I'm getting a TC Pro Hunter in the future and want to also buy a centerfire barrel. My wife will also be using this rifle, so I think a 7mm mag or .300 would be too much recoil. Deer, elk and plains game (no Eland) are the species to be hunted. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

You can get ammo in these two at just about any sporting goods store. Do a search on both and you will come up with the good and, maybe, bad on each. I personally like the .308, but just my opinion, and I've owned both.

It's pretty much a toss up in performance. I like the .270 better.

quote:

Originally posted by 45otto:
It's pretty much a toss up in performance. I like the .270 better.

Me too roger

cut it down the middle and get the 7mm-08.

What is the expected shooting distance? If under 250 yards, then the .308 has the advantage of heavier bullets. If longer range capability is needed, then the .270 provides a slight advantage.

Oh wait, I just reread your post. You're asking about one of those single-shot barn door action thingies converted from a shotgun into a pistol, then back into some kind of rifle -- the one that all the TV "adventure show" producers are paid to shoot. In that case caliber is largely irrelavent.

I'll recommend a 270WSM with 140gr Accubonds. Thats what my wife shoots -very accurately (plus I have one also). It has a bit more recoil than a 270Win but the performance is incredible in my books. Elk, moose, bears, larger deer here in Alberta - no problem. Most have been 1 shot kills with complete pass thru. The only one was her bull moose in 2006. Her first shot was a kill shot (after-double lung complete pass thru) but I told her to shot again as I did not want the bull to make it to thew timber. The second shot was very close to the first. The bull went about 20 metres and dropped at the timber edge.

My wife spent alot of time at the range in 2004 when the my rifle (her's now since the range) and again last year getting to know her rifle.


Another caliber may be a 7mm-08

Good luck. Have fun.

If it was me 30/06 but with the calibers you've stated definately a 270. JMHO though. I just can't help it, I don't like the .308 and love the .270. Nothing wrong with either choice so just pick the one you like. The bullet choices are good for either so no problems there. As for as accuracy, well it just depends on the rifle. The best group I ever shot was with my current 270 in a ruger stainless/syn MKII. I've owned both calibers but no longer own a .308. It's just personal preference. Good luck with either you pick.

I agree with Mighty Peace. The .270 WSM is the best new chambering to come down the pike in a long time. You can load it any way you want to shoot, mild for the women or hot for the big boys. Good shooting.

.308, hands down, for versatility.

Another .308 fan here.

From my experience of three African hunts most hunting takes place at less than 100 yds. I would strongly recommend the 308 with 180 gn premium bullets.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by KSTEPHENS:
cut it down the middle and get the 7mm-08.

Well for two guys who argue a lot on here...

we sure can think alike often as well...

I'd take a 7/08 over either of them...

But if I had my choice of the two.. it would be the 270 anyday...

Thanks everyone for the imput!

For general use in a 28 inch tube I'd go with the 270, but Encore barrels are pretty affordable so why not buy one of each and decide for yourself? All that said, when it comes time to hunt medium to large antelope in Africa some PHs might be happier if you're running a thirty-something. The '06 comes to mind, if only because you can still get factory 220s. As for your bride's comfort don't forget the Remington Managed Recoil and Federal Low Recoil ammo for either cartridge.

.270 WIN or .30-06 but no .308 in a hunting rifle...!!!

quote:

Originally posted by scubapro:
...but no .308 in a hunting rifle!

Pray tell, why not?

flip a coin, there both proven Winners! jjmp.

In a bolt gun I'd go .308 as you get a short action out of the deel, but you don't have that to deal with in a .270.

Do you handload? Which has cheaper ammo and better selection where you live?

Either round will take deer out past where most folks can accurately place their shots, so neither is a bad choice.

I have twice as many 308s as 270s, but I got the 308s first.

I can't find any real difference between the 308, 270, 30-06, 303Brit, 7mm Mauser, 7mm Mag, 300WM, 7.5 Swiss, 7.62x54, and 8x57.
If you have one rifle, you don't need the others.

The 6.5x55, 30-30, 257Bob, 7.62x39, 243, 250S, and 45acp rifles kick less.

The 45/70 kicks more.

The 30-30, 7.62x39, 45acp, 45Colt, 45/70, and 44 mag rifles have less range.

What does it all mean?
Most deer rifles are about as good as the next.

I like both very much, but I prefer the 270.

JMO, but the caliber isn't really an issue, it's the rifle. Yuck.

Assuming no difference in the rifles, I'd take the 30-06. It provides the bore of the 308, and the longer range of the 270. For the wife, load 150grs or 165s, and for yourself 180gr. You will get essentially the same performance w/ 180's as the 7mm RM with 175's and can switch to lighter bullets for the wife. The range of factory loaded ammo, premium bullets for reloading and availability of ammo at almost every country store makes it the most useable rifle out there.

If I were limited to one rifle it would be the 9.2x62 (30-06 case with .366 bullet) and if it was not available, I'd take the 30-06. With the right bullet, the 30-06 will handle just about anything in the world-and it will handle anything you will meet in this hemisphere. Kudude

6 of one, 1/2 dozen the other.

My preference is the 270 Win.

150 and even 160 grain premium bullets have truly elevated the .270 out of the class of "deer rifle".....the .270 is a better cartridge with such bullets as A-Frames and Northforks etc.....

I'd even pick the 7-08 over the .308 but the .270 is my pick here.

The .308 will always be a 30-06 wanna be and will never make it!

The 7mm-08 will be a better all-rounder than the 270 or 308, with lighter recoil, a better range of bullets than the 270, including some with very high BC like the 162 SST that will have any bullet from a 308 struggling to keep up.

As to performance on game ? Well I dont think the game will be able to tell any difference between the 270, 308 or 7mm-08 and neither will the shooter.

quote:

Originally posted by Tumbo:
The 7mm-08 will be a better all-rounder than the 270 or 308,

NOT! roger

If you plan on going to Africa, ditch the .3o8 idea. Also ditch the idea if your shooting small critters and longer ranges. The 270 is a good relatively flat shooting cartridge and 130 gr bullets aren't known for mangling little creatures. The 308 does have better bullet selection and has near 30-06 performance accross the board. Unless your taking shots at over 300 yds, the two have equal killing power.

John

T/C doesn''t chamber for winchesters (WSM) short magnums,a great friend of mine has a 28 inch pro-hunter barrel in 270 winchester and he loves it,its a very accurate round.

quote:

Originally posted by nordrseta:
For general use in a 28 inch tube I'd go with the 270, but Encore barrels are pretty affordable so why not buy one of each and decide for yourself?

I agree - you can sell the one you decide against on Ebay (or ARBAY) for about what you paid for it.

A T/C barrel is a great, and inexpensive way, to try out a caliber.

I've done it twice myself.

That being said, I'm partial to the .270.

Lance

I have had 270's 30.06's I now shoot a steyr Pro Hunter in 308 the best ever. Soft recoil,very accurate calibre,good all rounder, nice calibre for a women also

After using both for years, I sold the .308. The .270 has become a favorite caliber, while the .308 was replaced with a .300 WM.

Good shooting,
desmobob

.308 Winchester!!!!!!!!!!

Hard to beat it!!!!!

.308 without question..for the applications that you specify. You won't look back or regret ever.

Doc said:

quote:

JMO, but the caliber isn't really an issue, it's the rifle. Yuck.

Hey wait a minute, I'm offended by that remark.

White Owl, I'm curious as to why you prefer the Pro-hunter over the standard Encore? I personally like the old style Encore better and IMHO a 28" barrel is not needed in the calibers that you specify; a 24" barrel is plenty which leads to lighter, faster handling in brush, etc. But...opinions are like, well you know the rest.


Since elk is in the equation, my personal opinion is that either of these cartridges will work but are not ideal. I'd go with a 30-06 barrel on that T/C. If forced to pick between the .270 and the .308 for elk, I would choose a .270 loaded with 150 or 160 grain Nosler Partitions. Ask me again tomorrow and my opinion might be the opposite.


FWIW...

X

I recommend 7 MM Mag. or .308 both are versatile . I prefer the mag because of extreme projectile variations weight and velocity wise !. provided one reloads if not an 06 or .308 is just dandy !.

I'm never offended by any ones remarks !.

After all I just simply consider the source !.

As usual my $ 0.0025 worth of input .

Shoot straight know your target . ...

x -Cal - The pro hunter has some features that I like - hammer for left or right hand - quick release breech plug - and my wife should appreciate the flex recoil pad.

Yeah, those are neat features. With the standard Encore frame, high scope mounts serve the same purpose as the swing hammer (hammer accessibility) and a Limbsaver recoil pad works as well/better than the Prohunter pad. However, I do like the engraving on the Pro-Hunter frames. I've never tried the quick release breech plug in the 209 X 50 barrels but that does look like a neat feature.

One more piece of advice...I haven't had much luck with belted cases in the Encore's extraction system. It's hard to chamber a belted round in the Encore because the extractor hangs on the belt. A solution to this problem is to bend the extractor to where it doesn't put as much upward pressure on the cartridge. If you don't get it just right you will chamber the cartridge and then there won't be enough upward pressure to extract the cartridge. For this reason, I would opt for a .280 AI instead of the 7MM Mag or the 30-06 AI instead of the 300 Win Mag. Both of these chamberings are available through the T/C Custom shop.

Good luck!

X

Thanks X-Cal - It's always nice to hear from someone with first hand experience.