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.270 vs. 308

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LRSMike View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LRSMike Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: .270 vs. 308
    Posted: November/03/2011 at 12:18
I know that there a lot of variations with ammo for the 308, but what round is superior in ballistics?




Edited by LRSMike - November/03/2011 at 12:26
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2011 at 12:37
factory or hand loaded?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LRSMike Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2011 at 15:34
Hand-loaded I'll be fully up in business in January with everything I need. I'll probably buy a box of Barnes to start of with, then hopefully get into hand-loads.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2011 at 15:41
The 30 cal has a better bullet selection. 

So if you are doing a lot of target shooting go with the .308.  If it is just for hunting and plinking it won't matter much.

My pick would be the .308 for the bullet selection and the fact it is a short action.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LRSMike Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2011 at 15:44
Is that against all three variations of a 270? I know there is a weatherby, a wsm, and a winchester for the .270 caliber.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2011 at 15:48
The match bullet selection just is not there with the 27 caliber.  So IMO it is not in the same league as the .308 for target shooting in any form.  The 26, 28 and 30 cals just have a better selection in that regard. 

There are a few selections, but they are more light weight bullets and just won't work as well for long range target shooting. 

But again for hunting the .270 is a great round.  Typical deer and even elk the .270 does the job well.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote trigger29 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2011 at 16:42
If you are looking into all variations of a .277 round, I'd say the WSM is a pretty fair bet. While it doesn't have the punch of the .270 Wby, it comes at a lower cost, retains a short action, and pushing a 150 gr. Berger VLD with a .531 b.c. at 3150 fps, in my opinion, it'll put the hurt on any .308 load out there. The standard .270 Win. has fewer advantages, but it's still a great round, and one I'd probably take over a .308, but I'm kinda partial to the .277 calibers to begin with.
 
I would like to own a .270 wby pushing a 150 Berger at 3200 plus though.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LRSMike Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2011 at 18:00
So for targeting and general hunting, without bias, the 308 is better? 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rustic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2011 at 20:44
Reasons for .308 -
- short action -
- get ammo anywhere -
- cheap -
- selection -
- light weight -
- low recoil -
- accurate -
- proven -
- not an barrel burner -
 
The .270 is a great cartridge no doubt but, I think the .308 has more going for it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jjrgr21 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2011 at 21:16
i've got both and like 308 better, cheaper to load and easier to find factory
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/03/2011 at 22:14
There are better bullets ballistically speaking for chamberings in 7mm or .284 but as mentioned there are lots of reasons to go with a .308. One bullet I really like now for target shooting is the mag-length seatable Berger 175 gr. OTM. I have nothing against Barnes but they have never suited my requirements of having high BC bullets. I use 165 gr. Nosler Accubonds for hunting.
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote trigger29 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2011 at 07:24
I still say no. The .308 is a great round. No doubt about that, but its not the end-all-be-all that it's made out to be. It is a very accurate round, that's easy to tune, and load for, but it's not the greatest long range cartrige ever made like so many think. My thinking is that the military uses it, so it MUST be the greatest......Like the Rem. 700.
 
Here is what I get for ballistics on 3 different cartriges.
.308- 175gr. Berger VLD 2750 fps muzzle velocity
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (MOA)
0 -1.6 *** 0.0 *** 2750.0 2.463 2938.1 0.000 0.0 ***
100 1.8 1.7 0.7 0.6 2566.4 2.299 2558.9 0.113 19.9 19.0
200 -0.0 -0.0 2.8 1.3 2390.1 2.141 2219.4 0.234 41.2 19.7
300 -7.9 -2.5 6.5 2.1 2220.7 1.989 1916.0 0.364 64.1 20.4
400 -22.9 -5.5 12.0 2.9 2058.2 1.844 1645.9 0.505 88.8 21.2
500 -46.1 -8.8 19.5 3.7 1902.9 1.704 1406.8 0.656 115.5 22.1
600 -79.0 -12.6 29.2 4.6 1755.4 1.572 1197.1 0.820 144.4 23.0
700 -123.1 -16.8 41.3 5.6 1616.5 1.448 1015.2 0.999 175.7 24.0
800 -180.6 -21.6 56.2 6.7 1487.6 1.332 859.8 1.192 209.8 25.0
900 -253.8 -26.9 74.0 7.9 1370.2 1.227 729.4 1.402 246.8 26.2
1000 -345.5 -33.0 94.9 9.1 1266.0 1.134 622.7 1.630 286.9 27.4
 
.270 WSM- 150 gr. Berger VLD 3150 fps muzzle velocity
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mac

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lumberjack149 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2011 at 09:18
My 2 cents.
I dont think anybody is going to flame away on you, nor disagree with the information you presented. To answer the original question, i think everybody will agree that the .270 has superior ballistics to a .308 at all ranges when handloaded. Youre comparing apples and oranges. I think what most people where pointing out is the .308 should also get the job done with greater selection, easier on your check book and on your shoulder.
If he was going to buy one box of ammo a year to go elk hunting then it doesnt matter, go ahead and get the .270 for the extra umphff, otherwise my vote goes for the .308... or get both, problem solved.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2011 at 09:32
The most "popular" and common .308 rounds are not optimal for best performance of 30 cal.  A 180gr bullet is "middle of the road" for 30 cal.  Build me a high BC 220-250gr round for 30 cal and I can destroy "performance" of the 270.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LRSMike Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2011 at 10:16
I'm not worried about the shoulder, it handles my .300 win just fine. What I'm not looking for is a huge amount of money spent for ammunition for reloading, since above said rifle is expensive enough as it (factory) for what my gun likes. I know there shouldn't be a huge difference in recoil between the two, but I could be wrong.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2011 at 10:22
Originally posted by Kickboxer Kickboxer wrote:

The most "popular" and common .308 rounds are not optimal for best performance of 30 cal.  A 180gr bullet is "middle of the road" for 30 cal.  Build me a high BC 220-250gr round for 30 cal and I can destroy "performance" of the 270.  
270 is an abomination.  All 270 materiel should be melted down and converted to something useful...

230gr berger.
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dyelynn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2011 at 10:34
imho you're looking at it wrong.  you should be comparing the .308 to a 30.06, rather than the .270.  and if you're looking at the magnum variations of the 270, you need to compare them to the magnum 30s... like the 300wsm, 300win, 300wby, ect.  not to mention the 270wsm and the 7mm rem mag are pretty damn close in ballistics, but you'll find 7mm ammo much easier.

if you're handloading, as you said you may be in the near future, either one would be just fine.

however, the 308/7.62x51, or a 5.56/223 is one rifle everyone should own... for ease of ammo acquisition once the zombie invasion  happens.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2011 at 10:42
IMO, the problem with any of the magnums like the 270 WSM and Weatherby is the larger amounts of powder.  They just burn things up quicker.  3200 fps sounds great, but that speed comes at a cost. 

With a good quality barrel you can easily get 6000+ plus rounds out of a .308.  They say barrels like Gary Schniders you can get 10,000+ and they are still accurate. 

I bet with a 270 WSM or a Weatherby 3000+ would be pushing it.  Most shooters are budget minded so calibers like the 223 rem, 260, 7mm-08, .308 make a lot more sense. 

I guess if a person is not a high volume shooter then that aspect of things would not hold as much weight. 

I find myself shooting my ARs more than anything because of the cost and because it is so easy for me to rebarrel them when needed.  I will go out and shoot 300 or 400 rounds in one day with a couple of them.  The non magnum calibers just make a lot more sense to me in that regard. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rustic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2011 at 11:30
The gunsmith in my town said the 270WSM along with all the WSMs are the best "business" he has had in all of his years of gunsmithing. Due to all the repairs that the high pressures and speeds "wildcat" cartridges do to rifles. Plus he has never been a fan of belted mags for accuracy.
I don't think there is really anything wrong with any of them just the .308 has more going for it(see list above). More speed does not necessarily mean more accuracy most cases the opposite is true. For the reloader(I don't) the .308 must be as go as it gets:
large and cheap bullet selection
small amount of powder for basically 30-06 ballistics
low pressures on the brass
light weight
all kinds of literature
 
I don't any draw back with the .308 where as there maybe some be drawback with everything else but, then again it is whatever a person "wants". Nothing wrong with that whats so ever.
 
If pure ballistics are all that matter -- the king has been around since 1944 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.300_Weatherby_Magnum
Or an upgrade -- introduced in 1996 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-378_Weatherby_Magnum
 
There always seems to be something better --- I look at all things considered.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LRSMike Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2011 at 11:56
What about a 7mm-08? I just read about them a little, and it seems to be a great round also, anyone have their two cents on this?
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