Considering .270 WSM

CanadianTrucker

CanadianTrucker

Member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
Location
Near Barrie, Ontario
I'm seriously considering another bolt action rifle for hunting. I currently own a Tikka T3 Lite chambered in .308 and I love it. So I was considering getting another Tikka but this time chambered in .270 WSM. The reason I'm considering the .270 WSM is it's a flatter trajectory round and I want something that can reach out to around 300 metres for deer, wolf or coyote. Some of the counties in Ontario only allow you to go for wolf or coyote if your rifle calibre is .275 or below. I figured the .270 WSM would be a good option as it is more than capable of going for wolf/coyote and has the take down power for a deer.

Any thoughts on this?
 
I've got a T3 lite in .270 WSM. Action is super smooth and even with the factory recoil pad, the recoil is not at all offensive with 130 g Nosler Accubonds and a fairly stiff load of IMR 4350. If you're recoil sensitive, go with a better pad. Overall, a very nice rifle in a great calibre.

Cheers
Therion
 
Well technically a 270 WSM will spit a .277” round down range…

6.5mm’s dominate long range shooting and in that size the .264 WM will be super flat. My coyote gun is a .243 but any 6mm, 257 or 6.5 will do the job just fine with the ballistic advantage going to the .264 WM in my eyes. Also the .264WM will sort out any moose, bear or elk problems you may have. The 6.5 x 55 would be my second choice.

My $.02
 
Got the exact gun you're refering too. Damn tac driver for sure with factory ammo. After a box or two I definitely feel it in my shoulder but I could see a better pad helping with that. Its funny, I can shoot my .375 alot more and not feel something, the 375 is just a big push but the .270wsm feels more like a swift snap over and over.

My hunting rifle though so not alot of rounds so it doesnt matter to me.
 
If it were anyting other than a hunting rifle, and if you were reloading, I would point out that 277 cal bullet selction is poor, and barrel life is also poor, but as a huting rifle it will definitely work. It is way more than you need (I would do the 6.5X55 in a heartbeat at double the barrel life, fantastic inherent accuracy, just as flat shooting, and with ample energy) but if it's what you want, it will certainly do the trick. I love Tikka rifles.
 
Hmm... you've given me some things to consider. I've never looked at the 6.5x55, in terms of manufacterers does anyone have any specifics they'd like to share? I don't know if it comes in that calibre for Tikka, and I'm a bit partial to them.
 
CT, I have owned 7 tikka rifles at last count. I hunt with one and I have a custom long-range target rifle built on one currently. In my personal opinion, Tikka makes the most consistently accurate guns you can buy off a shelf. Their actions are smooth, the magazines feed flawlessly, and they are nice and light.

The 6.5X55 is an old European cartridge and was never a big chambering here by Remington, Savage or Winchester. My answer to that is who cares? Tikka does it better anyway. As to the cartridge itself. it is still one of the best long range cartridges ever devised. There is lots of selection of hunting ammo, and if you DO get into reloading, the best bullets and other components exist for that caliber and cartridge.

The 6.5X55 will easily drop any North American big game (and has). I sell lots of 6.5 barrel to long range sheep hunters and they use either this or the 6.5-284. They are ballistically indentical, with the Swede being far easier to make work and far easier on barrels.
 
I have a Tikka T3 Hunter Stainless in 30-06 and a T3 Lite in 6.5X 55 The 6.5 x 55 is more accurate and a joy to shoot. I dont like the synthetic so changed stock to have the wood stock on the 6.5. Waiting for a stock from Robertson to put on the stainless 30-06. I love my Tikka's, great accurate smooth rifles. Tikka chambers 6.5 x 55 in almost all their models, its just finding one that can be a problem. I got mine at Ellwood Epps in Orillia. Good Luck
 
Norma said:
I have a Tikka T3 Hunter Stainless in 30-06 and a T3 Lite in 6.5X 55 The 6.5 x 55 is more accurate and a joy to shoot. I dont like the synthetic so changed stock to have the wood stock on the 6.5. Waiting for a stock from Robertson to put on the stainless 30-06. I love my Tikka's, great accurate smooth rifles. Tikka chambers 6.5 x 55 in almost all their models, its just finding one that can be a problem. I got mine at Ellwood Epps in Orillia. Good Luck
Click to expand...

Perfect! My Dad is a member of the Orillia range right in behind Epps, we go there all the time to browse and put stuff on our can't afford but really really want list. They have an awesome selection. Great to know that's where you bought your 6.5 x 55 as they'll most likely have another one. I just checked the Tikka website and they do carry the 6.5 x 55 in their laminated stainless model, I'm pumped now. Thanks for the info!
 
No problem,
I tried all different kinds of ammo, Win, Rem, Fed 140gr (I dont re-load) my 6.5X55 loves Norma 160gr Oryx, Alaska and Vulkan. I use the Oryx for Moose and Deer. For plinking I shoot Lellier & Bellot 140gr, also very accurate.
Good Luck
 
The 270 WSM is a fine choice. I hunt every season with an A bolt and I think its the cats ass.So far have not missed a single deer with it. Flat shooting in deed.
 
Noel McC said:
The 270 WSM is a fine choice. I hunt every season with an A bolt and I think its the cats ass.So far have not missed a single deer with it. Flat shooting in deed.
Click to expand...

As a medium/large game huning caliber, this is fine. At a handful of rounds per year, it will last years.
 
CanadianTrucker said:
I'm seriously considering another bolt action rifle for hunting. I currently own a Tikka T3 Lite chambered in .308 and I love it. So I was considering getting another Tikka but this time chambered in .270 WSM. The reason I'm considering the .270 WSM is it's a flatter trajectory round and I want something that can reach out to around 300 metres for deer, wolf or coyote. Some of the counties in Ontario only allow you to go for wolf or coyote if your rifle calibre is .275 or below. I figured the .270 WSM would be a good option as it is more than capable of going for wolf/coyote and has the take down power for a deer.

Any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

The .308 Win has been used extensively for long range (600m) target shooting, so deer at 300m shouldn't be a problem. Sure there are better calibers for long range shots, but you shouldn't feel inadequate with a .308 Win at 300m. On the other hand, another caliber is always fun to have! :D

Obtunded said:
...The 6.5X55 is an old European cartridge and was never a big chambering here by Remington, Savage or Winchester. My answer to that is who cares? Tikka does it better anyway. As to the cartridge itself. it is still one of the best long range cartridges ever devised. There is lots of selection of hunting ammo, and if you DO get into reloading, the best bullets and other components exist for that caliber and cartridge.

The 6.5X55 will easily drop any North American big game (and has). I sell lots of 6.5 barrel to long range sheep hunters and they use either this or the 6.5-284. They are ballistically indentical, with the Swede being far easier to make work and far easier on barrels.
Click to expand...

The 6.5x55 did come to my mind too when I read the OP's question. I've heard a lot of good things about this cartridge. From the loading data (http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp), the 6.5-284 seems to have an advantage of ~300ft/s with 85gr varmint rounds to ~100ft/s with the heaviest 160gr bullets. I don't believe that would translate to any real advantage for hunting. On average, what is the difference in barrel life on the Tikkas between these two cartridges? And how about the barrel life with the short magnums?
 
the real world results with hand-loaded ammo varies significantly to the point where those published velocity figures on the Hodgden site are out to lunch.

The 6.5-284 is a highly overbore cartridge with an overbore index of over 1200. This is derived from case capacity to case mouth opening. One can expect the accurate life of a 6.5-284 to be enywhere from 700 to 1000 rounds. It is a very accurrate cartridge with a long pedigree of long-distance wins, but it is as bad as a magnum for barrel burning.

The 6.5 Swede uses less powder and manages to nearly equal the velocities of a 6.5-284 by its more efficient design. The result is a roughly 50% better barrel life. The old Mausers that were using this cartridge did not benefit from the high energy powders that we have today, and as such many of the old 6.5's are not strong enough to withstand a high-pressure loading, and as such factory ammo tends to be moderately "de-tuned". The ammo is still highly potent, but the fact that is is not loaded to red-line means they barrel life is actually better than the raw data would suggest.

To answer your questions regarding useful barrel life:

308 - 6000 to 10,000 hunting accurate rounds

6.5X55 2000 - 4000 hunting accurate rounds

270 WSM Done at 600-1000

300 WSM 1500+ hunting accurate rounds


Hunting accurate means they will hold "Minute of Deer Heart" at 100 yards. Remember that a gun used strictly fo larger game will typically shoot a handful of rounds per year, so even a 270 WSM will last a lifetime if used in this role.

Varmint hunters and coyote hunters shoot way more than that, so barrel life will be a bigger issue. Also when using the type of light bullets preferred for varmint hunting (85 grains is VERY light for a 6.5!!) the amount of powder used goes up... barrel life goes down.
 
Hmmm... very interesting info Obtunded. The 6.5x55 looks like a good choice for the OP. So in general, barrel life will suffer with large case capacity and/or small case opening? I would infer from that info that necking down a cartridge would reduce barrel life. For example the .243 Win would have a low barrel life compared to the .308 Win (it's parent cartridge)? And conversely necking up will increase barrel life, such as the .358 Win.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom