My name is Kendall, and I'm an addict. ( 7mm-08 or .270 )

[Bayou Stalker]

Apparently my 45-70 has started something.  I need a replacement for a stolen .270 to compliment my 45-70 for hunting open cut-over and pipelines.  I need something good for whitetails out to about 300 yards.  Between the 7mm-08 and .270 in a Handi, is there an advantage to either cartridge with regard to accuracy and problems?  I'm leaning toward the .270 due to the wider selection of factory ammo.

Thanks,
Kendall

[LaOtto222]

Here we go again IMHO the longer cartridge gets the nod in a single shot rifle. I like the shorter cartridge for bolt guns. Either will do the job. If you were a hand loader, I think the 280 is superior to the 270 simply because there is a better selection of bullets for the 7mm. You can not go wrong with either one. Good Luck and Good Shooting

[mcwoodduck]

Hi Kendall,
My suggestion is to go with a 308 Win.  It will do everything 30-06, 280, 270, or 7-08 will do.  A deer will not know what it was hit with.
Huge selection of loaded ammo.
Can go from 55 grains 224 bullet in a Sabot to 180 grains in a premuim bullet and everything in between.
Everyone carries 308.  From the local gun store to Wall mart.  The 150 grain bullets kill lots of deer and bear every year.  For brush I like the 180 grain round nose by Remington.  Lots of knock down.  Deer go down and stay there.  It also flys good for 100 to 150 yard shots.
With a lot of loaded ammo it tends to be cheaper to feed your gun and some of the cheaper rounds are great hunting rounds as well like the Federal Bule box.
There are loads that will douplicate 270 with the 125 grain bullet there are also 125 grain reduced recoil loads for your kids or what have you.

[petemi]

7mm-08, .270, .308 and '06  They'll all do the job.  The easiest solution is just get all of them

What makes you believe you can't kill whitetails at 300 yards with the .45-70???  Try a good Mil Dot scope and learn it with the load you like. 

This is a great excuse to get goodies now:  In June, I should have spent 20 thousand on Handis, ammo, loading gear, and toys, and I'd have been way ahead of the game!!!  Now that much is gone without any of the fun!!

[Troyboy]

I second that. Buy one of each.




                                                 Troy

[Bayou Stalker]

I may not have made my question clear.  I know some Handi riffles, such as the .243 ultralight, have you behind the 8-ball before you get started.  What I am wondering is if there are any quality or consistency issues with either of the two?

Thanks,
Kendall

[petemi]

I'm not aware of any major differences between the two calibers.  My wife loves her .270 and I my 7mm-08.  I think, perhaps, the accuracy and reliability of the two is a draw.  If you're not reloading, look at the factory loads available and go from there.  I like both of them, and would be happy with either.  If I couldn't have either, I'd have my .308.  IMHO, it is better than both.  It's not as "flat shooting", but it is extremely accurate at close or long range, and kills when it gets there.  But then, my Handi .45-70 does the same thing, as does my '06.  I think any of these Handis will, or can be easily made to perform well.  It's just a matter of your choice.

[Badnews Bob]

I like bigger most of the time, both seem to be sweet shooters in handies so I would opt for the larger (if only a little) 7mm and I am eyeing a .308 myself.

[petemi]

I like bigger most of the time, both seem to be sweet shooters in handies so I would opt for the larger (if only a little) 7mm and I am eyeing a .308 myself.

That's why I shoot 170 gr. .30-30s, 180 gr. or more in the .06s, 470 gr. .50 Maxi-Hunters and hate to hear people run down the .45-70 as a "hundred yard gun".  The .45 will push a big pill a long way.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the longer bullets, loaded properly, have a better BC and are overall more accurate.  Of course, the twist and other factors have a lot to do with it.

[LONGTOM]

I believe all the above to be true and yes they will all do what you want. As for the two you mentioned I would go with the tried and true 270 with any good 130gr load. It has plenty to get the job done out to 300 and far beyond. Which ever you decide you won't go wrong!


LONGTOM

[tykempster]

How about a 6.5-06?

[quickdtoo]

How about a 6.5-06?

Not gonna happen from H&R, that would be a $300 custom barrel.

Tim

[Bayou Stalker]

I thought about the mil dot for the 45-70.  But by the time I bought a good mil dot and a range finder, I could buy a .270 and not worry too much about it.  Besides, I have a real nice Burris 4X-20 in Burris Zee low mounts that makes for a quick handling compact package on my 45-70. 

.270 is what I will get.  Thanks for the input.  Now stainless or blued....  arrrrrggg!

[mcwoodduck]

Stainless.  With a blued paint job.
Blued just looks right!  But you have stainless.

[quickdtoo]

Stainless is nice, but I'm not keen on synthetic stocks and the black plastic trigger guard and spacer aren't my favorite combination with me on a stainless gun, but there are options, I polished a steel trigger guard and spacer for mine and added a gray lam stock set, will do the same for my SS 45-70 Ultra which has a stainless frame instead of the nickel plated frame of the 270. 

Tim

[petemi]

You can't go wrong with the .270, but what are you getting next???
My wife has shot woodchucks at 440 yards known distance with hers and 90 gr. hand loaded hollow points.  She'll take 10 or 15 minutes to make a shot, but when she does, he's glue.

A friend, down the road, took a 6x6 elk in Colorado on his first hunt.  A .270, 300 yard bang flop kill.  His dad was almost a bang flop kill too on the same hunt.  Going up a steep mountain grade, his horse rolled over backward on him, and this guy breeds and raises horses.  He was lucky to come out just twisted up and bruised and not busted.  The horse was a Colorado horse.  He knows better than to bring his own to the mountains.

So, anyhow, chucks to elk, you got It!   Pete

[wyohandi]

I bought the 270 for my daughter (should have bought 2)
My next one will be a 7-08, with a 223 barrel,a 243 barrel....
The 270 shoots good.