Suggestions for stablemate for 270 win

[The Oregonian]

Looking for a soft shooting rifle for deer, shooting out to 300 yards at most.

This will be my son's first rifle in several yrs so soft shooter is very important, and ideally will be something that brings different strengths to the table than the 270 I already have. *I also don't reload so I want something that will be too tough to find ammo. *I would also like to have a bolt action so some of the lever action calibers are out.

I know bullet placement is as / more important than caliber, but at the same time I want something with margin of error built in.

I am researching various options now but thought I would throw it out there for some experts to chime in with suggestions. *I am primarily looking at these options...

243 - seems to be a little small for some larger deer
25-06 - seems like a good choice but very similar to 270. *But maybe that is fine
7mm-08 - another good choice but tougher to find ammo and less ammo selection
260 - same as above

Thoughts from the experts?

Thanks in advance

 

[Edd]

I don't think a 243 is too small for deer.

 

[J E Custom]

I would recomend the 260 Rem or the 7/08.

The 260 rem (A 6.5) is very good for deer and has very little recoil using the 120 grain bullets.

The 7/08 is one of my favorite calibers for deer and the 120 grain Ballistic tip is awesome.
the 140s in the 7/08 have a little more recoil than the 120s.

If you can find a youth Model 7 it will come in these two calibers and will have a slightly shorter
stock for the young people and it can be changed out at a later date to a standard length of pull.

These will work in a short action and will perform well beyond the ability of a new shooter. (600+
yards).

J E CUSTOM

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I'd use the 243 if does are the main quarry, but for either bucks or does I'd stay with at least 25 caliber. I'd think the 260 rem or 6.5 swede. would be good choices. The 7/08, 308, or 270 wouldn't be bad either. Since you already have a 270, you could set one up light bullet and one heavy bullet. The 110 barnes would be a lower recoiling bullet and fed loads it factory. Midway has that load for 25$ a box right now and it rates out well.

 

[Michael Courtney]

Looking for a soft shooting rifle for deer, shooting out to 300 yards at most.

This will be my son's first rifle in several yrs so soft shooter is very important, and ideally will be something that brings different strengths to the table than the 270 I already have. *I also don't reload so I want something that will be too tough to find ammo. *I would also like to have a bolt action so some of the lever action calibers are out.

I know bullet placement is as / more important than caliber, but at the same time I want something with margin of error built in.

I am researching various options now but thought I would throw it out there for some experts to chime in with suggestions. *I am primarily looking at these options...

243 - seems to be a little small for some larger deer
25-06 - seems like a good choice but very similar to 270. *But maybe that is fine
7mm-08 - another good choice but tougher to find ammo and less ammo selection
260 - same as above

Thoughts from the experts?

Thanks in advance

.243 Win

 

[TXshooter]

My vote is for the 7mm-08. That was my first deer rifle when I was 8 and it has knocked down a lot of animals. The biggest thing I remember about it was that it passed through everything I shot at. I think it a great caliber especially for someone young.

 

[The Oregonian]

My research and options have led me towards a 7mm-08. Seems like a good combination with a 270 and is a light shooter as well. I can always add a muzzle brake and limbsaver to make it shoot a little lighter and possibly getmitmdown near a 243 from a recoil perspective. The 25-06 is tempting but it has similar advantages and disadvantages to a 270.

Now I just need to find out which eye is my son's dominant eye. I am a righty but shoot lefty because of I am left eye dominant.

I am leaning towards a Ruger M77 but also considering an x-bolt as I have a soft spot for Brownings. But I like the added weight on the Ruger to make it softer shooting.

Any other thoughts from anyone?

 

[benchracer]

I would recommend a current production Winchester M 70 featherweight in .257 Roberts for the following reasons:

1. The Roberts is a soft shooter, with recoil identical to that of a .243, but is generally believed to be more effective on deer sized game.

2. The Winchester featherweight chambered for .257 Roberts is a long action, giving built in flexibility for a later rifle build if there is a desire to step up to something with more range/punch in the future.

3. Factory ammo is available with choice of conventional cup and core or premium controlled expansion bullets. +P ammo loaded to modern power levels makes a good old cartridge even better, but the availability of ammo loaded to lower power levels allows you to choose even softer shooting ammo, if desired. You may not find it at Wal Mart, but it can be had and there are some good loads being made.

4. There is pretty much NO overlap in terms of what the Roberts brings to the table vs the 270.

I believe the .257 Roberts can be had in a few offerings from Ruger as well. However, even though I consider myself a Ruger fan, I have read pretty consistent complaints about innacuracy in Rugers chambered for the ol' Bob. I don't know if that issue has been fixed or even if there was ever anything to it. Mostly brought that up as an FYI.

 

[Greyfox]

Of your options I like the 7mm08. With Reminton 140 Accutips, or 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip ammo, my Remington R-25 will hold .5 MOA out to 500 yards and have sufficient energy to handle large game. Ammo is readily available. I would also consider a 308. With a decent pad, recoil isn't much more than the options you are considering, extremely accurate, ammo everywhere, and plent of energy.

 

[TXshooter]

My research and options have led me towards a 7mm-08. Seems like a good combination with a 270 and is a light shooter as well. I can always add a muzzle brake and limbsaver to make it shoot a little lighter and possibly getmitmdown near a 243 from a recoil perspective. The 25-06 is tempting but it has similar advantages and disadvantages to a 270.

Now I just need to find out which eye is my son's dominant eye. I am a righty but shoot lefty because of I am left eye dominant.

I am leaning towards a Ruger M77 but also considering an x-bolt as I have a soft spot for Brownings. But I like the added weight on the Ruger to make it softer shooting.

Any other thoughts from anyone?

I'd go with a youth model remmington if it were me. However of your choices I'd go x bolt. Rugers are a decent gun but I think the x bolt is better. Plus on a ruger the trigger is guaranteed to be hard as a rock. That won't be good for the young shooter. Of course you could always replace that.

 

[J E Custom]

I'd go with a youth model remmington if it were me. However of your choices I'd go x bolt. Rugers are a decent gun but I think the x bolt is better. Plus on a ruger the trigger is guaranteed to be hard as a rock. That won't be good for the young shooter. Of course you could always replace that.

+1

The advantages of the Mod 7 or the short action Remington is parts availability, if you ever decide
to customize the rifle.

The Model 7 Comes in a youth model and with several different typs of stocks.(composite, Laminate
and walnut.

The model 7 Has the same length magazine as the short action but the action is 1/2" shorter making
it very compact.

Just my opinion

J E CUSTOM

 

[barnesuser28]

I would recommend a current production Winchester M 70 featherweight in .257 Roberts for the following reasons:

1. The Roberts is a soft shooter, with recoil identical to that of a .243, but is generally believed to be more effective on deer sized game.

2. The Winchester featherweight chambered for .257 Roberts is a long action, giving built in flexibility for a later rifle build if there is a desire to step up to something with more range/punch in the future.

3. Factory ammo is available with choice of conventional cup and core or premium controlled expansion bullets. +P ammo loaded to modern power levels makes a good old cartridge even better, but the availability of ammo loaded to lower power levels allows you to choose even softer shooting ammo, if desired. You may not find it at Wal Mart, but it can be had and there are some good loads being made.

4. There is pretty much NO overlap in terms of what the Roberts brings to the table vs the 270.

I believe the .257 Roberts can be had in a few offerings from Ruger as well. However, even though I consider myself a Ruger fan, I have read pretty consistent complaints about innacuracy in Rugers chambered for the ol' Bob. I don't know if that issue has been fixed or even if there was ever anything to it. Mostly brought that up as an FYI.

I have a ruger m77 classic in 257 roberts and i am shooting the 80 grain Barnes ttsx with groups at 3/4 MOA or better. I love every thing about the 257 Roberts. I even prefer it over my 7mm-08.

 

[Truc]

at one time Howa had a youth rifle in 7mm/08 that came with an extra Houge stock for an adult when for when he grows up, not sure if they still offer it though

 

[Derek M.]

My first thought was a 260 until I read that you do not reload.

My vote is for one you didn't mention and that is 6mm Remington. Personally, I don't know how recoil sensitive your son is and frankly, I think once you get into the bigger bullets on a 7-08 it may just kick almost as hard as a 270 with a 110 bullet in it.

Have you considered that? I don't know about availability of factory ammo in the 270 with a 110 Barnes TSX or TTSX but I can tell you it kicks like a BB gun. I'm sure you can find ammo online, just like for the 6mm Remington above. Look here:

6MM REMINGTON : Ammunition To Go

For recoil, I say 6mm Remington. It's a bit bigger than a 243 and never got the attention it deserves. 2nd is the 260. I think the 7-08 is just getting too close to the 270. Finally, consider a 270 with a 110 solid pill. We love them. We've killed a pile of muleys, pronghorn, and whitetails with that combo. Natchez has this combo available in Federal ammo:

Federal Premium® Vital-Shok® - .270 Win. 110gr Barnes TSX 20/Box - Natchez Shooters Supplies

Thank me later.