I've used a 270 win(Ihave no complaints) for years as well as a 243(I feel it is too small) but I am considering a 7mm08. It's for shooting red deer here in Scotland everyone is talking about this round as it is relatively new here. How does it perform compared with a 270 win , I understand there will be less recoil. Less recoil is fine but I dont want to loose accuracy. I will be shooting from 50 metres to 350metres in open ground, we will be shooting quite a lot of animals out of a herd so I need a round that will "drop" deer.. Due to legislation here I can only use factory ammo , the rifle will be fitted with a reflex moderator and 8x56 Schmitt& Bender scope and a Harris bipod, I'll probably be buying either a Tikka,Sako or Mannlicher rifle.

Stew

Since you have used the 270 previously, why change? Unless you just want another gun (which is always a good reason). Lots of calibers will meet your needs, but the 270 is always a good choice. Good Hunting, Hal

In the field it is hard to tell the difference in the performance of the 7mm-08 Rem and the 270 Win. On paper the 270 Win has a slight ballistic advantage, but both cartridges are fine performers. It pretty much boils down to whether you want a long action rifle, or a short action rifle. I shoot both cartridges and I have to flip a coin to see which one goes to the woods. If I were you and already owned a 270 I wouldn't bother with the 7mm-08 Rem. BTW, you are not going to lose accuracy with a 7mm-08.

I'll take a short action over a long action any day. Since your in Europe, might want to look at the metric cartridges instead. Like the 7mmX57. Might be easier for you find ammo. And it getting near the 270win performance.

the 270 win ia a great cartridge so no i wouldnt change

The 7mm-08 will not do anything better or worse that the .270 won't do. If you already have a .270 buying a 7mm-08 will only add to the same "class" of rifles. I would buy something in the 300 or 338 class of rifles.

Stew, there is no way I would spend money on a 7mm/08 if I already had a 270 and I were in you situation. Even if I didn't have any rifle at all and I was starting from scratch, I would choose the 270 anyway, under the circumstances you described.

Hi stew,
If you already have a .270 then the 7mm/08 won't give you any advantage EXCEPT for the recoil. It will be slightly less with the 7mm/08, and if you're itchin to buy a new gun a 7mm/08 is a great round.
But I agree with a few of the others that getting a 7mm/08 is duplicating, in large part, what you already have. I also like the idea of a 7 x 57 since you will find it easier to obtain. But same difference here also.
What about a .308?

Stay with the .270Win. Greater variety, and I suspect better availability, of factory ammo with the .270. I'd give the edge to the .270 for long shots also. As to recoil, I've found them about equal, but then a lot depends on the rifle/stock design. A good way to judge potential recoil is to just look at the corresponding bullet weights & velocity. The most common used in .270 is the 130 or 140gr. The 7-08 uses 140gr. Ten grains of weight difference, if applicable, isn't going to make much difference in this case as the velocities are pretty close.

Stew, I would go to the www.federalcartridge.com website and look at the ballistic comparisms of the 2. I think both are fine cartridges and they have identical accuracy. I think the 270 is offered in more larger game variations then the 7-08. For a 500-600 pound animal I think both are fine rounds. If you have a 270 and are happy with it no need to exchange it for a 7-08. As for recoil no one will notice the difference comparing 130 grain vs 140 grain bullets.