Originally Posted by Mule Deer
Originally Posted by Hawg
270 adequate for all game here in Texas less some of the private ranch exotics such as Nilgai. Fairly mild mannered, reasonably priced commercial ammo that is readily available under normal circumstances. Good enough for Jack O’Connor and we have the benefit of premium bullets.

Hawg,

Interesting to hear your opinion on the .270's adequacy on nilgai. About 20 years ago I was one of several writers invited on a nilgai (+pig) hunt on the King Ranch, along with a few other folks. The cartridge involved was not the .270 Winchester, but the new .270 WSM, and the bullet the also-new 140-grain Fail Safe.

When we we showed up the guides all expressed sincere doubts about the adequacy of anything ".270" on nilgai. Many of them believed in at least a .300 magnum, and some the .375 H&H.

By the end of the hunt 30 nilgai had been taken, a bull and cow for the each of the 15 hunters. The guides were all saying the .270 WSM was one of the greatest nilgai cartridges ever.

Now, some here may believe the .270 WSM is very different than the .270 Winchester, but I have shot plenty of animals with both--and also watched my wife kill animals up through bull moose with the .270 Winchester and plain old Nosler Partitions. I never could see any difference in the way either .270 killed (or for that matter, the .270 Weatherby) as long as a good bullet hit the right place.

In fact, the longer I hunt the less difference I see in how various rounds kill big game.

Similar story. When in Texas last December on a work trip, Nilgai was one of the animals on the menu. I’d brought a 270 as my rifle for the week and I was told it wasn’t big enough. They wanted me to use a 300 Winchester Magnum (with Hornady American Whitetail 150 grain as the ammo!) instead of my 270 with the 130 TTSX. I assured them my set up was more than adequate. The Nilgai was about 75 yards away at the shot, through lungs and exited off side shoulder. He ran 30 yards and flipped.

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I enjoy handguns and I really like shotguns,...but I love rifles!