270 or 30-06?

[handirifle]

I know this is a VERY old question, but let me muddy the waters more. I already have the 30-06, and it shoots pretty decent, has taken a few deer for me too. I got the '06 long time back hoping to get an elk with it. Managed to get in only one elk hunt. Now am retired and I doubt there will be any more elk hunts in my future. I hunt mostly alone and really cannot see myself packing one of those beasts out by myself.

So with all that, I will come back to my post. I am considering swapping the barrel out to a 270. What appeals to me the most is using the Barnes 110gr TTSX bullets in the 270 for deer, and maybe an antelope hunt, if I can pull one off. It would make a laser beam from a 270. I already have reloading stuff for the '06 so let me state I know up front the 270 would be more costly, for sure.

Recoil is getting to be a slight factor, mainly since I just don't want to get hammered. I have a good pad, and even soft cheek pad on the '06 and they do their jobs well. Recoil isn't bad at all. I just want it to be less.

I also have a 243, but using it with 100gr doesn't even put it in the same league as the 270 with the 110gr Barnes.

The ONLY big question for me, is I do have 130gr TTSX's for the '06, so would I see a big drop in recoil between the 270/110 load and the '06/130 load? We're talking about 3500-3600FPS (270) vs 3200FPS ('06).

Waste of time/money?

[darkker]

Only a waste of you didn't experience something.

Fill in the blanks and see for yourself:

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

[handirifle]

According to the calculator, it's only about 1.5 ft/lb difference, with the faster 270 load being the lesser of the 2. I was on on first velocities. The 270 would be more like 3300 (guessing) and the '06 at 3100. Impulse and recoil velocity were less too. Now if I drop down to the 95gr TSX velocities would jump a bit. More like 3600, plus it would lose 2 ft/lb of recoil energy. Question of accuracy would always be there with that bullet though. It would be almost like a 243 on steroids, BIG steroids.

Living in CA since we HAVE to hunt with non lead bullets, I have to explore all my options.

[swamphonkey]

Why not use the 110 TTSX in the 06?
I made up some 110 gr TTSX in my 308 And buddy they are NASTY! They are so fast it's crazy. Now I don't shoot much at game over a few hundred yards and they fill the Bill. I have shot a few big hog with them and have got perfect performance. The recoil is low and they shoot pretty well I'm getting groups that any hunting round would be happy with.
And another thing you say you have a 243 also. And let me assure you that with the New monolithic bullets like the TTSX, E-tip or the GMX you have All the rifle you need for Deer size game from 1-400 yards if you can shoot well. I have got end to end penetration on full grown bucks (200) lbs. So don't think the little 6mm bullets are cream puffs.
Too many computer hunters that act like parrots just repeat what some other has said from reading 40 year old story's.. Use max loads with a 243 monolithic bullet and go fill up your freezer. The 243 with the right load is as good as any on deer as long as you keep the range realistic and place it in the kill zone. And the 30-06 can do anything the 270 can. And they make 110 mono bullets for 30 cal also.

[jim_k]

I've changed the other way, but never away from the '06. Spend the money on a good stock, and get it bedded, or buy a better trigger, or a NightForce scope. Christmas is right around the corner! You can shoot long range, and you can load light, or use TrailBoss, and almost totally eliminate recoil. Milsurp brass is as good as any, with proper reloading.

[handirifle]

Swamphonkey
Online at least, Barnes doesn't list a load for the 110/'06 combo. I have one of their reload manuals though and can look that up. Interesting idea though! They are listed at 3400-3500 from the 308. I'm sure the '06 will add another 100-150 to that. That's crazy.

I know when they first developed the 130gr, they loaded them in the 300WM and took it to Africa. They shot only plains game, but the big ones! They wre getting speeds in excess of 3600fps, and said they recovers only one bullet in something like 40 animals shot. IIRC that one they recovered had entered a front shoulder, and was lodged in a rear hip bone of something like a Gemsbok sized animal.

LOL looking at the load data for the 300WM and the 110. Over 3900fps with RL17. That's like a 243 with their 58gr Varminator.

Jimk
Yea there are a million reasons not to switch, that's certain. Currently not too interested in ultra long range stuff. All this surely isn't based on any NEED, because the '06 will do anything I need it to do. I have been using the Barnes 168gr TTSX in it and it is accurate and lethal for sure. My calcs show it would be a solid performer on even elk to 450yds plus. I guess I need to load at least some of the 130's and give em a try. Maybe get some 110's for kicks.

I did load some 55gr in my 243 once. Me and some friends were shooting targets and junk that people had left on one hillside. Targets ranged at to about 300yds. It was almost scary how fast those were. It was the only load, from my 243, that I have seen the impact, before recoil pulled me off target. And those were 250-300yds away. I know even those 55gr lead core bullets would have made a mess of what they hit. A coyote would never know what hit him. I saw then what 220 Swift shooters came to love. Oh and recoil was about like a 223.

[243LPR]

I switched mainly to short action calibers years ago because I like to shoot alot and recoil's no fun. My go to whitetail load is the 130 TSX out of my 660 308,only because it won't shoot the 110's as accurately. If I'm not using that I'll also go to a 243,95 grain Berger VLD's. I have run the 55 gr ballistic tips up to 4,300 fps out of the 243 AI,talk about a laser beam! Good luck with whatever you choose,to each his own.

[handirifle]

243LPR
What caliber were you shooting in the long action? Here in Kommifornia I have only the unleaded choice, and Barnes has the best selection, for most calibers. Yea the first time I shot a real light bullet from my 243 I thought I only imagined seeing it hit, then it kept happening. Wow what a revelation that was.

I have read that going to the 243 AI makes cases last a lot longer, have you found that to be true? What fps gain did you get with the AI?

[swamphonkey]

HandiRifle I am no master reloader but I know that the Varget powder works well in my 06 with the 110s. I'm not any faster than with my 308 But it's right there at 3,500 fps. Now the accuracy is not as good it's hanging around 1-1/2" at 150 I guess that's moa and suitable for deer hunting. But I didn't play with it much I probably could have gotten better but I don't hunt with my 30-06 a old pre 64 win.. It was left to me by my grandfather long ago and I only shoot it once in a while. I'm sure your rifle will shoot much more accurate. I would try Varget with a mild load to see what you get and anything over 3300 fps will smoke any deer or hog. I'm getting a solid 3450 out of my 308 and it's a hog slaying machine.

[handirifle]

Man I bet it does. We are heading to Oregon this week. Gonna be there for 3 weeks, in the RV. Touring and salmon fishing. I hope to make it to the Cabelas in Eugene and do some shopping. Save the hazmat fee, shipping fee and tax if I can.

I'm thinking of some 80gr TTSX and possibly Superformance powder. Barnes listed that as their most accurate for the 243 loads. Either that or RL17.

[handirifle]

Swamphonkey
What powder you using in the 308?

[swamphonkey]

I've been using H335. In my 308 a full load. I could probably keep playing with different powders and find faster but I'm satisfied with what I'm getting out of the H335. I am getting real good results with my 243 with IMR 4350 And the TTSX 80 gr and the Hornady GMX shoot well also.

[scope eye]

I have both but I think I like my 270 better, A 90 grain Sierra with 63gr of RL17 will produce a round capable of 4000+ FPS, same for the Speer 90gr TNT I buy them by the 650pcs value pack. Barnes makes a 85gr HP and a 95gr TTSX both as nasty with the same 63gr load.

Dean

[handirifle]

Swamphonkey
Thanks

Scope eye
WOW that is some serious speed. What kind of accuracy do you get?

[scope eye]

[QUOTE=Scope eye
WOW that is some serious speed. What kind of accuracy do you get?[/QUOTE]

I hit everything I aim for, sorry I don't do paper.

Dean

[243LPR]

243LPR
What caliber were you shooting in the long action? Here in Kommifornia I have only the unleaded choice, and Barnes has the best selection, for most calibers. Yea the first time I shot a real light bullet from my 243 I thought I only imagines seeing it hit, then it kept happening. Wow what a revelation that was.

I have read that going to the 243 AI makes cases last a lot longer, have you found that to be true? What fps gain did you get with the AI?
I had always shot an '06 until I got my first 243. AI cases do last longer,less stretching because there's less taper. I gained maybe 100fps with the AI.I'm pushing 75 Vmaxes over 3800 fps. I use Lapua brass and like to make it last as long as possible.

[handirifle]

Well I picked up a couple pounds of Superformance today, and Sat will hopefully get some Barnes 80gr TTSX's. We will see from there.

[Boanerges]

300 Whelen:p

[handirifle]

300 Whelen:p

Hmmmm this sounds suspiciously like a 30-06 :)

[JASmith]

You can duplicate the 270 Win muzzle velocities with the same weight bullets in the '06 and your target won't know the difference out to about 300 yards.

You can also really reduce recoil by duplicating 300 Blackout velocities.

Stay with '06 and you'll be well-served.