Author Topic: .270 for Elk (Read 2430 times)

Eddie in Delta · « **on:** February 13, 2005, 06:12:18 PM »

Has anyone had real life experiences with the .270 on elk? How does performance compare with the .300 Win?

I know a .270 will kill 'em, heck, my friend's dad killed his trophy bull with a .25-06 last year. His dad recommended a .270 for an all-around rifle. I have a .300 Win, and I'll be honest, it's not much fun to shoot at the bench, although I never had problems with a moving target. It was my first centerfire, and it made me flinch at first. I'm getting over it, but the ammo costs a lot, and everyone has to have a gun to dream about at night, right?

Thanks,
Eddie

oso45-70 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2005, 06:35:55 PM »

Eddie In Delta,

A well placed shot from a 270 will be more than enough to do the job.
The most important thing is getting the best ammo. and making a good shot. The 270 win. has killed a lot of game and did it with out a problem.
Good luck.........Joe......

Reloader · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2005, 06:50:47 PM »

When we started hunting many years ago, my brother chose the 270 and I went with a 30.06. He killed a few elk with his and never had a problem. Based on our experiences I couldn't not recommend it for elk, but I still like the idea of a 180 grain 30 caliber bullet better.
One of my other brother's inherited a Browning Stainless Stalker from my dad in 270 and it is one fine shooting rifle.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2005, 01:04:30 AM »

Eddie In Delta, sure a 270 would work and do a great job. But beings you have a 300 Win Mag why? You have one of the best Elk cartridges. Don't get me wrong I would never try to talk a fellow shooter/hunter out of buying another gun,

but for your intended use the 300 Win Mag would be my choice.

Eddie in Delta · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2005, 12:12:41 PM »

Yeah, I don't really need a .270, but you know how that new gun itch is. I like my Savage .300, but I love the way Remingtons feel. Savages are probably more accurate, but whenever I pick up a Model 700 I think, "Now THAT'S a rifle." Know the feeling? I'm a poor high school student who should be saving his money for college et al, but I figured it I sold my Savage a 700 wouldn't be that much more...

Eddie

BrushBuster · « **Reply #5 on:** February 15, 2005, 05:29:16 AM »

Eddie in Delta I think you on the wrong track and I'd like to see you go to college.
Find a friendly handloader that will load that .300 Win. of yours with a reduced load you are comfortable with and shoots well. This cartridge handles such loads just fine with still enough punch for elk under any conditions. http://www.hodgdon.com/data/youth/300winmag_y.php

Ramrod · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2005, 12:11:53 PM »

Eddie, go for the gun and head for the hills. Nothing but politically correct crap is taught in colleges anymore.

Seriously though, if you want higher education, make it technical. Thats the one area where everyone competes on an equal footing in the job market. And get the gun, an unhappy student is a lousy student.

Eddie in Delta · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2005, 04:17:07 PM »

Brushbuster, I was thinking about a used gun; if anything I could be out $50, if I worked the sale right and shopped around. I probably won't get another gun, but school is boring some days... Have to have something to daydream about. But you're right, if I had the choice between tuition and a new toy I'd take tuition. Now, if the choice was something else, like if my rich uncle left me in his will...

Ramrod, I agree; I do better when I'm happy. I thought about technical education, but working on things drives me mad, especially cars. I have a lot of friends who are really into cars, and I'm more into books, hunting and writing. I might be an interrogator for the military after college if they let me in. Who knows? I come from a military family and I don't think it's such a bad job. Interrogating/translating seems to be one job that would almost always be new and interesting. Nothing set in stone yet, but who knows...

lowertroll · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2005, 03:24:40 PM »

I am a 270 fan. I have killed 3 elk with a 270. A cow with 130 gr partition and two 5x5s with 150 gr solid base. All performed well. Yes I hunt with a variety of other guns also, and they work fine also. It is hard to go wrong owning a 270, but the advice to find someone to do some reloading for you sounds like good advice. the 300 mag is a good caliber (I have only ever owned one mag and that is a 300 wsm). It shouldn't be too hard to find some seasoned reloader that would be tickled pink to help out an younger shooter.
And yes, get a technical degree.

silenttracker · « **Reply #9 on:** March 01, 2005, 04:15:37 PM »

Eddie,
Go for it!! Both my buddy and I got our elk this past year. He shot his with a 25-06 in the neck and I shot mine right between the running lights using my Savage 12FVSS in .270 WSM cal. Bullet was a Nosler 160 grain Partition loaded with MagPro and WLRM primers Both Elk dropped in their tracks. :-D

Good Hunting!

crow_feather · « **Reply #10 on:** March 01, 2005, 09:10:15 PM »

25 calibers are not elk rifles, never will be. People tend to talk of the great kills, but not the losses that they explain away as a miss or a bad bullet.

If all you can shoot is a 270, use it, but please use the heavier bullet for adequate penetration. If you can use a heavier caliber, please use it. Any lost wounded game animal is a sin when you use a lesser caliber for bragging rights or to see if it will work.

C F

buffalobob · « **Reply #11 on:** March 02, 2005, 03:45:54 PM »

Two bulls standing on a hill. Young bull says "lets run down to the pasture and get us a hiefer".

Old bull says "lets walk down there and get all the heifers.

Save your money, go to college, get a good job and then buy lots of guns and fast cars.

swecology · « **Reply #12 on:** March 06, 2005, 01:41:11 PM »

Eddie,

Why not do both? You could enlist and save for college while in the service with the GI Bill, or you could go into the Reserves or Natl. Guard and go to school at the same time. Either way, for a fella who doesn't quite know what to do with himself out of high school, it could help to answer a lot of questions.

Look at what and how you wrote your posts. I suspect that an academic bend does appeal to you much more than a technical education. Here's something to think about once you get to college - an "applied" education.
Meaning Applied Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Applied Biological Sciences (my program) and for writing - how about Journalism? A whole lot of options and room for growth. A degree in an applied discipline means that it is a lot more field-oriented, and less theoretical. The fun part is testing or deriving old and new theorys from your work in the "real world".

As for the guns, there will be plenty out there, bigger, faster, and just as efficient. Same with cars, too.

During my undergrad years, when I had the itch for a new rifle, I opted for a .30-06. I foolishly sold that gun, but I've had a few more over the years. It is the most versitile caliber that is in my collection, and is either my primary or backup weapon on every centerfire hunt I go on.

Just my two cents worth.

Matt

BTW - which service are you interested in?

Eddie in Delta · « **Reply #13 on:** March 07, 2005, 11:43:32 AM »

swecology,

I come from an Army family (my dad just got back from Iraq). I applied to the Natl. Guard last summer and got turned down from medical stuff that shouldn't even be an issue. I planned on staying with the Guard until after college (better benefits plus I can go to college before going active duty) and possibly going active duty after.

Anyway, I've had an appeal going through with the Guard (another advantage; the other services don't let you do that as far as I know). Hopefully they will let me know what they decide soon.

By the way, if I get into the Guard I'll have the choice of three MOS's: Aviation, combat engineer, or artillery (of which most units are being turned into mech infantry). Which would be your choice?

As to technical education, I almost burned up a lathe in my machining class today. I forgot to tighten a screw on a rest holding my work. Right now I'm not in the "technical ed" mood. I have a full-ride scholarship to a major university right now; we'll see what I like doing. I have no idea of what I'm gonna do for a living. I guess that's what college is for, eh?

Eddie

victorcharlie · « **Reply #14 on:** March 07, 2005, 12:39:09 PM »

Eddie:

Yes, take your time figuring out what your going to do for a living. Your only young once......the problem is, when you finally figure out your not so young anymore, and your stuck doing what ever it is your going to do, and you decide you don't want to do it anymore.......does that make sense?

If you've got a full scholarship IMO you would be crazy not to take advantage of it.......It's going to get tougher for the people without a degree in the new world order, or global economy........and heck.......it's with no cost! Believe me when I tell you nothing worth while is ever free...........

Oh young man, rejoice in thy youth!

DakotaElkSlayer · « **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2005, 01:45:55 PM »

Eddie,
I have no experience with the .270, but I do with its cousin, the .280. Back in 2000, I dropped a huge bodied Michigan bull with a single shot from my .280. Crosshairs behind the shoulder and he dropped in his tracks...139gr. Hornady Light Mag.
Today, many people believe that you have to have some super magnum to kill an elk. Gee, I wonder how so many elk got killed before the days of the magnum? :shock: How did they kill so many elk with the puny 30/30? They HUNTED, that's how. If you hold out for a good broadside shot at 300yds or so, or less, that is going to be a dead elk. Make sure you pick a dependable bullet and can hit where you aim. Many people do think large magnums can make up for poor skills...just my two cents.

Jim

cvixx · « **Reply #16 on:** March 26, 2005, 01:53:25 PM »

Eddie...my first recommendation would be to take up reloading and make up some lighter loads. But, if you are set on a 270, look around. I bought a Remington 760 in 270 from the pawn shop in Beaver and he does seem to have the best selection of used rifles around. Few hunters in Utah seem to want a 270, the majority using 30-06, so other calibers are priced right.

Got 3 270s, really prefer them because of lighter recoil and I bought 500 140 grain Silvertips a few years ago off of E-bay, so will be set for life! Never been picked for an elk tag here in S. Utah, so no experience that I can share about its effectiveness.

razmuz · « **Reply #17 on:** April 05, 2005, 01:18:18 PM »

I own a cabin above Mora, New Mexico. For years I've driven to different Elk camps to see who got what or who missed what. We always sip a little Jack and discuss rifles. I don't hunt elk because I wouldn't know what to do with the meat. Back when I did hunt Elk I gave the meat to several Mexican families if they would come and get it. Like me, their old and the kid's aren't interested. Back to the subject, is the 270 big enough for elk? At the camps most of the men used calibers in this order 30-06, 300W, 7mm and a few 270's. Of interest is the fact that most of the women used 30-30, 257 R and 6.5X55. Yes, most of the women always got their elk.

Jimi · « **Reply #18 on:** April 05, 2005, 01:38:36 PM »

The .270 is about as fine an elk cartridge as you could as for. But let me mix up the conversation a bit... why not rechamber your .300 Win Mag to .300 Weatherby Mag... you could shoot the heavy magnum loads when you wanted to, and otherwise shoot .300 H&H Magnum ammo to reduce the abuse on your shoulder. Yeah, that's the ticket ;-)

Miller · « **Reply #19 on:** April 15, 2005, 01:40:58 PM »

You already admit that you flinched and that it's getting better. The .270 will do everything you need for elk hunting. A friend of mine that is a professional guide would rather have you show up in camp with a rifle you are completely comfortable with and don't finch with. John Barsness who has killed more game than most of will ever see has written volumes on the urban legend of the need for a cannon for hunting. Less recoil = better accuracy= clean kills, Buy or trade for the .270!

jmckinley · « **Reply #20 on:** July 22, 2005, 06:28:28 PM »

I thought I'd throw my 2 pennies in. I used a 06 Mod. 70 on my Elk two years ago one shot one very dead 6x6. Last year 130 gr 270 one very dead bull elk. My hunting buddy shoots a 300 Win and loves it. I think the darn thing kicks like a mad Mule!!!! The 06 is ok in recoil but the 270 is fun to shoot. I use a Remington 7600 and it will shoot with most bolts. It shoots inch to inch-na-half all day. If you don't like the recoil go to the 270 and never look back. I switched to the 140 fail safe this year and I'll let you know how they do on my Cow this fall. In my book the 270 will cover most game we shoot in the Lower 48. accurate, easy to shoot and ammo in a Mom and Pops in the backwoods, what more could you ask!!!

:grin: Jmckinley

PS. I've become fond of the H&R Ultra's over the past few months too.

Buckskin · « **Reply #21 on:** July 25, 2005, 07:25:17 AM »

Great, now we have to listen to all that Union garb here!

[/quote]Seriously though, if you want higher education, make it technical. Thats the one area where everyone competes on an equal footing in the job market.