New Rifle: What caliber

[Curly]

I am purchasing a new Kimber 8400.   My initial thought was to get the .270 WSM.  This gun is being purchased for a deer hunt in WV.    There is the remote possibility  that we may also opt for the Bear season.   An even more remote possibility is a hunt out west for larger game.   Is the .300 WSM worth considering?   How much of a difference is there in recoil?    Due to finances, this will probably be the only gun for quite a while.   Is the larger caliber worth considering for an all around centerfire gun.   I have ordered the .270, and I will need to change calibler soon if I change.   Any suggestions would be helpful     By the way,  I am 6'00",  and weigh 220 lbs.   Soon to be down to 200 if I am lucky.   Thanks in advance for any help.

[Varmint Hunter]

The 270 is fine for deer but I personally prefer the 30's for shooting bears or other big game. Not that the 270WSM can't do the job, but the 30's have more bullet weight and a much better selection of ammo and/or reloading components.
While the 300WSM has more umph than you need to shoot the average whitetail, it won't hurt.

Just my 2 cents.

VH

[The deerslayer]

I heard of somebody shooting a moos with a regular 270 so you will be fine with your 270wsm.

[Ron T.]

I tend to agree with Varmint Hunter… I’d choose a .30/06 because of a wider choice of bullet weights together with a slightly larger bullet diameter for the bears… and a .270 Winchester is nothing more than a .30/06 cartridge case necked down to .277 inches.

You should remember that black bears weighing up to 1,000 pounds or more have been recorded in Pennsylvania.  While a good many black bears aren’t nearly that big, obviously SOME of ‘em are!

There’s very few species of North American game animals that couldn’t be very successfully hunted with a .30/06… especially with Hornady’s “light magnum” cartridge which turn a .30/06 into a cartridge ballistically superior to the .300 Holland & Holland Magnum!!!

That said, a standard .30/06 loading using a 150 grain quality bullet is perfect, flat-shooting antelope or deer “medicine” for either mulies or white-tails while a premium bullet, like the Nosler Partition, weighing 180 grains is plenty sufficient for black bear, caribou, elk or even moose.  And, if you don’t feel confident in the regular loading of the .30/06, then go to the 180 grain bullet in the Hornady Light Magnum loading.

However, the .270 Winchester IS a bit more “flat-shooting” and is easily capable of taking black bears, caribou, elk and moose as well.  Buttttttt… if I had my “druthers”, I’d “druther” have a rifle in the .30/06 Springfield cartridge than a .270 Winchester.

I hope I haven’t added to any confusion you might have had.  In the final analysis, it’s a “close call” and you couldn’t go wrong with EITHER cartridge.

Oh… by the way, I don’t own a rifle in EITHER cartridge, so I’m not speaking from any “prejudice”.


Strength & Honor…

Ron T.

[John Y Cannuck]

If finaces are a consideration, maybe you should check the price of the amo. If you don't reload, it could be a major factor.

I still have not tried one of those new fangled short mags. But I have shot the old standards, and owned a 338WM for a while. The bigger calibers are my thing, so you know I'm going to try to sway you to the 30.
The 338 by the way hits hard, very hard. It kills way more effectively than the ballistics would have you believe.

[Graybeard]

If it comes in .30-06 that's what I'd recommend. It is all you really need and if you just "gotta" have more then both Hornady and Federal make light mag ammo that pushes it to almost equal the .300 Win. Mag.

It is all you need and ammo is readily available world wide.

GB

[Rmouleart]

If you think you will be hunting big dangerous game, Id go with the 338 win Mag, basically your 30/06 on steroids;) plus can handle 250gr bullets well and also a 300gr bullet if needed, personally I think the 338 wim mag is a bit much for smaller game as deer or black bear, but dead is dead right, one thing you can count on using a 338 win mag is plenty of power and can reach out 300 yards using 250gr bullet with authority and great accuracy, very popular cart in Alaska/BC. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

[panman]

Look,your fine with the 270.Good well constructed bullets and Hitting your intended game in a vital spot is the name of the game.The 270 takes moose bear and any other big game you would care to try for.Up here in VT. most guys use the 270 or 30.06,for all big game.The good ole 30-30 is also popular.Hitting where you aim,in a spot that is sure to kill quickly, is the most important thing to consider.Hell the eskimos shot ALL their game animals with small cal. rounds [222] for years.Just make sure your aim is true.pan.

[DeerMeadowFarm]

I use a .280 and have killed dozens of deer using it with no problem. In 1994 I shot a 204-pound black bear. In 1997 I used it in Quebec and took two Caribou bulls that had to go over 500 pounds. The .270 is plenty of round for any Eastern Big Game Hunting (that’s the forum we’re on, right?)
On the other hand, when I suggest a caliber for someone who plans to buy only one rifle, I always suggest a 30-06. There are more bullet weights available and I bet you can walk into any northeastern corner grocery/diner/gas station/store and find a box of 30-06 shells in a pinch (try saying that for any other caliber except for maybe 30-30).

[oneshotonekill]

Having never shot a 270 WSM I can't comment on the recoil difference but my 300 WSM kicks pretty good.  Either of the calibers you mentioned would be fine for deer/elk/black bear.  Factory ammo is still pretty expensive for the WSM's.  If you reload I would recommend the 300 due to the great availibility of 30 cal bullets.  If you are only going to shoot factory ammo its a coin toss.  The 270 would have less recoil, but the 300 has more energy.

[Miller]

Here is an interesting insight.  I grew up in PA and read all the articles on what you need to hunt western game especially elk and deer.  The pundits almost always start at the 30-06 and go up.  I now live out here and none of the folk I hunt with use anything bigger than a 30-06.   I have a 6.5x55 and it is quite enough for all the game out here.  Patrick Smith of Kifaru hunting gear and I had a heart to heart before i got this rifle.  He likes the .260 Remington.  Not that that is his only choice but for hiking the hinterland a 10,000 feet or more ligher is better.  Get the .270 WSM and don't ever second guess yourself!

[glock29]

Go with the 30 caliber.
If it HAS to be a short-cartridge in a Kimber Rifle, go with the 300WSM.
Otherwise, I'd personally go with the 300 Weatherby in the Vanguard if price is a consideration, if not I'd choose the same 300 Weatherby in a Controlled Feed Winchester Model 70.
The 30 caliber is MUCH more versatile than the 270 ANYTHING.