If your going to look for a true 500 yd gun I would look for something other than a .270 or a 30-06. As far as being just a necked down 30-06, keep in mind that '06 parent cartridege spun out a lot of famous rounds still used today. Like 338-06 and the 250-06. I have seen some 600 yd shots with a 25-06 on hogs before and it performed very well. Both the 270 and the 30-06 are capable of such at that distance but not my personal preference.

For that kind of range over 400 yds I'd personally like to have a 300 Win(which mine kicks less than my 30-06 does with the same bullet weight) or maybe even the 7mm RUM. Kind of overkill for just a Texs whitetail but pretty darn flat shooting for that range and farther I think.

As far as worrying about recoil, I wouldn't worry so much about that until after you have shot it. The gun can be modified to handle recoil issues. Get you a better recoil pad to start and maybe get the stock cut to fit right just for you by a good gunsmith. That alone can make a good difference. That isn't enough then get a muzzle brake put on there. I like the srew on type and you can get a blank that will screw on if you decide to not use it. Some are fixed permanetly so you will have to talk with the gunsmith about what you want.

The 270 is actually a necked down 30-03...Hence it has a slightly longer case. 2.54 to 2.49, than the 30-06

I love my 270, it will kill anything I can afford to hunt.

Why would anyone not want to have one. As some of the previous posters have said, the late Jack O'connor was the foremost advocate of the 270. If it was good enough for him, it is good enough for me. I've had a lot of guns over the years and I have always come back to the 270. It has never let me down yet!

Fair enough.

After reading all this and the problems I'm having with my POS Marlin I'm chomping the bit to get a 270 now!

When the Marlin gets back from it SECOND trip to the factory in under 2 months more than likely it'll be sold and the funds going towards the 798 .270

In the Selway, in Idaho, I had the occasion to take a doe at an estimated 600+ yards. I didn't have a range finder at that time but the hold over was for just over 600 yards and it hit dead on. Using a Rem 700 30-06 with 165 grain Nosler Partition handload it penetrated both shoulders and came out with the standard quarter sized hole. Took a small buck at 35 yards through both shoulders when we went in to get the doe. Exactly the same results.

In the big hills on the way to Sun Valley I had to track down a front leg wounded buck. I followed him for 2 miles and the last opportunity was when he was climbing the wall of a canyon directly ahead of me. I estimated it at 600+ yards and held accordingly. I hit him right behind the shoulders direclty on the spine. The bullet penetrated through the spine, down through the chest cavity and exited out the brisket with the standard quarter size hole. That was with a Rem 700 in 243 using the 100 Grain Nosler Partition.

Is the 243 a recommended 600+ deer rifle? In my opinion, no. But is it adequate? It can do the job when called on.

I have (1) Rem 700 in 30-06, 270, 25-06, and (3) in 243. The nice thing about having them in the same model and in those calibers, I can practice, range time and varmint with the 243. Picking up any of the other 3 is merely a few rounds a few times at the range and I can use any one.

When going to the western states and hunting, the preferred one will be the 30-06. I will often take one of the others and use it but the "go to" is the 30-06 because it does have a little more at the longer range.

If I had the 30-06 and wanted one more, I would seriouly question why buy one that is so close in capability to the other. I would get the 243 just because it would give me the greater versatility. I bought the 25-06 because I got it for $35, legally, from a pawn shop. Couldn't pass that one up.

I guess what I am saying is that there won't be a wrong decision. Just be sure that you bring in all your considerations before making you decision.

And a less than optimum decision is just an excuse to get another rifle.