How much advantage, if any does a 270 have over a 7-08? With same weight gun, how does recoil compare? Would like to have a little more gun for the wife when we make the elk hunt. Where would the 280 Rem stand? Thanks

7-08 should recoil less out of those and isn't a bad elk round, just put the bucket where it needs to go.

Where do you put your bucket while hunting? I occasionally sit on one.

Out of identical rifles the 7-08 will recoil considerably less and is plenty big enough for elk. That being said the 270 out performs it slightly and with reduced recoil ammo from a company like Remington you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Except that ammo designed for elk size game is a lot easier to find off the shelf

*bullet..


So, I messed up.

I doubt much of it is going to matter in the end. On paper 7mm08 has less recoil, but it also weighs less so that will partially negate that. I don't believe there to be much difference in recoil when not shooting light bullets in the 7mm08.

Out of the two I would probably pick the 7mm08 though.

I dont think you could go wrong with either. everything is always about shot placement anyways. Pick the rifle that fits you best

I'd take the 270 over the 7-08, but that's just personal choice. I really don't think it matters at all what caliber you get for your wife. Either one should be equal to the task. Just let her pick the rifle, and put a good recoil pad on it. Sure wish my wife would hunt.

If you look at the same bullet weight in each caliber, you can get an idea. The 7-08 will push a 150 grain bullet about 2750-2800 fps. A 270 will push a 150 grain bullet about 2900-2950. More speed equals more recoil. The 270 is a long action caliber, where the 7-08 is a short action caliber. The 270 has about 10-12 grains more powder capacity than the 7-08, which equals more speed.

If you go to the Hodgdon reloading site, you can get an idea of both calibers for speeds with certain weight bullets.
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

If you go to the recoil website, you can enter in the parameters for your specific set up and get an idea on recoil numbers.
http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

What is she shooting now?

All three you mentioned will work. Load all three with a good bullet, and put the bullet where it goes, she'll have a dead elk.

I'd put the .280 Rem at the top of the list, with the 7-08 in second place. I'm a 7mm fan, and the 280 can push the same 7mm bullet the 7-08 can, only faster. But this is somewhat of a Ford vs. Chevy vs. Dodge discussion.

I like both the 7mm-08 and .270 Win. and have both. My wife likes the 7mm-08 a lot better.

That's all of the information that you really need to know when comparing the two cartridges.

The most import thing about buys a gun is buying one that fits you well, is what you want and, the one that you want to shoot. Practice is the most import thing. If you want to practice with a rifle the rifle will be the best for you.

I hung up my 270 after hunting with it for 30+ years when I recently got a .280 Ackley. No regrets. With a muzzle break it recoils considerably less than my 270.

The bullet is more important that what is on the headstamp.

Yup. When I'm having a good hunt, the bucket is upside down. When it's a bad hunt, it's right-side up. That's one way I judge the quality of a three- or four-day stay out at the lease.

A rifle with a muzzle break recoils less than on without. Otherwise yor 280 would recoil more.

A 280 is a 30-06 case with a 7mm bullet (.284")
A 270 is a 30-06 case with. .277" bullet

A 7mm-08 is 308 case with a 7 mm bullet
A 243 is a 308 case with a 6mm bullet

308 is a short action and has less powder capacity.

Long story short, it matters very little. A tough bullet is probably more important than bullet size. Getting the bullet to the vitals is most important.

OK, the type of bullet has been mentioned several times. She will be shooting a 7-08 with a Barnes TSX 140 gr as her primary gun. Backup will be a 30-06 with a Nosler 150 ballistic tip. I am open for other suggestions. Thanks Daniel

Until you forget and leave your ammo at home and find yourself looking for a box at whatever stores are available. Some calibers make great conversation pieces, but can be a challenge to find on the store shelf.

Who does this?

It is brought up all the time. So much that one would think most hunters are stupid, and take a rifle without ammo. Same as headed out on a trip and leaving with an empty tank.

Rifle
Ammo
Rangefinder

Everything after that are accessories.

I keep an extra box of ammo in my trailer in every caliber I shoot, not only for my own benefit, but for others who never forget and leave their ammo at home.

With all due respect...folks who fly to their hunting destinations and don't want to completely re pack their entire stack of luggage checking to make sure thier luggage has not been pilfered, usually don't find out they are with out ammo until it's too late, and are the ones who need to shoot something with easy to find ammo...and how I came to look for some 270 ammo for a client in the Zona Rosa of the little town across the river,south of McAllen one nite about 2am...and found it.

Back in the day when I hunted as a guest more frequently than on my own lease most years...I also was around several hunters who regularly shoot more than one caliber, and sometimes showed up at camp with the wrong claiber ammo...and where I learned to use different colored plastic ammo box's for different calibers & still do. Just Sayin' Stuff happens to anyone sometimes, even the most organized OCD folks I ever knew....an' thas when it's the funniest, 'cause those folks NEVER make any mistakes to hear them talk.
Ron

Ammo carrier on buttstocks of my hunting rifles. If I have the rifle I have the ammo.

I do that too.