Author Topic: .270 ideas, need input (Read 906 times)

mjbgalt · « **on:** April 15, 2006, 11:39:49 AM »

I came across what loos to me to be an unfired Howa 1500 Lightning in .270. With bases attached already, it was marked as $269. I traded in an old set of .357 dies i had laying around and got the Howa for $249.

no marks on it, the bolt face looks clean as new and still has the cosmoline stuff they use at the factory. the bore is perfect. no bluing lost in the action where the bolt would slide back and forth. it appears that someone bought it and changed their minds.

i am very happy, as i like the Howa actions and was going to make this one a .25-06 but i bought .270 ammo (don't have dies yet) and shot it and it apears to be a shooter.

so what's the advantage (if any) of making it into a .25-06? i think i will leave it in .270.

what do you guys think of all this, and what limitations does the .270 present? i know some use it for elk....how about bears and such?

-Matt

Cappy · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2006, 01:49:42 PM »

I've seen several fellas use the 270 successfully on elk and moose up here. (I've used my 270WSM loaded with 140gr Accubonds with no prob, but did buy a 325WSM in the same rifle for when I specifically hunt them). Again I've seen the 270 used on bears and if memory serves me right my buddy was shooting 150gr partitions and droped the bear no problem. Bottom line is I wouldn't feel under gunned using a 270win (I specifically use my .308 BLR with 165TBBC's if I'm hunting them over bait), but If I wanted a rifle to spot and stalk them I prefer something that can throw a little bit heavier piece of lead.

nomosendero · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2006, 03:43:10 PM »

I am a big 25-06 fan, but since this gun shoots good in 270, I would leave
it in 270. It is not my choice for an Elk rifle, but used with care, with good bullets & modest ranges, it will do the job.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2006, 03:34:06 AM »

The biggest problem I see is the cost to rebarrel a $269 rifle. I think you would come out better to buy a rifle that is already in the caliber you want.

The .270, while maybe not the ideal caliber for elk and bear, has certainly been successful at harvesting both.

The .270 is really a great caliber and gives up nothing to the 25.06 unless you intend to use it as a varmit gun, where the .25.06 with the ability to shoot lighter bullets a little better would make it more useful for groundhogs and such. However, there have been a few posters who have loaded a 90 grain in the .270 and say they get acceptable accuracy, and thus a very good varmit gun as such.

257 roberts · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2006, 06:31:42 PM »

theres not a nickels difference in a 2506/120gr and a 270/130gr in the field

mjbgalt · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2006, 03:45:33 AM »

well this is all a moot point. it has a serious bedding problem with that synthetic stock. i shot it a few days ago and it did ok but the groups were way off point of aim.

yesterday i took it to the range again and it patterned like a shotgun...i shoved some cardboard under the forearm between the barrel and the stock and suddenly it started printing better groups but they were like 12" high.

i am not going to put $200 into a better stock for a $269 rifle and i damn sure don't want to spend hours shaving little bits off the stock only to have it shoot better but look like hell.

so i took that sucker to the gunshop just down the road and traded it straight-up for a new Ruger 22/45, something i had wanted for a while anyway.

guess GB was right about those rifles, they shoot 'em without the stock at the factory and then put 'em in a cheap stock and send them out...mine sure as heck didn't shoot worth a crap. that first day's groups weren't half bad but it sure fooled me.

meanwhile i tried a new load in my .243 and got a dime-sized group at 100 yards so it's not like the .270 would have been out of the safe much anyway.

-Matt

Mac11700 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2006, 06:10:56 AM »

Quote

guess GB was right about those rifles, they shoot 'em without the stock at the factory and then put 'em in a cheap stock and send them out...mine sure as heck didn't shoot worth a crap. that first day's groups weren't half bad but it sure fooled me.

I thought he was talking about the Weatherby Vangaurd...

?

Mac

mjbgalt · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2006, 06:34:42 AM »

he was. these are identical. same stock, same actions.

Howa makes both guns.

-Matt

Slamfire · « **Reply #8 on:** April 18, 2006, 06:03:24 PM »

Leave it as is, there is a good reason the .270 has ranked 3rd or 4th in ammo sales every years since it's discovery. :wink: