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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,826
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,826 |
I wrote an article about cartridges for big deer some years ago, I believe in RIFLE, and my conclusion then was that the peak of deer-killing power is somewhere around the 7mm-08 or 7x57, using a 140 grain bullets 280-2900 fps or so--which obviously would include the .270.
I have killed quite a few deer with larger cartridges, including the .30-06, several different .300 magnums and even the .338 Winchester Magnum and 9.3x62. I have also shot a lot of "deer-sized" animals in Africa with the .375 H&H. None of them killed any quicker, on average, than a 140-grain 7mm bullet at 2900 or so (and, again, a .270 bullet actually measures just about a "true" 7mm in diameter). And of course a faster 7mm cartridge would extend the distance a little, but my experience is that almost all deer are killed at under 350 yards, even big mule deer. And out to 350, a 140 started at 2900 does the job quite well.
But that is just my opinion. Yep. My opinion too, as well as the few million others who have watched the big Mulies dispatched in their tracks with a 270. Wayne
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,731
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,731 |
Peter Capstick wrote a book about the last elephant hunter: "Pondoro Taylor" I think. In it, a herd of elephants ran into camp and started destroying the place. The only guy in camp with a ready rifle was a .........270. As the story goes, the soft points would not penetrate so he pulled the bullets with his teeth, jammed them in backwards, and shot the elephants between the eyes. Metal base first, the elephants died. True? As true as the guy with the 4 bore who ran out of bullets, wrapped a pocket full of coins with a hankie and stuffed it down and shot a miffed buffalo between the eyes killing him too! Mule deer, I find perfectly acceptable. I shot 2 nice whitetail at 200 with a .270 and blew their front ends all apart. Lots and lots of purple meat, coagulated blood, and broken bone. They actually did more damage than I'd liked & they were Gamekings. They don't do that in my .30's.
"I didn't get the sophisticated gene in this family. I started the sophisticated gene in this family." Willie Robertson
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,144
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,144 |
Yes, and one of my favorites of his articles. I don't think we're supposed to bring it up, though.
I just reread another of his articles from a past Handloader, on borescopes. The introduction, recalling a tale of spaghetti and his little brother, is also a classic.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,180 Likes: 20
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,180 Likes: 20 |
The P.R. guy at Hawkeye still mentions the spaghetti story every time I see him....
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,144
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,144 |
It was a good hook! The rest of the story was good reading, too. Better include it in your "best of" book.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 59
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 59 |
hummm.... strange, reeeeally strange....... the last boar I shot weighed gutted 305 pounds and it was dead right there (shoulder shot with exit) and guess what I shot it with.....  ......right....270 Win., 130 grs. Nosler Partition! Probably it only simulated and wasn't really shot dead 
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,180 Likes: 20
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,180 Likes: 20 |
300 savage,
Yeah, it's in there....
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 21
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 21 |
Frankly I thought the article completely catered to rifle mfrs since his choices were ALL the most "popular" cartridges sold.
But in defense (I cringe) of Mr Lee, according to the article,
he did seem to believe a 270 Win, shooting a 150-gr premium bullet was okay. How can the 270 Win which has collected as many
as many other cartridges NOT be suitable for mule deer?
Now without any criticism of the cartridges Mr Lee selected, I reduced his criteria to any cartridge that can launch a bullet
with a minimum .314 BC, of modest weight (SD), and a MV of at least 2910 fps, as fulfilling HIS criteria. HIS criteria, not mine, based upon his, "The Perfect Mule Deer Rifle Factory
Ballistics Comparison" chart.
I can think of a volume of cartridges (not mentioned), shooting an equal volume of bullets that easily can fill HIS requirements.
And exactly WHAT was his point?
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,144
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,144 |
I'll be in line for a copy, Mule Deer, and I'll put it on the shelf with O'Connor, Keith, Jobson, Skelton, and Aagaard. .458Win should do the same thing.
Chuckle...and include the one about the cartridge that sounds like a military airplane.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,180 Likes: 20
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,180 Likes: 20 |
I had that plane in mind when writing the article. My father worked for Boeing during WWII and was always a plane fan. I was the same way; built many a model during my school years!
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
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