If you aske this question at this forum everyone with say 06...

.270 is my vote.It will kill black bear and u have so many bullet choices with the .270

Not quite. I prefer the 270 Win over the 30-06. It has less recoil, is flatter shooting and has better sectional density unless you are using bruisers out of the 06. As a matter of fact between the 270 Win, 7mm-08 Rem and 308 Win I have no need for the 30-06.

I to like the 270, but will say that if you can only have one rifle for all your hunting needs then I'd get the 30.06. If you plan on hunting only deer and maybe black bear I wouldn't hesitate to use a 270. As far as availability of ammo you'll find 270 and 30.06 equal in price and never hard to find.

I own four .30-06 rifles and but not one .270.

Gotta fix that; life is short!

These two calibers are both outstanding for the types of hunting most of us do. If you reload (and you should, so put this on your life's "to do"list) you will find a much wider choice of bullets for the .30-06. This may or may not be important to the way you hunt. If you don't reload (yet) you will still find ammo for either to be plentiful.

Both are splendid rounds; if I wanted a pure plains rifle, I'd have stocked up on .270s instead of '06s, but the two are pretty close, and you can't go far wrong with either.

Buy one now, and later in life get the other. Life is too short to not have both!

For your requirements I would go with the cartridge you want 270 win. Personally I wouldn't buying something because someone else said it's better when the other choice is what I want and will work just as effectively. The 06' is a good choice as well but it is one I never really needed to keep. Comparatively I have kept my .270 and it has taken numerous game with ease including Bear and Deer (not to mention other game of larger stature). I always pick the right bullet for the job and prefer premium ammo offerings. You'll have no problems finding bullets for the 270 in this regard either to handle your hunting needs.

Walk into any walmart and they will have 3 or 5 different type of .270 round. They might have more 30-06 ammo but does that really matter? if you find out that your weapons does ok with the stuff you can find any old place but is a real tack driver with something you have to special order, what do you think you will do??? You would special order it so you could hit your mark better. I wanted a 30-06 all my life. I got one two years ago and since have picked up a 30-30 and a .270. Not because I'm displeased with the '06, but because I have two boys coming up and wanted to get a little versatility in the gun cabinet to give them something to work with. Put your round where it's supposed to be and you'll be happy with your choice.

David

Don't let anyone kid you...if you hit a bear in the right spot...it don't matter which caliber you use, you'll drop him. The .270 maintains a higher veloicity and kenitic energy over long distance...I've taken Moose with mine at 300+yds. Like I always say, "never guess at your shot, if you're not sure...don't pull the trigger.

Either will handle Black bear and deer with ease. I have had both for many years. If I could just have one, I would stay with the 30-06. OR I will throw the same wrench in and add a vote for the 280. It gives some edges over either the 270 or 30-06. Shoots about as flat at the 270 and with the 175 grain bullet, it comes right in there with the 06 for elk or moose. Load the 175 grain to around 2800 fps and nothing much is going to walk away. I think the 280 is the most under rated caliber out there.

270 is the best gun you can get i have had the best success with and i shot one and that is all you need for the deer.but if you want bears 30 06 is the best out of the two

I love both cartridges. You really can’t go wrong. Two of my buddies have savage rifles one in 270, the other in 30-06 they got them at wal-mart w/ the package scope for $300 it was a sale I think now they are at $350 either way they are both the first “real rifle” they’ve had. They both love them they shoot pretty well out of the box and the guy with the 270 has the accu-trigger which is strange but it works, we all shoot Glocks or Styers so it is similar to that. From my point of view you couldn’t be wrong with either cartridge in a Savage. I shoot the 06 in a sporterized Springfield, but I am in the process of getting a 270 so I don’t know how much the old Springfield will go out after that. I would say that the only time you would need a bigger bullet that the 150-grain would be on the larger bear and elk/moose. Any thing else would not scare me with a 150 in a 270. That is my slightly educated opinion.