Is there much of a diffrence between these 2 calibers? I have a 25-06 barrel but I found a deal on the .270. Are the close enough to each other that there would not be a need for both?

The main advantage of the 270 is it will shoot a 150 grain bullet. Most 25-06s are designed to stabilize a 115-120 grain bullet. Don’t get me wrong, it will stabilize other weight bullets. One big fame of the .25 bore was that it was a multi propose like the 6mm. It could shoot smaller grain bullets well. Most 270’s are designed to shoot 130 grain bullets. They will also stabilize 150 grain bullets very well. In fact Jack O’Cconner is noted saying the 150 was a better all around bullet in the 270.

In short the 25-06 is to the 270 what the 270 is to the 30-06. More over, I own all three. If you found a deal on a 270, ya, it is a great gun. Ironically, from what I can remember, the origins of the 25-06 out date the 270 by 5 years. I think the biggest advantage of the 270 is that it can be loaded for bigger game. If I had to do it again I may not own my 25-06, HOWEVER, I am not going to get rid of a gun that is shooting 3/8 in groups with 115 Nosler’s at 100 yards. Ok, maybe the groups are sometimes 7/16. Hehe Haha.

There are just my feelings and opinions. Any others?

Duane

I own both of these calibers in t/c rifle and would and have killed deer with both of them.The 270 uses a heavier bullet but I think the 25-06 did a better job at killing that is a very unscientifical opinion but it the only one I have.

So is the .270 large enough for elk out of a 15" Encore barrel?

150 partition going between 2500-2600fps would probable do the trick. (Those figures come from pistol section of the Hornady reloading book) Two different manufactures have told me that BT is not designed for elk sided game. They “said” it wouldn’t go threw the shoulder. You would loose between 200-300 with the pistol. But if you limit your range to reasonable distances you shouldn’t have a problem.

I am a person that likes overkill. Especially on game like elk. When I go elk hunting, YES my pistol (probably my 45-70) is going to be there. But I will take my 375 H&H. No questions asked.

Duane

Some guy named V Speer used some wildcats in .22 caliber to kill more than a few Elk. The REAL question is can YOU hold off on an iffy shot.Those 2 rounds are quite close in power with any edge going to the larger bullet.I'd have no reservations going after Elk with a 308 Lone Eagle.
Oh by the way this is my first post here.

Welcome to the site!

It boils down to what you feel comfortable with. I know one friend of mine that has shoot more than one elk with a 243 win. I have a good friend that shot one with a 22-250, 53 grain partition. I know that nothing can make up for poor shot placement, however, I feel like you owe it to the animal to at least shoot partitions when considering ammo for elk. Again, it is just a personal thing, I like to take more than I need sometimes. With all that being said. I still feel like the bullet selection for the 270 is more applicable to hunting larger game.

Just my .02 cents so take it for what its worth.

Duane

I live in prime elk country and the 270 is agreat elk round. But is always shot placement hold off on poor shot I have seen many elk killed with a 30-30 but I have also seen wounded and unrecovered elk shot with a 300 win mag.It is up to you what kind of hunter you want to be.I have killed a few deer with the 25-06 and love the gun but Iam not going to use it for elk I would use the 270 with 150 gr bullets

WELCOME! jhalcott Good to have you aboard.

TCMan
I just found out I can get the 30-06 barrel for the same price as the .270. So if I'm looking for a barrel for Elk size game I'm thinking the 30-06 would be the better choice?

There are a few handgunners on here that have killed elk with .284 Win's out to several hundred yards using 140gr bullets. The .284W is akin to the .280 Remington in a short action. And the .280 is only .007" larger in bore diameter than the .270 Win.

The problem with the 30-06 is the ability to drive the heavier bullets fast enough to reliable expansion at extended ranges. A 150gr .308" bullet also has a lower BC than the same weight bullet in a .277" offering. The higher BC .277" bullet will do a lot for retaining down range energy and trajectory. If you want to stay with the 130-150gr bullets then the .270W is the clear choice.

It sounds like Dan knows what he is talking about. MIHunter, do you handload?

Duane

Darn right!! Remember what I said the other day?? "Iffin I wrote it, then it must be a freakin' wonderful idea!!" I think that would make a good signature line...hehehe.

I agree with Dan on the 270 over the 06 even though I probably shouldn't, we wouldn't want his head to pop. I worked for a guy that hunted elk on a 17000 acre ranch his inlaws owned in eastern Oregon so there is alot of long shooting. He hunts with a model 70 super grade shooting 150gr partitions and now 150gr barnes x bullets. He has made numerous one shot kills to 400 yds and beyond and in fact the same gun has accounted for dozens of mule deer including three over 30" and a cougar. I used to pick on him with the "mine is bigger than yours" deal but the fact is he has killed alot more elk than I have and his shoulder and neck are still in one piece. I personally have decided to retire my 300 Rum and my next long gun will either be a Browning A bolt in 270 or I'm kind of fascinated with the new Remington 798 with the mauser action.

Yes!
I have taken 2 bulls and a good number of cows with a 284 Win XP using 140 Partitions out to 350 yards with one bull beyond that distance.
Placement and the right bullet make a great killing combination.
A number of locals in Colorado have also used the 25-06 (rifles) for years on elk with good success. Never used the 25 myself, but my kids have take a cow and a bull with the 260 Rem (14") SP at under 100 yards-both 1-shot kills.
My elk thumper is a 7mm curently.

No I don't handload yet. I have been getting the urge to try it.
Thanks everybody for all the help.

mihunter,
Depending on your sensitivity to recoil you may want to put a brake on the 270.
There is a lot of factory options with the 27 cal.

That is one of the reasons I love this site. LIKE WHEN I HAVE A BRAIN FART! I got rid of my 270 win barrel for my Encore because of the kick. BUT, if I had of known then what I know now, I would have put a muzzle tamer on that bad boy. Also, the Pachmayr grips will make a difference as well.

When buying ammo I have two things for you to consider. First, TC barrels are designed to stabilize 130 grain bullets. They don’t do well with 140 grain bullets. I speak from experience. But they will shoot 150’s well. I actually called and talked to the factory about the twist rate in their 270 barrels. Second, Cabala’s website has Barnes bullets in the 130’s. All they have in the 150’s are BT. (I was told Ballistic Tips were not designed for elk. The manufactures told me it wouldn’t penetrate threw the shoulder) Bass Pro has Remington Core Lokt loaded with 150 sp in the 270. For what it is worth.

Duane

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...+ammo&noImage=0

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores...t=SearchResults

I really like Darrell Holland's Quick Discharge Muzzle Brake.
FWIW-NBT's may not be the ideal bullet for elk, but my SP's have killed 2 bulls and two cows with either 6.5 120 NBT, 7mm 140 NBT, and the 30 caliber 150 NBT. Stay out of the shoulder=dead elk.
On the 7.82 Patriot XP (150 NBT @ 3001 fps) 1-shot kill large cow elk @ 300 yards-Total pass through with nice exit wound. Impact velocity was a tad over 2500 fps.

You know, by the time you buy the barrel and put a muzzle break on it you are already talking about putting a lot of money into it. If you want to do that it might be worth it to buy a custom barrel. You can buy what you want and maybe even be a little happier. I don’t want to open up a can of worms, but have you thought about a 358 Win for the Encore? With it you shouldn’t need a muzzle tamer.

Match Grade Machine or Reeder can build a nice barrel for (I think) around 325

I know that MGM has a 358 Win on their sight right now but it has all the bells an whistles.

Duane

So what you are saying is that a 7-30 Waters or variation will do better than a 30-30 Akl? I have been debating these two cartridges for a while. This might help solidify a choice.

Duane

Duane,
With the 7x30W and the 30-30AI and the ranges they are capable of I don't see a whole lot of advantage in the 7mm in this comparison scenario. The 7's will do some better in the wind, but I don't know at the max ranges these cartridges are capable of in a SP if one could really tell the difference.

Thanks for the help anyway.

Duane

Well, another brain fart. I have totally missed a couple of obvious questions. First, I have to assume that you have a 25-06 pistol. How do you like it? Or do you just have a 25-06 rifle. There is a big difference in those assumptions. If you have not shot a 06’ based cartridge they are a handful. It would be worth your time to go to a gun range and find someone who has one. I just don’t know if that is possible for you.

Duane

I received a 25-06 handgun barrel as a present and have not shot it yet. I mostly hunt in southern Michigan where you have to shot a straight walled round in a handgun so I don't know a lot about rifle calibers. I just want to be ready in case I make that trip out west or draw that once in a life time Michigan Elk tag.

What has more recoil 25-06 or 7mm-08?

By far, any 06 based cartridge is going to kick a lot more than any 308 based cartridge. I have a 7mm08 and “had” a 270. If I buy another barrel for my Encore it will be a 358 Win. I know of a couple of people in Alaska that use them and swear by them. BUT, it is all personal preference and quite frankly this one is my choice. I want the 358 for bigger game that the 7mm08 may not be able to handle. It should shoot up with the 35 Whelen. My reloading book states that the 358 will shoot a 200 grain bullet at 2600 and that the 35 Whelen will shoot a 200 grain at 2650. So no to shabby for a 308 case based cartridge. Don’t get me wrong, I am going to be shooting a heavier bullet 358, it is going to kick more than the 708, but nothing like the 35 Whelen.

Duane

The fps for the cartridges listed above are for rifles.