Advice for new rifle...
 

Hello, I am getting ready to buy a new gun for X-mas, I have a .308 rem semi-auto already. I am looking at getting the Winchester bolt action(model 70 i think) .270 WSM or the 7mm WSM. I have not yet decided. I will be using the gun for whitetail. Any sugestions?

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

I'm a big M-70 fan.....I think you'll like them.

Re: .270 or 7MM...the 7MM is much more versitile.....The .270 WSM will handle bullets to 150 grain (mostly) while the 7MM (only .007" larger in diameter) will send the 175 grain bullets for the bigger game. For deer size the 7MM is the equal of the .270 in such weights as the 120-150 range.

The .270 gains nothing over the 7MM but the converse cannot be said.

If all you intend to hunt is deer and that size animals, there's no difference.....but then why wouldn't you pick the more versatile gun?

I'll never again own a .270.

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

Of the two you mentioned my chouice would be the 270 WSM. I just finished reading in one of my reloading manuals that the 7MM short mags bullets must be seated pretty deep thereby reducing powder capacity and costing velocity. I have not tried either but if this is true then you may be better off with the 270 WSM or going to the 7MM Remington mag.

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

Hi Big Red:

I am a M70 fan, but I would not purchase either. Your semi is a great caliber/gun for whitetail. Unless your rem won't group, I don't see any gain in either of the cartridges you mentioned.

Happy Hunting.
CE

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

I'm not saying my .308 isn't doing the job, i just want a different gun. :)

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

I too have heard that the Short mags do not do well with the long-for caliber bullets and when these bullets are used they invade the valuble powder space and reduce velocities. I would go with a standard caliber in the Model 70. .270, .280, 7mm RM these would all serve the same purpose as the new short mags and be a lot easier on the wallet.

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

If you are going to use the new gun for whitetails, I would get the .270 WSM without a second thought. It would be a pretty tough round to beat when it comes to anchoring whitetails.

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

Of the ones you listed - 270WSM. I wouldn't over rule the standards though, I own both 270 win and 7mm rem mag they do an excellent job. like mentioned: Ammo is cheaper and readily available, if a concern.

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

I have been doing a lot of research on buying a new rifle. I have read some of these threads and would just like to relay this info. I agree with those who say for versatility go with a 7MM Mag. over a 270. Same balistics, same kick, more versatility. Been looking at one myself but in 7MM Wby Mag. Like the Wby for show and the Ruger for the safety features and included rings.

Currently torn between that and the .300 Wby Mag. Also would like to know if I have the balls for the .30-378 Wby. Don't need it but it would be cool to own. Anyone that has experience with it and would like to share I'd appreciate it. Everything I read tells me it's a bastard to shoot. Expensive, I know, but my standard deer downer is a Rem 760 pump in .308 that has never failed to dump them on the spot. This would be a splurge on a toy. Thinking stainless synthetic.

Mikey from PA

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

Oh....and I found a great site Search on Chuck Hawks and read all of his stuff. Really good info....and says that short Mags are basically more kick for little benefit. I was excited aout them too until what he has said in several articles really made sense to me.

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

I have also looked at the 300 WSM, any info on these? So far I have narrowed it down to the 300 WSM and the 7mm WSM. I was thinking though that since i have a .308 why would i go with the 300.

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

Yeah....I know. I don't need anything more than a .308 really unless I'm heading for Africa. Just thought since I had the cash I would buy a pretty toy with a little more pop out in the distance. plus if I every get to start going for some fantasy hunts I'll have the plenty of pop to do it with. -Mikey

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

If I was getting up in that power range I would go the max and get the 300 RUM. 190 grain Hornady at 3200 fps. Same as the 30-378 but with 20 grains less powder. From the Hordady manual NO. 5

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

Ok thanks for the advice everybody. I guess i'm leaning towards the 7mm WSM, i went and looked at it again yesterday. I also looked at the 300 WSM. Still think i'll go with the 7mm, although they only have one 300 left in stock if i do decide to get the 300 it might not be there later.[&:] So i guess i'll make my final decision later this week.

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

You will like the M70, just purchased one myself. It's a nice gun for the price. But i must ask, why not a 30.06? So many bullet choices, so little cost of ammo as well. I think that the 30.06 is right were most people would want to be.. Good whitetail gun, bigger game if necessary, and you can get bullets in a pinch at the gas station. Over the last couple of weeks i have been here reading alot aobut all different calibers and it seems some people just like the newest and greatest fads in calibers. A trusty 30.06 is hard to beat as it has been around for such a long time.

RE: Advice for new rifle...
 

I would go for the 7mmwsm.As for the 30-06 many people buy it simply because it is popular and not because it actually does anything better than the other cartridges.Being popular or older does not make a cartridge shoot any better or kill any deader.If everyone went with popularity and was not willing to try anything new we would still be driving automobiles with carburetors and points, developing less power and getting many less miles per gallon.