Thanks guys, hadn't thought of the muzzle break honestly. With that said if it's up to 300$ I'd almost rather buy a new rifle and throw down some more money. Currently have a vanguard S2, I've always kinda lusted after an A or X bolt in some fashion.
25-06 will be lighter than the 270, but i would say a 7-08 would be lighter recoil and probably a little lighter to pack as well. couldn't go wrong with any of them.
Muzzle brake is a good idea if you want to stay with your .270. If you were leaning towards another rifle the 6.5 Creedmoor gets my vote also. My first year hunting with a Browning X Bolt in the 6.5 CM with 120 gr. Sierra P H bullets and so far it's putting meat on the table as good as my 30/06 and without the recoil.
Weatherby Vanguard s2 comes in 7mm-08. Recoil is light. My wife picked that rifle and I picked he cartridge for light recoil and effectiveness on deer. She shot her first deer with it this season. I enjoy shooting it better than a 30-30 Marlin 336.
Ammo is available locally at Cabela's and Academy, but it might be slightly more than .270.
KSCHEVY,
The poster who wrote that the .243 Win will kill deer is absolutely correct.
I've had more than a few shoulder surgeries. They're only going to get worse until they're replaced. Hence, I can write from a position of knowledge vis-a-vis your predicament.
You don't need another rifle nor do you need a muzzle break. Have a good recoil pad fitted to your stock, and you'll be good to go.
One would have to stretch a whole lot to claim a cartridge better than a .270 Win for North American big game hunting. It will kill deer very dead. It will kill elk very dead. As long as you put a .270 Win bullet in big game oxygenated blood pumping equipment, it will kill everything just as dead as any mega-magnum. Shot placement kills big game, not caliber diameter.
Bad shoulder and all, I can shoot a Model 700 .270 Win with 130 grain bullets loaded with 60 grains of H-4831. I can shoot the same rifle with a max load of 150 grain Partitions and RL-22 powder. I did have a recoil pad installed on my rifle.
I'm applying for bull elk again this year. If I'm drawn, I'll be hunting with my Model 700 .270 Win. In fact, while I have more powerful rifles, the rest of my hunting from here on out will be with a .270 Win. And it has a 22" barrel on it.
BTW, my 43+ year-old Model 700 in .270 Win will shoot sub .5 MOA. And I load for hunting, not target shooting.
One of the two farthest shots I've made was with my 43+ year old Model 700 .270 Win. But I'd rather shoot at a hundred yards than farther.
That's what my 270 is, the S2. Better than the original vanguard I had years back but it is kinda hefty compared to other offerings.