.270 130 vs 150 grain

swinginberrys

swinginberrys

Regular
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
Location
Mallorytown
Curious about what everyone has experienced regarding .270 rounds? Specifically 130 grain vs 150. I was rooting around the web the other day and found a discussion somewhere about this very topic. Seems the general consensus was the 150 grain generally grouped better. Anyone else see this? What about performance on game? I've only ran 130's through mine so far and found the federal blue box group pretty nice but I'm wondering if I should start tossing some 150's.
 
All depends on the game you are hunting and the range.
Our whitetails can get pretty heavy here, and shots range from a few yards in heavy timber to hundreds in fields, clear-cuts and cut-lines, so I go with 150gr Federal Fusions. They have performed very well and hold together even up close.
Went on an Elk hunt years ago and used 150gr Partitions.
I had also tried 140gr SST's in the past but found they come apart at closer ranges and are much better suited to longer distances / lower velocity.
Every caliber has it's optimal bullet weight, 165gr in .30....140gr in .270 etc...and I doubt a few grains of lead make a difference to the game at the other end, but I prefer err slightly on the heavy side when possible.

The new(er) Federal Trophy Bonded Tipped caught my eye just before the season, looks like it could be a one-bullet for all game kinda thing..
 
No bullet with shoot the same in every rifle.130 may be perfect for one and not 150 or vice versa.Test and test.

130's are optimum for ballistics and performance in a .270 IMO.

130gr Swift Scirocco II , mice to moose with that bullet.

If you are talking down range the 150 may tend to fade out faster in a .270. There is a law of diminishing returns when it comes to bullet weight and performance at particular distances.

If you are shooting game at 300 or less yards, take what is most accurate and you can find on the shelf.
 
.270 130 gr Vs Bear = dead and in my freezer. and the 130's group the best in my RAR :p

1441249_10152052405013552_1859994506_n.jpg
 
I've shot many moose with the 130gr but I loaded 5 rounds of 150gr Partitions for my son's bull tag.Three went into the bull .......two left over.My .270 shoots any 130-150 gr bullet I've tried quite well and almost to the same POI.......Harold
 
I shoot 130gr Ballistic Tips for deer and love this bullet because of the wound channel but also that I recover the bullet on the opposite side of the deer against the skin. Quick kill and no worry about over penetration. I have shot 140gr partitions which are a great bullet and do well in my rifle. As for 150 grain bullets, still haven't found the right recipe for my current rifle.
 
Went to the Nosler reloading manual and their most accurate load was 52.0 grains of H4350 with the 150 grain bullet.
Instant success with groups under 2" at 200 metres.
Just checked the Number 7 Nosler book and the load is still at the top, loaded to max but it is also the slowest velocity.
I pushed the load and it continued to perform with loads greater than 52.0.
 
9.3mauser said:
I split the difference and went with 140 Accubonds for everything.
Click to expand...

Can't argue with this logic. For a single bullet guy, this seems an excellent choice to me.

I've shot lots of things with the .270, using many different 130 and 150 grain cup-and-core bullets over the last 25 years or so, as well as some factory 160 grain KKSP back in the day.

There is not a world of difference between 130's and 150's for sure.

I tended to see 130's fragment more, but give more spectacular kills on good heart/lung shots. while 150's tended to stay together more and penetrate deeper, but take longer to kill.

Everything died mind you, even big Yukon moose, and not with multiple shot either.

I found a .270 loaded with 130's as fast as they could be pushed to be a death ray on black bears, BTW.
 
Northman999 said:
Can't argue with this logic. For a single bullet guy, this seems an excellent choice to me.

I've shot lots of things with the .270, using many different 130 and 150 grain cup-and-core bullets over the last 25 years or so, as well as some factory 160 grain KKSP back in the day.

There is not a world of difference between 130's and 150's for sure.

I tended to see 130's fragment more, but give more spectacular kills on good heart/lung shots. while 150's tended to stay together more and penetrate deeper, but take longer to kill.

Everything died mind you, even big Yukon moose, and not with multiple shot either.

I found a .270 loaded with 130's as fast as they could be pushed to be a death ray on black bears, BTW.
Click to expand...

Agree 100%...Have always found my 270 loaded to the nutz with 130's @ 3150fps, kills like lightening...When loaded as heavy as I could go with 150's @ 2850fps it was lack luster but still killed...After many years of reloading for the 270 I now always go for the 130gr thunder.
 
It is wise to look at specific bullet designs when considering bullet weight. Some 150gr .277" bullets perform better than their lighter counterparts, but the reverse is also true. A very stout 130gr might be a better choice than the 150gr counterpart, depending on the size of the animal.

One thing to keep in mind is that the heavier bullets do not necessarily perform worse at longer ranges (as indicated by a previous poster). In fact, in some cases the opposite is true. Generally speaking, heavy-for-caliber bullets will have higher ballistic coefficients and certainly higher sectional density. The higher ballistic coefficient translates to better velocity retention way down range. The result is that sometimes the lighter bullet starts out faster, but by the time both bullets are out beyond 400 meters or so, the heavier bullet is traveling just as fast because the lighter bullet is shedding velocity quicker. All else being equal, the heavier bullet will be carrying more energy and this advantage will be multiplied by the fact that the sectional density of the heavier bullet is higher. Of course, at "normal" hunting ranges this is moot.

I have used various 130s and 150s. They all kill animals. My current goto is a 150gr with a BC of .525. Behind ~58 grains of IMR7828, it shoots basically as flat as factory 130gr. and gives me .546 MOA. Recoil is closer to a .270WSM though, so I am due for a new recoil pad.
 
Buy them and try them, in your rifle (unless you have generous friends that shoot .270 Win and will give you some ammo). Depending on the range and what you are trying to kill, there is so much to chose from these days that it can be confusing. Here in NS, we have thick forest, with clear cuts and power lines, so I can get a 30 yard shot at a 125 lb whitetail doe or a 300 yard shot at a 275 lb whitetail buck, all in one hunt. I shoot Remington Core-Lokt 130gr PSP and Federal Premium 150gr Nosler Partition. They have an almost identical trajectory and point of impact, plus I'm a "don't fix it, if it ain't broke" kind of guy. Good luck :)
 
I've used 130, 140 and 150gr in the .270. I can't say there is any generalization regarding difference between them in accuracy. They all kill deer well. For moose and elk I suggest a 150 Partition. Other than that I really don't think it makes a difference.
 
ironsighter said:
It is wise to look at specific bullet designs when considering bullet weight. Some 150gr .277" bullets perform better than their lighter counterparts, but the reverse is also true. A very stout 130gr might be a better choice than the 150gr counterpart, depending on the size of the animal.

One thing to keep in mind is that the heavier bullets do not necessarily perform worse at longer ranges (as indicated by a previous poster). In fact, in some cases the opposite is true. Generally speaking, heavy-for-caliber bullets will have higher ballistic coefficients and certainly higher sectional density. The higher ballistic coefficient translates to better velocity retention way down range. The result is that sometimes the lighter bullet starts out faster, but by the time both bullets are out beyond 400 meters or so, the heavier bullet is traveling just as fast because the lighter bullet is shedding velocity quicker. All else being equal, the heavier bullet will be carrying more energy and this advantage will be multiplied by the fact that the sectional density of the heavier bullet is higher. Of course, at "normal" hunting ranges this is moot.

I have used various 130s and 150s. They all kill animals. My current goto is a 150gr with a BC of .525. Behind ~58 grains of IMR7828, it shoots basically as flat as factory 130gr. and gives me .546 MOA. Recoil is closer to a .270WSM though, so I am due for a new recoil pad.
Click to expand...

Is that 150 gr .525 bullet an SST by chance ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom