Need advice on my rifles

[fire652]

I own and swap guns all the time. However I currently have three rifles that I love to shoot and looking to get into rifle hunting. I have strictly bow hunted for the past 15 years. My question is are my caliber choices or can I get rid of one. I have a 7mm rem mag, .308, 270 win. My thought would be the 7mm rem mag for larger game and the 308 for my antelope hunt and deer sized game. My thought is that the 270 is expendable. So would you keep the two listed and trade the 270. Or would you just keep one gun say the 7mm rem mag as the all purpose gun. I shoot them all equally as well and will keep shots to within 300 yards Thanks for any advice for a new rifle hunter.

 

[Shrek]

The 7mm mag will do it all to well past 300 yards and the 308 will to. The 270 is gay and needs a new home .

 

[COlineman78]

I personally think 270 is the best hunting rifle for sub 350yd shots for all game up to and including elk. It is such a flat shooter you practically never have to account for drop. That being said, 308 can probably be pushed out to 500 with the right ammo but need to account for the less flat trajectory. The nice part about 308 is the availability of ammo and cheap mil surplus for brass (if you reload) and the wide array of ammo options. I would keep whichever is your favorite of the 270 or 308. I personally have a 308 and a 300 Wby, but my dad has always hunted elk with 270 win (the gun with which I took my first elk) and never had issues with stopping power. I'd maybe think about trading the 308 for 30-06 or 300wsm if you were looking to try something different.

 

[norsepeak]

keep the 7mag and the 270 and ditch the 308. The 308 has the ballistics of a bucket of cement. Work up a good 130 grn load the 270 for just about anything out to 4-500 yards. Work up a good 165 grn load for the 7 mag for the longer shots and have fun.

 

[justinspicher]

I've never shot a 7mm mag or a .270, but I do know that the .308 can easily shoot past 500yds. We were shooting a suppressed .308 out to 700yds at 9500' this past August in Colorado. Zero issues.

 

[mtluckydan]

If you like recoil then keep the 7mag. Otherwise, the 308 will do everything you want and need. Whether you handload or shoot factory ammo, there are many good choices with the 308. I have no personal experience with a 270 but it has killed alot of game as well. My favorite round is the 308, but also like many of the 308 based calibers as well.

 

[COlineman78]

I've never shot a 7mm mag or a .270, but I do know that the .308 can easily shoot past 500yds. We were shooting a suppressed .308 out to 700yds at 9500' this past August in Colorado. Zero issues.

Yes it can; the longest kill with an M24 (Remington 700, .308) was in Iraq at 1300yd, however the military says the max effective range is 875yd. That being said, the drop at that range is huge and the military standard scope will max out it's dope at 1000yds. However, back on track, the OP said that he won't go out past 300 and at those short ranges I'd rather have the flat trajectory of the 270 than having to think about the arc of a 308 which is significant (-7" between 200 and 300, +or- 2" if under 200).

 

[Mosby]

Between the 270 and 308, I would probably keep the most accurate that weighs the least. They are all great calibers but I would use accuracy as a litmus test. At least it is what I do. If they don't shoot under an inch they are expendable, regardless of caliber. If they all shoot, then I would go by gun weight. The older I get the more of an issue it becomes. Light weight beat heavy weight IMO. Easier to carry up the mountain.

 

[Roy68]

Ford, Chevy, Dodge.... Which one(s) do you like the best and why? If your supporting reasons make sense to you then go with that. All 3 of those calibers will get the job done at that 300 yard range and then some on the game you listed. If you can shoot lights out better with 1 of the 3 then keep just the one. And put the extra cash from the sale of 2 rifles towards your next hunt.

I've shot all 3 in different makes and models. I've harvested animals with the 270 & 7mm and only killed bowling pins with a 308. I'm not a fan of the 308 but that's just a personal preference, not a reason for you to discard it.

 

[Gar]

Keep them all. The 308 is a great choice. I use a 168g BTHP with my 308. Ive shot it accurately out to 675 yards, and have taken my last two 10 point bucks with it. Anyone that knocks the 308 has no business giving advise in my opinion. As far as the arc is concerned, its never been a problem for me, I just adjust for it on the turret, than take the shot... animal takes a dirt dive and meat is in the freezer.

Gar

 

[fire652]

Thanks for the replies I don't mind the recoil on the 7 mm. Think I might look at the 270 as expendable

 

[wyosteve]

Sell all 3 and get a .338 and be done with it!

 

[airlocksniffer]

I shoot .308 but the 270 is a great caliber. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot any hooved critter in North America with it except maybe moose. It's also a great antelope gun.

 

[orelkaddict]

While I think all 3 are great calibers 1 thing for sure comes to mind, the 270 has limited bullet selection by comparison to the other 2 you listed. Something else to consider?

 

[striker3]

Speaking of the trajectory of a .308 for hunting, my ballistics calculator shows that a 168gr amax out of 24in barrel has a max PBR zero of 295m. This will put all rounds within +/- 6 inches up to 350 yards. No hold overs needed.

 

[COlineman78]

Speaking of the trajectory of a .308 for hunting, my ballistics calculator shows that a 168gr amax out of 24in barrel has a max PBR zero of 295m. This will put all rounds within +/- 6 inches up to 350 yards. No hold overs needed.

Yeah, sounds about right, but you'd have to zero at like 250 to get that. A zero at 200 would give you +2to-10 out to 350

 

[striker3]

Yep, you need a zero at 295m

 

[AKHUNTER]

There's an old saying that goes something like this, "Be aware of the man who has one rifle because he probably knows how to use it". Keep the 7mm and learn how to shoot it well. I hunt all big game in AK with one rifle - a 300 WSM.

 

[Rifles And More]

Keep the 30cal.

Make sure you have good glass on it and sell the other two to buy better gear and game tags.

Get to know the rifle well, shoot year 'round and spend more time on the mountain.

 

[HOT ROD]

I would keep the 270 and 7mag. Shoot the 130 140 grain 270 for antelope and deer. 160s in the 7mag for elk.. Just my opinion....