Anyone use the .270 Winchester?

[PHOENIX PHIL]

The bullet does all the work....load up that .270 with A-Frames in 140 or 150gr variety (not sure what is available) and she will be just fine to at least Kudu sized game. I will say it's getting a little light for Eland. It can certainly be done and I'd bet has been. But the margin for error is getting smaller and the need for precise placement is getting larger when you start talking about those bigger beasts.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I have a mid '70s Winchester M70. I have taken one pig with a 130gr Sierra BT and a number of pronghorn and mule deer with 150gr. Partitions. Longest shot was appx. 250 yards on a Pronghorn from the sitting position using a military style sling and 4 power Bushnell scope. No sticks or adjustable scope turrets back then! Ha! Ha! Ha!

 

[Tra3]

I am a fan of the .270. It was my first rifle and accounted for elk, deer and pronghorn. I recently added a .270 for my kids to use and they shot everything from steenbok to giraffe with it this summer. My son used 1 shot on an eland (40 yards) and 1 neck shot on an old giraffe bull (also about 40 yards). It was effective for 1 shot kills on zebra, blue wildebeest, waterbuck and other smaller PG.
I have shot elk over 400 yards with the .270, it worked great. (No wind, bipod, stationary animals). With its mild recoil, the .270 is a good caliber.

 

[Rickmt]

My first rifle. A featherweight. Then I got a 300 wsm Winchester featherweight. Both very nice rifles. They have a great feel when you pick them up .

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Funny you say that... I have a nice Model 70 SS 270 that I never use. I happened into some 35W brass for a quarter each and made up some dummies. It has essentially the same base and shoulder as the 270 and feeds slicker than snot... I might just have an extra 270 barrel soon as well... ;-)

@baxterb
You won't be disappointed.
Bob

 

[Cervus elaphus]

I’m getting info on the .270 Winchester.

What has your experience been with it, for those who have used it?

What range of game have you gotten with yours, including African game, too?

What’s the largest animal anyone has taken with theirs, and how quickly did it dispatch the animal?

What’s the longest anyone has taken a big game animal with theirs?

If there is something I may have missed, please let me know about it and the .270 Winchester.


Hawk

I borrowed one for a while when my other rifle needed repair and I found the .270 was perfectly adequate for deer pigs and chamois. the 130 and 150gr ammo knocked them all over and the longest shot I had with a 4x32 Kahles was just over 200m on a good sized stag. Hit in the boiler room he only moved 10m. It's a confidence rifle, if you haven't already got one, you won't be sorry if you do.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

If any of you guys want to sell me your 270 barrels, I will gladly buy one.
I’m looking for 24 inch barrels, especially if made by Savage.
If blued, that’s great! Even if they’re Stainless Steel, I will be interested.
If they are not that abused, and 22 inch, I will definitely be interested as well.
Other manufacturers are great too, if it meets the 24 inch min, or longer, and heavier too!

Hawk

@hawkeyesatx
PM me mate with your phone number. I have a 22 inch 270 barrel off my Savage that is excellent. We might be able to work something out.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Cute is you in your Widebeest loin cloth. The 270 is a classic and a legend.

@Graham Hunter
That is not the word I would use to describe @bullthrower 338 in a loin cloth of any type. That we ould be nightmare material of untold proportions.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

 

[chashardy]

Thanks for starting this thread hawkeyesatx! I only had 300 winmag, 375 H&H and 416 Rigby in my battery, so I have been looking for a smaller caliber rifle for a while. I just bought one at a local store last week. It's a Model 70 Super Grade in 270 win. Beautiful wood as it's a Jack O'Connor Tribute model with the same checkering as O'Conner's original rifle. Still trying to find a scope (Leupold Firedot scopes are sold out everywhere) so I can get it set up to shoot. 270 win in a Model 70 is a legendary rifle.

 

[hawkeyesatx]

Thanks for starting this thread hawkeyesatx! I only had 300 winmag, 375 H&H and 416 Rigby in my battery, so I have been looking for a smaller caliber rifle for a while. I just bought one at a local store last week. It's a Model 70 Super Grade in 270 win. Beautiful wood as it's a Jack O'Connor Tribute model with the same checkering as O'Conner's original rifle. Still trying to find a scope (Leupold Firedot scopes are sold out everywhere) so I can get it set up to shoot. 270 win in a Model 70 is a legendary rifle.

You’re quite welcome!


Hawk

 

[jacques smith]

I lost all focus thinking about Cody in a loincloth. Thanks for nightmares
By the way the 270 is a great little caliber. I always thought the 130 grain shot the best out of several different guns

 

[hawkeyesatx]

Ok, I don’t brag, but I know my shooting skills, and hunting skills are higher than the “average joe”, and way better than any gun scribe I know of today that shoots or hunts.
I can sneak up to big game animals inside 250 yds more so than not.
Now, with that being said, I don’t hunt, or condone anyone shooting at big game animals at 1000+ yds, like I’ve seen a lot of YouTube man-bun channels do, while even using lesser cartridges.
I have taken big game animals out to 400 - 500 yds, but I waited, and made sure I could get a perfect, or near perfect broadside shot. Those were antelope, out on the rolling prairie in Wyoming.
Plus, I’ve used cartridges that the gun scribes stick their snooty noses up to using, and they’ve worked way better than they gave credit. Plus, I’ve used a .25-06, and it did it’s job extremely well on varmints and coyotes, but failed horribly when I used it deer hunting, while using 120 gr deer bullets, and getting that bullet into the vitals, and found out later, it didn’t even penetrate, and mortally wounded the poor animal.
Now, my question is this: If I use the .270, will it let me down?
Can I reasonably think I can use it for elk and above using heavier bullets?
I know me. I will put a bullet correctly where it should to ensure a reasonably fast, clean kill.
Is it fair to say, while hearing from you all, that the .270 can do the job I require of it?


Hawk

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

@hawkeyesatx,

I'm not sure what prompted your thread. If you were wondering if the 270 would suffice and replacing with one of the 30's, maybe even 338. But I wouldn't be looking for a substitute for the 270 if you like and shoot that rifle well. I'd be more looking at adding to the battery with another caliber to complement the 270. And for that if you're new to the game and Africa will continue to be on the desitination list, a 375HH is where many if not most start. It's quite difficult to not appreciate the versatility of the caliber and also as one that's not too difficult for a person to move up to in regards to recoil.

Just a thought.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Ok, I don’t brag, but I know my shooting skills, and hunting skills are higher than the “average joe”, and way better than any gun scribe I know of today that shoots or hunts.
I can sneak up to big game animals inside 250 yds more so than not.
Now, with that being said, I don’t hunt, or condone anyone shooting at big game animals at 1000+ yds, like I’ve seen a lot of YouTube man-bun channels do, while even using lesser cartridges.
I have taken big game animals out to 400 - 500 yds, but I waited, and made sure I could get a perfect, or near perfect broadside shot. Those were antelope, out on the rolling prairie in Wyoming.
Plus, I’ve used cartridges that the gun scribes stick their snooty noses up to using, and they’ve worked way better than they gave credit. Plus, I’ve used a .25-06, and it did it’s job extremely well on varmints and coyotes, but failed horribly when I used it deer hunting, while using 120 gr deer bullets, and getting that bullet into the vitals, and found out later, it didn’t even penetrate, and mortally wounded the poor animal.
Now, my question is this: If I use the .270, will it let me down?
Can I reasonably think I can use it for elk and above using heavier bullets?
I know me. I will put a bullet correctly where it should to ensure a reasonably fast, clean kill.
Is it fair to say, while hearing from you all, that the .270 can do the job I require of it?


Hawk

I lived in Idaho at one time. I knew a lady there who has killed more elk than most on this forum will ever dream of. Most of them with either a 243 or a 270. I would not recommend the 243 for elk, but the 270 will be just fine for elk with the proper bullet.

 

[Ryan]

My first outfitter told me about a client who used a 270 for her hunt including a zebra, which is in my opinion is one of the tougher animals regularly taken on a plains game hunt. They're rounder in cross section than a kudu or gemsbok. I've also read of a few sable downed with a 270. So, yes it has and can be safely used for most plains game with a good bullet, well placed shot within reasonable range. I would not suggest it for eland, but that's like I wouldn't suggest it for moose here in Alaska. If eland is on the list think a heavy 7mm, 30 caliber or bigger.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Ok, I don’t brag, but I know my shooting skills, and hunting skills are higher than the “average joe”, and way better than any gun scribe I know of today that shoots or hunts.
I can sneak up to big game animals inside 250 yds more so than not.
Now, with that being said, I don’t hunt, or condone anyone shooting at big game animals at 1000+ yds, like I’ve seen a lot of YouTube man-bun channels do, while even using lesser cartridges.
I have taken big game animals out to 400 - 500 yds, but I waited, and made sure I could get a perfect, or near perfect broadside shot. Those were antelope, out on the rolling prairie in Wyoming.
Plus, I’ve used cartridges that the gun scribes stick their snooty noses up to using, and they’ve worked way better than they gave credit. Plus, I’ve used a .25-06, and it did it’s job extremely well on varmints and coyotes, but failed horribly when I used it deer hunting, while using 120 gr deer bullets, and getting that bullet into the vitals, and found out later, it didn’t even penetrate, and mortally wounded the poor animal.
Now, my question is this: If I use the .270, will it let me down?
Can I reasonably think I can use it for elk and above using heavier bullets?
I know me. I will put a bullet correctly where it should to ensure a reasonably fast, clean kill.
Is it fair to say, while hearing from you all, that the .270 can do the job I require of it?


Hawk

@hawkeyesatx
I don't know why the 25 ought six failed on deer, maybe it was the projectile. The projectile you used is only 10 grains lighter than a 130 in the 270 and starts out at a bit over 3,000fps the same speed as the 270 so it should have done the same job. Got me stonkered. My son's 25 starts at the same speed using a 117grain SST and drops deer as far as I need to shoot.
Bob

 

[bassasdaindia]

The .270 is a great long range rifle, i use mine exclusively for springbok and long range hunting in Kalahari and Namibia.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I lived in Idaho at one time. I knew a lady there who has killed more elk than most on this forum will ever dream of. Most of them with either a 243 or a 270. I would not recommend the 243 for elk, but the 270 will be just fine for elk with the proper bullet.

@PHEONIX PHIL
Th ones that died when she took the 243 out more than likely died of laughter. I'm not underestimating her shooting skills but I don't reccomends the 243 for anything.
Bob

 

[Doug3006]

I think the .270 Winchester with 150 grain bullets will do pretty much anything a 30-06 will do with a 150 grain bullet. Where the 30-06 shines is with bullets of 180 to 220 grains. These bullet weights are not an option with the .270. I'm not much of a long range shooter but my longest shot was at 400 yards on an Aoudad. I was shooting a Nosler Patriot in .270 Winchester. He dropped to the shot

 

[HWL]

A damned good coyote gun......



HWL