243 vs. 270 vs. 30.06

[Greybeard]

Another fan here of the '06. If not the 700, and on a tight budget, I'd look real hard at one of the Savages.

As stated, greatest versatility in '06 ammo. The major mfgrs. in recent years have even developed "low recoil" loads for new shooters that give 'em about the same "punch" on the back end as a .243 ...

[texas1234]

I own a .270 Browning BAR that I really like, I also own a .243 Remington 700 I like, I used my friends 30.06 last year to take down a doe and I really liked it too.

.243 keeps getting mentioned as a kids gun. If you wan a gun for kids to shoot buy a .223. A .243 is a good versatile gun because you can buy a 100 grain bullet that will shoot at 2800 fps or you can buy a 55 grain bullet for varmits that will shoot at 3800 fps which I use for pigs. I would not put a .243 on the shoulder of my 7 year old.


A .243 is just as good a rifle as any to take a 200 yard shot. You can shoot the enemy in the Marine Corp at 500 yards with a .223 and drop them like a bad habit.

Why would anyone be concerned about a clean kill with a .243 at 200 yards. Put the rounds up next to each other. .243 is the smaller of the deer calibers but its not a small round.

[Dan]

.243 is a great deer rifle. If I had to go heavier, I'd pick up a .308. Heavier still and I'd grab a .300 win mag. The ballistics of a .30-06 aren't enough of an improvement over a .308 to warrant the long case and extra recoil, IMO.

[WildBill]

.243 is a great deer rifle. If I had to go heavier, I'd pick up a .308. Heavier still and I'd grab a .300 win mag. The ballistics of a .30-06 aren't enough of an improvement over a .308 to warrant the long case and extra recoil, IMO.

IMO, the only advantage of the 30-06 over the .308Win is the availability of ammo, and that is debatable.

[dicion]

Can't we just all agree that the only solution is to own one in each and every caliber there is?

... now if we could only convince our wives of the same.

[WildBill]

Can't we just all agree that the only solution is to own one in each and every caliber there is?
... now if we could only convince our wives of the same.

The wives might agree "as soon as every husband agrees that they need to own a purse to match every pair of shoes."

[dicion]

Can't we just all agree that the only solution is to own one in each and every caliber there is?
... now if we could only convince our wives of the same.

Stereotypical male chauvinist answer: "As soon as every husband agrees that their wives need to own a purse to match every pair of shoes."

... Mine already does... and then some...

How do you think I get her to let me buy so many guns

[Dan]

.243 is a great deer rifle. If I had to go heavier, I'd pick up a .308. Heavier still and I'd grab a .300 win mag. The ballistics of a .30-06 aren't enough of an improvement over a .308 to warrant the long case and extra recoil, IMO.

That being said, I've used a .30-06 for hunting for years and have taken most of my deer with one. It's a very capable round, there are just others out there that can do everything it does only more efficiently and with less recoil. I would not buy a new rifle in .30-06, but if I saw a good deal on a used rifle in .30-06 I wouldn't hesitate to jump on it.

[gringogigante]

Hate throw a monkey wrench into the mix....anyone thought about 6.8spc?

[kalipsocs]

Well here is one more opinion. I bought a Mossberg 100ATR in .270 about a year ago and put a $110 Bushnell Banner 3-9x40. All in and all done it was $360. At 100 yards I get a 3/4in. group with 130 grain. I like the .270 for some unknown reason, but what it came down to for me was price of ammo, its availability, and track record. 30.06 and .270 were the same price, and the 30.06 had the track record for sure, but I was just more drawn to the .270.

As far as the rifle, I know that in some capacity I will always have that rifle even when something more pricey eventually replaces it. It is plenty accurate for hunting, its got tight groups, and I bet it will take lots of abuse. Trying to keep it clean though until I get a real job Full time students don't get paid much

[KD5NRH]

Hate throw a monkey wrench into the mix....anyone thought about 6.8spc?

Well, I did, until I realized that if I ever needed to fill in that gap between a light .270 load and a really light .270 load, I'd just buy a .270 and work something up with easier-to-find dies and components.

[gringogigante]

I didn't have any trouble at all finding components or dies. I found them all on Midwayusa and Natchez with no problem. Ordered them right up.