The most versatile for lets say 90% target and just range shooting and the other 10% for hunting Deer, and/or Hogs.
This and the ability to reload a wide range of different loads.

Guys at the gun shop say 30-06 due to the larger amount of loads and bullet weights that can be reloaded. Plus there is a real nice older Rem 700 with great wood in 30-06 for sale, but there is also a Savage 270 synthetic stock with a better scope.

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Still Running Against the Wind

30-06 for sure. Savage makes some good guns but they aren't as good as the Remington 700 series. When it comes to load selection there's no comparison and the 30-06 wins hands down as far as I'm concerned.

Ford or Chevy? Vanilla or chocolate? Both are great and will do anything you ask of them...whichever fits YOU best is the one you'll like the best. Neither are the IDEAL range/target gun, and both are very capable on deer...

No, but I am not ready for the 6mm shooting crowd.

I am mostly a handgun shooter. I do shoot a 223 bolt action and AR15 and a plink with a 30 carbine, and AK 47.

So if I get a rifle like this, it's only one and whatever is best for all around.

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Still Running Against the Wind

The .30-06 is more versatile simply because of the ability to use heavier bullets; they are both excellent calibers and either one will serve most well for many different uses. Personally, thought, I prefer the .270.

"Savage makes some good guns but they aren't as good as the Remington 700 series..."

Perhaps mostly true some years ago, though I'm guessing there's very many Savage fans who will beg to differ. Big Green quality very spotty these days...

The 270 Win. is an excellent cartridge, but the 30-06 is a bit more versatile. The scope will be a lot easier to change than the cartridge.

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195th Session FBINA

Go for the 700,Get you a good scope later.
How many times do you open a gun mag. and see 30-06's compared to others?Now 270 compared to others?Nothing much you can't do with an '06.
Just my observation,D.G.

The .30/06 will alow you to hunt a much wider range of game more effectively than the .270 due to the wider range of bullet weights, and anyone who argues differently is simply stumping for their preferred round cause thems the facts.

The old /06 will shoot just about as flat as the .270 with good handloads in either using bullet weights that are ideal for each round, and that can be verified by running the rounds across a chrono to get the real world velocities they turn in instead of the published velocities in ammo brochures.

For the average deer, there's little to choose between them, but for game like bear, elk, or moose, the .30/06 is a better choice.

It hasn't been the cartridge against which all others are judged for no reason.

I'm a .270 fan, but the two cartridges are in the same class and the game won't know the difference. There are more bullet styles and weights available in .30 caliber, but there's enough in .270 to keep you happy. I'm a Remington 700 fan too.

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"I also cook."

Rem 700 30.06 would be my vote too. I've had one since 1979 and shot many deer with it and may be my future elk and mulie gun too. I've since bought three more Rem 700s in different calibers and can't see a different bolt rifle in my future.

Jack O'Connor was THE advocate of the .270, I have fired them, quite pleasant accurate and I suspect, effective-I am not a hunter. But the 30/06 is still The King.

In the past, .30-06 ammo was available surplus. If you were lucky enough to stockpile a bunch, it makes a huge difference. If you go to gun shows, look at the private tables. You see tons of .30-06 ammo for sale at private tables. You almost never see .270 ammo for sale.

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Dick Burg

I am a 270 fan and my go-to is a Rem 700 - BUT the '06 is more versatile from .22 sabots to 220 grain moose stuff ( I do have several '06s including '03, '03 A3, several Garands and a 700).

RBURG FYI about 2/3s of my .270 brass is actually '06 match resized.

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TOMBECK

The 30-06 will do ANYTHING you will ever NEED to do in the USA.
Having hunted Florida with both, I think the 270 is too fast. I know that sounds weird, but the hogs aren't armor plated and the deer MIGHT weight 150 lbs.
Stick with the 150 grainers. Will do all you need. Used to shoot Winchester power points, 180 grains that were round nose. They seemed to hit harder. Haven't seen these loads in years.

The wood stocked 700 is much more gun than the dime-a-dozen savage synthetic. Save some cash to upgrade the scope.

Are the prices on the two guns the same? Condition? What scopes?
Hard to make a choice between the two without knowing these things.

I made that decision recently. I went with the .30-06 because of ammo choice and availability.

I also went with the Savage Model 114 Classic.

I was just at Bass Pro Shops with a shooting buddy and I recounted to him why I bought the Savage.

This model is gorgeous in my eyes. The wood has beautiful grain and is handsomely finished and the wood to metal fit is perfect. The checkering wraps around and is very well done. I like the black contrasting tip and the pistol grip cap with the brass Savage Indian logo.

The blueing is deep and dark. The bolt is jeweled and has the Savage Indian logo etched into it.

Comparing the Savage to the Browning, Ruger, Remington, T/C, and Winchester rifles that compete, none had all of the Savage's features and the 114 Classic was the least expensive.

Yep, I went with the Savage 144 Classic .30-06 and I've never looked back.

At 50 yards, it's boring because every round goes through the same hole. At 100 yards, the group is under 1 inch. I also like the user adjustable Accu-Trigger. Mine is set at just about 2 pounds.

mm6mm6-
That is a great looking rifle and I agree with your statements above.

The Savage rifles have come a long way in recent years. My only issue anymore with Savage rifles, is I still don't like the looks of the rear end of the bolt, and while I understand the reasoning for the barrel nut, I would prefer that they weren't there. Other than that, they are very nice guns, at a great price (relatively speaking), and have a well deserved reputation for accuracy. I have been looking at them more and more when I hit the gun shops. I would like to try one just like yours in .25/06.

280 Remington!!!!!!!!!

Bullets are so good right now that one REALLY does not need thirty caliber for ANY deer. I'd look at the 7mm-08 , though either the .270 or 06 are fine for about anything in NA the average guy will run into.

And gregitenn....my favorite "do everything in MT" rifle... either one of my .280 Rem's!!!

FN in MT

The only reason not to choose the 30-06 would be sensitivity to recoil. The 270 130 gr. load doesn't kick as hard a the 30-06 150 gr.

I have shot a lot of deer-size game with both and my experience is that a "well placed shot" from a 30-06 is more likely to drop one in its tracks.

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6/23/2022

Sir, as has been noted, the .30-'06 is the more versatile cartridge. And if you handload, .30-cal bullets are easier to find and in much greater variety than .27 caliber.

FWIW, I rather like the .270, but it's not what I would pick if I could have only one bolt gun.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

Uh, .308?

Out West

Ok, now this is a no brainer.

Both the .270 and the .30-06 are excellent calibers. They both do "almost" the same thing.

The only real differences in "results" are as follows:

.30-06 is plentiful, anywhere that sells ammo.
.30-06 can be loaded from super light to extremely heavy.
.30-06 brass and bullets are more readily available than .270.
.30-06 is available in surplus ammo.
.30-06 is suitable for all "big game" in North America.
.30-06 clambering is available from anybody that makes rifles.
.30-06 is an American military classic.

Now, the .270 and .30-06 are almost a toss up....however they will not do anything that the .308 Winchester aka 7.62x51 NATO won't do.

The American "standard" rifles are all available in .30-06 (and .308 also).

The old Winchester M70 is the granddaddy of them all, followed by the Remington 700, the Ruger 77 and the Savage 110. Any of these rifles in .30-06 (or .270) would make an excellent first/only rifle.

Now for my preferences...get your "first" bolt rifle in blued steel and walnut. That's the classic way to go. If you must, get a tactical .308 in stainless and synthetic. (They are just as good....just not "classic.")

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G.P. Charlie

06, no question.

More factory loads available, more 06 ammo available in general.

As a reloader - hands down the 06. Try finding .277 bullets. Sure, you'll find them, but wait, now try finding .30 bullets. Big difference, eh?

As to terminal similarities, not a cup of warm spit's difference in overlapping loads, but forget about extra heavy or ultra light rounds, only 06 has 'em.

I'd choose the .280 over the .270, at least 7mm bullets are readily available and it uses the 06 case.

Well hit with the right bullet, the critter so anchored won't be able to tell you the difference. I'd give the edge to the 06' because of its ability to toss stuff heavier than 150-170.

I would get the 700 you will be happy you did.

30.06


Ken

If you handload the 06 is by far more versatile with the ability to run up to 250 grain bullets and run light plinking loads with cast bullets. If you don't handload and are restricted to factory ammo they are pretty much equal in ability with the .270 shooting a bit flatter with less recoil, and the 06 having more punch for very large game.

Since I spend lots of time to craft my own hand loads I chose the 06, it does everything I need a rifle to do in North America.

Really, you can't go wrong either way, both calibers are very capable and both of them meet my criteria for having ammo available in any back water bait shop or wally world. Buy the rifle that feels best in your hands.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

The tipping point in favor of the 30-06 as opposed to the 308Win is 180Gr and above bullet weights. Another point is that with a modern bolt action the 30-06 may be loaded to its full potential.

I think this pretty much sums it all up. Thanks to All.

Plus the Rem 700 at the shop is one of the nicer ones with really nice wood, the darker forend wood , jeweled bolt. 20 years old (maybe has real metal), been sitting in a closet. Plus nobody puts a clear finish on a stock like Remington. There are a few Win 70's but they just do not look as nice IMO.

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Still Running Against the Wind

So did Jack O'Connor.
Sonny

.30-06, hands down. Ballistically, the two are similar, but you can get .30-06 anywhere in way more loads, from military to 110-grainers. More reloading components available for .30 caliber. No contest here, in spite of Jack O'Connor. I don't own a single .270, and I don't want to talk about how many .30-06 rifles I own.

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

When's the last time yu saw an 03A3 or Garand in .270?

There's more than one measure of versatality.

Emory

I'd vote for the '06.
I've never owned a 270, but certainly wouldn't feel under gunned with one if I still hunted. Just that the 30-06 would be easier to scrounge ammo and components for in a pinch if it came to that,,,,,and I like my Sedgley '03 sporter & M1 Garand alot.

With stated 90% of use being target shooting, I would chose 7mm08. Also deadly on anything including elk with 140-150 grain bullets for smaller stuff and 175 grain bullets for larger stuff. Used 7X57 and 7X57R for decades for hunting (all 1-shot kills with 150-175 grain bullets) and then got nice Browning lightweight 7mmX08 turnbolt that is best grouping and easy-to-shoot rifle I own.

No need to get yourself kicked around with a 30-06, or even 270, when more moderate velocity cartridges kill so reliably and are so much easier to shoot really well.

Niklas

Perhaps a 308 would be a better choice if you want 90% target. Savage has nice 308s and so do others.

Dwight

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Veritas et Humanitas

.30-06 for sure...the reasons have already been given....

Hard to argue against the '06, extremely versatile. The .270 will have slightly less recoil and will shoot flatter if open country hunting is on your list of things to do. Years ago when I bought my first hunt anything anywhere rifle I debated between the '06 and the 7mm Remington Magnum. I ended up going with the 7mm because at the time I was doing a lot of open country hunting for antelope and I valued the flatter trajectory of the 7 Mag over the '06.

.30-06 is by far the most versatile of the two. That said, I'm very attached to my .270 spitting Winchester Model 70. At first I found the .270 too fast for short range, but switching to Federal 150gr SP made a huge difference. I still break out the 140gr BTSP when I might have a long shot. There are great loads coming out for the .270, but it has alot of catching up to do to match the market of the -06.

I picked up a Remington 7400 in .270 a while back in trade on a car. My bias is obvious.

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Fast is fine;accurate is final

30.06

Don

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Laus Deo! <><