I am looking to buy a new rifle and I am narrowing it down to .270 or 7mm-08. Which do you think is better and why?

270 has more Factory ammo choices, although nothing has choices right now.

Both sling similar weight bullets.

7mm is better at longer range but only matters at distances beyond what most people hunt.

My next rifle will be a 7-08 Ackley Improved.

270 as you will likely might find ammo for it.

But you can't compare a short action cartridge to a long action cartridge on this forum.

They both launch a 140 grain bullet around 2900 fps. Step up to 160 grain and the 270 is a bit faster than th 7mm. Step up to 168 or 175 grain, and there are no .270 options. I like the. 270 personally. But the 7-08 seems like it would be more versatile...and will be better long range. If you don't reload, ammo availability might be an issue as well.

I don’t care about short vs long action but I do care about recoil. 270, I’m my opinion, has significantly more recoil with no real benefit. For hunting it’s irrelevant. If you like to shoot, it’s a factor.

If you’re looking for a MPBR hunting cartridge the .270 is for you. That’s sighting it in and killing animals <300 yards.

The 7-08 will do the same by the way.

If you enjoy shooting, or ever consider shooting at extended range, the 7-08 is superior. IN MY OPINION.

I you’re looking for facts like numbers to support it someone hopefully will be along shortly with those. I’m too tired tonight.

Edit: there’s plenty of 7-08 factory ammo available. It’s just not as widely available as .270. You will find .270 in hardware and feed stores, etc. you have to go to a gun shop or academy, bass pro, etc, to get 7-08.

I'd take the 7-08 for less recoil and better 284 bullets (if you reload).

They're both going to kill every 4 legged critter in Texas the same.

If you don't reload, I'm sure the .270 is easier to find ammo for.

I'm glad you're learning.

7mm-08 is something I love. It is my rental rifle cartridge, and my light walking around rifle is a 7mm-08 A. I.

Loaded with a 162 gr, it does everything well. Low recoil, kills with authority, flies very far. 1500 yards is my farthest hit with it. .270 is faster, but with lighter bullets and more recoil, since IT IS a long action with more powder. I'll never own a .270. I just don't have any need for one. There are better options to fill my needs.

If for some reason I had to have only one rifle to do everything I need it to do. Train with, hunt with, shoot matches with, the rifle would be a 7mm-08.

They perform almost exactly the same with available factory ammo. Really only difference is one is a short action they does well with a shorter barrel and one is a long action that does better with a bit longer tube.

I love both of them. My first rifle was a .270 and I bought all my kids and wife a .7mm-08

I would go 270 mainly because of ammo availability (I know now nothing is available), but there is nothing wrong with the 708 either. Also there seem to be more rifles available in 270 so if you are looking for a deal, IME one is easier to be had in a 270, because 270 isn't cool right now.

Because I’m a 270 fan of many years, I’d go for it over the 7-08. But, if the 7-08 has significantly less recoil, I might go with it, and surely would consider it. As for short action or long action, it might matter to long distance target shooters, but to me that’s a meaningless difference. These days I hunt with a 260 (short action, low recoil), but I swear I think the 270 kills em deader and faster. With these small Texas deer though, the 270 has more horsepower than I need.

The answer to everyone who asks about a new rifle is a 6.5 Creedmoor Tikka.

Tikka makes a really good rifle. The only change I would like to see is a little nicer stock. I mean prettier, because they all function fine. I think the prettiest rifle they make is the stainless model with the pepper laminate stock. I have a CTR in 308 and 223 and I love them.

Both will do the same job for the hunting most of us do. The 7mm-08 just does it with about 20% less powder burned (which means less recoil). I have been shooting the 7mm-08 since 1982 and I have shot and hunted with a lot of different calibers over the years but in reality that old 7mm-08 would have done anything the others did.

Short or long action, I prefer the shorter action for being able to maintain cheek weld while cycling the bolt for followup shots, which I do break it with the longer action. Not a big deal for the one shot usually taken while hunting but does come in handy if a followup shot is needed or for those multiple target opportunities like a sounder of hogs presents.

Are you trying to start a fight?

.270 for a pure hunter. It hits harder, shoots flatter, and can hang in the wind every bit as good as the 7mm-08 out to 400 yards if not better. Also WAY easier to find good .270 ammo than 7mm-08, although these days all I can find is .222 Rem and some muzzle loader stuff.

I’m a fan of the 7mm-08. They are going to preform the same on Texas game with the 7mm-08 having less felt recoil.

7-08 has been my favorite cartridge for a while. My AR-308 chambered in it is a joy to shoot. Due to the weight and muzzle brake I dare say the recoil is only a hair more than my .223 rifles.

7-08

Definitely 270

270 and 30-06 have pro ably killed 7 billion animals over the years . You don't need to change that

A 270 with 150's for a hunting rifle is my preference.
The short vs long action argument is irrelevant to me.

You don't mention your intended purpose for either cartridge so its hard to recommend.

But for Deer Sized animals (in Texas) under 300 yds. I am in the 7mm-08 camp.

7mm-08 for me.

Let’s just all be glad a 6.5 cm isn’t in the mix...

My first rifle I scraped up the money to buy setting pins in an old 9 pin bowling alley was a 270 win. It’s been great and I have never regretted it, has done all I need and more. Past two years I have shot and hunted with a 7mm08 and a 30-06. Although the 270 has never done me wrong I doubt I’ll ever buy another. Of the two I would do a 7mm08.