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.