All-around .270

[Tater]

I'm going to try reloading (with the help of my buddy) and was wondering what bullet would be good for deer and elk. I know my rifle likes 130 grain bullets and my buddy says he's gotten good results with one of Hornady's bullets but I thought I'd check in here for some other opinions. As I said, my rifle likes 130 gr and any and all replies are welcome. Thanks a bunch.

[wrenchman]

I have used 130 buy different companys for years ass long as you are getting a good bullet for what you are hunting i dont think you will have a problim
You will get guys saying you should go with a heavyer bullet for elk but i have seen 130 do it just put that bullet where it should go

[Tater]

I'm looking for a bullet that will penetrate far enough to take an elk but not overpenetrate a muley.

[PJgunner]

Well, I guess I'm one of the heavier bullet fans. I load a 150 gr. Sierra for deer and the 150 gr. Nosler Partition for elk. At least, in my rifle, the same powder charge work with both bullets and point od impact at 100 yards is the same. I'm using a long discontinued powder that I still have a good supply of, so data won't be of any help here. Probably, H-4831 would be a good one to try. Work up the load for the Sierra first, then back off two grains and work back up with the Nosler. Works for me.
Paul B.

[270man]

Tater,

I've used the 270 for years and have no complaints. Everyone has opinions on the "best" caliber for a given species of big game, but very few people have enough experience to back up their claims with meaningful statistics. Here's some stuff I know and some other stuff I've read that might be helpful:

Most of our elk (wife and me) have been shot with the 270 using either 130gr or 150gr Nosler partition bullets. No problems with either, but not enough data points for good statistics.

Jack O'Connor shot some 18 elk with the 270, mostly with 130gr bullets. He doesn't say what bullet, but many of them were probably the old Winchester SilverTips. Source is O'Connor's book, "The Hunting Rifle".

Jim Carmichael, Outdoor Life Shooting Editor, says the 270 stops being its real self when bullet weight gets up to 150gr. He prefers the 130gr for its higher velocity, but says the Nosler 140gr Partition might be just right for elk.

A local guide out here in Arizona says he prefers Remington Core-Lokts for elk (didn't say what weight, but Remington only sells them in 130gr and 150gr). This guy also has a lot of experience with elk kills.

I intend to try the 140gr Nosler Partitions in the future and see how they work -- assuming I can get an elk permit, of course.

Good luck,

270man

[popplecop]

I don't think you can go wrong with the Nosler Partition Bullet, years ago I used the old 160 grainer on elk. Now I'd develope a load with the 140 grainer. I still shoot my late Father's Win. Md. 54 270 that he bought In 1926. Just shoot 130s out of it with H-4831, still shoots well. Hope myself (?), son or grandson can shoot a deer in 2026, then retire it.

[Dan Morris]

130 Nosler should fill the bill. Key, is bullet placement. Get good with it and you should have no problems.
Dan

[GoodOlBoy]

140 gr Nosler ballistic tips are my absolute favorite.

Good shooting.

GoodOlBoy

[Cossack]

130 Barnes TSX around 3000 fps. Good for deer and elk. You won't have to worry about passing throught big bodies, even bone.
BTW, there is no such thing as over-penetrating--- as long as the bullet expands and leaves a sizeable wound channel (as the TSX does). A bullet does not "dump" it's energy in a game animal, it actully absorbes it in the form of heat when passing through tissue. So, there is absolutelu nothing wrong with a bullet passing throught game....as long as it casuses major damage along the way.

[scalerman]

Just my two cents worth. I love Siera's 140 grain hollow point. I have harvested both elk and mule deer with it. I have found it to be a great bullet.

[L. Cooper]

After years of hunting I have become a heavy bullet fan. Although Cossack's comment that:" A bullet does not "dump" it's energy in a game animal, it actully absorbes it in the form of heat when passing through tissue. So, there is absolutelu nothing wrong with a bullet passing throught game." makes no sense to me, he is right that there is no disadvantage to bulllets passing completely through an animal. There are lots of disadvantages to not enough penetration.

I now prefer 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips for deer sized game and 150 grain Partitions for elk or moose. I am sure there are other heavy for caliber bullets that will work, but my rifle shoots those well, and they seem to always work as advertised.

If I am going to use my .270 for both deer and larger, without time to re-sight the rifle, I use the Partitions.

I think the .270 is on the light end of my ideas about good elk cartridges, so I want the performance of premium bullets for elk.

[Mil Dot]

Tater,
My 270 loves the 130gr bullets. IMO a premium bullet, reasonable range and shot placement will make your 270 a good deer/ellk killer. I'm not an engineer, but keeping your bullet speed around 3000 fps seems to be the target for most manufacturers bullets to maximize expansion without blowing apart. May be someone knows if this is true or not, but it sure seems as though I run across this number alot. Elk are pretty tough animals and can get themselves into some pretty tough recovery areas really fast, so I'd make sure to use something on the line of a Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Partition, Barnes or Swift A-Frame and put it in the boiler room.

Good hunting
MD

[razmuz]

I don't believe there are any bad bullets for the 270 being made. They all work plenty good. The only reason I load different bullets is because some shoot better in a paticular rifle. Once the bullet hits the deer they all work a-ok. I know folks that shoot a bullet just because it's purtty. CHEAP IS JUST AS GOOD AS EXPENSIVE.

[L. Cooper]

Have to disagree, razmuz. I know that's not normal on this forum, but.........

I started reloading many years ago after I shot a buck in the left shoulder with a 130 grain .270 cal. Bronze Point at about 8 yards. The impact staggered the buck and then one bound put him behind some bushes. I calmly chambered the next round and waited a few seconds before I peeked around the bush to find him. He was gone. About 5 hours of very careful and slow tracking later we lost his trail.

The next day he was found with the help of some ravens. He was almost eaten by coyotes, but had fallen on his left shoulder. It had a rather hidious surface wound and broken shoulder, but the bullet had not penetrated the chest. It fragmented on impact.

I vowed then and there to start reloading GOOD bullets that would work at both long and short range.

That was a while ago. Bullets are better on average now. But all bullets are not created equal, and good ones generally cost a little more.

[razmuz]

The man said he was going to reload the 270 "NOW." But, thanks for the history lesson.