re: .308 vs .270. Which should I get?

Sorry, Four Leaf, but the OB doesn't have it's best game tonight. The thread was well into 3 pages long before it became a debate about the 6.5 CM; there was only one reference to the supremacy of the 243 Win (albeit tongue in cheek); no one has yet to mention the OB's all time best deer rifle/round, a Tikka in 7-08 Rem.

I grew up in the Pacific NW and devoured the monthly edition of "Outdoor Life" magazine; it's gun editor was Jack O'Conner, probably the biggest ever proponent of the 270 Win. Consequently, the first big game rifle I bought was a 270 Win. I later moved to LA where I was the only one in deer camp w/ a bolt action 270. Everyone else had lever action 30-30's, pump action 30-06 's or Remington semi-auto 30-06.'s OTOH, there was one other fellow w/ a bolt action, a Model 700 in 243 Win. My hunting buddy joked w/ me about my 270 and how it was a "varmint gun." Fast forward a few years and everyone now has bolt actions in 7-08, 308 or 30-06. Now my hunting buddy splits his hunting time between a 308 Win and a 270 Win.

When I bought my son his first big game rifle, I got a Savage bolt action in 308 Win. A few months ago I bought a bolt action in 7-08 to one day be a grand child's deer gun.

The 270 Win will shoot a little flatter, but will also recoil a little more. The 308 Win will have a short action, making it a little shorter and a little lighter. OTOH, I sure like the reassurance of a 30 caliber exit hole when I'm deer hunting, especially on an evening hunt. The choice is a toss up w/ no bad answer. For typical deer hunting in the south, I'd prob go w/ a 308.