Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Lots of 270s

Visited a local gun store today that always has a bunch of used rifles for sale. Decided to do a little informal "survey" about the chamberings on the racks of used centerfire rifles, around 40 all together.

The leader, by far, was the .30-06, but the next in "popularity" was the 7mm Remington Magnum, with 6, and then the .270 Winchester with 4. The were also a couple of .308's, a .243, a .22-250, a .300 Winchester Magnum, a .300 WSM, a .300 SAUM and a .375 H&H (a nice Sako).

When the ammo panic hit the Northeast last winter all of the military ammo and some guns were bought up. There was still plenty of 270 ammo in the stores.

Years ago we could get 30-06 ammo from the DCM and our club for target shooting. All of the CF target rifles were 30-06. Nobody shot a 270 in competition. Then it went to the 308 and now 223.

They say the 270 is an outstanding cartridge and I let them have that. It was the path of least resistance to shoot the 06.

Tell me more...

The 270, which has a .277 diameter bore, was introduced during the time when there were many 7x57 military surplus rifles around. By going to that unique bore size, Winchester made certain that those old military rifles could not be converted to the new cartridge, which operated at higher pressures. In those days, the easiest way to obtain a "sporter" was to convert or upgrade a military rifle. Winchester made that difficult, so if you wanted the new cartridge you had to buy their new commercial rifle.

Also true.

My 270 WSM must make me so flaming gay that spontaneous combustion should be a concern! According to most here it suffers from a double negative dose of the worst kind.

strosfan: Laffin'... yes you are doomed.

So look for a good one on a decent action and purchase it cheap before everyone else wakes up.

How can anyone take the opinion of rifle suitability serious...especially from people from Montana. i mean come on there official state past time is sheep humping

Kirk,

I didn't look at the Sako .375 too closely, but the walnut stock looked to have decent figure and was in nice shape. Price is $1300. You might give Capital a call.

gitem 12,

That's a common misconception. Actually, we're just very kind people who are concerned for the comfort and safety of all living creatures. Foreigners sometimes misinterpret helping a poor sheep that's stuck in a fence.

That's not what I saw on the video Travis and BGG showed me

I visited a big gun store today and there was only ONE 270,a pre 64 M70.

Ah, so Montana is where all the ex-pat New Zealanders settled.

Bob
Would that have been Riley's Gunshop in Hooksett?

Did you buy it?

So, exactly what did Jack O'Connor say? In his book, "The Rifle Book", copyright 1964 he made a few interesting statements:

Page 191, "The .280 Remington and .284 Winchester, excellent big-game calibers (sic) both...flat trajectory... good accuracy."

Notice, he didn't say more or less "excellent" than the 270 or any other cartridge.

Page 236: "Ballistically, the .280 (Remington) is very similar to the .270 (Winchester)". "It (the .280 Rem.) has been no raging success because it is so much like the .270 (Winchester)".

It sounds to me like he gives no advantage to either and considers them very equal.

One interesting comparison he did make was when he tested a factory M-70 Fwt with a 22-in. barrel in 264 Winchester. The 264 with factory loads gave less velocity than his 270 handloads in the same 22-in. barrel length. After chronographing the 264 he stated, "I was not about to discard my matched pair of .270 Model 70 rifles with 22-inch barrels".

It is still fun to read Mr. O'Connor's writing from 50 years ago. Most of it is just as valid now as it was then.

How much $? Did you buy it? Condition? STD or FWT??? Inquiring minds thing....

Of course the rubber boots and velcro gloves help for better control huh JB...

The old hand and the tenderfoot were riding the fence when they came across a stuck sheep. The old hand hopped down and "helped" the sheep for a couple of minutes. He turned to the tenderfoot, who was watching, fascinated, and said, "If'n you want some of this, hop on down here."

The tenderfoot, with eyes big, says, "Yeah, I do. But do I have to stick my head through the fence?"





(o-o-o-o oof. Sorry guys, I couldn't help myself)
I think the tenderfoot came from the San Francisco area. He owns a 270, but he won't kill rattlesnakes. And he has an Obama bumper sticker on the rump of his horse.