which gun on opening day?
 

I've gone back and forth with this and now it's time to choose.
I have a 30-30 and a 270. I have sighted in both guns and they are ready.

I will not have any shot over 100 yards where I will be hunting so distance is not a factor. Shot will most likely be at 40-60 yds
I killed my first deer with the 30-30 last year and have never used the 270 hunting yet
I really like both of these guns

Geez, It's almost like choosing which kid tobring to a game with only 2 tickets.


Man, does any one else ever go through this?

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

depends on how you hunt.if you are going to still hunt 270 walk and stock 3030.I keep a 7mm08 model 7 ready for walking and keep a 270 ready still hunting.and if Im going to power lines or gas line I take a 7mm.but then a gain I rarely do what I plain.good luck

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

The 30-30 has killed countless number of deer over the years but the .270 will out perform it anyday...;)

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

Your question is, of course, silly. That is, you know and we know that either gun will be entirely satisfactory under the conditions you describe. So . . . the decision is a matter of personal inclination and whim, almost. Now I'm not disparaging or mocking you! I relate to your question quite well. I can go deer hunting with any of my .25-06, .243, and .30-06 -- any of which are entirely satisfactory for my hunting of smallish Oklahoma deer (none of my three deer to date have field dressed over 100 LBS). So I decide what gun to take on personal, almost whimsical grounds. I took my .243 deer hunting last year because I hadn't taken a deer with it yet. I'm taking my .30-06 this year because I have not taken a deer with it and because I hope to use it on a cow elk hunt next year. I could just as readily have decided to use the .25-06. I might choose to use one of these guns simply because it was the one which has been most "neglected" and left sitting lonely in the gun cabinet while the other rifles have been out seeing action. Silly.

Anyway, given the circumstances you describe, if it were me I would take the .270 because you haven't used it to take game yet.

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

No doubt it is a "silly" question. Both will do the job. I'm not even thinking of performance.
But you know how it is. You plan for opening day. Make sure you have everything you need etc. Then when it comes to choosing the gun that goes out with you and you have 2 or more that will do the job well, which one do you pick?
I am leaning towards the 270 for the same reason you mentioned. I havn't shot a deer with it yet.

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

Wow, you guys like to complicate things doncha? There's a very simple solution here: Take both:D

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

I would take the .270 Winchester rifle. You really don't get much better in the deer hunting arena. If for some reason you do get a long shot you will be much happier with the .270 and if you get all short shots it will do the job just fine. I would notch a deer on the .270, if nothing else, you will build some confidence in the rifle.

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

i never go on a hunting trip without 2 rifles... never know what may happen when you are 600 miles from home... plus packing a side arm...

this year it's the 280 and the 35 whelen AI... the 280 has been my go-to big game rifle for a number of years.. but this year the new 35 is gonna get it's chance... the 280 has taken deer and the 35 is a freshly built rifle that i've put a lot of work into.. so time to see if she is worth her salt... :D

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

That would be a good idea. except by the time i decided which one to pick up the deer would be gone

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

Well...I don't have a problem with choosing a centerfire...I only own one...Opening day of rifle season here in NC...I took my flintlock...:)

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

Danny, if I am going to hunt the Bush, I would take the .30-30, if I was going to hunt the Power Lines, I would take the .270/130gr.

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

Which ever one "feels" the best to you when you shoulder it.

However if I were huntng close up type stuff where I might have to get a quick shot off I would rather have a 30-30 with open sights over a scoped 270.

Paul

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

Flip a coin and decide that way. That's what I normally do or grab whichever gun is leftover after everybody else has grabbed one. We normally have several people who do not have their own guns and we have a policy of letting them borrow a gun and we let them chose which gun they are comfortable with. Normally I'll have about 4 guns to chose from. Sometimes I'll use one of my own or sometimes I'll grab one of my friends guns.

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

take both and when you get there decide then it will be easier to decide. and that way you have both in the truck if one should malfunction for some strange reason. good luck. i would use the 270

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

I'd bring both and leave the 30-30 in the truck as an emergency spare. The only reason I'd choose the .270 is because you havn't killed a deer with it yet - gotta get the stank off'n it!

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

This solution is easy. I had the same dilema last year and having 7 different deer caliber rifles sometimes presents a problem, so I scooped up my 3 year old and held her up to the rack and said "which gun should daddy take today?". So she reaches all the way in the back and points to my Rem 760 in 30-06 that I havent carried for at least 5 years. So I took it, and shot a smaller buck that day too with it. I gave her a huge kiss!!!!:)

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

I choose between my two hunting rifles (7MM RM and .308 Win.)the scientific way, I alternate them each season!
After a few years of this, I've just about put the 7MM away for good!
The .308 with a shorter barrel,works better as a "stand" hunting gun, and it really seems to do a better job on deer size game than the 7MM RM does!
Either of the calibers you have will do fine, pick one and get out there!

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

There should never be any question whether to take a 270 Win or 30-30 Win into the woods. Leave the 30-30 Win behind the door where it belongs.

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

I will be hunting an area that only allows shotguns for opening day, so i will be taking my browning A5 with slugs. If i head for the mountains later in the season it will be with my 280. I have several other choices, but i seen to hang with these two.

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

Thats what I was thinking! Just hated to say it!

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

OOOH boy, yer fixin fer it now. I'm hearing my little voices say "Niagara Falls...... slowly I turned..... step by step.... inch by inch..."
Zeke the stooge.

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

Problem solved.

I asked my 13 year old daughter (mossy33 oak suggestion)
She said "take the 270 cause the 30-30 is mine and you can't shoot it worth a nickel".

Okay then

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

Well there ya go:D

Paul

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

glad to be of help, its funny how when you get your kids involved (even the simplest way) how much more fun it is. :D

RE: which gun on opening day?
 

I'm taking my 243 win - 100 grain Remington CoreLocks while on the stand if I am going to do any pushing I' taking my Rem 870 Expess 12 gauge.