270 win on game performance

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BigBraz15

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So I know there is always lots of back and forth on calibers and discussions about what is better any why. Honestly after many years seeing different calibers at work in the field it is quite evident that any well placed round with properly constructed ammunition will be effective on most animals. With this post I am hoping to gather some true life stories of game taken with the 270, its effectiveness and if any weaknesses. This is more for a good friend than myself, as he is just getting back into hunting and took a moose with the 270 this year. The round was very effective immediately, and moose didn’t go 30 yards after the shot. He hit him again just for insurance, but it wouldn’t have been needed.

I have also been involved in a rodeo where a friend of a friend made a rushed shot on a white tail that was getting out of town, and we spent hours tracking and chasing, but that was all choice of shot and rushing.

Truth be told I have only ever taken a coyote at about 30 yards and a decent buck at about 60 yards. Both shots in the neck with 130 TTSX, both went straight down.
 
I have not owned a .270 and have only shot one elk with one. But I have hunted with friends who used the .270 for many years. I am not aware of any game that got away because of any inadequacy of the cartridge, whether moose, elk or deer. But after observing a few dozen kills, I was often left with a feeling that it was "just barely" good enough for elk and moose. A shot through both lungs, always killed just as quick as any other cartridge. But a hit to the humerus, or just a bit off centre often needed a follow up shot. I personally feel much more confident with a .308" /180 gr. bullet for the bigger animals, and even better with a .35/250gr. or 9.3/285gr. Bigger, heavier bullets are a little more predictable when heavy bone is hit, or deep penetration is needed when shots are at less than ideal angles. But if a .270 was all I had, I'd happily hunt moose with one.
 
The original low recoil, flat shooting ...deer...and more round. Many others since and recent that you could say equal 270. Somewhat lacking if your going after or need to defend yourself from the big stuff. However in the inevitable....one caliber to do it all I always say pick em....270,30-06,7mag,300mag.

The ultimate in low recoil all around caliber. Conventional wisdom says 130 for deer, 150 for elk. Lol, I typed elf....Anyways people say 308 is marginal for moose. I grew up eating moose shot with a Savage 99 in 308, pushing 150gr imperial factory. Inevitable slug spun infarction side hide. The 270, even in a 130gr, is much more than that. Good selection of factory ammo, available everywhere, good reloading projectile and brass.

What's not to like? Would it be first choice for cassiar, peace, or Yukon? Probably not.
 
Lower recoil allows you to shoot it better, therefore it has the potential to kill better.
Brass and bullets are usually easy to find, it’s not terribly picky on powder either so you shoot it more
 
The .270 will be around long after most of us are dead and gone. It works, full stop. I owned a .270 many years ago, the deer died just as fast as they do with my .308. Why the 308, I just like the shorter action.
 
I used the .270 winchester for decades. Shot numerous mule deer, coyotes and one 2 point moose, all using 130 grain factory federal ammo.
The only reason I got out of .270 is because I prefer short action bolt action rifles.
 
It all boils down to good shot placement. Having said that, sometimes things don’t go as planned. I’ve seen moose drop in their tracks from a 130gr bullet out of a .270 but I’ve also seen it take 5 rounds to get the job done and found jackets stuck just under the hide on entry. I’ve killed loads of deer and a few elk with a .270 using 150gr bullets. But I ended up switching to a .300wsm for big game. I’d suggest .30cal for moose and elk. But even a .243 will get the job done if conditions are right.
 
Have taken many whitetail and yotes with a 270 Win, 150gr, originally Federal SP, then switched to Nosler accubond. 30yd to 350yd.
Worst one was the 30yd Federal SP. Broadside, no exit wound. The bullet took a near-side rib, cleaning the deer was a mess, like a grenade had went off inside. That was before the switch to accubond.
 
2 moose, 7 Deer, 2 coyote's and 5 bears with my 270 win. Ya it works. Handloads were 130gr Nosler Balistic tip for all. 75% it was 1 bang and it was over.
 
I've used the 270 Winnie and 270 Wby off and on for many years and have shot a few head with them. I've also hunted with guys who have used the 270 Win exclusively for decades and they wouldn't even consider anything else! The last critter I shot with the 270 win was a cow Elk using a 130 grain VLD at 275 yards, the bullet killed the cow quickly and the bullet pretty much disintegrated inside the chest cavity after punching a hole through the heart. I've used 130 Acubonds too and have been happy with the performance. A buddy of mine swears by the 150 grain Acubonds and has taken several head of game with them with no drama. The 270 works.
 
Used only on white tail and managed a 400 yard shot with a 140 grain hyper sonic pointed soft point from Remington. Deer was shot broadside through the shoulders and dropped on the spot.
 
I have used a variety of rifle platforms and a plethora of cartridges. For a while I was drawn to and stuck in the manumitis craze but find myself back to the old favourites, specifically the 270Win. I reminded myself of the many animals I harvested with the puny little 6mmRem, losing count of the big game after around 300, and realizing I really do not need a magnum after watching both moose and elk drop to the 100 grain bullet. As much as I love the 6mm I still prefer a slightly heavier bullet for general hunting. I have a beauty 7RemMag but I rarely carry it. Sold a couple of amazingly accurate Sako rifles; a Hunter in 300WSM and Finnlight2 in 300WinMag, as I did not want to carry them in the field. For the longest time my main rig was a 270WSM but now I typically grab either my trusty 270Win or my 35Whelen. Although the 35 is one of my custom builds, the 270 is still my favourite to carry. Amazingly accurate with inexpensive, blue box Powershock loads. The Plain Jane, 130 grain soft points cloverleaf at 100 metres, are capable of reaching out for longer hunting shots, have really low recoil, and are more than adequate for anchoring a big bull elk.

All that babbling is the short version of my return to the 270Win. There are lots of great cartridges available, many are well established such as the 308Win, 30-06, and 7RemMag, but the 270Win is a phenomenal cartridge and stands out within even these mainstays of the hunting world.

Throughout my international travels, I was amazed at how often I encountered the 270Win. The 270 is very popular in Europe but I suspect it is outnumbered by the 6.5X55. I was very surprised to see the 270Win being very popular across the African continent. Many of the guides and trackers with whom I travelled, all carried a 270Win.
 
Not much to add to the above positive comments on the venerable 270 Winchester.

I really have not felt that it was lacking in ability when hunting everything from gophers
to moose/elk. I do prefer a bit more for specific Elk hunting, but the 270 will get the
job done. A great chambering. FWIW, I have settled on 140 grain grain Accubonds/Partitions
as the all-round choice. Dave.
 
Owned at least one since I was 15.
I am now 64.

Have taken whitetail, mulies, blacktails, elk, moose, dall sheep, stone sheep, bighorn sheep, a lot of wolves & coyotes, a handful of black bears, and a decent handful of African Plains Game with it.

Never felt under-gunned.
Run either 139 or 140 grain Nosler Partitions in mine.
Simply works.
Every single time...

Cheers,
Nog
 
My first hunting rifle is a T3X lite in .270. I haven't used it yet in the bush but decided on that caliber after months of research and range use. I have the same rifle in 300WM.

Sad story, I asked my CORE Hunting course instructor what his thoughts were on the .270 and he said it will do the job from deer to moose with proper shot placement. I asked about big game defense and he said he lost a close friend in a bear attack. They found the bear with 4 or 5 shots of 270 in it and his friend nearby. He didn't survive the attack. I guess when a bear is full of adrenaline there no stopping it along with poor shot placement. I wasn't expecting his response. Kind of threw me off.

Should a hunter pick one caliber that covers the game of choice and that might not help with defense? Or just hunt with an overpowered, but appropriate for defense, caliber? The west coast has a lot of big game predators (cougars, black bear, grizzly, etc.) to stay alert for.
 
Ya know what, Erry game animal i ever encounter with the .270 never Reported back any major issues if i did my part , most they heard was the kaboomski - nek minit they sideways
 
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I prefer this cartridge to the 30’06. With 150 grain Nolser Partitions, fear nothing. 130 grain TTSX all-around/everything. If I could have found an accurate and light 270 when I was looking for one I probably would have forgone my 35 Whelen.
 
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