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7mm-08 vs 270 Winchester Review & Comparison
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May 10, 2024
0:00 Intro 2:02 7mm-08 vs 270 Winchester History & Development 9:29 Cartridge Sizes 10:48 Trajectory & Kinetic Energy 15:26 Wind Deflection 18:11 Recoil 18:47 Other Factors: Frontal Area, Sectional Density, & BC 23:27 Ammo Selection 24:25 Rifle Selection 27:41 270 vs 7mm Rem Mag: Which one is right for you? To learn more about popular calibers like the 7mm-08 Remington and 270 Winchester visit: https://huntingguns101.com/optin1615146914565?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=HG101&utm_term=YT&utm_content=7mm08vs270 In this video, I conduct a detailed comparison of the 7mm-08 Remington and 270 Winchester cartridges. I think most hunters would agree the 270 Winchester and 7mm-08 Remington are both excellent cartridges for certain situations. While there is definitely some overlap in their capabilities, there are some major differences between the 7mm-08 vs 270 Winchester cartridges you should be aware of though. Both are popular and effective centerfire rifle cartridges with dedicated fan bases, but important details about their performance unfortunately get overlooked or simply lost in the shuffle. With that in mind, it’s easy to see how many people get confused about the strengths and weaknesses of the 270 Winchester and 7mm-08 Remington, particularly when discussing which cartridge is best for hunting particular animals under specific conditions. In fact, despite their big differences in outward appearance, the two cartridges are almost shockingly similar in performance. Even so, there’s some important differences to keep in mind and each is better suited for different hunting tasks.
View Video Transcript
0:00
Hi there, I'm John McAdams, founder of the Big Game Hunting blog. Thanks a lot
0:06
for joining me today. In this video, I'm going to do a detailed comparison of the
0:10
7mm 08 Remington and the 270 Winchester cartridges. Now, both are fantastic centerfire rifle hunting cartridges that have really devoted fan
0:21
bases, and for a good reason. That said, there are some important differences in
0:26
their performance that get overlooked or lost in the shuffle. There's a lot of
0:30
overlap in their performance, and they do work really well for a lot of the same
0:34
things, but there are some interesting areas where there's some big divergence
0:40
in their capabilities that makes them suited for distinct tasks. Now, interestingly, despite their big differences in outward appearance, the
0:49
two cartridges are almost shockingly similar in some areas. But like I said
0:55
there's some important differences to keep in mind, and each is better suited for different tasks. So, that is what we're going to talk about in this episode. I'm
1:03
going to investigate their similarities and differences in more detail, and give
1:07
you some recommendations on which one is best for various hunting situations, so
1:12
you can make an informed decision on which is best for your individual needs
1:17
Now, before we get started, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel right
1:22
now. Do it now. Just click that red subscribe button below, and you'll get
1:26
all my new videos. And if you really want to be high-speed, click the bell to get
1:30
the notifications. Additionally, and for more detailed information on other popular hunting cartridges, to include the .270 and the 7mm-08, as well
1:40
as some other ones that you might not be aware of, or might not be considering
1:43
click the link in the description below, or go to HuntingGuns101.com to get a
1:49
free e-book I have written on the best hunting calibers. That's HuntingGuns101.com
1:54
Okay, let's get started talking about the .270 and the 7mm-08 Remington
2:00
As usual, we'll start with the history of the .270 Winchester and the 7mm-08 Remington. Now, the story of these two
2:10
cartridges both really begins with the .30-06. Now, the United States Army
2:15
started looking for a new infantry service rifle and cartridge after receiving a deadly demonstration of the capabilities of their revolutionary new
2:22
Mauser rifle and 7mm Mauser cartridge in the hands of Spanish troops in Cuba during 1898. They eventually selected the bolt-action 1903
2:32
Springfield rifle chambered in the new .30-06 Springfield cartridge. Now, the new
2:36
.30-06 was dimensionally extremely similar to the 7x57mm Mauser, and it's highly likely that the designers of the .30-06
2:45
based their cartridge design heavily on the revolutionary 7mm Mauser cartridge. Some have even gone so far as to say that the 7mm
2:54
Mauser is the parent to the less well-known .30-03 Springfield, as well as the legendary .30-06. Anyway, initial loadings for that cartridge
3:03
used smokeless powder to fire a 150 grain Spitzer bullet at about 2,700 feet
3:08
per second. Now, believe it or not, that was a massive leap forward in
3:12
performance compared to other popular American cartridges used during that era, like the .45-70. So, not only was the .30-06 a big hit with the military, but it
3:22
was an almost instant success in the civilian market as well. Now, as is often
3:27
the case with any well-designed centerfire rifle cartridge, Wildcatters quickly started modifying the .30-06 to accomplish a variety of different
3:36
tasks. Some designers opted to neck down the .30-06 case to use smaller
3:41
diameter bullets, like the .25-06 and the .280 Remington, and this is what the
3:47
folks at Winchester did when they modified the case to use smaller diameter
3:51
.277 caliber instead of .308 caliber bullets. The result was the 270
3:57
Winchester cartridge, which they released in 1925 with the new Winchester Model
4:02
54 rifle. The original 270 Winchester offering shot a 130 grain bullet at a
4:08
velocity of 3,140 feet per second. That was an incredibly high velocity for the
4:14
1920s and was a tremendous speed improvement over the .30-06, which was
4:19
itself considered a very high velocity cartridge at the time. Subsequent factory
4:24
loadings for the cartridge have dropped the typical velocity with 130 grain
4:28
bullets down to about 3,060 feet per second, and that's still pretty darn fast
4:33
even today. Now, American hunters appreciated the flat shooting characteristics of the round and the fact that it was so effective on thin
4:41
skinned game. Now, it gradually became more and more popular, which was helped
4:46
by Jack O'Connor and his famous affinity for the cartridge that he expressed in
4:50
countless outdoor life articles over the year. Now, while he did indeed love the
4:55
270 and O'Connor used it extensively on hunts all over the world, it's far from
4:59
the only cartridge he used. And the 270 was also a good enough cartridge and
5:04
filled a big enough niche that it probably would have been successful even without help from him. Now, the 270 Winchester is a bit of an oddity when it
5:12
comes to bullet diameter, though. Unlike all the other popular 7mm cartridges, like the 7mm Mauser, the 7mm Remington Magnum
5:20
the .280 Remington, and the .28 Nosler that use .284 caliber bullets, the
5:26
270 uses slightly smaller diameter .277 caliber bullets. It's unclear exactly why they decided to go with the .277 caliber instead of .284
5:37
caliber. One theory is they selected that particular bullet size based on the
5:42
obscure 6.8x57mm Chinese Mauser cartridge. It's also possible that the folks at Winchester wanted to create a distinctly American
5:51
bullet size and avoid the 6.5mm and 7mm bullets popular in Europe by building a brand new bullet diameter 10% smaller than the one used
6:02
in the .30-06 and .9x.308 is .277. Regardless of their exact reasons, the design team at Winchester went with the
6:11
.277 caliber bullet diameter and the rest is history. Interestingly enough, while the 270 Winchester turned out to be a smashing
6:19
commercial success for the company, .277 caliber bullets haven't really caught on
6:23
themselves. The 270 Winchester Short Mag and the 270 Weatherby, along with the
6:29
newer 6.8 Remington SPC, .27 Nosler and 6.8 Western, are the only other
6:35
mass-produced cartridges that utilize bullets of that diameter. Even so, the 270
6:40
remains an incredibly popular and effective big-game hunting cartridge all over the world, but especially in North America. Now let's shift gears and talk
6:49
about the 7mm-08 Remington. First unveiled by Winchester all the way back in 1952, the new .308 Winchester cartridge quickly developed a
6:59
reputation for accuracy, power and efficiency with hunters and shooters. Just like what happened with the .30-06, wildcatters and gun designers started
7:08
modifying the .308 to develop new and more specialized wildcat cartridges almost immediately after it hit the market. Among others, the .243 Winchester
7:16
the .260 Remington, .338 Federal and the .358 Winchester are all descended from
7:22
the legendary .308 Winchester, as designers necked the case up or down to
7:27
shoot smaller or larger 6mm, 6.5mm, .33 caliber or .35 caliber bullets, respectively. Well, the 7mm-08 Remington is yet another
7:39
cartridge derived from the .308 Winchester. Standardized by Remington in 1980, the 7mm-08 Remington uses a
7:48
modified .308 Winchester case, necked down to shoot 7mm bullets. By necking down the .308 case to shoot smaller caliber bullets, the designers of
7:58
the 7mm-08 built a cartridge with a higher velocity, flatter trajectory, more resistance to wind drift and less recoil than the .308
8:07
Winchester. For instance, Remington offers a 7mm-08 load in their Core-Locked line that shoots a 140 grain bullet at 2,860 feet per second
8:17
This load outperforms the Core-Locked load for the .308 using 150 grain
8:22
bullets across the board. Now, the 7mm-08 Remington uses the same .284
8:28
caliber bullets as the 7mm Mauser and the 7mm Remington Magnum. Basically, any other typical 7mm cartridge uses the same bullets as
8:37
the 7mm-08. Now, this provides a great balance of adequate power for
8:42
hunting a wide variety of game, moderate recoil and great external ballistics at
8:47
a reasonable distance. Now, indeed, the 7mm-08 was one of the most
8:52
popular cartridges among deer hunters as well as for big game hunters in
8:56
general who valued those characteristics for a very long time. Now, while newer
9:01
cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor have eaten into that same market niche
9:05
recently, the 7mm-08 Remington still remains popular to this day. Alright, I referenced this earlier in the dramatic differences in their outward
9:16
appearance and that is even more obvious when you look at pictures of the
9:21
cartridges side-by-side and compare their external dimensions and cartridge sizes, the measurements that is. So, first, the 7mm-08 is physically
9:31
smaller than the 270. Both have the same diameter case with a 0.473 inch rim, but
9:38
the 270 Winchester has a longer overall length and a longer case length than the
9:44
7mm-08. That said, the 7mm-08 will easily fit in a short-action bolt-action rifle while the longer 270 requires the use of a
9:53
larger standard or long-action rifle. So, for those reasons, the 270 has
9:57
significantly more case capacity than the 7mm-08. Now, bullet size and weight are the other big important differences between them. The 270 uses
10:07
0.277 caliber bullets while the 7mm-08 uses slightly larger 0.284 caliber bullets. 270 factory loads typically shoot bullets in the
10:17
130 to 160 grain range and 130 and 150 grain bullets are easily the most
10:23
popular. On the other hand, the 7mm-08 uses bullets in the 120 to
10:29
160 grain range. 120, 140, 150 grain bullets are the most common. At the same
10:36
time, the 270 is also loaded to a higher semi-maximum average pressure of 65,000
10:42
PSI versus just 61,000 PSI for the 7mm-08. Now, the differences in the
10:49
external dimensions of these cartridges translate into some interesting differences in their ballistic performance though. This is illustrated
10:56
when you compare Hornady Precision Hunter, Swift High Grade, and Winchester Deer Season XP factory ammo. The 270 Winchester loads use 130 grain
11:06
extreme point with a 0.450 BC, 145 grain ELDX with a 0.536 BC, and 150 grain
11:15
A-frame with a 0.444 BC. Now, the 7mm-08 Remington loads here use
11:21
140 grain extreme point with a 0.484 BC, 150 grain ELDX bullets with a
11:28
0.574 BC, and 160 grain A-frame bullets with a 0.450 BC. Now, note that the
11:37
various bullets used in the 7mm-08 Remington loads I just talked about all have a higher BC than those used in the comparable 270 Winchester
11:47
loads. Now, all of those loads taken in the aggregate, the Winchester loads use
11:52
light for caliber deer hunting bullets, the Hornady loads use heavier for
11:57
caliber and really aerodynamic bullets with a very high BC, and the Swift loads
12:02
use the heaviest commonly available bullets available for each cartridge. Now, the 270 Winchester is a flatter shooting cartridge than the 7mm-08
12:12
This is due to the higher muzzle velocity of all those 270 loads compared
12:17
to the various 7mm-08 loads here, and we're looking at about 170 to a 497 foot-per-second difference in favor of the 270 over the 7mm-08
12:27
That translates into a noticeably flatter trajectory for the 270 with the 7mm-08 having between 3 and 18.5 inches
12:37
more bullet drop at 500 yards. The differences are smaller at shorter range
12:41
but the 270 really starts to pull away around the 400 yard mark. At the same
12:46
time, the 270 has a little more kinetic energy than the 7mm-08
12:50
Now, the 270 starts out with between 6 and 27 percent more muzzle energy than
12:55
the various 7mm-08 loads. Now, just like with trajectory, the 270 has
12:59
the advantage here because of the faster muzzle velocity of the cartridge. Velocity is squared when calculating kinetic energy, so small changes in
13:07
velocity have a big effect in kinetic energy. Now, in particular, that 160 grain
13:13
loading for the 7mm-08 really struggles on paper because it's so much slower than all the other loadings I compare here. Similar to the
13:21
case with the .308 shooting 180 grain bullets, the 7mm-08 is operating right at the upper edge of its capability with those really heavy 160
13:31
grain bullets, and it simply can't push them very fast. While that's still a good
13:35
loading for use on really big game like elk or moose at close range, the
13:39
cartridge has subpar performance on paper, especially as range increases, and like I said, that's with this particular load. Now, moving on from that 160 grain
13:48
load, the 7mm-08 cartridge uses a more aerodynamic bullet than comparable 270 loads, so that edge and kinetic energy shrinks and even flips in
13:59
favor of the 7mm-08 as range increases in certain cases. For instance, that 150 grain ELDX load for the 7mm-08 actually
14:11
surpasses the 130 grain XP from the 270 around 200 yards, and the 150 grain
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A-frame from the 270 just shy of 400 yards. The 145 grain ELDX from the 270
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still has about 8% more kinetic energy at 500 yards, but those cartridges are
14:29
basically neck-and-neck for those two particular loads. Now, all of the loads in
14:35
this comparison maintain at least a thousand foot-pounds of energy out past 500 yards. The 140 grain and 150 grain 7mm-08 loads maintain at least
14:45
1,500 foot-pounds of kinetic energy out to 300 yards and past 400 for the 150
14:50
grain ELDX. However, that 160 grain loading dips below 1,500 foot-pounds of energy just shy of 300 yards. Likewise, the 145 grain and 150
15:00
grain 270 Winchester loads still carry 1,500 foot-pounds of kinetic energy out
15:05
past 400 yards. So, the big takeaways so far are that the 270 Winchester has a
15:11
flatter trajectory, but the 270 also has a small edge in terms of kinetic energy
15:17
at shorter range and is surpassed by very high BC 7mm-08 loadings as
15:23
range increases. Now, let's talk about wind deflection. When you compare these same
15:29
loads with a 10 mile an hour crosswind out to 500 yards, you see there's quite a
15:35
bit of overlap, but the 270 also does seem to have a small edge overall. Now
15:40
while the 270 does have the edge in the trajectory department because it has a slightly faster muzzle velocity, this advantage is partially erased by the
15:48
higher BC bullets used by the 7mm-08. Both velocity and BC are very
15:55
important for calculating wind drift, or rather wind deflection, but BC is the
16:01
more important of those two characteristics. Now, indeed, the 130 grain and 140 grain Deer Season XP loads for the two cartridges have pretty
16:10
similar amounts of wind deflection. We got 18.4 inches at 500 yards for
16:17
the 270 and 19.3 inches at 500 yards for the 7mm-08. So
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less than an inch, or rather about an inch at 500 yards is a very, very, very
16:29
small difference here. Now, the same is true for the 145 grain and 150 grain
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Precision Hunter loads. We're looking at about a half inch of difference there
16:40
The gap is a little bit bigger with the two Swift loads for the two cartridges
16:45
Now, in each case, the 270 does have the advantage. That said, that 150 grain ELDX
16:51
load for the 7mm-08 outperforms all the other 270 loads, except for the 145 grain ELDX, once again, because that 270 load has a high BC
17:02
and because that 7mm-08 load has an even higher BC. It's just offset just a
17:07
little bit because of that faster muzzle velocity, because the 270 is a standard
17:12
action cartridge with a much larger powder capacity and can just push those
17:17
bullets faster. Now, the limitations of the 7mm-08, when compared to many other 7mm cartridges, like the 280 Remington, 280 Ackley Improved
17:27
7mm Rim Mag, etc., in terms of an inability to either use a really
17:34
high BC bullet, like the 162 grain ELDX that you see with the 7mm
17:40
Rim Mag, for instance, in the Hornady Precision Hunter line, and or the
17:44
inability of the cartridge to obtain a really high muzzle velocities, especially
17:49
with those heavier bullets, hamstring the 7mm-08 here to a certain degree, like I just mentioned. With all that said, the differences between the
17:58
7mm-08 and the 270 are definitely a lot smaller at shorter range
18:03
The 270 does still have less wind deflection at 100 to 300 yards, but it's
18:08
not nearly as large as a contrast. Now, let's talk about recoil. When you compare
18:13
hand loads that approximate the performance of the Hornady factory loads I just mentioned, firing the 145 grain and 150 grain ELDX bullets from the two
18:21
cartridges from identical 7-pound rifles, you'll see that the 7mm-08 has about 20% less recoil than the 270. Now, the 270 isn't a terrible
18:33
recoiling cartridge, but that efficient little 7mm-08 just has significantly less. So, the 7mm-08 definitely has an advantage in
18:42
this respect, especially for smaller or recoil shy hunters. Now, there's a couple
18:47
of other factors that are also worth discussing. So first, the 7mm-08
18:51
uses slightly larger diameter bullets than the 270. Specifically, the larger diameter .284 caliber bullets used by the cartridge have about 5% more
19:02
frontal surface area than the .277 caliber bullets used by the 270. All
19:07
other things being equal, a bigger bullet will make a bigger hole, cause more
19:11
tissue damage, and result in more blood loss. This is a small advantage in favor
19:16
of the 7mm-08, especially on bigger game. Now, in fact, those larger
19:21
diameter bullets can somewhat offset the kinetic energy advantage the 270 has in
19:26
some cases, or enhance the advantage that the 7mm-08 has in other specific comparisons. This can be helpful when hunting big game, and
19:36
especially deer, or potentially even larger game. Now, the 7mm-08 also has a small edge in bullet sectional density. Sectional density is a
19:45
measure of the ratio of the diameter of a projectile to its mass. All other
19:49
things being equal, a heavier bullet of a given caliber will be longer, and
19:53
therefore have a higher sectional density, and penetrate deeper than projectiles with a lower mass and lower sectional density. As an example, 130
20:04
grain, 140 grain, and 150 grain .277 caliber bullets have sectional densities
20:08
of .242, .261, and .279, respectively. Compare that to 120, 140, 150, and 160
20:18
grain .284 caliber bullets, which have sectional densities of .213, .248, .266, and .283, respectively. This is something of a mixed bag on the face
20:31
of things. The heaviest 7mm bullets outclass the heaviest 270 bullets, but the 270 has the edge with stuff in the 140 to 150 grain range. The
20:41
differences are small across the board, but when comparing the most popular bullet weights for each cartridge, say 140 grain bullet from the 7mm-08
20:48
and 130 grain bullet from the 270, the 7mm-08 does have a tiny
20:54
edge. And the same is true with the really heavy stuff, like that 160 grain
21:00
7mm bullet versus the 150 grain 270 bullet. This leaves us in an
21:05
interesting situation. The 270 Winchester is a more powerful cartridge in many
21:09
respects, but the 7mm-08 really tends to punch above its weight. Neither are really super heavy hitter on the level of cartridges like the 7mm
21:20
rim mag, the .300 rim mag, the .28 Nosler, the .300 PRC, or even the
21:25
.30-06. But both are really solid middleweight cartridges. So where do we
21:31
stand with each one so far? The 7mm-08 fires a larger diameter
21:36
often heavier, and usually more aerodynamic bullet at a slower velocity than the 270. The 270 usually has a flatter trajectory, but more recoil. The
21:47
two cartridges have similar energy retention and wind deflection, but the 270 usually has a small edge over the 7mm-08 in both areas
21:58
Alright, let's talk about rifle and ammo availability, starting with ammo. Both are
22:03
extremely popular cartridges among hunters and shooters all over the world. Indeed both, though certainly the 270, are also likely in the top 10 most
22:13
popular centerfire rifle cartridges in the United States. While the 7mm-08 is fairly popular itself, the 270 Winchester is easily the most widely
22:22
used of the two. The big ammo companies like Barnes, Browning, Federal Premium
22:28
Hornady, Nosler, Remington, Sierra, Swift, and Winchester all produce a really good
22:32
variety of quality factory ammo suitable for hunting most species of big game for
22:38
both the 270 and the 7mm-08. In each case, there's normally a pretty good
22:43
selection of bullet types and weights for each cartridge suitable for big game hunting. Now both are also offered in most of the really popular hunting ammo
22:50
lines. Barnes Vortex, Federal Power Shock, Hornady Precision Hunter, Nosler Trophy Grade, Remington Corelot, Winchester Super X, Winchester Deer Season XP, etc. There
23:01
are some isolated cases where one cartridge is available in a certain ammo
23:05
line but the other isn't. This reflects both the performance characteristics and
23:09
common uses of each cartridge. So for instance, the 270 Winchester is available
23:14
in the Barnes Vortex long range line while the 7mm-08 is not
23:18
Likewise, the 7mm-08 Remington is available in the Hornady Custom Light line while the 270 is not. Now while it is often easy to find ammo for both
23:31
cartridges during normal times, ammo is usually a little easier to find and
23:35
there will be a larger selection to choose from for the 270. In general
23:40
prices are similar but the 270 Winchester ammo is usually a little less
23:44
expensive. Now during the 2020 to 2022 ammo shortage, the difference between the
23:50
two cartridges has become even more apparent and at least where I live and
23:53
shop, 270 Winchester ammo is usually easier to find and usually more
23:59
reasonably priced than ammo for the 7mm-08. Availability is usually decent online and the bigger retailers typically have a good
24:07
selection of quality factory ammo for both cartridges as well but the 270
24:11
will likely still be easier to find even online. So bottom line, the average
24:16
hunter will probably have easier access to ammo for the 270 than for the
24:19
7mm-08 though I wouldn't say either one is really hard to find
24:24
Now let's talk about rifles. Now once again, the 270 is usually more common
24:29
than the 7mm-08 when it comes to rifle selection but there's usually a good selection of rifles in both cartridges. They're really common in
24:37
bolt-action rifles and in fact just about every popular bolt-action hunting rifle in current production is available in both cartridges. Now for instance both
24:46
the 270 and the 7mm-08 are available in several different versions of
24:50
the Remington Model 700 and Winchester Model 70. Same goes for the Browning X
24:55
Bolt, Christensen Arms Mesa, Kimber Hunter, Mossberg Patriot, Ruger American, Ruger Hawkeye, Savage Axis, Tikka T3 and the Winchester XPR. While both are most
25:07
common in bolt-action rifles they are available in a few lever-action and
25:11
semi-automatic rifles as well. For instance, both are available from Browning in their Browning Automatic Rifle or BAR and the Browning
25:19
Lever-Action Rifle or the BLR. Now while it's not a very common offering, the
25:25
7mm-08 is also an option for those who prefer modern sporting rifles
25:30
In particular, while the cartridge is too long for use in an AR-15, it is available in
25:35
larger frame AR-10 platforms from companies like Wilson Combat. So you can
25:41
probably find a good rifle available in either cartridge regardless of the type
25:45
of action you prefer. Now additionally barrel lengths do vary for both
25:49
cartridges depending on the manufacturer and exact model. The 270 is most common
25:54
in rifles with 22-inch long barrels but it's also not unusual to see that
25:58
cartridge in rifles with longer 24-inch barrels. On the other hand, the 7mm-08
26:02
is also common with a 22-inch long barrel length but the characteristics of the efficient 7mm-08 cartridge make it well suited
26:11
for more compact rifles with shorter barrels. So 20, 18 and even 16-inch
26:16
long barrels are not unheard of with that cartridge. And since it is a short
26:21
action cartridge, 7mm-08 rifles also have a slightly shorter bolt throw and a shorter overall length. For instance, the Winchester Model 70 Super
26:31
Grade is available in both 270 and 7mm-08. The 270 version has a 24-inch
26:36
long barrel, a 44.75 inch long overall length and it weighs 8 pounds 4 ounces
26:43
The 7mm-08 version of that rifle has a 22 inch long barrel, is 42.25
26:49
inches long overall, so it's two and a half inches shorter and it weighs 7
26:54
pounds 12 ounces. As another example, Ruger manufactures their Ruger American Compact Rifle in 7mm-08 but only offers the 270 in their standard
27:05
American rifle. That particular 7mm-08 rifle has an 18 inch long barrel and a 36.75 inch overall length compared to a 22 inch long barrel and a
27:15
42.5 inch overall length of the 270. Now like I said, details vary depending on
27:21
the exact manufacturer and rifle model in question. However, all things considered, rifles chambered in 270 tend to be slightly longer, heavier and a
27:31
little bit more unwieldy than rifles in 7mm-08. Having a shorter and lighter rifle is more important in some situations than others, so keep that
27:40
in mind. Okay, so the $10,000 question. Which one is right for you? Do you
27:45
primarily hunt medium-sized game? Whitetail deer, feral hogs or black bear at ranges inside 200 yards? Both are outstanding deer hunting cartridges and
27:55
will work great on deer sized game with good shot placement. Indeed, a 7mm-08
28:02
shooting 140 grain bullet and a 270 shooting a 130 grain bullet are both
28:06
classic lows used by untold numbers at deer hunters over the years. Go with the
28:11
270 if you want something a little more versatile or if you just want cheaper and or easier to find ammo and rifles. If you're going to be hunting in the tight
28:19
confines of a deer stand, like a box blind, or if you're hunting in thicker
28:24
brush, remember what I just talked about with the size difference in those
28:28
rifles. That extra couple inches in overall length of a rifle can be a real
28:33
headache to deal with when trying to quickly and quietly maneuver for a shot
28:37
So, definitely consider the 7mm-08 if you prefer a more compact rifle. Now, are you looking for a cartridge better suited for a long-range
28:47
hunting for a game like mule deer or pronghorn in open country where you
28:50
might need to take a shot at longer range? The 270 has a flatter trajectory
28:55
and a little bit more resistance to wind deflection, but the efficient 7mm-08
29:00
performs surprisingly well in this area, especially with a really good high BC
29:05
bullet like that 150 grain Hornady ELDX. I would give the 270 the edge here
29:11
overall, but there are definitely special cases where the 7mm-08 can be a better choice. Now, do you want a hunting cartridge that's well suited
29:21
for bigger game, like caribou, moose, elk, elan, kudu, etc.? Honestly, this is another
29:29
area where it may be a wash between the cartridges. The details vary depending on
29:35
the exact load, but for the most part, the 270 Winchester usually carries more
29:40
kinetic energy downrange. However, the 7mm-08 uses larger diameter bullets and performs surprisingly well in this area, too. Loaded with a quality
29:53
150 to 160 grain partition or A-frame, or a 139 or 140 grain lead-free
30:00
bullet like the Nosler E-Tip or the Hornady CX, the 7mm-08 is
30:07
absolutely deadly on really big game at reasonable ranges. For instance, Randy
30:13
Newberg cleanly killed a bull moose with a single shot from the 7mm-08
30:18
a couple years ago. Now, while not often counted among the real
30:21
quote-unquote heavy hitters, the 270 can also be darn effective in this role when
30:26
using heavy for caliber control expansion bullets like a 150 grain Nosler partition. After all, lots of hunters have killed untold numbers of
30:35
those animals with a 270 over the years. If anything, the 270 is even more
30:40
effective on really large game, like elk hunting in particular, now than it was
30:44
even 20 years ago because hunters just have access to much better quality
30:48
bullets these days. Now, are you sensitive to recoil and, indeed, of a lower
30:54
recoiling cartridge? Neither is terrible in this respect, but the 7mm-08 does have a big advantage over the 270 Winchester here, and you combine that
31:04
fact with the fact that the 7mm-08 is neck-and-neck with the 270 in
31:10
certain categories with certain loadings. That may be the factor that kind of puts
31:14
you over the top. You know, say you're hunting mule deer or pronghorn. You got
31:18
that 150 grain ELDX in the 7mm-08. That little bit less recoil for the
31:24
7mm-08 may just make it a better cartridge for you or whoever
31:28
you're getting a hunting rifle set up for to be the best choice there. So
31:33
keep that in mind. Now, indeed, the 7mm-08 is an especially great
31:38
choice as a centerfire rifle for a newer and or a recoil-shy hunter, and it is very
31:43
quote-unquote shootable in a rifle that fits the hunter well, and especially if
31:47
it has a good recoil pad, and especially if it has either a suppressor or a
31:51
muzzle brake. Now, Hornady also offers that cartridge in their custom light line
31:56
which is a great reduced power option for deer hunting that will cleanly take
32:00
a deer, but have even less recoil than the already mild recoiling full-powered
32:05
7mm-08 loads that I've been talking about. Now, are you looking for a
32:10
great cartridge for sheep, mountain goat, or tar hunting, where you need an
32:14
effective cartridge with manageable recoil and a lightweight and easy to carry rifle? Both will certainly work to one degree or another. Thanks to Jack
32:23
O'Connor, the 270 is considered a classic sheep hunting cartridge if there ever was
32:27
one. I'd give the 270 the edge here, since it has the flattest trajectory and
32:31
the most resistance to wind drift, and also the most retained energy at
32:35
extended range when using ideal bullets. However, the 7mm-08 isn't a bad choice here either, because it's such an efficient cartridge that
32:43
really punches above its weight. Like I keep saying, they're both solid rifle
32:48
cartridges. While there is a lot of overlap in their performance and ideal
32:52
uses, there are some significant differences between them in certain respects, and the 270 and the 7mm-08 are definitely better suited to
33:00
specific situations. Carefully evaluate your needs as a hunter based on these
33:06
circumstances you foresee using the cartridge in. Get a good hunting rifle
33:10
chambered in the cartridge you select. Learn to shoot it well, use quality ammo
33:14
and it should serve you well afield. Now, if you enjoyed this video, please make
33:19
sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel right now. Just click that red subscribe
33:23
button below to make sure you don't miss out on any of my new videos on cartridge
33:27
comparisons, hunting gear reviews, etc. Now, for more detailed information on other
33:31
popular hunting cartridges, to include the 7mm-08 and the 270, but with
33:37
some other ones stored in there as well, click that link in the description below
33:41
or go to HuntingGuns101.com. That's 1-0-1 dot com to get a free ebook I've
33:48
written on the best hunting calibers. Now, I'm going to turn it over to you. Which
33:52
one do you prefer? The 7mm-08 or the 270? What game have you
33:58
successfully taken with each one? Let me know by leaving a comment on this video
34:02
right now. Thanks for watching, have a great day, and good hunting
#Hunting & Shooting
#Outdoors