I've used a 30-06 for deer hunting most of my life and for the most part I've been happy. A couple of years ago I got a 300 winny for moose\elk hunting and I love extra range and accuracy, in fact I've started using it for whitetail. The 300 winny seems like a little over kill so I'm thinking about replacing my 30-06 with a 270 WSM. Any thoughts about this move. I'm looking at stats and they say the 270 WSM is more powerful than the 30-06 and I get 300 win range. Well those of you using these cal. have any thoughts?????

All of your guns are truly more than a whitetail needs. While both the 300 mag and the 270WSM may have greater range than the 30-06, the ability of the vast majority of hunters to utilize it is nearly nonexistant.

IMO you gain nothing by trading the 30-06 for the WSM or the 300 mag as long as you're hunting deer. When it comes to elk size, the 30 cal bullet is better than the 270 regardless of it's speed.

Owning a 30-06 is the pits.....it's so darn hard to improve upon it with anything significantly noticeable to the shooter.....lots of paper improvements, but not at all noticeale in the field.

As vapodog said, all guns mentioned are more than you need for whitetail.

IMO .30 is greater than a .27. I can't see a reason to use the .270 WSM over the '06 unless you will be consistently shooting further than 300 yards.

You mention that the .270 WSM is more powerful than the '06. How much power do you need for whitetail? The '06 is already more than enough out to 300 yards for whitetail.

In the end, use what you like.

Stick with the 30/06 and load a 125gr or 130 gr bullet if you want.

Although the '06 is far from my favorite. It would make the cut if I was only allowed 2 calibers. The other would be a .308 win.

I am building a custom .308 win now (my first)and will do a 30.06 next year.

bc300, if by replacing your 30-06 you mean getting rid of it and getting a 270 WSM instead, I would say pretty much what others have said, not a whole lot gained.

If you just mean adding another rifle to your collection, go for it! The 270 WSM is a great round, I have several, and it is just a very accurate flat shooting cartridge. I shoot mine way out there often, and it really is a good tool for that use, and there is a great selection of bullets to meet your performance desires.

Both of the calibers you have are classic, great, all around performers, but a new rig is always fun, and the 270 WSM is flat shooting and great on deer or even elk.

The cartridge is very easy to reload, I think you would enjoy a rifle in this caliber!

sounds like your likeing flatter shooting rounds,ifin you want 2 trade do it!....270wsm is one fine round period, been reloading 4 one in an 1885 high wall man she''s a lazer beam and Very accurate i''m very impressed with this round, a friend of mine reloaded for another 270wsm (win mod70) for a Bull moose hunt up in ontario , loaded 150 grain tsx barnes,one shoot 200 yards running broke both front shoulders and keep on going, thats penatration any way you spell it!!!!!! get your 270wsm.............regards jjmp

I don't believe in over-kill and as you know, all whitetail or not the same, there are some monster whitetail out there. I see the .300 Winchester Magnum and the .30-06 Springfield in the same class. The higher velocity allows farther projection of killing ability but the .300 magnums are not more powerful than the .30-06.

Pick-up a 325 WSM for your moose/elk hunting and keep the .30-06 for wooded areas and the .300 Winny for open areas.

if you want somthing a little flatter than your 30,06 and you don't want to use too much gun.(personaly I never concern myself with that, I,d shoot a antilope with my .338 win and never give it a second thought) But some folks do , so I would recomend a 25,06 or a 270win(no wsm's for me.
But if you just want an excuse to buy a new deer rifle , just go out and find somthing you like. deer are sometimes hard to find, almost never hard to kill...tj3006

Without a doubt, if you're buying another rifle enjoy that 270 WSM... If you're ridding yourself of the '06 you are gaining nothing in the 270... Both loaded with equal weight bullets are very close in velocity but the 30 cal bullet leaves a bigger hole ...

Ken....

As others have said.

Now quit trying to justify it and go buy the .270WSM and have fun.

Terry

For deer the 270 WSM has more range than the 30-06 and if a light rifle is also wanted the Kimber 8400 Montana in a WSM is something that you should look at.

When I watch the fields here for deer I carry the 270 WSM, 7mm WSM or the 264 WM. They have more range than the 30-06.

Yep, it drops about 1.5" less at 300yds. Very helpful

Glad you got the Kimber plug in though

Terry

Quote: bc300winguy

The 300 winny seems like a little over kill so I'm thinking about replacing my 30-06 with a 270 WSM. Any thoughts about this move.

My thought is "It is better to overkill than underkill".

If you buy a WSM, buy a bunch of brass. I am going to predict with Winchester dropping its M70 line, there will not be a corporate sponsor to keep this product on the market. Everyone seems to have a short magnum cartridge in all calibers, so why should other mfgr's chamber their rifles in this caliber?

Slamfire ----- The other manufacturers are already chambering for the .270 WSM, simply because it is becoming one of the most "in demand" for new rifles. Could this mean the brass for it will be around for a long, long time. If you have not shot it, doing so would be a revelation to you. Good shootig.

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
Yep, it drops about 1.5" less at 300yds. Very helpful

Glad you got the Kimber plug in though

Terry

Three hundred yards is a piece of cake for the 308 let alone the 30-06. Lets stretch it out to 500 yds and see what happens. I selected the Federal 150 gr Accubond for the Springfield round and the 140 AB for the 270 WSM.

The hardest thing to figure is wind drift if one has a laser for the range. The 30-06 will drift
41" or over three feet at that range in a 20 mph breeze. The 270 Magnum will drift only 31". Thats a foot for me and if you have small feet TCI then it's two of your feet!!

Drop wise the story is similar. You figure it out as I will carry the magnum as it has more ability. Best of all in a Kimber Montana it weighs less than a 30-06.

Shoot what you shoot the best. I have shot deer with all three that you have mentioned. All died, so I don't buy into the discussion on overkill. Dead is dead.

I use the .300 WM all the time because I shoot it the best.

If your shooting at 500 yards, I hope you are darn good. the 30,06 (or the .308) has enough range to killl the biggest deer on earth farther than most of us should shoot.
I,m not knocking those who shoot farther and I realize somtimes the terrrain makes it imposible to get very close.
But a guy has to practice shooting at that range to get good at it. No cartridge mill dot scope or computer program will make an avarage hunter into an expert shot.
I shoot prety well and 400 yards is my max and that is only a brodside shot with a good rest and little or no wind.
So to me the best deer rifle is one you like to shoot ! ...tj3006

You would be hard pressed to do better than the 30.06 but if you want to try something different that may be a little more accurate and give you less drop than maybe a 7 rem mag would be ideal or you could meet halfway and get a .280?
Esox357.

quote:

Originally posted by bc300winguy:
I'm thinking about replacing my 30-06 with a 270 WSM.

Nooooooooo! Mix not with the heathen!

Just set up your point-blank range for about 250 yards and hunt.

and if it ain't broke, don't fix itn

Now, if you simply WANT the WSM...t'aint nuthin wrong with that!

friar