.270 for varmint

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Does anyone have experience with using their deer rifle for varmint?
I'm interested in the elusive ultimate deer/varmint caliber and although i've been thinking .243, i can't help thinking it's a little light for big bodied deer. Which would have the best trajectory?
I'm only looking at commonly available cartridges as i am not a handloader...yet.;)
 
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270 will kill varmints dead....pick your load carefully though if you want to save hides or anything. 90-100 grain, should be alright depending on the bullet.
 
Why limit yourself to a deer rifle. I have used a couple 243's, two 6mm's, 270, 280, 30-06 and a .338 WM. You will start reloading pretty quick . . .
 
Depends on the distance you limit yourself for accurate hits. A friend of mine has been hunting with me, using his 243, for deer for over 25 years. he takes his deer every year no fail.
Accuracy is the most important issue,

The .270 is a great caliber also . I use 100 grain bullets for varmints and shoot them at 200 yards. 130 grain for deer and have not as yet had to shoot the .270 over 200 feet, but am confident that it will do its job at 200 yards easily..
 
If you use the Sierra 90gr HP in a .270 it will take an archeologist to prove what the varmint was after a hit.Jackrabbits spread over 20 ft and decaps coyotes neck shot.Gophers simply revert to red mist.Now you see em now you don't...........Use regular deer bullets on coyote or fox if you want anything left................harold
 
mbogo3 said:
If you use the Sierra 90gr HP in a .270 it will take an archeologist to prove what the varmint was after a hit.Jackrabbits spread over 20 ft and decaps coyotes neck shot.Gophers simply revert to red mist.Now you see em now you don't...........Use regular deer bullets on coyote or fox if you want anything left................harold
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what load are you using? just working up a load with imr 4350, win 760, and h4831
 
Keep in mind that if you do any amount of volume shooting, like gopher shooting, it won't be long until even the lightest loads from a 270 get to you in the recoil department.
 
I have used my .270 quite a bit for groundhog hunting. In my case I have generally used 110 grain Hornady V-Max bullets and 53 grains of H-380. The load shoots around 3/4" in my rifle and it launches hogs well into the air. Another CGN member tried this loaed after we discussed it and found that it was even more accurate in his rifle that what I have experienced.

All in all that one rifle has been a superb deer rifle and an excellent groundhog rifle all in one.
 
Scott_N said:
Keep in mind that if you do any amount of volume shooting, like gopher shooting, it won't be long until even the lightest loads from a 270 get to you in the recoil department.
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I live in southern Ontario and we don't have many groundhogs, I've heard there are places to go but that it's nothing like out west where hundreds may be shot in a day. If it turns out I'm wrong I could always buy another rifle because if i get a .270 it will be a walking varminter...and i still wouldn't have a heavy barrel dedicated long range rig:D
 
Chuck said:
I have used my .270 quite a bit for groundhog hunting. In my case I have generally used 110 grain Hornady V-Max bullets and 53 grains of H-380. The load shoots around 3/4" in my rifle and it launches hogs well into the air. Another CGN member tried this loaed after we discussed it and found that it was even more accurate in his rifle that what I have experienced.

All in all that one rifle has been a superb deer rifle and an excellent groundhog rifle all in one.
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What rifles are u guys shooting ? I like the idea of a .270 varminter because i feel it would make an excellent long range deer rifle and decent backup rifle for moose as compared to a .243 which will undoubtedly take deer and varmint but a bit light for moose when it comes to marginal shots.
 
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I live in southern Ontario and we don't have many groundhogs, I've heard there are places to go but that it's nothing like out west where hundreds may be shot in a day. If it turns out I'm wrong I could always buy another rifle because if i get a .270 it will be a walking varminter...and i still wouldn't have a heavy barrel dedicated long range rig:D
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I think your thinking of prarie dogs no? There are groundhogs in SW Ontario, someone just posted a thread not too long ago, he managed to catch like 10 in one day.
 
Considering that factory .270 ammo is only 5% more money than .243, personally I'd go for the .270(and I have!) With a good factory load like the Federal 100gr Sierra Gameking BTSP, the .243 has enough energy to comfortably take a deer or moose out to 400yd. The .270 with a similar load (130gr BTSP) carries the same energy to 600yd.

If you end up shooting hundreds of gophers in a day you'll overheat your barrel and you'd be better off getting a 22-250 or .223 in addition to the .270. Any excuse to buy another rifle is a good excuse in my books!:D
Otherwise the .270 will do just fine for the odd day blasting a few coyotes or gophers at long range.
 
I've used a 257 Roberts, 25-06 Rem., .264 Win. Mag & a .270 Win. all for cross-over
Varmint/Deer use. I would also consider the .260 Rem. and 6.5 x 55 as cndidates to stay under the .275 limit for SW Ont. and the Golden Horseshoe.

If you want to get the most versatility out of any of them, handloading is the way to go... and if not on your own ... maybe "buddy-up" with a partner.
 
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