Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting .270 Loads For Cow Elk

I am considering a late cow elk hunt. An outfitter that I contacted says that my .270 will be fine. I have a 130 gr. Sierra Hunter load that is very accurate. I haven't been able to develop an accurate 150 gr. load yet. Will my 130 gr. Pro Hunters be ok, or should I keep working on 150 gr. loads? I know that Jack O'Connor shot a lot of bull elk with 130 gr. bullets of conventional design, and he seemed to think that they were perfectly adequate. Does anyone have any opinions/experience in this area?[list]

I'd also consider trying your 130 gr load with the Nosler partition, or Barnes TSX.

The folks at Three Forks Ranch, where more than 200 elk a year are killed, tell me "Nosler Partition, Barnes or Swift A-Frame" for elk bullets.

I haven't killed an elk with anything but the partition, except for one cow with a 308 150 core-lokt, and one with a 30-06 180 bronze point. The 270 with 130 partitions is very, very effective.

I never used a 150 grain bullet in my .270.As an old packer here in Idaho told me..130 grains in the 270 from horseflies to elephants. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />Never found it to be untrue but I think for elephants I would choose another caliber.I used the 130 Nosler for excellant results on elk,both cows and bulls.I also like the 140 grain Trophy Bonded..Talk about a penetrating bullet for the 270 as is the Nolser.

Good luck on your hunt.

Jayco

Ive always found the SPEER 150 grain loaded over 57 grains of H4831 to be accurate in a 270 win and its proven to be fully able to kill ELK <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'm using 130 gr. .270 Nosler Partitions for my late-season Colorado elk hunt.

"from horseflies to elephants..." -- I like that and will bet a fellow that eloquent had a few other sayings I'd enjoy hearing. Some folks have a way with words... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

For cow elk, I'd figure any 150 grain load that shoots well is going to be OK. Velocity isn't high and it will penetrate pretty good. I kind of think of a .270 with a 150 as a .308/150 in the speed department and a .30/06/165 in the penetration department.AW

I have to throw my vote for .270 Win/150 Partitions, based on about 4-5 cows with them. Pass through penetration, not excessive bloodshot. Try H4831 or a factory load. I can't imagine not being able to get 1.5-2" groups--if everything else is set up right--and that is all you really need.

Late season cow hunts can be a lot of fun, especially if you are new to the elk game.

I was on a control hunt a few ago and we all were given Federal ammo to try. As I recall I had 22 or so one shot kills with the 140 Failsafe and never recovered one. Poke a hole in the pump house and the system shuts down real fast. Place the shot with care and anything will get the job done. I like the Nosler 140 over 62grs Mag Pro.
-Doc-

I have had alot of experience with the sierra 130's...but on antelope and deer. Not a single one of them held together. Elk are a far cry from antelope!! like you, my rifle loved the accuracy af these bullets..but some years back i left them out of my hunting rounds and replaced them with Nosler's and have never looked back. Nosler now makes a compromise partition in .277 it's the 140. Me; I'd prefer the 150's.

Nearly any 130 would be fine. I'd use the 130 TSX on any elk, bull or cow.

A Nolser Partition or Barnes TSX would be fine. Place the shot properly, and you will have no problem. I shot a Shiras bull Moose two years ago with a 150 Partition and was amazed at the penetration and damage. Range was just over 200 yards. One shot kill.

Another vote for the Nosler PT. I woould try both the 130 gr and the 150 gr and use the one that shoots the best out of your rifle.

Regards,

JD338

I would recommend a premium 150g bullet, but if you can't find an accurate load I would choose a better 130g bullet than the Pro Hunter.

The Partition and TSX are available in 130g, the Trophy Bonded in 140g and the A-Frame in 130 and 140g.

Try the 140gr Accubonds. I was using 130gr Nosler PTs over H4831 and getting groups around 1" to 1 1/4" (which I used to good effect for a cow elk two years ago). Loaded with Accubonds last year and groups went down to a pretty consistent 3/4" in my M70. No elk last year with this rifle, but I took a fat forkhorn mulie with the new load, complete pass thru at about 175 yards.

Hope this helps - JohnDog - Have fun on your elk hunt.

I'm not a big fan of Sierra bullets on game, but the 130 gr bullet in the 270 has filled lots of freezers with elk meat. Elk really aren't as Kevlar coated as some think.

Some 270's will not shoot 150 gr bullets accurate enough for some, if you end up with 2 inch groups, it will do. I would go with a 130 gr bullet myself, since mine likes the 130's go with a Nosler Partition or a Hornaday SP. either will do. As for from Horse Flies to Elephants, That is a good one. Accuracy is good, 2 to 2.5 inch groups will be fine, it more important that the rifle shoots were it looks all the time. A 2.5 inch load is plenty accurate for most all of the big game hunting we do.

I used Woodleigh 130 grainers last year for the first time; 3 shot groups touching each other and 3300 FPS. No elk last year but took whitetail here in Dakota. Did not recover a bullet. Complete penetration boradside. I'm taking the 130 load back to Colorado in Novemeber for elk and mulies.

My wife finds 130's perfectly functional on elk. 4 cows and 1 bull with 1 round each. 1Minute