Winchester introduced the 270 Winchester in 1925 and 44 years later (1969) Remington introduced the 25-06 Remington. Not only is the 270 older its more popular than the 25-06, even so the two cartridges share many similarities. Both are based on the 30-06 Springfield case necked down to accept their respective bullets.
- Ballistic Coefficient: 0.433
- Product Symbol: SBST270
- Description: Rapid, controlled expansion. Penetrates thin skin, light muscle and bone. For antelope, deer, black bear.
Rifle Ballistics
| Distance (yds) | Muzzle | 50 | 100 | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 |
| Velocity (fps) | 3050 | – | 2828 | 2618 | 2416 | 2224 | 2040 |
| Distance (yds) | Muzzle | 50 | 100 | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 |
| Energy (ft. lbs.) | 2685 | – | 2309 | 1978 | 1685 | 1428 | 1202 |
| Distance (yds) | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 | 300 | |
| Short Trajectory (in.) | -0.2 | 0.0 | -0.8 | -2.8 | -6.1 | -10.7 | |
| Distance (yds) | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 | 300 | 400 | 500 |
| Long Trajectory (in.) | +1.4 | +1.3 | 0.0 | -2.6 | -6.5 | -18.9 | -38.4 |
270 Winchester/25-06 Remington
Cases last a long time and hand loading is strait forward just like any other 30-06 case based cartridge, also bullets and factory ammunition are relatively easy to find.
There are more factory offerings for the 270 than the 25-06 and they may be a little easier to find. Both shoot extremely flat and have cleanly taken countless heads of game to earn the reputations they hold as hunting rounds. Now I’ve always heard if don’t have anything good to say about something you shouldn’t say anything at all. Good advice to follow when you are discussing things other that hunting rounds. Personally I’ve never been a big fan of either one of these cartridges. For one simple reason: the bullets. I prefer heavier weight bullets and a larger fontal diameter than what is available for the two calibers. As for the 270 (.277) weights commonly range from 100 to 150 grains, in the 25-06 (.257) from 70 (+/-) to 100 grains for varmints and 100 to 120 grains, for deer size game. A somewhat limited selection when compared to the 7mm and 30 calibers. Secondly, the 25 (.257) and 270 (.277) bullets have smaller frontal diameters than the 7mm (.284) and the 30 cal. (.308). One could argue that this is splitting hairs. After all we are talking about thousandths of and inch, and I would have to agree. However, once the bullet has mushroomed, then the 7mm and the 30 generally have a considerably larger frontal diameter than the 25 or the 270 caliber bullets. Resulting in larger wound channels and exit holes. All that being said both are superb performers on White-tailed deer, Antelope, and similar game. Almost everyone I hunt with uses one of these two rounds for their hunting. I’ve never owned either one but I have hand loaded for and shot quite a few rifles chambered for each cartridge. My good friend and hunting partner “Wild Bill” Pirkle has been using a Remington 700 chambered in 270 Winchester for years. I’ve seen him take everything from Cottontail rabbits up to wild boars weighing well over 300 pounds. It’s hard to argue with that type of accuracy and performance! He uses Winchester’s “Supreme” factory ammo with a 130-grain Ballistic Silver Tip. Anyone looking for good factory load for a 270 Win this is defiantly one to try. The 130-grain seems to be the best weight bullet for accuracy, trajectory, and all around performance on game in the 270 Winchester. I guess when what bullets are offered work; you do not need a large selection to choose from. As for the 25-06 Remington guys, everyone I know seems to be shooting a different load ranging from a 100-grain up to 120-grain bullets. Some of these guys shoot factory and some are hand loading to get the results they want. Travis (good friend and fellow hunter and shooter) hand loads a 100-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip in his 25-06 and says it is an excellent performer on deer and hogs but cautions bullet placement on mature wild boars and large game with this bullet. Federal loads a 117-grain Sierra Boat-tail in their Premium line of ammo for the 25-06 and it seems to be a good one. I’ve sighted in a couple of 25-06’s for people using this load and it’s quite accurate. Recoil falls into the moderate range for both of these cartridges, and I have found the 25-06 Remington and the 270 Winchester to be much more comfortable to shoot than the 280 Remington or the 30-06 Springfield in the same weight rifle. In lightweight rifles such as the Winchester Featherweight or Remington Mountain Rifle the 270 is far more tolerable than the 280 or 30-06. If I had to choose between the two I would probably choose the 25-06 for my personal battery, although the 270 is would most likely be the better all around cartridge.