.270 vs .308 vs .30-06

[Okie1297]

My main deer Rifle is a .243 ruger American youth but I outgrew it. This year I’m taking my cousins .270 Remington 700. Next year god willing I want to save up enough money to give my dad so he can buy me a new rifle. My main 3 choices are a ruger American a Mossberg patriot or a browning ab3. They’re all between $350-$500 at most online at my local stores. If I go crazy I could save up for a Ruger Hawkeye like what my dad and uncle use in 7 mm rem mag. Either way all 3 of my main choices are available in .270 .308 and .30-06. I love all 3 calibers and wouldn’t mind a rifle in any. Right now I’m leaning toward .308 since it is normally everywhere and a nice round. I know all 3 are great deer rounds. With the current situation I might just continue using my cousins 270 since we have ammo for it. Which would you get if you were me.

[Scorpion8]

Which would you get if you were me.

The eternal question..... well, as a fan of the .30-06, it has been used to take every species of North American big game and lotsa small game. It is truly versatile. I also have 2 .308's, and they are everything that is .30-06 except the length. Gotta love a Remington Model 7 in .308, a great woods carbine. But the .30-06 handles heavier bullets better, if you ever have need of a 220-gr stopper. What can anyone say about Jack O'Conner's .270 Winchester? Flat shooting, great all-around cartridge for the game that 99% of us will ever hunt. If you like the .270 when you use it this year, then let that help you. All three rounds will perform almost identically, only the recoil may be slightly different.

This is the eternal Ford-vs-Chevy debate (except Ford wins in my book) but find the best rifle that you like, that fits your size/stature and LOP properly, and you can't go wrong if that rifle happens to be in any of those calibers. Don't get caught up in any ".30-06-is-dead!" or passe' discussions, they're all very effective on whitetail and black bear.

[Okie1297]

Thanks for the advice. Honestly I’ll buy save my money and co tubule to use my cousin 270 since I proberlu won’t ever get to go deer hunting next year except the weekend trip after thanksgiving. I like all 3 and I really want to to build an AR10 one day so I thought if I git a .308 I’d have ammo for the AR so there’s that. I also agree ford wins.

[Scorpion8]

And don't forget the used gun racks at your LGS's. Lots of very good condition used guns for sale and some great finds can be had.

[Okie1297]

My dads friend who does a lot of mechanic work on his emu with him is one of this when does a little guy smiting on the side and is always selling and trading guns. This time last year he had a .308 and at the time I wasn’t interested in it. Now I wish I was. Live and learn I suppose. Honestly I’m leaning toward buying one from him since I know he won’t rip me off and he’ll give me a good deal.

[Scorpion8]

This time last year he had a .308 and at the time I wasn’t interested in it. Now I wish I was.

Guns are like partners, wives or friends.... there's always another one. I usually only regret the rifles that I've sold, not the ones that I never had. I don't know the country that you hunt or plan to hunt but don't discount a nice levergun either. .30-30 has taken more American game and is the quintessential whitetail round for woods and brush.

[Okie1297]

I mostly hunt Missouri and Oklahoma. I’ve considered a
.30-30 And it’s also in my list. I also at ti join the marines or army and depending on where I’m stationed I wouldn’t mind hunting on or off post. I know for sure one day I’ll have a couple ruger m77 7 mags.

[Scorpion8]

I know for sure one day I’ll have a couple ruger m77 7 mags.

Excellent rifle, and I've got one. Another 1-gun solution to anything in North American almost, but very much overkill for typical whitetails or pronghorns. Marines or Army? Can't go wrong with either.

[Okie1297]

My dad has a ruger 7 mag and he bought my uncle one and why my family works whoever bought you a gun you give them when you pass. So I’ll probably get both. As far as overkill on white tail I can’t tell. As far as army vs marines. I want marines but with the marines downsizing I don’t know if it’ll be worth it and the army’s going soft so I dint like that. I’ll see I guess.

[Scorpion8]

If you want Marines, find out what their critical rating needs are and aim for that. They'll always have a need right now for certain specialties so align yourself with that goal and make it happen!