Thread: Firearm upgrade options?

Originally Posted by samohtxotom

Just looking for some advice/opinions on what to do with my current rifle situation, I've been hunting for a couple years now and have had a Howa 1500 in .270, I've taken deer from 5m-380m with this but I've treated it like a bush pig and accuracy is starting to waiver, and I kind of just want a new gun anyway (I know at least the crown has some pitting).
I would also like to start practicing pushing my shots out further in preparation for a trip down south (<600m). The .270 has served me very well as an all rounder, but I'm thinking of getting two different rifles for the different type of hunting I do, so a long range rifle and a bush rifle.
My only concern with that is often I hunt in mixed areas where I might be bush hunting 1/2 the time and the other 1/2 glassing faces at 200-500m, I'd hate to have a deer that I would be able to shoot with my long range rifle but can't because I've got the bush rifle. On the contrary I'd feel stupid lugging a big LR rifle through the bush to get to some slips only to have a big stag come before me and not be able to shoot it with my huge scope.
From the way I see it I've got a few options:
1: Keep the .270, recrown and continue to use that as an all rounder
2: Recrown .270, use that as long range rig with speciality projectiles, buy bush rifle
3: Chop down .270, use as bush rifle, buy long range rifle
4: Sell .270, buy long range rifle, buy bush rifle
5: Sell .270, buy something else that acts as an all rounder

For sake of argument let's just pretent cost isn't an issue.

So, what would you do in my situation? (open to other opinions)

I would go with 1 definitely, then possibly look at shortening it / suppressing it. Rather than a whole LR rig while you are starting out, find a scope that has a spread suitable for med LR and a low power (4-16 or 3-16 ) Use your budget here first....Then do two things
- Leave it at the lowest magnification when hunting as default...if a longer shot presents itself you will usually have time to adjust it and get ready for the shot....
- Learn to dial your scope and get a decent range finder. 270 with 140gr interlock whitetail at 500 yards is still very close to the 7mm RM interlock 139gr so 'trading up' will not make a great difference unless you go BIG.....(you can load biggger pills into the 7mmRM but the gains still do not justify the cost of a new rifle)
- Spend you new rifle budget on more ammo and get some practise in.....the more practise especially at med to longer ranges , the better....Especially if learning to dial...

The 270 is a good alrounder calibre...it will shoot further than most shooters are capable of. As you wear the Howa out over its life- or as any rifle starts to lose accuracy as it wears, then start to focus it more as a bush pig....But in the meantime it will be more than capable to do both.