I have posted this before. But after hunting with a Remington 788 in 243 for the first two years, I traded for a BDL 700 in 270 circa 1980. In 1992 I traded for a Remington SS mountain rifle in 270.
For the first 17 or so years I had a 270 as my only big game/varmint rifle. I have played with and used 90gr Sierra HP's for varmints all the way up to 180gr Woodleigh's.
In the late 90's, I was finally able to indulge my inner looney. Having since used, 22, 243, 257, 264, 277, 308, 338, 348, 358, 366, 375, 423, 458, and 50 calibers for hunting.
As far as bullets, my experience mirrors the above article. The Hornady 130 and 150gr Interlock's set a very high standard. The 140gr BTSP do not hold together as well and gave up hunting with them. I have also had good performance from the 130gr NBT. The mono metals have only improved performance.
Lowest load was an 85gr TSX at 1900 fps. Fastest load was a 110gr TSX at 3300fps which worked great on hogs, deer, Axis and blackbuck.
My wife, nephews, and boys used reduced loads successfully for their beginning hunts. Bullets included 85gr TSX, 100gr GMX, 110gr NAB, 130gr Interlock and 140gr BTSP Interlock
My Dad has used nothing but the Hornady 130gr SP out of his 760 Gamemaster for close to 50 years. At 82 years old he was able to tag three deer this past fall. He did use a 150gr NP two years ago to tag his first bull elk. If he draws another SD elk tag, the 150gr NP will get the nod again.
This past fall I used the 145gr ELD-X on a doe antelope at 442 yards, and my best mule deer at 180 yards. They shoot great and have banged steel out to 800 with them, but they are soft and found tremendous meat loss when butchering. I did recover the jacket under the opposite skin of the mule deer.
For my Black Hills deer hunt I carried a Husqvarna 1640 in 6.5x55 using a 129gr Interlock. Ended up getting one of my better whitetails. Bullet performed as expected.
My future DIL used a 7mm-08 with a 120gr NBT on her first and second deer this past fall also. Understandably, it worked.
My oldest boy used a 130gr TTSX, and youngest a 130gr GMX for their hunting.
So in summary this past fall we put 12 deer/antelope in the freezer using 6.5x55, 7mm-08, and 270's. All peas in a pod, but I obviously have much more experience with the 270. Hence the comfort factor.
Last edited by CRS; 12/15/20.
