I'll say the 30-06 just because its the closest thing to what I would buy, a 308.

30-06 hands down, grain for grain the '06 is about as accurate as the other 2 and has way more choices for bullets and grains.



NRA

Actually, before an educated answer can be given, tell us....How much do you shoot? Have you shot all three cartridges?? Can you keep all your shots in a 8 inch circle at 300 yards, from you deer stand???

I know plenty of guys that bragged about their "Ought Six" in the '70s and '80s that are now shooting something else for deer....The attitude "Buy an Ought Six in case you ever want to go elk hunting" has inflicted many a hunter with a bad case of flinching...And I bet less than 5% of those hunters here on the east coast ever made the trip....Heck, if you can afford an elk hunt, you can afford to buy another rifle to carry with you...

The '06 would be my last choice of the three, if you are talking about just hunting our Southern deer....Remember the phrase "Jack of all trades, Master of none"....
That's the '06......

I'm an average shot. I enjoy going to the range. Once a week when the weather is agreeable. I would count out the 7mm-08 but honestly. I love the fact that it has such low recoil.Really the only thing keeping me from getting it is the price of ammunition and the lack of readily available ammunition.Still, I'm not going on an elk hunt or bear hunt or big fat arse elephant hunt. It's just for your average West Georgia Deer. Shaaaaa I guess to be completly honest. I should just hang it up and get the 7mm-08 because that's what I want. I just keep talking myself out of it with what if's. Well IF I get to win the lottery and go on a bear hunt or some thing else I'll just either buy another rifle or borrow a friends and save the $$.

Thanks, that helps...Now, I assume you are like me, haven't gotten into reloading...yet...With 3 daughters, a wife and a widowed mother-in-law in town, just don't have the chance....I too would go with the 7mm-08...It will do all you want to do and is plenty flat for shots up to 300 yards, with the right sight-in and still hold on the deer....

On bears, all 3 will do the job, we have bears on our farms in Eastern NC...One brother has 2-.270s another has a 7mm-08, a .280 and a 300 Mag, I shoot a .243...We have all killed bears...

What a 7mm-08 brings to the table...A short action, even with a 24 inch barrel balances well...I picked up a Remington CDL in 7mm-08 and its amazing how much better it balanced than a long action in the same gun...It also has less recoil than a .270 or a 30-06, and this will make your shooting sessions more enjoyable, so you will shoot more and this will make you a better shot....My brother that owns the 7mm-08 uses plain old 140 gr Remington CoreLokts, has had this gun since the early '80s and has probably killed 150 deer or better with this gun, so its plenty of gun, has less recoil, shoots plenty flat out to 300 yards (which should be most guys max range anyway, especially in the South where we have lots of cutovers, swamps, etc.)...

So the main disadvantage is price of ammo and lack of availibility in some areas of the country....Our local WalMart stocks 3 dfferent 7mm-08 loads, we also have 4 different mom and pop stores that stock it, Gander Mountain in Greensboro (30 miles away stocks)....If your gun likes the CoreLokts, buy a case, ammo is going up and will continue to do so, I have seen the CoreLokts do well on both deer and bear, really no need to buy the more expensive stuff...Good Luck, and have fun!!

I no longer have a .270, I just never was very keen on the .270, but I still have several 30.06's, but my go to deer rifle is a 7mm-08. I've taken loads of deer with that little cartridge and it kills like lightning. I don't think I'll ever not have at least one in my safe. Buy the 7-08 and be happy.

You can't go wrong with any of the three. If I was you though I would choose the 7mm-08 because it is such a pleasure to shoot. You will have much more pleasurable experiences at the range. You will shoot more and become a much better shot. When you decide to go after something other than deer you will have to decide whether or not you want a more powerful cartridge or not. But, don't discount the 7mm08 either it is a much better cartridge than most give it credit for.

I looked at the ballistics tables, comparing the 130 gr. .270, 140 gr. 7mm-08, and 150 gr. .30-06 as was surprised at how close the three were. Trajectories are withina couple inches of each other at reasonable hunting distances, and ft. lbs of energy are virtually identical across the board. The 7mm actually has more energy at 500 yards than the other two. Ultimately it's kind of a flip of the coin choice. They'll all get the job done. Here is the ballistics chart:

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/printable_version.aspx?data=R270W2*R7M081*R30062

I really like my short action .243, so I might have tochange my vote here from the long action '06 to the short action '08...

7mm-08

I'll go with O'Connor and say 270win. I have hunted with one for deer since i was 16. She has never let me down and is a perfect deer caliber. Have you looked at a 270wsm???? Does weatherby have them?