7mm-08 vs. .270 vs. 30-06
 

So I'm about 2 weeks away from buying my rifle. It's decieded I'm going with a weatherby vanguard (wood stock). It's the best feeling rifle for me. 99% of the time the rifle will be used for deer in georgia. I hunt a variety of either wooded or pasture. So now it's the tough part. I've put it down to 3 calibers
1. 30-06
avalible anywhere for dirt cheep
selection from 100 grns to 220 grns
moderate recoil
2. .270
just as avalibel for dirt cheep
almost as much selection but not quite
less recoil
further reach before drop off
3. 7mm-08
gonna cost me an extra 5 each time I buy a box
not much selection out there
it will flat get out there before dropping off
what recoil

Any extra thought about all of this would be helpful.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. .270 vs. 30-06
 

I say go with the .270 if you are deerhunting 99% of the time, but go with the 30-06 if you hunt anything outside of deer.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. .270 vs. 30-06
 

Excellent choice as an all-around caliber. Buy it for deer hunting, and you won't be undergunned if you decide to hunt something bigger in the future.

Not nearly as much selection. All I ever see at the stores are 130's and 150's. And, any "further reach before drop off" is really minimal and insignificant.

I doubt that there is any significant improvement over the 06 or 270 in the "get out there before dropping off" category. If ammo availability and cost are factors, pick one of the others.

If I just had to buy one rifle, it'd be a .30-06 or a .308.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. .270 vs. 30-06
 

If i had to pick one of the three it would be a 30-06. The 270 is close behind but id like being able to comfortably take the rifle for larger game then deer. Never shot a 7mm-08 and dont really have a need to own one. The 30-06 is your best choice if you have any chance of hunting larger game if not then get the 270, Its alot easier on your shoulder at the range.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. .270 vs. 30-06
 

That is a simple decision. 30-06 hands down. Heck you can find hardball for around $6 a box, and shoot all day. And the 30-06 is the better choice. Tom.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. .270 vs. 30-06
 

For deer, there just isn't a better rifle than the 270. It shoots flat and fast and like you say the ammo is available everywhere. The selection of bullet is not a factor as the 270 will drop any animal in NA with a quality 130 grain bullet. All three are near perfect for deer hunting. However, to me the 30-06 is just plain more than I will ever need for deer hunting. My main gun anymore for deer is the 7MM-08 but I reload so ammo is not an issue.

If you get the 270, buy some 130 grain Federal Fusion ammo and you have it made in the shade.;)

RE: 7mm-08 vs. .270 vs. 30-06
 

I would not recommend hard ball for deer hunting. In fact I would discourage it. However with a 30-06 you do not need to buy specialty ammo, or special bullets. Plain old Super X or Power Point will due at Wallyworld for $8 to $10 a box. How much is a box of 270 Federal Fusion? I truly do not know. If you can buy it for $8 to $10 a box, then it is a decent choice. It is still not a 30-06, but it is a decent choice. I can not agree with you on this one James. I think a new shooter needs lots of practice, and in my opinion it is much cheaper to shoot the 30-06. Tom.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. .270 vs. 30-06
 

Same thing here, just get a 30.06 and don't look back. I hunt deer with my 30.,06BUT recently picked up a 7mm-08 and i truly don't think there is a better caliber for deer. That being said, it costs more to shoot and can't find ammo as easy. But the low recoil, short action, lightweight rifle is a dream in the woods. for easy, 30.06 wins.

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RE: 7mm-08 vs. .270 vs. 30-06
 

I don't know where you guys are getting your ammo but the .270 and 30-06 should be priced exactly the same assuming the same bullets are purchased. If the store has 30-06 you can rest assured they also have .270 and likely 7mm-08

Fact of the matter is there isn't a pennies worth of difference as far as the dead deer is concerned.

All three are more than up to the task of taking larger than deer sized animals like elk and moose.

The $6 a box of bulk ammo is a moote point IMO becasue unless you are into simply chunking lead down range then you should be practicing with what you are hunting with.

You don't need special ammo to hunt deer with the .270 or the 7mm-08 either. Plane jane power points, or core lokts are excelent deer bullets out of all thee cartridges.

Having said all of this my choice would be the .270 simply because it is the flattest shooting cartridge of all three, will drop any deer species alive, has very mild recoil, and ammo is available any where and every where. The .270 IMHO is the best deer cartridge ever produced and also excels at other animals larger than deer.

Basically get which ever one tickles your fancy.