.270 for Plains Game?

[JakeH]

I'll get right to the point here, is .270 Winchester enough gun for plains game up to and including wildebeest? Obviously I'd use 150gr Nosler Partitions if I were to take my .270, but I'm open to buying a new rifle and putting in the time between now and whenever I get to go to know it like I do my .270.

Should I make the move to .300 Win Mag? .338 Federal for similar power to the .270 but larger bullets? Or just bite the bullet and get a .375, probably something in .375 Ruger for me?

I'm eager to hear your responses.

 

[Royal27]

Yes and no.

Yes, if you want to take a 270. Shot placement and a good bullet are key as always.

No, if you need an excuse to buy a new rifle. In fact you should probably buy one of each caliber you asked about, just to be safe.

 

[cpr0312]

Yes its enough, with shot placement and good ammo no problem. On the other hand, a .300 Win mag is a great all over the world gun that can take down a lot of stuff!

 

[cpr0312]

Oh yeah, and .375 H&H good gun for about everything!

 

[Red Leg]

.270 with a quality 150 gr bullet will be an absolutely adequate rifle for the game you list.

 

[Pheroze]

Oh yeah, and .375 H&H good gun for about everything!

+1 I had an '06 but got the 375 for my safari. Very glad I did, what a great cartridge.

 

[Aaron N]

.270 will certainly do the job! I used 130gr Barnes TTSX and would recommend them, but partitions are great bullets too!

 

[BRICKBURN]

..., I have heard more PH's comment/complaints about guys showing up in fancy new cloths with monster guns they have never shot before, than someone showing up with a "lighter" rifle they can shoot well.
If the PH has an issue with a 270 send him here for an education. Better yet, move on to another experienced PH.

My first hunt in Africa was entirely with 130 TTSX in 270 Win.
Everything I shot at is on my wall! Need I say more!

.270 is my pet, so that's what you'll hear from me.
I've taken everything from Steenbok to Giraffe with 130 grain TTSX.
.

130 TTSX .270 Thick skinned Giraffe at 80 yards. One in the heart (typical shot placement) and the other into the heart lungs after a departure up hill. Down within 50 yards.

What Spike said!

Read some older threads......

https://www.africahunting.com/threa...unter-want-me-to-bring-more-than-a-270.26181/

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/270-7x57-or-30-06.30620/#post-289316

 

[James Cook]

- practical answer - yes - ph's will tell you to bring your "deer rifle" that you shoot well, with quality ammo and heavy for caliber bullet for pg hunt
- the "i'd really like to buy a new rifle" answer - heck no - at the wrong angle or less than perfect shot situation, you need all the gun you can get. pick the rifle you like best that fits the budget, and buy it.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

As pretty much everyone has already said, a 270 will be fine if you use a good bullet.

I understand that you want to use partitions. The partition was a great bullet in its day (at a time when many/most people would have said a 270 is probably a little light) but there are better bullets available now. A monometal bullet or something like a north fork is going to let you get away with a relatively light caliber on relatively big game.

If you really want to use a partition, you might want to step up to something heavier than a 270. You'll get away with a 270 and partitions if you choose your shots carefully and shoot perfectly but why travel half way around the world and handicap yourself?

 

[Mekaniks]

Yes you should absolutely use your .270. And yes you should absolutely buy a 375. And take them both

 

[JakeH]

As pretty much everyone has already said, a 270 will be fine if you use a good bullet.

I understand that you want to use partitions. The partition was a great bullet in its day (at a time when many/most people would have said a 270 is probably a little light) but there are better bullets available now. A monometal bullet or something like a north fork is going to let you get away with a relatively light caliber on relatively big game.

If you really want to use a partition, you might want to step up to something heavier than a 270. You'll get away with a 270 and partitions if you choose your shots carefully and shoot perfectly but why travel half way around the world and handicap yourself?

What factory loads would you recommend then, as I'm not a handloader?

 

[lwaters]

If your trip is taking place soon I would go ahead and use my 270 with the 150gr. partitions. There no sense in messing with a new rifle or load.

 

[Aaron N]

You can get Barnes Vor-TX in 130gr cruising at 3060fps. Should be plenty adequate as long as your gun likes them! What make/model of .270?

 

[JakeH]

If your trip is taking place soon I would go ahead and use my 270 with the 150gr. partitions. There no sense in messing with a new rifle or load.

Oh, no time soon. I'm still in the earliest stages of determining how, where, what, and with who I want to hunt.

You can get Barnes Vor-TX in 130gr cruising at 3060fps. Should be plenty adequate as long as your gun likes them! What make/model of .270?

Steyr Pro Hunter with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40

 

[Ryan]

What factory loads would you recommend then, as I'm not a handloader?

I saw a couple in a hunting store in central Namibia. If the locals use it, you know it works.

As for factory ammo.

Barnes VorTx in 130 grain TTSX

Norma ammo in 150 grain Oryx bonded

Nosler Custom in 130 grain Nosler Accubond

 

[Bert the Turtle]

What factory loads would you recommend then, as I'm not a handloader?

My first choice would be to try the Barnes. I've had very good results from TTSX bullets as have many others. Very reliable bullets. Ryan's other suggestions are also good if the TTSX doesn't shoot well in your rifle.

 

[mdwest]

My first choice would be to try the Barnes. I've had very good results from TTSX bullets as have many others. Very reliable bullets. Ryan's other suggestions are also good if the TTSX doesn't shoot well in your rifle.

Totally agree with this and Berts previous comment on the partition.

I just hunted pg with a .375 and 260gr partitions last month... while they certainly did the job with the .375... I was amazed at the performance of my wife's .308 shooting 165gr Barnes vor-tx...

Much more consistent performance out of the Barnes... those ttsx simply hammered everything they were shot at...

 

[Graham Hunter]

Everyone is still trying to build a bullet better than the Partition. I have shot them for over 40yrs and over 300 animals. PG would be no problem. I have used and seen quite a few of the monumetals used. Seem to work excellent within a certain velocity range. If you have to take a long shot where your velocity has dropped significantly they tend to not open up well.

 

[Royal27]

So on ammunition the suggestion to use whatever premium ammunition your rifle shoots well is a very good one.

See the linked thread below. It's for DG, but the bullet brands listed are a good start and show you the preferences of the forum and much of the same can apply to PG. There are certainly other good brands such as Nosler and Norma as mentioned here.

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/one-and-only-one-bullet-manufacturer-for-dangerous-game.39399/