Resurrecting the 270 Win

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I've always admired the .270 Win from a distance. With the 150-gr bullet, it gives you a sectional density of .279, .008 higher than the versatile 180-grainer in .30 caliber. Velocity is around 2,800 fps, giving you a scanty 7" drop at 300 yards, a distance beyond which in my book hunting becomes sniping.

I am in the gun industry and I understand the excitement about new calibers (e.g., the 6.5s in the 2010s, the WSMs and WSSMs in the early 2000s, etc.). So I get why among some shooters, calibers like .30-06 and .270 are yawn-inducing. Plus, the .270, while used by the tens of thousands of sportsmen in Africa, does not have the Golden Age allure of a .275, a 6.5x54 or the .375 H&H. Oh, and nobody famous (that I know of) ever took an elephant with it, thereby shutting it categorically out of the African Hall of Fame--while it not being a military cartridge also precludes it from being associated with a historical conflict, or even with a cool surplus rifle.

Yet, for game up to and including kudu or leopard, I can't think of a single thing wrong with the .270 and plenty of reasons to have one, provided that I stay within the 150-gr range bullet-wise.

But I've said I've always admired it from a distance, because I'm a fan of cartridges that have some kind of historical or even exotic appeal, and the .270 falls short (at least for me). When I think of the .270 I immediately make the association with 1960s Monte Carlo stocks, white spacers, high gloss finishes and skip-line checkering--in other words, the bell-bottom pants of the rifle world. I know this is very silly and grossly unfair, but there is something about someone's identification with certain calibers that goes well beyond the rational and well into the psychological--it's like affection and loyalty for certain brands that become "our thing." So my mind is with Jack O'Connor's pet cartridge, while my heart lies elsewhere.

@Tom Leoni
Mate forget the 270 and go straight for the 280 or 280AI a better cartridge all round.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

6.8 Westerner, 6.8 Creedmoor (coming soon), 6.8 PRC (coming later), .27 Nosler, etc, and soon the shortened version of each of those. Then, just maybe, the super short of the shortened version. Next, all of the above in .280 caliber (short .28 Nosler) with a 1-5” barrel twist to shoot 250 grainers, after most of 6.8s disappear because they’ll become obsolete due to brassageddon, boredom and the hot new .28s. Maybe a .280 Weatherby, necked down from their .375 or .378? We can only dream?

@CoElkHunter
Mate all your cartridges make sense except the 280 Weatherby. They already have the 7mm weatherby but you could always make it goodera. What about the 280/378 weatherby now that's different.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Tom Leoni
I like your analysis.... Even if it hurts. My bell-bottoms were tight in the waist anyways.

@hunting Gold
Mate over here they were called flares. I never was into fashion so I stuck with the old stove pipe jeans.
The old bell bottoms are like the 6.5 man bun, looks good but not much use and fades away.
Bob

 

[bruce moulds]

don't forget the body shirt undone nearly to the waist and the gold chain around the neck.
the complete picture with bell bottoms.
looked particularly effective when old guys started to wear that stuff as well.
not long after that came the safari suit.
bruce.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

don't forget the body shirt undone nearly to the waist and the gold chain around the neck.
the complete picture with bell bottoms.
looked particularly effective when old guys started to wear that stuff as well.
not long after that came the safari suit.
bruce.

@bruce moulds
I'm trying to imagine @CoElkHunter dressed like that puncing around the bush with his little pissant 243.
Oh I shudder at the thought of it . That's the kind of thing that could bring on therapy sessions and night mares. Better get rid of that thought..
You forgot the pimped out cars with the faux fur and fluffy dice.
Bob

 

[walk-in]

@Tom Leoni
Mate forget the 270 and go straight for the 280 or 280AI a better cartridge all round.
Bob

I've asked several moose and caribou if they thought I should have used something other than a 270 on them.....none have ever complained.

 

[bruce moulds]

@bruce moulds
I'm trying to imagine @CoElkHunter dressed like that puncing around the bush with his little pissant 243.
Oh I shudder at the thought of it . That's the kind of thing that could bring on therapy sessions and night mares. Better get rid of that thought..
You forgot the pimped out cars with the faux fur and fluffy dice.
Bob

of course if you wanted to take it to the extreme, you went to a hairdresser instead of a barber and had your hair converted to an afro.
the final touch wat you hang a giant gold pendant on the gold chain around your neck.
and a moustache.
now the manbun has replaced the afro.
but there was no hipster lifestyle in those days.
bruce.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I've asked several moose and caribou if they thought I should have used something other than a 270 on them.....none have ever complained.

@walk-in

I find that rather rude of those moose and caribou not answering such a simple question.
But I suppose it's a bit hard to answer when your dead.
Undoubtedly the 270 will kill those animals so will the 25s and 6.5s and have done so on numerous occasions
That is all fine when shots are ideal or close to it but if I'm presented an angling shot on a larger animal I prefer a cartridge that will perform in less than ideal presentation and punch clean thru the animal.
Yes bullets have improved but I still like adequate caliber for the animal in any position not a good in ideal conditions caliber.
Just my thoughts
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

of course if you wanted to take it to the extreme, you went to a hairdresser instead of a barber and had your hair converted to an afro.
the final touch wat you hang a giant gold pendant on the gold chain around your neck.
and a moustache.
now the manbun has replaced the afro.
but there was no hipster lifestyle in those days.
bruce.

@ bruce moulds
Or soy decaf lattes.
Oh how times have changed and not all for the betterment of mankind.
Bob

 

[bruce moulds]

the 270 would obviously be a better caribou cartridge than a moose one.
bruce.

 

[bruce moulds]

remembering the attire of those times might be better forgotten.
in colder weather they wore turtle neck jumpers with their flares.
the gold chain was worn on the outside.
as time went on the cut of flares seemed to evolve is such a way as to display the equipment (if you were well endowed).
and some guys used to buy panel vans and spend money creating padded interiors with ship's portholes etc.
these were known as sin bins or fuck trucks depending on the company you were in.

 

[walk-in]

@walk-in

I find that rather rude of those moose and caribou not answering such a simple question.
But I suppose it's a bit hard to answer when your dead.
Undoubtedly the 270 will kill those animals so will the 25s and 6.5s and have done so on numerous occasions
That is all fine when shots are ideal or close to it but if I'm presented an angling shot on a larger animal I prefer a cartridge that will perform in less than ideal presentation and punch clean thru the animal.
Yes bullets have improved but I still like adequate caliber for the animal in any position not a good in ideal conditions caliber.
Just my thoughts
Bob

The vast majority of my hunting shots have been under 100 yards (truthfully, probably under 50 yards), but the 2 longest shots I have ever taken (1 slightly under 400 yards, 1 slightly over) were at a moose and a caribou with a 270. I would not have taken either shot if I thought I was going to be able to get closer, and in both cases I had a good rest and was prepared to let them go if the perfect shot didn't present itself. That doesn't really have much to do with the 270, though. At that range I would have done the same regardless of what I was shooting. Anyway, they both died. Incidentally, I don't think either of these shots were the best I've ever made. My 2 best were at a black bear and a whitetail at much closer range with another old standby that might need to be "resurrected"....the 30-30.

the 270 would obviously be a better caribou cartridge than a moose one.
bruce.

I think it is nearly the ideal caribou cartridge, but it is also very good for moose with modern bullets. The most successful moose hunter I've ever known was an old friend of my dad's who killed moose for decades in British Columbia with a 30-30. I think the 270 is pretty clearly more versatile and superior to that.

 

[CoElkHunter]

@CoElkHunter
Mate all your cartridges make sense except the 280 Weatherby. They already have the 7mm weatherby but you could always make it goodera. What about the 280/378 weatherby now that's different.
Bob

Bob,
I like it! Except maybe a 280/378 (AI- Australian Improved) Weatherby? It would allow for more powder capacity for those 1k shots on camels, donkeys and stuff in the desert? You could build the rifle on a P14 action and have a 30" barrel on it?
CEH
CEH

 

[CoElkHunter]

@bruce moulds
I'm trying to imagine @CoElkHunter dressed like that puncing around the bush with his little pissant 243.
Oh I shudder at the thought of it . That's the kind of thing that could bring on therapy sessions and night mares. Better get rid of that thought..
You forgot the pimped out cars with the faux fur and fluffy dice.
Bob

Bob,
Ha! Ha! Ha! I don't own a .243 but could borrow my daughter in laws SAVAGE "Muddy Girls' Edition"? But I'd prefer my .338WM and a polyester Safari suit for the bush. I could find a gold chain and tie my extra A bolt magazine around my neck? Bell bottoms would work well over boots with bungy cords tying them around the boots. AND, I need a therapy session everytime I get on here and read one of your posts! Ha! Ha!
CEH

 

[bruce moulds]

wrangler pro rodeo jeans used to be bell bottom. but they described it as boot cut.
bruce.

 

[CoElkHunter]

wrangler pro rodeo jeans used to be bell bottom. but they described it as boot cut.
bruce.

Bruce,
Those work especially well when hunting with a .270!
CEH

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

remembering the attire of those times might be better forgotten.
in colder weather they wore turtle neck jumpers with their flares.
the gold chain was worn on the outside.
as time went on the cut of flares seemed to evolve is such a way as to display the equipment (if you were well endowed).
and some guys used to buy panel vans and spend money creating padded interiors with ship's portholes etc.
these were known as sin bins or fuck trucks depending on the company you were in.

@bruce moulds
It was also the time when girlswore the Daisy Dukes cut off short shorts and boob tubes.
Bob.

Bob,
Ha! Ha! Ha! I don't own a .243 but could borrow my daughter in laws SAVAGE "Muddy Girls' Edition"? But I'd prefer my .338WM and a polyester Safari suit for the bush. I could find a gold chain and tie my extra A bolt magazine around my neck? Bell bottoms would work well over boots with bungy cords tying them around the boots. AND, I need a therapy session everytime I get on here and read one of your posts! Ha! Ha!
CEH

@CoElkHunter
If'n your using the muddy girl savage you many as well go with the pink tutu and ballet shoes. The shoes would make for quiet stalking. Also put a glitter star on a stick and insert in the barrel if the 243. Not that would definitely bet the go outfit .
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

remembering the attire of those times might be better forgotten.
in colder weather they wore turtle neck jumpers with their flares.
the gold chain was worn on the outside.
as time went on the cut of flares seemed to evolve is such a way as to display the equipment (if you were well endowed).
and some guys used to buy panel vans and spend money creating padded interiors with ship's portholes etc.
these were known as sin bins or fuck trucks depending on the company you were in.

@ Bruce moulds
Or shaggin waggons.
A mate of mine had those shorts your talking about but wasn't well endowed. I told him to put a potato in his jocks to make it look bigger.
He couldn't understand why every one was having a bit of a giggle until I explained the potato goes in the front not th e BACK.
HA ha ha
Bob

 

[bruce moulds]

yes a spud in the back of the duds would not be a good look.
certainly not like 2 spuds in the front.
bruce.

 

[mdwest]

Resizing and priming 200 .270 cases this morning... Will charge and cap them with a nice Barnes TTSX this afternoon...

Should be enough to get through a few deer seasons...

Love the 270....