To me that would be a reson TO have a .270. Do you both end up shooting the same ammo, well say you forgot shells or vice versa. do you/he handload and would both loads work in both guns for a fraction of shelf ammo? I have 22-250, 30-06, 7mm-08, 25-06, .223, 308, 270, .243, 22mag, 22LR all in bolt guns. I normally pick up the .243 or .270 because they are both in "stalk" configuration. ie:308, 22-250 are 26" varmint contours, the 7mm-08 and .223 and 25-06 are barrels for my TC prohunter and not needed but i have them. Have i lost an animal to any above caliber, NO, but 1 day i will but it will be poor shot placement, not the round. for my listed ADVANTAGE above i would stay with the .270 unless you just want to be different like me and own 10 guns and shoot 3.

Not trying to be argumentative but to be honest, most hunters can't shoot accurately much beyond 100 yards, let alone 400-600 yard range. I'd reckon to bet that 90%+ deer shot in Texas are at 100 yards or less.

So given that information, will someone please explain to me the need for a magnum. I understand that some just simply want to hunt with 300 WM. But don't try to convince me that it's needed. Maybe for Elk beyond 300 yards but certainly not for whitetails of any size.

Remington .280 will get it done everytime!

with the technology we have now and optics there's no reason in the world (other than poor eyesight & some super season shakes) to not be able to shoot 400-600.

I agree with you 100% but that doesn't change the fact that most can't.

X2

As a new shooter, you really need to take recoil into account. Here are the numbers:

.270 - 16.5

7mm-08 - 12.1

7mm RM - 19.3

.30-06 - 17.6

I have seen just about every rifle and load come out with our hunters. From open sight moisin's to tricked out long guns. Out of all the calibers, the 7mm seem to have the most DRT's.

.270 rifles have wounded / lost the most deer. I am not sure why but I think the round is so hot it passes clean through if it hits a little back. Last year we lost one from a saiga AK but the kid was shooting a FMJ. We tracked that deer for 3 miles and never found it. I will check everyone's rounds this year.

How much of it has to do with bullet placement or bullet choice? You can't fault or credit a caliber for poor marksmanship.

I will agree that too many cant shoot past 100 yards. I think that has more to do with practice than anything else.

To answer your question about why a magnum. First if you are planning to own just one rifle get one big enough for what ever you MIGHT hunt. Secound the recoil is more (that also depends on the rifle both my .300 WM and .338 WM have less felt recoil than my 1903 .30-06), but I think it is managable for most shooters. Are magnums "needed" to hunt whitetail? Absolutely not! But that is like asking if you "need" 4 wheel drive, a "lease" jeep, more than one knife, or full set of cammo to hunt out of a box blind. I am a gun nut and own more than I need. I have the two magnums that I will hunt with, but if I am hunting a box blind I usually have my 600 in 6mm (short and easy to manuver) or one of my .25-06s (personally think it is best whitetail round out there). If I am on a doe only hunt I usually carry my wifes .223 because it is a dead on 100% tack driver (head shots).

hornedfrog,
I agree. I have 308 Norma Mag, 300 Wby Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, 264 Win Mag, .270 Win, .308, 30-30, .243 Win, 22-350, .223 and a gob of .22's, .22 mags and a .17HMR.

I like nice firearms of all kinds. I'm currently looking to acquire a .257 Wby Mag. I'd also like a .280. My point was that mags are not needed to take deer. I've met some guys that actually believe that one must use a magnum. I'm only making the point that this isn't true. If one chooses to use a mag because that what they want, then fine. But you'll never convince me that it's necessary.

The design and weight of the rifle, amongst other things will influence felt recoil!

To the OP...a 7 mag will take anything on this continent although some may argue over the "big" bears. It would be a great choice.

As far as magnums go, its always better to have too much gun then not enough. Dead is dead no such thing as overkill.

With that line of thinking a .460 Wby mag would be the perfect deer caliber.
You could tag out with one shot if the deer aligned themselves correctly.

How about a .460 Super Short Wby Magnum?

Shot mine last year with a 375 ruger. I would use the 460 wby if i had it. Thats not my usually deer rifle it was just new last year so I had to use it.

If someone asks what caliber they need, my answer is a 308 Win. If you are not experienced enough to know, then that's the answer. It is easy to shoot, has ample ammo choices, great for hunting, and low recoil. If you do some reading on-line about calibers and bullets, you can see what is more powerful than the next choice. But, can you shoot the latest wiz-bang-magnum? Most new shooters can't shoot a light rifle in a magnum caliber. So, if you do not know enough about the different calibers, the answer is a 308 Win.

do your homework and pick anyone one of the three you mentioned w/the exception of the 7mm mag and you'll be alright. i seriously doubt you'll be beating yourself up over wat you picked.

7mm mag is fine also, but personally i wouldn't buy a mag as a first gun.

Or you could buy a magnum that will beat the heck out of you and make you appreciate your 270.

Not tryin to b an a$$ but i remember the last studies i check said that the caliber for the most deer never recoverd was a 7 mag(could be wrong)...not because it wasnt a power of performance thing but everyone thinks they need a 7mag and cant handle the recoil

I recommend .270. It's a great all-around caliber and probably tied with 30-06 for having the most widely available ammo. Personally, I like odd-ball calibers like the .280 which is just one little tad better ballistically than the .270 (same case but with a 7mm bullet) but the ammo is hard to find. Same with the .260. Cool round but ammo is very expensive and hard to find. The .270 is a great gun. You can't go wrong and you won't ever be dissappointed by it's performance provided you do your part. (learn to shoot. site in the gun. practice. don't take stupid shots....) Oh, and one last word. The best scope? It's the most expensive one you can afford.

Excellent advice as usual from Chad.

Shot placement trumps power, always.

300 win is THE caliber for me, but it ain't for everyone.

Well if anyone is looking for a 300 Win then let me know. It's more gun than I really need. I have a 30-06 and I enjoy shooting it a lot more.

I spoke with a very well known man who has the best blood trailing dogs in South Texas aand ask him which caliber he had the most calls on? 7Mag was his reply without hestiation.
When asking someone about their favorite caliber/rifle they will reply witht the one most of the time they have shot the most and it shoots the best for them. Get any caliber and rifle and shoot it enough to be able to shoot tight groups everytime out. When you can do this, caliber won't matter as much since you will put the bullet where it is needed. I started out with a 6mm early in life and then switched to a .270 about 30 yrs ago now and it has killed everything I have wanted to kill with it.