270 Winchester vs 30-06 Springfield
Side-by-side ballistics comparison computed from our ballistics engine. Standard conditions: sea level, 59°F, 10 mph crosswind, 100 yard zero.
270 Winchester
140gr Nosler AccuBond LR — 2950 fps — BC 0.509
30-06 Springfield
168gr Hornady ELD-M — 2710 fps — BC 0.523
Bullet Drop Comparison
| Range (yds) | 270 Win Drop (in) | 30-06 Drop (in) | Difference (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 200 | -3.0 | -3.9 | -0.9 |
| 300 | -11.3 | -14.0 | -2.7 |
| 400 | -25.6 | -31.2 | -5.6 |
| 500 | -46.8 | -56.7 | -9.9 |
| 600 | -76.0 | -91.7 | -15.7 |
| 700 | -114.5 | -137.9 | -23.4 |
| 800 | -164.0 | -197.1 | -33.1 |
| 900 | -226.2 | -271.5 | -45.3 |
| 1000 | -303.5 | -363.7 | -60.2 |
Energy & Velocity Comparison
| Range (yds) | 270 Win Vel (fps) | 30-06 Vel (fps) | 270 Win Energy (ft-lb) | 30-06 Energy (ft-lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 2763 | 2537 | 2372 | 2401 |
| 200 | 2583 | 2371 | 2074 | 2096 |
| 300 | 2411 | 2211 | 1806 | 1823 |
| 400 | 2245 | 2057 | 1566 | 1578 |
| 500 | 2085 | 1909 | 1351 | 1359 |
| 600 | 1932 | 1769 | 1161 | 1167 |
| 700 | 1787 | 1636 | 993 | 998 |
| 800 | 1650 | 1512 | 846 | 853 |
| 900 | 1522 | 1398 | 720 | 729 |
| 1000 | 1404 | 1296 | 613 | 626 |
Wind Drift Comparison — 10 mph Crosswind
| Range (yds) | 270 Win Drift (in) | 30-06 Drift (in) | Difference (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0.6 | 0.7 | -0.1 |
| 200 | 2.5 | 2.7 | -0.2 |
| 300 | 5.7 | 6.3 | -0.5 |
| 400 | 10.5 | 11.6 | -1.0 |
| 500 | 17.0 | 18.7 | -1.7 |
| 600 | 25.4 | 28.0 | -2.5 |
| 700 | 36.0 | 39.5 | -3.6 |
| 800 | 48.8 | 53.6 | -4.8 |
| 900 | 64.3 | 70.5 | -6.2 |
| 1000 | 82.5 | 90.2 | -7.8 |
Comparison Verdict
Flatter Trajectory
270 Winchester drops 9.9" less at 500 yards (46.8" vs 56.7"), providing a meaningfully flatter trajectory for mid-range shooting. This translates to less scope adjustment and a larger point-blank range, which matters in hunting scenarios where quick shots are needed.
Energy Retention at 1000 Yards
30-06 Springfield retains 13 ft-lb more energy at 1000 yards (626 vs 613 ft-lb), offering greater terminal performance at extended range. For hunting applications, most experts recommend a minimum of 1000 ft-lb for deer-sized game — check the energy table above to see where each cartridge crosses that threshold.
Wind Drift at 500 Yards
270 Winchester drifts 1.7" less in a 10 mph crosswind at 500 yards (17.0" vs 18.7"), making it more resistant to wind deflection. Wind reading is typically the largest source of error in long-range shooting, so lower wind sensitivity directly translates to more consistent hits at distance.
Verdicts derived from computed data at standard conditions (sea level, 59°F, 29.92 inHg, 50% humidity). Actual results vary with ammunition, barrel length, and environment.
270 Winchester vs 30-06 Springfield FAQ
Which has less bullet drop, 270 Winchester or 30-06 Springfield?
At 500 yards, 270 Winchester drops 46.8 inches while 30-06 Springfield drops 56.7 inches under standard conditions with representative match loads. 270 Winchester provides the flatter trajectory, requiring less scope adjustment for mid-range shots.
Which handles wind better, 270 Winchester or 30-06 Springfield?
In a 10 mph crosswind at 500 yards, 270 Winchester drifts 17.0 inches while 30-06 Springfield drifts 18.7 inches. 270 Winchester is more wind-resistant, which is a significant advantage since wind reading is the largest source of error in long-range shooting.
Which retains more energy at long range, 270 Winchester or 30-06 Springfield?
At 1000 yards, 270 Winchester retains 613 ft-lb while 30-06 Springfield retains 626 ft-lb of kinetic energy. 30-06 Springfield delivers more terminal energy at extended range, which matters for hunting applications where minimum energy thresholds determine ethical shot distances.
Individual Caliber Data
View detailed load presets, drop charts, and ballistic performance data for each caliber.
Run Your Own Calculations
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