Big Uncle

A couple of inches of a light contour barrel is not very much difference in weight. The short action vs. the long action is not very much weight. I would not consider these as major factors unless I was shaving every ounce to include light weight sling, scope rings, and of course the scope. I see fellows with light rifles equipped with padded leather slings and big scopes and I do not quite understand their thinking.

A light contour barrel and a light weight stock make sense if you are starting with a fairly light action to begin with.

I have had light weight rifles before and decided that I did not need them. I had a Forbes and finally sold it a couple of years ago. There are a still a M700 Mountain rifle chambered in 270 here that my wife loves. If I wanted another light rifle I would just buy another M700 Mountain rifle chambered in 270 or 280.

The 308 is a very useful cartridge and it is a good compromise for most purposes. It is a "Jack of all trades, Master of none" and it certainly has it's place. However, for larger game and general versatility I think most would be better served with one of the long-action cartridges.

Nomercy448

In Remington 700's, there's only about a 3-4oz spread for the two lengths. In others, like Ruger, CZ, and Winchester, it's a half pound difference between short and long action, savages fall between there - and again, these actions start out a pound heavier than Remingtons already.

So action choice can make a difference - you can add a half to 3/4 pound simply by switching a Rem 700 short action for a Ruger or Winchester long action.

Barrel length, while not a lot of weight, tends to affect balance quite a bit. I never noticed how much difference it makes until I started playing with different brakes on the same rifle. Since the weight is out on a long lever arm, the balance can totally change with just a few ounces.

Blackelk

Trajectory is why I would own a 270 over a 308. So I guess I'm ruled out of this post.

Ridge Runner

lf trajectory didn't matter, everybody would be usin 30-30's
RR

Nomercy448

Good point - and probably worse than that!

If trajectory didn't matter, I could believe we still would have evolved metallic centerfire cartridges for the ease or loading and feeding in repeating firearms, but we probably wouldn't have worried about creating anything with a better trajectory than a 56-56 Spencer Rimfire or a 44-40 Centerfire, and probably wouldn't have worried about improving smokeless powder over traditional black.

PigBrick

Never have seen a shooter or an animal that could tell the difference in a .270 vs .280.

OP, at reasonable ranges, there is no appreciable difference in a .270 and 308, as far as performance on game, when both are loaded with good bullets. I've used both extensively. I am a little bit partial to the 270 win. It was my first CF rifle cartridge and I have killed enough game to fill a couple of large dump trucks with it. Lately, I've been carrying a Kimber Montana in 308 @ ~5 lbs, all-up. Hiking steep and far certainly favors that rifle. It kills chit.

Bottom line is that the bullet shoved in the brass matters more than what is written on the base of that brass.

Game Stalker

PB, that could be said about any number of cartridges. Like the previous noted calibers, it's an option for the OP that deserves mention. Seems most people, including yourself, have or had a favorite. I agree that it's the bullet that does the job.