The .270win:The perfect deer cartridge?

[model 70]

Long range or close, anywhere a deer roams the .270 is right at home. With the bullets available now, all your bases are covered. What are your thoughts?

[gd357]

Definitely in the top 5 as far as deer calibers go. Versatile, plenty of power for deer, longer range capability, and not too hard on the shoulder. Last year my brother shot 2 deer with his .270. One was about 70 yards away, dropped in it's tracks. The second was upwards of 350 yards. Went about 40 yards and dropped. While I've never taken an animal with a .270, I'd have no compunction about using one. It has worked for a long time, and like its parent cartridge, the 30-06, it will be around for decades to come.

gd357

[muskrat30]

I would put the 270 in with about 15 or so other 'perfect deer cartidges'. We also have to factor in some local conditions & how a particular person hunts. The guy in a Texas tower blind may want something different than the still hunter in a Northern WI cedar swamp. Some guns may be suited for both jobs. I am still quite content with my 308.

[Andy L]

They are in the top ten. Its very debateable among several calibers for deer size game. Alot of em will do the job and the deer will be just as dead. Some excel at some things such as distance, wind, bullet selection, ect... better than others, but may lack to that same caliber in another catagory of deer rifles.

The ..270 is not the perfect cartridge in itself, but its in a group of perfect cartridges, if that makes sense. Personally, I wouldnt own one. I have other rifles I like better on both ends of the 270 range of bullets and performance and have no need for one, but thats my opinion.

It is among the elite 10 that would be considered perfect by many and all will kill deer equally as dead.Thats not debateable, I wouldnt think anyway.....


Andy

Out of curiosity, after I wrote this, I counted just as fast as I could, over 20 cartridges that could be argued to do the job as well and better in some instances than the 270. So, I guess I should expand that number listed above.

The deer will be just as dead with any of them. At one time it may have been perfect, had it been brought in before the 30-06. But with todays bullets and powders, there are alot of performers out there.

[Dan Morris]

270 will live for a long time. I have a couple of them. While I use the 06, daughter fell in love with the 270 first time she shot it.
Dan

[Dutchboy]

To my taste the 270 is more than needed for almost all deer hunting.

Not that it makes the dear deer too dead, just that it is more than needed.

Tops on my list is the 250 Savage. 260 Remington, 6.5x55, 257Roberts are also all ahead of the 270. JMO, Dutch.

[model 70]

Some of you may discredit my posts when I tell you I have never taken a deer in my life so I have no first hand experience. I have taken 2 black bears that would be just as dead with any other capable centerfire as they were with the .270win I shot them with. I just think the .270 loaded with any somewhat stout 130gr. bullet is about all you may need?

I guess I am trying to say is the hunter that totes a magnum rifle or long range big boomer is no better off than a hunter that carries a .270 as long as he knows his gun in and out and what he can do with it.

[fabsroman]

I disagree with that last post. A hunter carrying a .270 Win isn't in the exact same position as a hunter carrying a .300 Win Mag or .300 RUM. Now, if the property you hunt on can only provide shots out to 200 or 300 yards, then this argument might be moot. However, what if Mr. Big walks out at 800 yards and you are capable of making the shot? Would a .270 Win get the job done as well as a .300 Win Mag or .300 RUM? Probably not. I probably wouldn't even try that shot with my .270, but might actually take it with my .300 Win Mag.

With all that said, I have never had Mr. Big come out at 800 yards, but made my two longest shots on deer this season when I killed a doe and a yearling at somewhere around 250 yards. The farm where I was hunting can present 800 yard shots easily, maybe even 1,000 yards, but I have yet to be presented with that type of shot while deer season is in.

[Rocky Raab]

I know that several folks on this board disagree with what I'm about to say, and that's fine.

But I'll always say that the proper way to deal with Mr Big at 800 yards is to give him a crisp salute and hope you see him again some day at a range where you won't risk crippling him.

No matter what rifle you're carrying.

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

IF you are capable of putting the bullet in the correct spot at 800 yards, then the 270 Win will kill the beast just as dead as the 300 WM. Yes the 300 produces more power but it does not make the beast more dead....................after all dead is dead. I no longer have a 300 WM...................no I have nothing against the cartridge at all. The rifle was traded in a deal to get some collectable rifles, funnily enough for my collection

I still have some ammo for it including some Lapua 200 gr loaded with the MEGA bullets. Ideal Elk recipe

I have 2 rifles in 270 Win, the BSA CF2 is the first centre fire rifle I brought, the other I picked up a little while ago, calibre was unimportant. I wanted a good BSA Majestic and this one was the best deal so I got a 2nd 270 Win rifle. However I have yet to kill an animal with either of the 270's. Had Deer in the sights............ but it was an unsafe shot, or the wrong species or sex Oh well one day it will happen. I have shot the CF2 at 600 yards and it was very accurate using a handload with 130 Gr Balistic Tip bullets and Rel 19.

Yes the 270 Win is an excellent game cartridge but as has already been stated it depends on the terrain and area it is used in. Personally I would not want it in close wood/timber, there are better cartridges suited to this work. Most hunting is a compromise. If I had a place like this, like in fact the place I hunted Wgitetails in 2003 where long shots 500+ could be taken in the fields and close dense thickets where 40 yards was a long shot then the 270 loaded with 150 gr bullets would suffice. I actually used a 7x57mm due more to it's scope moutn set up being a QD one against the fixed steel mounts on the 270 win. Sighted in for 200 yards and the longest shot I took was 65 yards

[fabsroman]

I stand corrected. I looked at the data in the Barnes reloading manual and a 130 gr. XLC bullet in .270 with a starting muzzle velocity of 3,200 fps will carry about 1,400 lb/ft of energy out to 600 yards and a 150 gr. XLC bullet in .300 with a starting muzzle velocity of 3,300 fps will only carry about 1,350 lb/ft of energy out to 600 yards, so I guess the .270 Win will do a better job out that far because of the BC. Now, up close the energy levels favor the .300, but then it really doesn't matter because they will both kill up close and far away.

Rocky,

I agree that an 800 yard shot shouldn't be taken if the shooter isn't capable of doing it, and right now my equipment isn't even close to being able to do that because I haven't spent enough time with it lately. However, is somebody can make the shot (e.g., Boyd), I don't have any problem with it. What about guys that kill groundhogs at 1,000 yards? Should they not take the shot because they might cripple the animal, or is it because they groundhogs are varmints that such shots are acceptable? There is a better chance of hitting the kill zone on big game than there is on varmints. Then again, there is a greater chance of completely missing a small target at 800 yards.

[Classicvette63]

What are the parameters of the hunt? Brush hunting or beanfield hunting? Lots of steep climbing or sneaking around? One gun or cartridge won't fit all the situations. What size deer? A 100lb Pa. mountain deer or a 280lb Alberta monster?

The .270 is a fine round, although I do not own myself. I wouldn't feel undergunned or overgunned if i did. Sort of like picking who has the best wife. They all have their pros and cons

[CanWoodsman]

Although I prefer the 25.06 I have to admit the .270 is capable of taking any deer at any range one should be taking shots at. In most incidences 800 yards is far beyond where one should be hunting deer. At this distance too many factors become important. Accurite range estimation is vital, a mere 50 yard mistake can mean the difference between a hit and a miss. Wind drift can easily move your bullet up to 2 feet. At this distance any uphill or downhill shot will effect the height. If you can shoot 1" at a 100 yards from a bench what will your grouping size be in the position you use in the field? In a hunting situation you will not likely get the chance to fire a round to adjust for these factors like you could on the range. Just too many varibles to be shooting at a fine game animal like a deer at 800 yards. JMO

Best Wishes

[model 70]

If you can put a bullet into the vitals at 800+ yards, the .270 will kill it just as dead as the .300mag as earlier stated.

Why would it matter what the terrain is? Why could you not hunt deer in the brush with the .270 like you can much more open terrain?

That .270 will kill a 100lb. buck just as it would a 250lb. buck.

[royinidaho]

Model 70,

Ya know my answer. However, having said that, I'm carrying a 338 WIn this year for elk.

Yea we shoot a longer ranges in the west than are usual in the east but, most deer are shot a < 200 yds.

Shot a moose with the 270 130 gr sierra. Range was about 65 yds. Mv of the bullet was 3200 FPS. Bullet did what it was supposed to. Complete penetration, severed top of heart.

May as well have shot a house (building) for all the more reaction by the moose. He just walked off. Got him about 5 minutes later.

Make the same shot with a 338/358/375 and you'll see a big difference.

During public/open hunts and close to boundaries like Yellowstone, Indian Reservation or even posted property you want the animal dead now not 200 yds later.

O'Conner fan too but he's long gone and would really enjoy his options if he were around now.

BTW, 25 cal and above up to 30 cal. Any case size from 7X57 mm to 06/308 case. There's yer perfect deer rifle.