First a .270, then a ????

[wsjax4]

My Remington Model 700 in .270 has served me well for 14 deer seasons. Every now and then I can take a deer at distances over 100 yards on my lease in East Texas but this old girl has been true at 175 on an axis in West Texas and at 330 yards in Missouri on a red stag.

That said, I'm looking to upgrade. I am almost past the idea of buying a new rifle as I feel like my purchase of a new rifle is akin to cheating on my wife, er, my rifle!

I cannot decide on what caliber to updrade to. A 30-06 is too similar to what I have. A .338, 30-378, and the like are too big. How about a 300 mag? A 7mm Mag? Or a .308? I know I want another Remington and the new shorter, hardened barrels are attractive. I would like some first hand info rather than just reading on the Internet so any input is appreciated.

Many thanks.

[Bowhunters]

Why get a new gun?

If its mechanically in good condition but you just like the idea of something that looks new then there are lots of companies that make different looking stocks. Have you considered having the barrel and action completely gone through and cleaned and then reblued and buy a new composite or laminated stock, some of the laminated stocks are absolutely gorgeous and then it will look like a new rifle. Maybe a new scope to top it off.

For whitetail, Axis deer, etc. the .270 is a great caliber.

I have both a .270 Bar and a 7mmRemMag Abolt and the 7mm is nice for really reaching out there but i'm even happier with my Bar in .270.

One problem with the belted magnums is recoil and at close range it is overkill and you can have too much passthrough of the bullet with a tiny little bullet hole going in and a fist sized hole coming out the other side of the chest and the .300 mag would be just as bad and the recoil can be offensive.

As i've said to others, I wouldn't try to talk anyone out of buying a new toy but i'm just saying that I would look before I lept.

Maybe go back to the old school to a .308, shorter action and still a lot of power. I had a .308 years ago and killed a ton of deer with it, its stomps them just like a .30-06 but it doesn't tear them up at close range like a belted magnum caliber can.

[USN_Sam1385]

My Remington Model 700 in .270 has served me well for 14 deer seasons. Every now and then I can take a deer at distances over 100 yards on my lease in East Texas but this old girl has been true at 175 on an axis in West Texas and at 330 yards in Missouri on a red stag.

That said, I'm looking to upgrade. I am almost past the idea of buying a new rifle as I feel like my purchase of a new rifle is akin to cheating on my wife, er, my rifle!

I cannot decide on what caliber to updrade to. A 30-06 is too similar to what I have. A .338, 30-378, and the like are too big. How about a 300 mag? A 7mm Mag? Or a .308? I know I want another Remington and the new shorter, hardened barrels are attractive. I would like some first hand info rather than just reading on the Internet so any input is appreciated.

Many thanks.

I love my Remington 700 Bolt .270. Got the XCR, Xtreme Conditions Rifle
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[Tenpoint]

I agree with Bowhunters. If it ain broke, don't fix it. And a larger caliber does not necessarily mean an upgrade. I love the .270 caliber.

Tenpoint

[cjg]

The gun you have is probably fine but if you hafta upgrade or just need an excuse for a new gun, maybe you should check out some of the new short magnums, .270 WSM or .300WSM, 30-06 isn't really much of an upgrade from a .270 I have both and do prefer the 06 for my type of hunting.

[matt_3479]

Well why would you want a new caliber,

a 270. win shooting 130. grain bullet is an absolutly perfect caliber for deer out to 400 yards. Its a great whitetail caliber, and right now is the number one whitetail cartridge in north america. if you really do want something diffeernt or bigger then a 7mm rem mag is a good gun. My dad has hunted with a 270. win for 25 yeras and has gotten more moose, more whitetail then anyone in our hunting party. I own a 7mm rem mag, and it shoots like the 270. win but better with more recoil. Honestly, my 7mm rem mag, doesn't hurt as much as my dads 270. win.

[Bowhunters]

Well why would you want a new caliber,

a 270. win shooting 130. grain bullet is an absolutly perfect caliber for deer out to 400 yards. Its a great whitetail caliber, and right now is the number one whitetail cartridge in north america. if you really do want something diffeernt or bigger then a 7mm rem mag is a good gun. My dad has hunted with a 270. win for 25 yeras and has gotten more moose, more whitetail then anyone in our hunting party. I own a 7mm rem mag, and it shoots like the 270. win but better with more recoil. Honestly, my 7mm rem mag, doesn't hurt as much as my dads 270. win.

However several things besides the caliber can affect 'felt recoil'.

The weight of the rifle, grain weight of the bullet, sometimes the type of bullet, home reload vs factory ammo, some rifles have a muzzle brake, semiautomatics have less recoil than bolt actions as some of the energy is used over a longer period of time to eject and chamber the next round, also if the rifle has a cheap pad on the stock.

All those affect how much recoil you feel.

I have a .270win and a 7mm Rem Mag and so I know how they both feel to me.