Want Opinions on .270s
- Thread starter AlpineFox
- Start date
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The .270 Winchester is a wonderful general purpose cartridge, and one which I could live with happily if it were not for the .30/06. But I would drop this notion of purchasing an entry level rifle. Your .270 must be equally capable to the .270 owned by the man with a stable full of guns. Your rifle should not be chosen based on price alone. If purchased by price alone the results will prove unsatisfactory; you will be disappointed with the product and disillusioned with your ability to use it. It is better to purchase used quality than it is to purchase a new junk. Especially stay away from the rifle/scope combination deals which often combine a low priced rifle with a cheap scope and crummy rings which are doomed to failure if used in any sort of demanding environment. Certainly we must all live within our budgets, and when starting out those budgets are almost always smaller than our desires. That does not however preclude us from attaining a quality rifle, if we search out a used one. If you demand a .270 that will of course limit your options, and while it is important to get what captures your imagination I would sooner you purchase the best quality rifle you could afford in any chambering, provided it is chambered for what we have come to recognize as a moderate cartridge. I would not go smaller than 6.5 nor bigger than .30/06, but within those parameters is a huge selection of rifles.
As stated in previous posts Tradex is a wonderful source of quality used rifles available over a wide price range. My experience with them is as with others here, is that you can take their description of a rifle's condition to the bank and expect to be treated fairly and honestly. You can't ask for much more.
Decide what your budget will allow and go shopping for your rifle. The rifle should be the focus of your attention, not the sights, or slings, a gun case or loading equipment. Get the rifle first. Once its in your hands you can purchase accessories and upgrades as you can afford them. Perhaps you can't afford a good scope and rings, so instead upgrade the factory irons to a good peep sight and post and shoot with those until you can afford decent glass. Cheap scopes are never worth the cost, and the cost of a cheap scope and mounts will almost certainly cover the cost of a good combination of peep sight and post, or would go a long way towards getting you into handloading; which I consider essential for anyone who is serious about shooting. Handloading is neither dangerous or complicated once the basics are understood, but that is for another discussion.
As stated in previous posts Tradex is a wonderful source of quality used rifles available over a wide price range. My experience with them is as with others here, is that you can take their description of a rifle's condition to the bank and expect to be treated fairly and honestly. You can't ask for much more.
Decide what your budget will allow and go shopping for your rifle. The rifle should be the focus of your attention, not the sights, or slings, a gun case or loading equipment. Get the rifle first. Once its in your hands you can purchase accessories and upgrades as you can afford them. Perhaps you can't afford a good scope and rings, so instead upgrade the factory irons to a good peep sight and post and shoot with those until you can afford decent glass. Cheap scopes are never worth the cost, and the cost of a cheap scope and mounts will almost certainly cover the cost of a good combination of peep sight and post, or would go a long way towards getting you into handloading; which I consider essential for anyone who is serious about shooting. Handloading is neither dangerous or complicated once the basics are understood, but that is for another discussion.
270s are boring. Why not get an exciting caliber like the 308?
I have both. The .308 isn't any more exciting than .270. In fact, I prefer the .270 but maybe it's because my .270 is a much better gun.
Thanks for the info Boomer. I have decided that I want used. I primarily want a .270, but if a good deal comes along on a .30-06 I would consider.
I was told by a friend who knows ALOT about guns that a good rule of thumb is to spend on the scope what you did on the gun.
he also said hand loading is cheaper, and the versatility of your gun goes way up.
I was told by a friend who knows ALOT about guns that a good rule of thumb is to spend on the scope what you did on the gun.
he also said hand loading is cheaper, and the versatility of your gun goes way up.
Stay away from the Rem 770. Futhermore, avoid the Mossberg ATR line as well. Savage is a much better rifle over the 770 rifles by far.
I would go with the Savage 114 and if I had to, a Stevens 200 if money is an issue.
This is purely my opinion.
Look for a good Winchester model 70 new or used. I shoot a Remington 700 SPS DM in .270 and after switching triggers to a Timney and bedding the action she's a tack driver with 130gr bullets. Recoil is near non-existent.
My only change would be for a TC Venture in same cal.
The Remington 770 is a restyled, renamed, and not significantly improved budget priced novice bait model 710. This was Remington's answer to Savage's model 11 and 111 based package rifles that work at least as well as Remington's flagship model 700 while costing significantly less. And it wasn't a good answer. Although you will find people who are quite happy with their 710s and 770s, you'll also find too many people who report defects to justify buying either of those. For the money, a Stevens 200, Savage Edge, or Savage 11/111 package will be better value. The Marlin XS/XL is also a better buy than the 710/770, and the Mossberg ATR100, despite some teething troubles, probably is, too.
Buy a Marlin XL7 in 270. Mount a used 3200 3x9 off the EE. Shoot it. Take pics of the teeny groups it shoots and then brag about it on CGN. That's what we all did.
It's THE best deal out there for an entry level rifle. You won't be dissapointed.
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It's THE best deal out there for an entry level rifle. You won't be dissapointed.
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