Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters .270 Winchester: What is the best big game for this cartridge?

Great responses. I killed a nice raghorn bull elk this year with my .270 win model 70, 24" barrel shooting a140 gr TBBC, one shot at about 235 yards and he fell where standing. Hit his shoulder blade and found on far side under skin.

I killed two mountain goats (alaska, Idaho) two great bucks and an elk in 2011 with the .270.
And another Idaho hunter borrowed my gun to kill his Idaho mountain goat that fall.

Take your pic as to what "game" is best, all but one animal were drt.

Mine have cleanly taken wildebeest, zebra, eland, oryx, sheep etc. no problem.

What a bunch of BS! We all know a .270 is a mouse gun. Why do you guys insist on pulling of stunts like killing game animals with it?

I'd use my 270 win on anything in NA without hesitation..

I believe a 270 Win set up with a tough 140-150 is a pretty danged good rifle for a lot of stuff, but my 270 is really in its niche hunting deer (muleys and whitetails). Just can't find much that's worked any better.

It would seem that facts can confuse argument?

I've never had any "hate" for the .270.....but then again I don't have much "love" for it either. The .270 is great for light to medium weight animals at somewhat longish ranges. That's what it was designed for.

Yes it can work well on larger game, but it is far from perfect on game heavier than 300 pounds or so......particularly with the "typical" 130 grain bullets. I've found (and apparently a lot of others do too) that going up to a 150 grain bullet makes the .270 into a whole nother kind of beast. Much more effective on larger game.

When ever someone starts a discussion about smaller cartridges on larger game, the 7x57mm is always mentioned.....and rightfully so. However most seem to forget that the 7x57 (as used by Bell and others) made it's reputation with heavy-for-caliber 175 grain bullets at close range.

If the .270 were typically used with 160 grain or heavier bullets at 2500-2600 fps....it too would be "legendary" on larger game. Penetration is the key.

Most insist on retaining the long range ability of their .270 by using lightweight 130 grain bullets.....and against large (elk and above) animals this can be a problem at times. The light bullets just don't ALWAYS penetrate enough. Nothing "wrong" with the .270.....just a missuse of a great round.

If you insist on shooting 500 pound animals at 300+ yards, the 7mm Magnum....or better yet the .300 or .338 Magnums will outperform the .270 every time. The .270 "can" be used effectively on larger game.....but it will never be the "best" at that chore. The .270 will perform much better with heavier bullets....but will give up some range to do so.

I don't "hate" the .270, but I try to be realistic. Too many .270 fans like to give this round some kind of "magic" properties. Ballistics are not magical......heavy bullets perform better than light ones no matter what chambering you use. Limit the ranges and use heavier bullets and the .270 is good (note I said good.....not great) on heavier game......but it will never be the "best" at longer ranges.

Excellent post.

Best? Deer-sized game out to around 300-350 yards, or, if there isn't much wind, somewhat farther than that.

Same "best" as for a 6.5x55, but the .270 recoils more, and the bullet fired from a .270 is going to drift more in the wind out around the 400 yard mark and beyond.

The .270 was at its best compared to other cartridges during the period before laser rangefinders became common (and after rifle scopes became common). With the .270, you can zero for 250 yards and hold in the middle of the chest out to 300 yards, with wind corrections that are pretty reasonable. To be honest, hardly anybody needs more than that because, from what I've seen, most of us can't shoot adequately past 300 yards without considerable practice, and the right .277" bullet is going to do the job on any medium or big game commonly hunted in the Lower 48. The .270's recoil, which isn't really that bad, is the biggest negative besides its bullets not being as aerodynamic as bullets available one size smaller and larger (.264" and .284"). Overall, with the technology today, the .270 is a compromise cartridge, but it is still great for being a flat-shooting round with readily available factory ammo.

My great uncle shot 40-50 grizzly bears on the northern BC coast around the logging camps with a 270 win from the 1930's to mid 1940's. He's 93 and just found out the 270 is too small for anything bigger than deer.

anyone who puts down the 270 Win has never used it or can't shoot for chit or both

Actually, the reality is that hands-on experience trumps speculation, every time. [/quote]

I believe that speculating about the collective information of those with the most hands on experience trumps all.

Shod

Razorback....I think you get it. The .270 takes a lot of the guesswork out of semi-long range shooting.

And 400 yards is a LONG way out there for most shooters. For smaller game (under 300 pounds) at unknown ranges the .270 is hard to beat. For larger game (500 pounds+) there are much better rounds available.

Damn it...use the "best" cartridge for the job.....don't try to make one round do everything....no matter how much you "love" it.

Yeah...me and Joe killed a bigg-um is a real good argument

Damn it...use the "best" cartridge for the job.....don't try to make one round do everything....no matter how much you "love" it. [/quote]

This is exactly what I do, I don't need to use one cartridge for every job. I prefer the 223 or 243 for deer and my 270 takes care of the heavier work.

The 270 is the largest caliber that I have and It is also the best tool " in my hands" for the job of any bigger game.

I'll happily explain why if anyone so desires to know. Grin

Shod

No disrespect to your Great Uncle. But bullets have improved since those days. Phil Shoemaker, an Alaskan Master Guide, suggests the 30/06 for the Bear hunters he guides.
I've never shot a Bear. I have no personal experience. Phil does.

Liberals, Hippies and communists.

I've had 4 270's and I think that they are about the best coyote rifle out there, about on par with a 25-06.

Bushrat what would your uncle say to some knot head that called him gay.