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Guesstimating wind is far tougher then guesstimating range. But somehow a lot of people say estimating range is a fantasy while simultaneously claiming they can dope the wind 600 yds across the canyon.

6mm Creedmoor, pushing Hornady 108gr ELD-M at 3200 fps. PBR about 330 yards at +/- 3 inches.

I don’t know if you reload, but my reload 270 win shoots 140s as Flat as factory 7 RM 140.
270 is not as cool as 6CM or 6.5 PRC. But it works and you can find 270 win. ammo anywhere in a pinch.
The 6.5 CM is also easy to shoot long distance. Hate to say it…The hype is real.

Bingo. The capability of a cartridge/bullet combo at range is first and foremost the ability to buck the wind. Rangefinders are after all cheap and effective.

Personally I’d worry waaaaay more about acquiring tags than what I’m killin with.it’s gonna become more and more important every year from here on out. 👍

Straight truth right here.

This article covers it nicely and the venerable .270 is still a winner.

https://www.ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/6-5-creedmoor-versus-270-winchester

Here is the Reader’s Digest version,

6.5 Creedmoor Versus 270 Winchester: Final Answer


Whether you choose to risk your inches to wind deflection or bullet drop, you can't dispute the wonderful performance and versatility of both these cartridges. In energy, velocity and drop, the 270 Winchester wins. In wind deflection, recoil, cycling speed, and potentially compact rifle size (short action,) the Creedmoor comes out on top.If you own an accurate, beloved 270 Winchester, you don't need to replace it with a 6.5 Creedmoor.

Unless a buck is chasing a doe across a 16 foot wide right of way. Point and pull the trigger will beat range and dial every single time in this scenario. A cartridge that is 2.5 inches high at 100 and 7.9 low at 400 is a no brainer.

Building, altering...tinkering is always fun but unneccessary, most of the time. If it were me, I would find a suitable bullet for the ocassion.
We live in the zenith of bullet technology.
Maybe....practice your belly crawling and call shots in windy situations

We were assuming you can accurately estimate the range to be 400 yards, so no need to range. We were also assuming the need to use a hash mark aiming point on the reticle, which means the shot is beyond the rifle’s PBR. I agree that if the shot is within the PBR it’s quicker to point and shoot, but if the shot is beyond that it only takes a couple of seconds to dial if you know your DOPE.

Isn't that why there is a 270 Winchester?

270 Win. 130 grain btsp , bc 0.46, mv 3200 fps.
Zero @ 300 yards. + 4.0"" at 150 yards, and ~9"" low at 400 yards.

257 Bee is a wee bit flatter. (115 Nosler Ballistic Tip, bc 0.45, mv 3250 fps)
Zero @ 300 yards. +3.8" at 150 yards, and.~8.8" low at 400 yards.

Play with the ballistics yourself:
http://gundata.org/ballistic-calculator/

click "advanced options" to set zero range.

270 Win brass and dies are lower cost. Obviously get what you want, but in practical terms, the 270 Win "gets it done" for flat shooting. Not much new under the sun regarding pragmatic ballistics. It comes down to the shooter knowing how to read the wind, estimating range, and having a sound shooting position and technique. Certainly nothing new there.

Get to the stand location and range so you have an idea of max range you might shoot. Yeah if it is beyond 500 you have to range and use the elevation or Reticle hash.

Pre-ranging landmarks works fine for stand hunting, but doesn't work so well for other types of hunting like spot-and-stalk, still hunting, etc. I'm ranging and dialing if the shot is much beyond 300, personally.

I like 25-06 for antelope, but a 270 would be as good, I believe. I’ve shot pronghorn with 6mm, 257, 7x57, 25-06, 264, 280, 308 and 30-06. But I’d be very happy with a 270. Longest shot at pronghorn was with a 280 and 162 grain interlocks, maybe 450 yards, if I remember correctly.
As far as deer on the prairie I’ve made my longest shot was with 30-06 and 180 grain interlock boat tail mostly because that what I had at the time. I think about that was about 750 yards (I was young and foolish, but it dropped the large white tail buck). I didn’t pace it off and didn’t have a range finder, but I aimed about 14 feet over the deer and it broke the buck’s back.
For long range prairie I think there’s many close choices.
What I’d be looking at, 25-06, 270, 280, 264, 257 WBY, 280 AI, 270 WBY, 7 mm RM, 30-06, any 300 mag (your choice).
I’m not particularly concerned with recoil with these cartridges and any of these would work fine.
If you have any of these, they should work well. If you “need” a new cartridge, look what you have and get something that mates well with what you have.
Whatever you choose, study the drop tables, use a range finder and aim accordingly. Finally an aerodynamic bullet is very good - mainly for windage.

.270, 270wsm, .280 ai.....

II have played with the .257 Weatherby quite a bit, and I like it. However I like my .270 Winchester more.

I have several .270’s and most won’t break 3000 FPS with 60 grains of H4831. My 270 WSM only averages 3240 FPS with reloader 17.

How are you getting 3200 FPS? Barrel length?

Thanks

My M98 in 30-06 shoots most anything pretty good (inch at 300). It has a heavy 27 inch (not a typo) barrel, and if the box is right, 150 gr H. Superperformace checks out at 3100, about.

I feel it would be good to 1,000 - I'm ok to 500...... . have killed with it to almost 500.

And I need to use a rangefinder.

At almost 11 lbs, not exactly a foot-carry rifle, but I've done it. Best used with ATV or snow machine.

For the OP- I'd suggest a 270 or 25-06. And a range finder.

The WBY would be a good choice also. And a range finder.

Oldquailhunter asked:

"I have several .270’s and most won’t break 3000 FPS with 60 grains of H4831. My 270 WSM only averages 3240 FPS with reloader 17.

How are you getting 3200 FPS? Barrel length? "
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Response:

Hornady 270 Win Superperformance factory load reports 3200 fps with a 130 grain bullet from a 24" bbl.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/270-win-130-gr-sst-superformance#!/

Add more velocity with 26" bbl. . (+50 fps?), or to get TO 3200 fps if the reports are optimistic with a 24" bbl.


Another report (handload):
https://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/36516-hornady-superformance-powder-for-270-win/?page=2

"Did some load development as well as explored the limits of this powder. Had a 270 Win 26 in. barrel made by Benchmark barrels for a Savage 110 action. After breaking it in, did some velocity testing of the load that I referenced in the previous post, namely 59gr Superformance behind a Barnes 130 TSX. It clocked at an average of 3260fps. That is 270WSM territory. Five shot groups with gusty winds at 100 yds of 0.69 and 0.455 in. using cheap unsorted Win brass. Previous post showed effect of COAL. Using a Hornady bullet comparator the COAL of these loads was 2.790 in. In a good barrel this powder groups well. All we need now is high BC bullets to make the 270 Win a viable long range caliber."

Too bad our 270 win. Isn’t twisted fast enough