New Rifle

[va_hunter]

OK, I realize I may get 100 answers because most of us have a subjective preference to a particluar rifle/caliber/mfg.  BUT,  I own two Marlins which I love.  I want to move to a smaller, faster cailber with a different range.  I'm thinking 270.
What are some recommendations from you folks?

[klong]

I am going to jump in here and say the rifle that feels the best to you is the one to get, if that is your question. If you like the 270 , I would just get the 270 Winchester caliber in either a (in no particular order) Remigton, Sako, Savage, Tikka, Browning, Wichester, or Ruger. Find the one that feels right and fits your buget, and don't look back. I can't say for sure that all of these manufacturers have the 270 Winchester caliber or that they are all avaiable in your area, but if they are I would want to hold each one and bring it to my shoulder to see how it feels.

[Gregory]

OK, I realize I may get 100 answers because most of us have a subjective preference to a particluar rifle/caliber/mfg.  BUT,  I own two Marlins which I love.  I want to move to a smaller, faster cailber with a different range.  I'm thinking 270.
What are some recommendations from you folks?

Do you want a hunting rifle, target rifle?  A bit more information would help.  If it's to be a hunting rifle, what is the biggest game you plan to hunt with it?  What are your two Marlins chambered for? 
If it's a hunting rifle are you hunting from a stand or hiking up and down mountains?

[Don Fischer]

Unless you have an RM 7, you've got what is concidered woods cartridges. Gregory is right, we need more information. For me, there's different application's for different rifle/cartridge/sights. But many cartridges can do many different things. An example is the 270. But a good mountain does not necessarly make a good plains rifle nor plains rifle a good mountain rifle. The 270 could work in any situtation.

[nasem]

there are so many different answers here..... Which calibers do you own ? I suppose maybe a 30-30 or a 45-70 which are both good but not quite the "fast" bullet pushers.

I would go for something that you have always wanted or always heard of people talk about it.  a 270 is good but so is a 7mm mag or a 30-06 or a 308 or a 280.  This is the Medium world

Then you have the smaller world of 223, 243, 6mm, 6.5X55, 257s and such.

Then You have the super fast magnums of the 30 caliber and 7mm family 300 win mag, 300 Rem ultra mag, 300 wby mag, 7mm RUM, 7mm STW, 7mm wby mag etc (those are not so fun in my opinion, soo fast and provide no real advantage over thier standard brothers)

Then you get into the medium & large bores like the 8mm rem mag, 338 win mag, 375 H&H, and..... anything bigger is just rediculous.

So its all about what "you" want and grabs your attention the most

[cam69conv]

I so often wonder why the 7mm.08 is SO overlooked or not even thought about. Comperable to the .270 with signifigantly less recoil....Great caliber for 0 to 300 yards....Great knockdown for its size...In most models LIGHTER to carry. Take a look at the ballistics of this caliber...Im getting one myself in the TC Pro Hunter. Ive heard NOTHING but good things about this caliber.

[Slamfire]

The .270 has been consistently # 2 or 3 in factory ammo sales since WWII, you can't find a classic cartridge that lacks the ability to put game down. It would be a fine choice. The 7mm-08 hasen't any flies on it either, being a modern version of the classic 7mm Mauser cartridge the Spanish used in the Spanish-American war. It was good enough then to cause the Army to abandon the .30 US (.30-40) and all those smooth Krag actions for the Springfield and what became the .30-06. It has become another Classic cartridge.

[va_hunter]

I currently own Marlins in 30-30 and 45-70. (I'm really loving the way the 45-70 shoots with the new Hornady rounds).
I would still use the new rifle for hunting.  We are mostly in the woods, but there are a few spots that require a longer shot (say up to 225-250).  Not real long by some standards.  So for hunting and "just because" I want a different toy.  Want something a little faster and flatter

My brother in law has 7-08 and loves it.  I was definately thinking in this "mid range" 270, 280 or so.

[Coyote Hunter]

.25-06 or .270 Win


Both good choices depending on what you really intend to do with it.  The .25-06 is the ultimate dual-purpose rifle, varmints and deer. 

(Actually I consider the .257 Roberts with +P loads to be just as useful, but its best for handloaders.)

[chamois1]

I have used most calibers listed above for deer & hogs in Florida and Kentucky.
In both states you can be hunting in heavy tember, swamps, or open fields.
All the calibers listed work very well, but my favorite is the 7mm - 08 .  I have the 7-08 in a Remington # 7 Kuctom KS .  I have only used it for deer and have taken several with it.
None have traveled over thirty yards after being shot and most have not taken another step.
This is my favorite caliber for Deer hunting, but any of the calibers listed thruout  the above reply's will work just fine.

[Don Dick]

The 7mm-08 is a good round so is the 25/06. The 25/06 would make a good coyote and deer rifle.  If you do not have a large rifle collections it is good to have rifle which can do both.

[nasem]

I so often wonder why the 7mm.08 is SO overlooked or not even thought about. Comperable to the .270 with signifigantly less recoil....Great caliber for 0 to 300 yards....Great knockdown for its size...In most models LIGHTER to carry. Take a look at the ballistics of this caliber...Im getting one myself in the TC Pro Hunter. Ive heard NOTHING but good things about this caliber.

This is just my opinion but..... The reason I always over look the 7mm-08 is because I see it solving no problems thats its 308 brother can't solve.

[GeoW]

+1 for the 7mm-08

[poncaguy]

270, 7-08, 260, 25-06............270WSM if plenty of ammo available (my favorite)