30-06, 270, 280

Like a Timex

The 30-06 Springfield, 270 Winchester and 280 Remington are the Timex watch of elk cartridges. They “take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’. It would be impossible to name all the cartridges—factory and wildcat—that have been developed since the ’06 came out. In the 1940s and 50s the magnums came out. The last two decades short magnums and ultra magnums have been the rage.

Perusal of magazines and websites indicates that the 7mm Remington Magnum is “THE” long-range western hunting cartridge. Others indicate the only real elk rifle is the .338 Winchester Magnum. Additionally, super tankers of ink have praised the coal hod of “elk” cartridges recently developed by Ruger, Federal, Hornady, et al.

Yet, the big three, ’06, 270, 280 are still with us. According to rifle, ammunition and reloading die sales, the 30-06 and the 270 are still numbers one and two. The 280 is the newest of the trio, but for most uses there is little difference between the three. Each has enough overkill to easily take an elk, and each is about the most rifle the average hunter can handle without developing a flinch.

The kicker if you own an’06 or 270 is you can buy ammunition in any burg in the grand ole’ USA.

The tried and true fits with my mantra of K.I.S.S., better than the "new and improved."

30-06 Springfield for Elk Hunting

270 Winchester for Elk Hunting

280 Remington for Elk Hunting

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