I have been offered my choice of two new Browning Titanium rifles a friend has for sale, one in 270 WSM and the other in 7-08. I do not know anything about the Titanium rifle as far as accuracy and reliability. Plus I have never owned a rifle in either caliber.

Any comments from your experience with the Browning Titanium rifle or about either caliber would be appreciated. I do realize the magnum ammo costs would be much higher than the standard caliber especially since I no longer reload. PM comments are fine also.

boliep,

First, here is Browning's pitch for their A-Bolt Titanium rifle:Titanium rifle
Second, a few questions: What use will you make of this rifle? Hunt (what animal)? Paper punching?
How do you like recoil? (This rifle is light!)
For North American game (excluding the bear)the 7-08 is a sensible choice. The 270 WSM, however, is an excellent choice for long distance hunting.
I own a Browning X-Bolt in 300 WSM. It has an excellent recoil pad but it is still stout in the recoil department.
Browning fit and finish is excellent.

So, the answers to your questions will help in your choice.

Phil aka tazzman

I have the 7/08 and it is a nice rifle, very easy to carry all day and accurate with a number of loads. It is very managable to shoot and has taken game from hares to Wapiti (elk).

The WSM will be pretty unpleasant to shoot in a 5.5lb rifle and I would not personally be going that route! Tame it with a brake and it will be absurdly loud, pretty much stuck to 130 gn low BC pills its loose loose really.

The 7/08 will take any standard game animal in 99% of hunting situations, for me its the obvious choice of the two. If you are in an area where Looooong shots are the norm its marginal but so is the whizzer.

I'd buy both. That is too hard of a decision as both calibers are great

Tazznab to explain further, I recently gave up on my Kimber experiment and thought about getting another light weight bolt action. That weak feeling had pretty much left until the Browning rifles came up. If it had been in 308 caliber I would probably have bought it on the spot.

I found the Browning sales pitch through a search. Since the manufacturer and gun publications could be a bit biased I would prefer to get opinions from people that actually have used the rifle. And those calibers.

It would be used for deer and hog in the Southeastern US plus maybe deer and antelope out west.

Recoil is never pleasant but not a factor. I have and shoot numerous calibers up to 375 H&H. Changing out recoil pads is no big deal either.

Buglemintoday I love the way you think and it had crossed my mind. But certainly not going happen.

If you reload the 270 would be a good unit.

Still, it's an ultralight. For my money I'd go 7-08. No question.

If you decide on the 08 I want the wsm.

God Bless, Louis

.308 vs 7/08 = exactly 100% totally and utterly the same thing, buy with confidence

I would rather fire a 7.5-8lb H&H or Ultramag than an ultra light WSM, they are horrible even in a "fairly light" rifle like a Tikka

quote:

308 vs 7/08 = exactly 100% totally and utterly the same thing, buy with confidence

A 308 was not one of the rifles available.

I've never thought of the WSM's as hard kickers?
My brother has a fairly light 270 WSM and an Ultra Light Browning 325 WSM both are really accurate and very manageable in the recoil department.
If it were me I'd get the 270 WSM although I must admit neither is a bad choice.

quote:

Originally posted by boliep:
I do realize the magnum ammo costs would be much higher than the standard caliber especially since I no longer reload.

I've found nice premium ammo for the .270WSM for around $40/box. I don't think that is too bad.

I made a similar decision a few weeks ago and ended up with a Model 70 Winchester Featherweight in .270wsm.

I have one in 300WSM. With the factory Decelerator pad recoil wasn't too bad except from the bench. I recently replaced it with a Limbsaver and found out the factory pad was glued on, be careful removing it.

I put a 2lb trigger spring in and it's sweet.

If you don't hunt elk/moose or if you don't reload go 7mm-08, it'll be cheaper to shoot and easier on the shoulder.

OTOH the 270WSM is more versatile and can easily be loaded down. You can shoot the 100 or 110 Accubonds or the 95 gr TTSX and it should kick like a 257 Roberts.

Make sure you get one of em, I love mine.

+ 7-08!

I have one in .300 WSM and had to have the trigger turned down. When shooting off the bench I have to place an 8 inch length of 2x6 under the rear bag as the stock is so straight the rifle would be pointed towards the sky without it. A handful off the bench, it shoots fine after the trigger job. It needed the trigger job. Titanium actions will never be as smooth as a steel action, but it feeds well.