I would like to know which caliber would be best to buy in a new rifle. I have owned a .270 before, and know how well it shoots, but I have been reading a lot about the .308.

If anyone has experience with a .308 I would appreciate any information. I will be using it for game up to Elk in Arizona. I also reload my own ammo, so that is not an issue for what's commercially available.
Thank you.

Both calibers are acceptable for Elk within their limits.
That being said I will always go to the larger caliber when velocities are as close as the 270 and 308. Bigger bullets kill better - all things equal.

I have a 270 and several 308s. Go with what you like because there isn't a lot of difference in what either will do.

Since you're going with a "new rifle" you of course know there are other choices. The 30/06 comes to mind which is the same length as the 270 Winchester and has more powder capacity than the 308 Winchester and thus more potential in the velocity department especially with the heavier bullets.

The 270 is a tad flatter shootin. Wont matter much at hunting distances.

Where you would notice the difference is out at long distance. That's where the .270 would be a better choice.

Having seen elk taken with both I would opt for a 30 caliber. IMO the 30-06 would be a better choice.

I think I would go with the 308Win. Large selection of both ammunition and firearms. And best part of the 308Win, its not the 270 which is a rabbit gun.

Sorry a joke in our hunting group, the 270 calibers are legal for rabbit and small game hunting anywhere in the province (southern parts are 270 and smaller while northern areas have no caliber restriction), and well some people bought into the 270WSM and 270WSSM calibers for moose hunting. So we tell them they bought rabbit hunting rifles.

Dimitri

270WSSM ???

Woops.

Dimitri

Thanks for everyone's help.

I was given a .308 on my 16th birthday and it was my hunting companion for many years taking about 20 deer and several elk. This particular gun became too heavy to pack around and I opted for a lighter model in .30-06 about 5 years ago - that being said - my .308 and I have many fond memories and it is definately up for the task you put ahead of it. Being a 30 cal, I can use bullets out of the same box to load for either .30-06 or .308. I am not real familiar with the .270 - so I can only vouch for the .308.

Years ago, I bought some surplus military 150 gr. softnosed 308 Winchester ammo (bought either from Cheaper than Dirt or Sportsmans Guide) made in Argentina. I took 3 deer with that ammo and each one dropped where it stood. I can, therefore vouch for the effectiveness of the 308 Winchester.

If you look at the ballistics of the 308 vs the 30/06 you will find that with lighter bullets, velocities are equivalent. Part or maybe all of this is because the SAMI pressure specs for the 308 are higher than the 30/06. Of course, in a strong modern bolt action rifle, you can run them both at the same pressure.

When you get to heavier bullets (180 grains and up) the 30/06 starts to have the advantage over the 308.

I don't have anything bad to say about the 270 Winchester but for the handloader, bullet selection is not as great as it is for .308 caliber chamberings. I have a barrel for that cartridge for my Encore and took a deer with it prior to scoping the barrel. That deer ran probably 80 yards before piling up but I think the fault was shot placement more than cartridge effectiveness. I would consider 270 Winchester recoil to be quite mild; certainly less than either a 308 Winchester or 30/06 Springfield.

Looking at ballistic tables from several different manufacturers I'm seeing both fairly equal depending on the type of ammo you buy with Hornady light magnums giving the .270 140gr a slight edge over .308 165gr. So basically, take your pick.

I've had a .308 for a while and it does all a hunter needs it to do. I've always wanted a .270 since I was a kid and finally bought one last year - and I love it. I'm working at shooting at longer ranges, thus the .270 gets my vote.

Let me relate a story to you, short version. My hunting buddy and I hunted a peanut field with a 10 ft shooting house in the middle on the edge. 350 yards to other edge and 400 yards to either end, wide open. at 8:30 AM I spotted a big heavy built buck slightly to the right of center and almost across the field coming my way at 350 yards, lasered. Unknown to me my 22-250 AI had its scope knocked off to where the 80gr Sierras POI was 18 inches to the left of POA at 100 yards. I set up, fired and missed, no clue about where the bullet went, did this a second time. Deer stopped and just stood there, very frustrating. As I was about to shoot #3 on the deer now standing broadside facing right, my buddy using a rest, below me, touched off his Weatherby in 308 using the Federal black box 165s. I saw the buck get hit, center up, in the right shoulder and just stand there. Then the buck wheeled, lifted the right front and ran like a streak into the woods about 100 yards across the open field. The buck bled for a while, stopped bleading and after 6 hours looking and tracking we lost him in a deer heard's tracks. That was the first and only deer I or he ever lost. The bullet did not even take the deer down and he did not die within an hour of tracking him.

When I went to S Africa our guns got sent to Froggie Land by error. Two of our group hunted Elan and Kudu with the outfitter's 308s. They got their critters, the Elan shot three times and the Kudu shot 4 times. Both very experianced hunters.

I have owned several 308s and a couple of 270s. Frankly I am not impressed with either chambering when I have a choice. Given that choice, it would not be based on what is offered in factory ammo, , it would be based on what the round is capable of. As a reloader I find that for hunting bullets, the 308 and the 270 are not much improved by reloading, but the 06 is a whole new cat with new powders. You want to hunt deer, either is OK, but for Elk, get a bigger gun, go with the 06 and reload it to its potential.
Best,
Ed