Thinking about a Ruger #1 RSI. Would like a medium, flat-shooting caliber. Don't have a .270, but I like the .30-06 too. Anybody have one? I think I've read the .270 loses less velocity with a short (20") barrel. Any thoughts?

30-06 locally has better wood, too...

Thanks,
Steve

Both are going to give up about the same 100 fps dropping from 24 to 20".

Hard to go wrong with either. But, short Mannlicher cries to me 30-06 before it does 270

Plus the local has better wood. LOL

The 7x57 Mauser is the classic choice. I love the one I bought for my wife. JerryHoover

quote:

The 7x57 Mauser is the classic choice

I didn't see that as an option above.

I would LOVE to do one in 8x57 JRS rimmed.

Curious, what is your intended use for the Ruger #1 RSI......paper shooting, hunting or what?

I would take the 30/06.

I have an RSI in 7 x 57. I thought a European style rifle should be chambered for a Euro cartridge. Cartridge availability will depend on the whims of Ruger. The 30-06 is, in my opinion, slightly preferable to the 270 Win in this rifle. They will be quite comparable and adequate at practical hunting ranges. The '06 might have a bit less muzzle blast, a consideration with the short barrel. I'd load medium weight bullets (150-180) at moderate velocity.

I love the RSI. It' 1/3 pistol, 1/3 shotgun and 1/3 rifle. Unfortunately, I refer to mine as Problem Child. Its POI for the first couple of shots from a cold barrel wanders around in about a 4" circle at 100 yds. Accuracy after than that isn't much better. We've had a love-hate relationship for about 15 years, and I've done everything I could think of to please her. Make no mistake, this rifle is definitely female. Good luck.

Definitely the .270! There are just too many 30-06s in the world. Honestly, I'd flip a coin or go with the best wood.

I just happened on the Ruger website and saw that the RSI is available in 6.5 x 55. PLEASE do a little research on this cartridge. It has a long history of high performance. The Swedes use them to kill moose. It's secret lies in sectional density. That is, heavy-for-caliber bullets (140+grains) at moderate velocity. The 6.5's (.264") are finding favor with the long range competitors these days due to mild recoil, great ballistic coefficients, and accuracy. Do these sound like qualities for a great hunting round? William Dalrymple Maitland Bell, the famous ivory hunter, killed hundreds of ele with this cartridge.

PLUS, it is very similar to the 6.5 Carcano that killed Francis Macomber in Hemingway's novel Green Hills of Africa. What more could you want?

The perfect cartridge for the RSI in N. America. Trust me. I'll send a note from my wife.

I have one in 7mm Mauser but I would choose the 30-06 for the next one. You may have to work over the front stock to get it to shoot straight.

When in doubt, go with the nice wood.

Well, the store sold the 30-06 with the nice wood before I got there. There's a .270 with straight-grain. Nice but not a lot of figure. Looks like Allen Cabelas has a .257 Roberts, .270 and 30-06 RSI. The latter 2 have some figure in the wood. But I may go look at the local .270 again.

Planned use is likely to look at across the home office while I'm on conference calls or filling out sales force dot com entries, pretending that I'm hunting red stag in Germany or something.

No, I'm mostly hog hunting lately; might use it for that. Deer hunting is almost 100% bow. But if I can get a deer or elk tag out west, would like to be able to use it. That's why I was looking at flat-shooting mediums that'd be versatile.

I like the 6.5x55. Have a CZ full stock in that caliber. Very accurate with almost any ammo I buy or load. So I couldn't see myself ever picking the RSI over the CZ if I wanted to use a 6.5x55.

On accuracy, I realize the No 1's can be finicky. Might install a Hick's accurizer or try one of the other barrel shimming tricks if I have problems.

The 270 will hold its velocity better in a 20 inch tube, according to Jack O'Connor, than most calibers..I have chronographed many rifles with 20 inch tubes, and the least velocity loss has always been with the .270??

I also have noted that contrary to popular belief, H-4831 was better in a short tube 270 and 30-06 than faster powder in every case.

As to choice, they are so balistically close it really makes little difference..but if push came to shove I,d opt for the 30-06 simpley because it handles the heavy 200 and 220 gr. Noslers and woodleighs better but If I were only going to hunt deer size game then the .270 would be my first choice. For elk and bear, then the 30-06 would win me over. All that said I could get by just fine with either caliber to hunt anything anywhere if I had to, and I have done that.