130, 140 or 150 grain bullets in a 270?

MD

MD

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I'm sure this question has been asked thousands of times since 1925, but here goes my version anyway.


I've been hunting with my 1953 Husquvarna 270 for about 10 years now. I've always used 150 grain bullets, either Winchester factory bullets or Hornady Interlocks.

I've read that 130 grain bullets may be more accurate and better for longer ranges, but I wanted something that will work on moose too, so went for the 150 gr. bullets.

I sometimes hunt deer where there is a chance at a moose. Usually if I'm specifically elk or moose hunting I take my 300 WM.

Anyway, I was thinking of making a change up as none of my current loads are grouping well at 200 yards anyway so I was thinking of sawing it down the middle and considering 140 grain bullets, maybe even Barnes TSX or Nosler Accubond bullets.

Any suggestions?
 
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Any one of those bullets will do. I would concentrate on load development and find that sweet spot that your rifle likes. Just tweaking your powder (+/-) will really tighten up your groups.. I routinely do that with my stuff
 
MD said:
I'm sure this question has been asked thousands of times since 1925, but here goes my version anyway.


I've been hunting with my 1953 Husquvarna 270 for about 10 years now. I've always used 150 grain bullets, either Winchester factory bullets or Hornady Interlocks.

I've read that 130 grain bullets may be more accurate and better for longer ranges, but I wanted something that will work on moose too, so went for the 150 gr. bullets.

I sometimes hunt deer where there is a chance at a moose. Usually if I'm specifically elk or moose hunting I take my 300 WM.

Anyway, I was thinking of making a change up as none of my current loads are satisfactory at 200 yards anyway so I was thinking of sawing it down the middle and considering 140 grain bullets, maybe even Barnes TSX or Nosler Accubond bullets.

Any suggestions?
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Explain that to me. How is a 150gr from a .270 not adequate at 200 yards!? :confused:
 
In my 270 i use 140 grain sierras on all game. I have taken moose;elk;deer and antelope with that same bullet.
 
"How is a 150gr from a .270 not adequate at 200 yards!? "

I am not happy with the groups I'm getting.
 
MD said:
"How is a 150gr from a .270 not adequate at 200 yards!? "

I am not happy with the groups I'm getting.
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MD what kind of 200yd group are you getting then? And with what bullet?

The 150gr Sierra GameKing should be very accurate, unless your rifle is done, and it also should be very effective on game. I know a guy that shot all his moose for years, with that bullet.
Also the 140gr Nosler Accubond is a superbly accurate bullet, with great terminal performance.

If your rifle will not shoot those 2 bullets accurately, then I suggest there is no bullet that it will shoot.
 
I'd do exactly as you suggested, pick up some 130gr TTSX and/or some 130gr or 140gr Accubonds and see what your rifle shoots best. Either bullet will be deadly on pronghorn, deer, elk, moose, bear...
 
They were 150 grain Hornady Interlocks, Winchester factory Power Point (silver box) and Nosler partitions.

Best group was the150 grain Hornady Interlocks and that was 3 1/2 to four inches.
 
MD said:
They were 150 grain Hornady Interlocks, Winchester factory Power Point (silver box) and Nosler partitions.

Best group was the150 grain Hornady Interlocks and that was 3 1/2 to four inches.
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A 3-1/2" to 4" group at 200 yards, is good hunting accuracy. But nothing wrong with wanting to improve on it.
 
MD said:
They were 150 grain Hornady Interlocks, Winchester factory Power Point (silver box) and Nosler partitions.

Best group was the150 grain Hornady Interlocks and that was 3 1/2 to four inches.
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I have tried all three of those bullets in my 270 and found all of them fairly accurate (i still use the partition for larger game, moose and elk) but found the gamekings to be more accurate. Actually i would not hesitate to use the gamekings on any animal but i have some partitions to get rid of.
 
What your gun likes is more important than anything else. I use Nosler ballistic tip 130 grain bullets and IMR 4064 and all the animals I've taken are 1 shot kills.
My Browning bar doesn't like the Barnes TSX's at all. Softer copper bullets means you have to super clean your barrel before using them or get 3 shots before they start flying all over the place. my 2 cents
 
tigrr said:
What your gun likes is more important than anything else. I use Nosler ballistic tip 130 grain bullets and IMR 4064 and all the animals I've taken are 1 shot kills.
My Browning bar doesn't like the Barnes TSX's at all. Softer copper bullets means you have to super clean your barrel before using them or get 3 shots before they start flying all over the place. my 2 cents
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You do need to clean your barrel prior to accuracy testing the Barnes bullets, but cleaning your barrel isn't a really *bad* thing.:p

I get about 25-40 rounds of TSX through a barrel before accuracy starts to slip a bit. That will get me through a hunting season...;)
 
I've read that 130 grain bullets may be more accurate and better for longer ranges
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MD I don't know where this comes from but it seems to be the common myth. In any caliber as you increase bullet wieght you increase BC (given the same shape) usually when you punch the actual numbers into a calculator you find that a longer bullet started slower hits within an inch or two at hunting ranges. If you use the drift calculator you also find little incentive for a lighter bullet. Tack on the Lose of SD when you go to a lighter bullet and it all adds up to not much.
The justification I can see for a light bullet is if the heavy one wont feed through the magazine or if your rifling twist wont stabilize the longer bullet.

Modern 'premium' bullets allow us to get away with using light bullets but heavier premium bullets are better!

When I figure out how to put a footer on my posts it will read:
Always use the heaviest bullet you can. If you want a lighter bullet get a smaller bore.
 
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