Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 130gr or 150gr for whitetail. 270

Where did you hit those four deer? It seems odd to me that you wouldn't get decent blood trails on whitetails with that combo.

130's all the way, between the two. Better yet a 110gr Barnes TTSX at 3300fps or a bit more. Will out hit and out kill any lead core 130 or 150 out there, and shoot flatter plus give more dramatic, quick kills.

Avoid Sierra bullets like Bubonic Plague.

One of my first rifles was a 264 Win Mag. I lost the first deer I shot at with it and it was a good solid hit but evidently poor bullet selection. I shot a doe with a 30-06 and 165 grain bullet - hit the deer in the shoulder, blew up the shoulder, but the bullet didn't enter the chest cavity. My Brother-in-law used the same bullet in a 300 Win Mag and lost his first elk with it. The blood trail lasted until dusk when he finally gave up - he was an excellent tracker.

Having said that bullet weight isn't the entire story. I don't like cartridges that push light bullets fast for big game. Cause I usually use cup and core bullets due to cost. But not all bullets, even cup and core bullets are equal. I'd name what I think are the worst bullets, but that would hi-jack the blog and there would be a trial of oh-ya's. But the smaller the caliber to case ratio the more need for better constructed bullets and/or heavier bullets for the caliber. For me I'd use the 150's over the 130's with many of the bullets on the market. But for the better cup and core bullets, I think you could go with either weight (I'd still go 150's).
My favorite cup and core bullet is Hornady interlock and my second favorite is Remington CL's (I find the Hornady's a little more accurate - both work well on game. My go-to bullet for more money is the Nosler Partition. I've been using them since they produced them on screw machines and have never been let down. I've had bad luck with one other of the premium bullets. But I won't say which -- no need in getting in a p***ing contest.

Federal loads the partition in there vital shok line. Thats the load I used before I had dies for my 270

Gotta disagree with you, Mark. I've had excellent service out of Sierra bullets on whitetails, always. Never had an issue with them dropping deer within a few yards. Then again, I don't take chancy shots any more, either. I'm pretty choosy about where and when I shoot 'em.

I've been using 150 gr. speer hot cors for years. They don't bloodshot up much meat and kills 'em dead.

I've made one-shot drops on deer with bullets from 55 - 405 grains...

I don't think the difference between a 130 and a 150 is going to matter in the least.

Good luck on your hunt!

Regards, Guy

ditto! Ive never had a reason to change from the 150 speer and H4831 with a 215 fed primer, its worked for everyone in our elk camp for decades
work up the load your rifle likes but some place in the 56-58 grain range should work

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=270%20Winchester&Weight=All&type=Rifle

don,t get hung up on velocity just get the most accurate load, and place the shot where it does the most good

Switch to the 130 accubonds. There's no need for a 150 on deer, you just need a better constructed bullet.

I have to agree. I had the same experience with the 130 Ballistic Tips and was NOT impressed. In fact, the 150 Ballistic Tips were not a lot better. Today, I understand Nosler has toughened the BTs somewhat. Good thing because the older ones were very fragile and explosive.

However, deer I've shot using regular 150 soft points have not gone far, had extensive damage and exit wounds!

Hard not to like 150s. If shooting 130s I would use Partitions or TTXS.

Use them!

i will but i need more and im havn trouble finding 150gr corelokts

In my neck of the woods deer must not be as tough as they are in other areas. 130 grain Core-Lokts are all I shoot in my .270. If the deer isn't DRT there is always a good blood trail.

Shoot the 140gr Nosler AB and don't look back! A great hunting bullet with a good BC.

Use what ya got if you're rifle likes it. I like 130 Speer Grand Slam and 60gr of 7828 has taken more deer than any other bullet for me...however I'm using Hornady SST 130s this year(my rifle REALLY like 'em). 20 more grains won't kill 'em any deader.

I use 150g SSTs in the 270, about 2900-2950fps. Yes they do tear up a bit of tissue but they kill deer (and pigs, hundreds of them, and the odd goat) very well and they shoot accurate and flat.

At present I am trialing some 150g NBTs around 2850fps and they shoot as accurate or even a little better than the SSTs. Yet to use them on game yet.

I found 130 grainers kill great when broadside but not as good as the 150s when the angle was unfavourable.

There is hardly a bad bullet in the 130-150 weight range for the 270Win when talking deer. But if you must have the best, then load a Nosler 130 Partition, go hunting, kill deer, be happy and worry about boots, knives or scopes maybe because your bullet concerns are over.

im gonma buy a box of the partitions and c what they do

I am generally a heavy for caliber guy but I will admit the 130s in a .270 are impressive. I was with a friend that took a very large Nebraska buck with a 130gr Winchester Power Point. I guess he must have hit it perfect but it put the smack down on that deer. I was like........ Damn, nice shot!