Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 270 Winchester 130 or 150 grain Ballistic tips

Split the difference and go with the 140gr Ballistic Tip. 140gr (not just Ballistic Tips) in 270 WCF is my go-to for deer an' antelope.

That is a beautiful rifle!

It is harder to pick a bad bullet for the 270 than a good one.

My 2 cents. I have used the .270 wcf since I was 12....66 now.
Ever since I got a hold of Reloder 26, I favor the heavier sleeker 150 grain bullets and the 160 Nosler Partition.
I get 130 grain velocities out of the 150's and they fly flatter.
I now use Reloder 16 with the monolithic 130 grain bullets. Gmx, ttsx etc.
Bull Elk are the primary Game animal around here.

I was thinking the 150 BT might have less drop & wind drift at 3-500 yards than the 130 grainer. That's starting them both at near there respective maximum velocity.

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I think it’d take quite awhile for it to happen. The 130’s started at 3150 and 150’s around 3000.

Wind drift will go with the sleeker 150’s pretty quick though.

Run a ballistic computer program with both bullets and see how much they differ out to 500. It ain't much....

So far all the posts I've read here haven't addressed that, especially when considering the various powders.

And as both Jordan and I have noted, RL-26 ain't nearly as temperature-resistant as Alliant implies, whether compared to H4831SC, RL-16, Magnum etc.

I very willingly give up 100+ fps in muzzle velocity to obtain more consistent results at various temperatures.

Great stuff CRS!

The dirty 130 will cover your bases if your scope will.

Not a gun writer - I’ve personally had great luck with the 130gr of Speer/Hornady/NP over 40 years or so - excellent terminal ballistics. Same said for the 270/150 NP - but you’re talking center fire all around excellence with that combo IMO

Here's a photo from 2004, when the Barnes TSX was first introduced--three years before the TTSX appeared. Coni Brooks sent us some 140-grain .270s, and I loaded them with Ramshot Hunter in Eileen's .270 Winchester ULA Model 24. They were very accurate, and she killed this spike at around 200 yards--which was the first elk kill report Coni got with TSXs. (The load also killed a coyote at around 300 yards, and expanded well.)

A few years later Eileen sold/loaned the ULA to a local woman friend who loved to hunt elk but at around 5'-2" and 110 pounds wanted something easier to pack. (Eileen had developed recoil headaches by then, and the ULA was too much.) The only condition was that if our friend decided to sell the rifle, we'd buy it back.

A couple months ago that happened, as her friend couldn't handle the recoil anymore either. I bought it back--and while recently selling much of my collection of too many bullets, I found the rest of the original box of 140s. May have to load some up with the same bullets and powder charge, and go hunting. Am betting it still kills stuff, despite the improvements in Barnes bullets since then....

Great post MD!

So MD, are you saying you'd prefer the Barnes TSX or TTSX 140gr. or 150gr. over a similar 130gr. pill if getting consistent velocity and accuracy?

No, I'm saying a LOT of .270 bullets work on a lot of big game animals. None is the only "magic" answer.

Might look at my hunting notes and put together a list of which .270 bullets I've seen used on big game--and the cartridges have included not just the original Winchester round but the .270 WSM and .270 Weatherby. It would be a long list, and can't recall one that "failed."

My point, once again, is there are far more important factors than a "magic" bullet diameter, make or weight.

Agreed. Very cool.

Or go with the 140gr Accubond to get the best of both worlds. I haven't looked in years, but the 140gr AB used to have the same listed BC as the 150gr BT. Get the same BC with more velocity...

I have a pile of Nosler 140gr ballistic silvertip accubonds from SPS.

I really like coated ballistic silvertips, having them being bonded was intriguing to me. Bought them just because. Worked up a load for my old re-barreled Remington SS mountain rifle. Probable will not hunt it this year as I am carrying the above 1:8 twist rifle this year.

In addition, I got my 270 classic FWT back from Oregunsmithing with a new stock. Working on 100gr CX, 110 TSX, 129gr LRX and 130gr CX.

So many 270's, so little time.

MD,
If you ever decide to part with that 270 ULA again, let me know. It would be going to a 270 looney home.

Will put you on the list!

To shoot out of a .270 Weatherby.

I've been shooting .270 Win 130 gr Sierra BTSP since the early 70's.
Have not killed an elk with it. Mainly because I haven't ever seen an elk while hunting! LOL!

I started shooting the .270 Win about the time I started reloading.
My "mentor" started me on the Sierra 130 gr BTSP.
Pigs, heavy bodied OK wheat pasture deer, pigs, coyotes, antelope and one mule deer!

Within decent ranges and good shot placement, the .270 Win and a good 130 grain bullet should do the job on just about anything in North America.

In that case.
I would buy a box of each and have a shoot off.
Which ever one groups the best would get the nod.
Go hunting.
Dave