibre. I personally like the .308 Win but if you don't want it then there isn't much to say about it.
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I'm thinking bolt action but I'm always a keener for semi's. Not a fan of lever or pump rifles. I'm just not cowboy enough for them :p
The thing about the .243 and the .270 that also caught my interest is that they are based off the .308 cartridge so I thought, that if this is true, I could use .308 brass for these calibres.
 
I know this isn't the question, but, you have almost answered your own question. What is right in between the two calibers you have suggested? 25/06 rem. Load it up for bigger stuff, and rip out some 75 grainers for the small stuff.(sorry to confuse things)
 
If you are looking for a something capable of taking big game with ubiquitous factory ammo (i.e. sold by Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, etc.), there are four realistic choices:

-.243
-.270
-.308
-.30-06

If you plan on hunting anything larger than deer on a regular basis, cross the .243 off the list. Any of the remaining three would work just fine given appropriate bullet selection for the intended game.
 
.270
i get 3600 fps with sierra 90gr. and 2900 with hornady 140's
just put ten 90's into an inch and a half at 100, good enough for me, but still trying to improve.
 
270 isn't based off of the .308 it is based off of the 30-06. If you want a 6.5mm options you need to look at something else. If you want to stick to short action go with a .308 you can upload and download that particular caliber and it has the most factory loads available of any caliber.
 
Glock4ever said:
270 isn't based off of the .308 it is based off of the 30-06. If you want a 6.5mm options you need to look at something else. If you want to stick to short action go with a .308 you can upload and download that particular caliber and it has the most factory loads available of any caliber.
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Since .270 is based off .30-06, would it be long action then? I do prefer short action bolts.

I might lean on the 7mm-08 (08 must mean .308 so short action, right? or is this fail logic?) if this is the case. I believe my local walmart and CT stocks this. Seems ubiquitous enough.
 
I tend to lean towards the .270Win for your purposes. But do yourself a favor and forget the WallyWorld ammo angle. Instead, pick up a reloading starter kit and you'll be set for whatever ammo you require.
 
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