270 vs 7mm-08 vs 308 vs 30/06

[Wmidaho]

Hey everyone! I’m selling my current ruger American in 308 and I’m buying a tikka. I want one rifle I can keep forever and hunt anything with. The tikkas all have the same length action so a short action caliber has no weight advantage. Keeping in mind this is a light rifle, I want a caliber that can kill any big game in North America (excluding brown bears) without a ton of recoil. I would like to be able to shoot 5-600 yards on elk in the event of a bull of a lifetime but most shots will be between 50-400 yards. My top options are 308, 30/06, 7mm-08 and 270. They are all so similar I’m hoping you guys can push me in the direction of one of them. Thank you in advance and have a great day!

 

[Chuckybmd]

I have a stainless Tika in 7 mm 08 that I love. A little bit challenging to find ammo, but not impossible. I think that would fit the bill for what you’re requesting.

 

[EMAZ]

If a 600 yard shot on an elk is a consideration, and a classic cartridge set up is what you prefer versus the newer ones, a 7rem mag is probably the way to go for your stated purpose of an all around for everything but brown bear

Out to 400, any you listed should work well; kind of at the limit for drop versus the others in your list on the .30-06. It will also recoil the most for what you are asking about…the .270 and 7mm-08 are what I’d lean towards for 400 and in.

 

[Mish-pop]

My brother has the 30-06 stainless steel Tikka and loves it. You will always be able to find ammo in 30-06 and it is a trusted caliber for everything.

 

[Elite]

30-06 hand loads are capable of reaching 600 yards easy for elk


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[Deleted member 8-15-23]

6.5prc

 

[EMAZ]

30-06 hand loads are capable of reaching 600 yards easy for elk


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Maybe with hand loads, but looking at 600yds with something like a store bought 180gr Nosler accubond versus the comparable elk cartridge in the .270 (150gr) and 7RM (168gr)… and both the .270 and 7RM drop considerably less (about a foot) and carry more energy at the 600yd mark…they’ll likely do so with less or equal recoil than the .30-06.

Nothing against the .30-06–very great cartridge and capable for any N. American big game at what I’d consider normal hunting ranges (inside 400 yards)…when 500-600 yards come into play on big game, there are more inherently efficient cartridges to start with that won’t require hand loads.

 

[Happy Antelope]

I have a 7mm-08 from Cooper and have shot well over 100 animals with it. I love that round, I'm sure it's considered under powered by a lot of folks, but for the most part it's done it's job out past 700 many times. It's bought down Wildebeast, Zebras, Elk, etc. My favorite rifle by far.

 

[turbobrick]

I'd say -06, fantastic cartridge. I had my Tikka -06 punched out to 338-06 since I had another -06 and wanted to get into 8.6 caliber. My favorite Tikka is the 300wsm though, the short magnums are just so hard to beat.

 

[Laelkhunter]

I love the 30/06. Probably (IMHO) the best all-round rifle cartridge for most big game. Loaded with Barnes 168 TTSX, I would feel adequately prepared to hunt anything in North America (except dangerous game). An old timer once said "There is one problem with owning a 30/06-You don't have any excuse to buy another rifle".

 

[ZAK13]

270 or 30-06 would be my choice, had a lot of success with both calibers

 

[grfox92]

270 and 3006 are comparable, 308 7mm08 are comparable. I would not put all 4 in the same class though.

270 or 06 would be necessary for 600 yard shots on elk.

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[Boarmaster]

I have all four. If I was using all your criteria and rifle brand and I had to pick only one I would pick the 270.

 

[GunsAreFun]

The recoil on a very light 30-06 is going to be quite stout. 270 would be my choice out to 400.

For the ranges you listed, you may want to get a 7mm and put a muzzle break on and just bring hearing protection with you.

 

[keystone112]

30-06 from your list would be my recommendation.

If the bull of a lifetime steps out at 500 or 600 yards, I would accept a bit more recoil and would wish I had a 300 WM.

 

[Yoder]

30-06 has the largest range of bullet weights of any of the guns listed.

 

[Spike elk]

The 270 has been money for me for mule deer, white tail, bear, elk, antelope, and wolf.

 

[Yarak]

Among the choices the 3006 is the best to meet the OP's needs/wants

 

[longspeak74]

30-06. Simple as that.

 

[Pharmseller]

We’ve killed mature bulls just outside of 400 yards with the Mighty 7mm-08, and bucks past 550, but if you’re serious about 600 yards on elk I’d select the 30-06.

400 yards and in, nothing will know the difference between the cartridges it got shot with. It’s more about placement than anything else, assuming proper bullet construction.

That’s one of the reasons I love the Mighty -08, low recoil helps me shoot better.





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