30-06 vs 7 Rem Mag vs 270

[Mule3006Elk]

270 or 30-06. Pick your pill for each and run the ballistics. Whichever deflects the wind the best would be my choice.

 

[Tmac]

I have a 280AI and it will stone kill a deer at the ranges you are describing. For whitetail deer, it is extra recoil with no real gain in killing power. Don't do it!

A 270 is a great compromise on plenty of power with without punishing recoil. They have been killing deer for over 100 years and will probably still be doing it in 2126.

Check the barrel twists on both. Decent chance the 280AI will have a faster twist and give you more bullet weight options. But you will have more recoil with the AI and heavier bullets.

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

Inside 400 yards? Whitetail deer only? You aren't really going to get any more 'authority' than your 6.5 Creed, IMHO. I've shot deer with 308's and 7x57's and 30-06's and 270 WSM's, and even 303 British'es (lots and lots of deer with yee old 303 Brit actually), and seen the shot with things as small as a 243.

None of them have any more authority than the others, with the sole exception being, if you can get impact velocity WAY up there, I have on a few of occasions seen a deer drop in its tracks that I didn't think was hit close enough to the CNS to do that. I've also seen different deer hit with the same make/model bullets from the same gun that ran hard for 100 yards with what, as far as I can tell, was near identical shot placement. And by velocity WAY up there, those were close range hits with 270 WSM (130 accubond, +/- 3350 FPS impact velocity), or in one case a close range hit with a 30-06 (150 Accubond, 3000 ish FPS impact velocity).

Anything shot in the CNS (brain/spine/etc) will drop in its tracks. Anything shot through center-mass of the chest cavity where the heart/lungs/aorta is will die in a few seconds in most cases. A lot can happen (or not happen) in a few seconds.

Wait a minute.. What am I saying... you want a new rifle, and here I am talking about things that would impeed that... by all means, get a new rifle! If I was buying, a 7mm-08 or the like is my flavor of choice, but not really any more horsepower than your 6.5 Creed. If you really do want more horsepower, 7Mag or 7 PRC would be my vote, as good high BC 7mm bullets will still be moving pretty fast, even out at 400 yards.

 

[Castle Rock]

I ticked the 270 before I read the post in detail
After that I would recommend a 22/250 or 243

 

[z987k]

6.5 prc "replaced" my .270. I love em both but there is a reason why i went with it for my new rifle.

Compare the recoil and ballistics on the eld-x with the prc vs the 280.

Theyre ballistically identical out to 500+. Recoil is identical. You just get 1 less in the magazine with a 6.5prc.

 

[coyotekilla]

I too hunt open ground in the east. My shots range from 150 to 700. I carry anything from a 223 to a 6.5 prc. Usually a 243, the prc only comes out for the long range stuff. 400 and in is 243, 6.5 grendel, 6.5 creed area. Deer don't require mags. Honestly, id get a 1:8 barreled 25-06 or 25prc. Fast, flat, and lethal on deer.

 

[user2026]

You are unhappy with the terminal performance of a 6.5 creed on whitetails? I can assure you, the problem is not your cartridge!

Not that I'm unhappy, but I want a new rifle anyway, and want something with a little more punch

 

[PaPete90]

Is those caliber are your options then this 270 would be my choice. As per Brownings website this is the only fast twist 270 they list. Atleast it would give you different options if more than whitetail come up.


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[PaPete90]

Why do we need fast twist barrels for a 400yrd shot?

Sigh….I said options Sir, just options


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[Castle Rock]

Why do we need fast twist barrels for a 400yrd shot?

Because there is no downside, and the higher rotational speed increases expansion and lethality.

 

[jeffpg]

Honestly, for what you are doing it really just does not matter... choose whatever cartridge you like the most.
Bullet placement is far more important than cartridge selection in this case, as it is in most every other.

I killed the 300 plus pound mule deer in my avatar with a Hornady 165 SST factory load launched from a .30-06 from a distance of 250 yards back in 2005. He was in full rut but never took another step after the shot.

 

[LightFoot]

Of the 3, .270 Win.
Browning does offer 280AI, which would be a great choice.
6.8 Western may be worth considering.


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[Grumpystilskin]

I’m a 243/25-06 guy, however for your conditions, the .270 Win is the hands down best choice.
Cheap, available ammo. Flat shooting. Mild recoil. Plenty of horsepower for any size WT/MD animals.
Good luck, and have fun! Tom

 

[Dave Thomas]

280ai because it's pretty much the same as 7 saum and I really like mine. But almost any cartridge will do what you're looking for. Pick the one that interest you the most and go kill stuff.

 

[kcm2]

All would fit your requirements well. For lightest recoil, put an aftermarket pad on your rifle, i.e. Decelerator or Limbsaver for two examples. With any, an Accubond would work well. I've used the Hornady Superformance 270/130/CX bullets from antelope to elk.

Seriously, all three would be great for what you want. Premium bullets don't cost that much more and they work well on everything. Best of luck.

 

[user2026]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I think I will go with the 270, now just to decide which xbolt model...

 

[SDHNTR]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I think I will go with the 270, now just to decide which xbolt model...

There is zero ROI with a .270 over a 6.5 creed

 

[Ope]

What bullets were you using in your 6.5 that left you wanting more punch?

I want to have some authority when I shoot a deer,

 

[270-300]

Jack oconnor said 270 is the best for deer because it has the flat trajectory with tons of power. He said 30 06 is more versatile because it can take 220 grain bullets for african game, and 180 are the best for elk and moose. 7mm was not very popular when he was writing so he doesnt say much about it.

Jack oconnor talks a lot about point blank sight ins. With 270 in 130 grain spitzers, he says to sight so that 275 yards is dead on. That makes 200 3" high and 350 2" low. He says this eliminates hold overs or scope adjustments while being lethal on any big game. Remember those days were long before range finders, so they also called flat shooting cartridges easy to shoot or accurate because being off on range estimate was of less consequence than say 45 70.

If it was me id go 270. Ive killed deer and elk with 130 grain bullets no problem. Less recoil and flatter shooting than 30 06. 7mm rem mag is too much rifle for what your doing. Atleast 2 lbs heavier, atleast 2" longer barrel, and about 4x the recoil. Dont forget 270 is $25 a box vs 60-90 for the 7mm.

I dont mean to sound disrespectful but if you cant get under 100 yard shots on a dairy farm your doing something wrong. I shot an antelope at 55 on open flats last september. Ive only made 2 shots over 200 yards in the last 10 years. I only hunt Wyoming and I shot almost 300 lbs of meat this last fall.

 

[270-300]

I too hunt open ground in the east. My shots range from 150 to 700. I carry anything from a 223 to a 6.5 prc. Usually a 243, the prc only comes out for the long range stuff. 400 and in is 243, 6.5 grendel, 6.5 creed area. Deer don't require mags. Honestly, id get a 1:8 barreled 25-06 or 25prc. Fast, flat, and lethal on deer.

Id pay good money to watch you shoot deer on a windy day at 700 yards with any of the calibers you suggested.