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I have a 270WSM and like it. I have not hunted with it yet so I can't tell you how it'd do on elk, moose, etc. Recoil is manageable. You may get a lighter rifle and end up feeling the recoil a bit more than with what you've got, but I don't think it'd be all that much.

You're likely to find ammo availability a bit frustrating. I have, maybe your area is a better. Certainly not as widely available as your 270 or 308. I'd recommend checking out your local stores, see if they're likely to have what you'll want/need. Better than being frustrated later. Price is comperable, just a few dollars more a box than the equivalent 270 ammo. I've gotten around that by buying mail order in bulk, saved some money that way. I'm getting set up to handload, so ammo availability won't be a problem much longer.

I'd go with the 30-06, so that you can shoot the heavier loads. I don't know that the WSM gives you THAT much over the standard round to justify having two 270s. That being said, you've got the middle ground covered with your 270 and 308. As you pointed out, it's not until you get into the 180 grain bullets that you start to see some differences. You've stated that you don't want to go the the heavier magnums. Maybe you should reconsider. What you've got can take care of your medium sized game/pleasureable shooting needs. Taking a bigger step towards the 338 or 375 would give you enough gun for the big game that you'd probably hunt less frequently.

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Ditto----DG The 308 or the 270 Win are up to the task. There should not be a problem on elk, moose, caribou with either. But if you have the Wants, well that's another story.

The .308 and .270 are adequate for all north American hooved animals. My .270 has taken it's share of elk between myself and my grandfather. The .308 can and will do anything the 30-06 will do. If those are your only two guns then I would rethink getting a .338 mag. No sence in essentially duplicating the rifles you have until you get a wide variety of calibers.

30-06 Sprg. Good luck.

If you already have a .308, no need to get a .30-06 (unless you just want one). Same thing pretty much holds true for the .270 Win/.270 WSM. Of the two, you do get slightly more performance from the .270 WSM than from any of the others, and it is quite adequate for all hooved game in North America.

Why not think about the 7mm WSM? Kind of in between, but better than both, at least when you bring what you already own into the mix.

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

Edited by - seattlesetters on 01/25/2003 01:27:41

Bigbulls (and CalNewbie) has got it right. Why amass all your calibers in one small mid-caliber zone? If you are going to have several rifles in your fold, then you should have one "bad boy" in the back of the gun safe that you DON'T take out for the weekly pleasure shoot - rather, its purpose is just for the big jobs. Consider adjusting caliber choice to go proportionate to the body weight and toughness of the game you intend to hunt, i.e. 250 lb. deer (plop) versus 650 lb. elk (runs off without a flinch). The 338 is a gentle giant (at least for NA).

Regarding the always ever present recoil-shy/flinch objection that consistantly arises in any caliber discussion above the venerable 30-06, it interesting to note that the African threads discuss how to handle recoil rather than how to avoid it OR they don't bother with the issue altogther. How could so many American youths play tackle football only to grow up and fall into the recoil avoidance/flinch worries and limitations camp? It must be a matter of mind set - - or poor coaching.

EKM

Good judgment comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!

Edited by - ELKampMaster on 01/22/2003 00:36:50

ELKampMaster brings up a good point. Following is an excerpt of 270WSM performance on an elk hunt from another forum I visit posted just this afternoon.

"I used my 270WSM stainless stalker with the Hornady 150SST. I shot a raghorn bull broadside at about 70 yards. At the shot, he turned and I took the same shot again at the opposite side. The bull then took about three steps and went down. Both bullets exited and the exit wounds were about the size of a quarter. Based on the effect on the lungs, the second shot was probably not needed, but I make a habit of taking any shot a hit elk offers until he goes down."

I'm not saying the 270WSM isn't a good rifle, I've got one. But when I've earned my spurs and am ready to go on an elk hunt, I'm gonna take that as an opportunity to add a 338 or 375 to the arsenal. They'll know they've been hit with that.

Cal, brace yourself. About to hear a long littany about how the ol' deer rifle dropped scores of elk and moose in their tracks - slapped them down as though it were a 458 - didn't even take one step. Our problem will be that we obviously don't know how to shoot, why anyone at all should be able to snipe out a 6 inch heart shot on an elk freehand at 125 yards in thin timber in a 8 second opportunity window and of course never/ever be tempted (even with 2-3 thousand dollars and 10 days off work at play) to take anything other than a perfect shot opportunity. Ability to do perfect shot placement will be held up as the answer to all things - even though it is seldom found far from a bench rest.

EKM

Good judgment comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!

Edited by - ELKampMaster on 01/22/2003 10:25:03