Author Topic: 270 win factory load for elk (Read 3188 times)

mattri · « **on:** October 06, 2009, 04:42:21 PM »

Looking for a good factory load in 270 win for elk out to 300-350 yards.
Would prefer to stick with 150grns but would consider 140s.

I know some will be tempted to post regarding whether or not to use 270 on elk, please reserve that argument for those topics.

Thanks, Matt.

jro45 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 07, 2009, 01:59:25 AM »

Im my 270 the 150gr bullet only go 2910 FPS. I could get them to 300yds but they would have 1768 ft lb at that range. Witch is enough to kill that elk. You would have to get your
rifle set to shoot at that range.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** October 07, 2009, 03:02:37 AM »

Federal Premium with 150 Nosler PT. I've used it in several rifles and all have shot it to an inch or less at 100 yards. I'd trust that bullet as much as any other to get he job done on elk from a .270 Win.

John R. · « **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2009, 04:33:45 AM »

+1 on the Federal Premium 150 Partition. If that load won't work, nothing will.

redranger15 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2009, 10:03:13 AM »

I've used 140 gr hornady light mags btsp on moose and elk with no problem.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2009, 12:13:01 PM »

Quote from: redranger15 on October 07, 2009, 10:03:13 AM

I've used 140 gr hornady light mags btsp on moose and elk with no problem.

I really like that bullet on deer but must admit I'd have never considered it for elk or moose. I do like it but from the deer I've taken with it I felt it a bit soft for such larger game. Still if it worked for you it worked for you. I assume mostly lung shots?

redranger15 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2009, 02:09:25 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard on October 07, 2009, 12:13:01 PM

Quote from: redranger15 on October 07, 2009, 10:03:13 AM
I've used 140 gr hornady light mags btsp on moose and elk with no problem.

I really like that bullet on deer but must admit I'd have never considered it for elk or moose. I do like it but from the deer I've taken with it I felt it a bit soft for such larger game. Still if it worked for you it worked for you. I assume mostly lung shots?

Your right they are soft.The bull moose I shot was quartering toward me and was hit infront of the shoulder at the neck and went all the way to the other blade.shot at about 250 and he only went about 10 yards.The elk where all lungs .Very good bullet for deer.

rickt300 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 07, 2009, 03:09:16 PM »

This sounds too easy but when I started using the 270 on elk I used the 150 gr. Power point Winchester factory load with good results. Now however I use the 150 grain Partition on top of 57.5 grains of H4831. The Federal factory load using the same bullet should be perfect.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #8 on:** October 07, 2009, 05:43:39 PM »

Federal 150g Trophy Bonded Tip would be my choice. I'd use the 130g version with confidence as well.

mattri · « **Reply #9 on:** October 07, 2009, 06:49:24 PM »

Thanks for all the good tips. I'll check them out and see which my rifle prefers. Thanks again, Matt.

nomosendero · « **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2009, 07:05:28 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard on October 07, 2009, 03:02:37 AM

Federal Premium with 150 Nosler PT. I've used it in several rifles and all have shot it to an inch or less at 100 yards. I'd trust that bullet as much as any other to get he job done on elk from a .270 Win.

+1

Or also a 140 Accubond if available. I use 140 gr. Acc. reloads & it's a great bullet.

Brithunter · « **Reply #11 on:** October 08, 2009, 03:24:09 AM »

Hmmm what about the Federal Fusion?

It's claimed to be a bonded bullet and in one particular 270 of mine it's the only factory ammo I have tried so far which groups with any accuracy in it. This particular rifle is one that has been testing my patience in finding something that it likes

.

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #12 on:** October 08, 2009, 11:44:00 PM »

I have no experience with 270 on elk but have taken a couple with 280. ("Truth in Lending Statement"

)

It is my understanding that the Fusion bullets were designed from the very beginning of their development to give maximal performance as a deer bullet in each caliber. Elk are not armor plated as some people fantasize but they are considerably tougher than deer.

Having used Partitions and Trophy Bonded Bearclaw bullets with good success on elk in other calibers, I would prefer one of those over the Fusion when hunting elk. Shots directly into the chest cavity will be successful with any of the bullets already mentioned in this thread...no doubt about that.

Brithunter · « **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2009, 01:04:38 AM »

Hmmm just looked at the Fusion web site, never done that before, and yes they say it's a deer bullet. Trouble is Elk are actually a sub species of Red Deer

sooooooooooooo

I have not used any of it on Game as yet. I just walked into the gun clubs shop and asked for some 270 Win factory ammo to try in this rifle as the Speer Nitrex I tried

welll you might as well use shot cartridges. Tried the Nitrex in 3 different 270 Win chambered rifles with poor results in every case

. It just so happened he had this Fusion and it was on offer

so I brought a couple of boxes to try. I will buy a few more boxes if he still has them even if the offer has finished, depending on price of course

, and hopefully over the winter get to use it on Deer.

coyotejoe · « **Reply #14 on:** October 09, 2009, 05:17:31 AM »

I have a good friend who is a dedicated hunter but not at all a "gun guy". His elk rifle is a Browning BAR in .270 and he just uses whatever 150 grain load is cheapest at Walmart and seldom fails to get his elk and sometimes takes very long shots I would not attempt.

mattri · « **Reply #15 on:** October 09, 2009, 12:55:14 PM »

Thanks again for all the replies.
Rifle is a Mossberg ATR .270 Win with a 3-9 Nikon.
Bought the rifle on Mon, just took it to the range today.
Only one place in town had the Federals and they were $35 a box. Another shop had some Winchester 150grns for $17 a box so I thought I would try them.
Went through two boxes (40 rounds) today and I have to say I was pretty dissapointed. At 100 yards I was doing well to get a 3" group and there were lots of flyers.
I don't expect this rifle to compete with guns that cost 2-3 times as much but I certainley expect better than that. Don't know yet if it was the rifle, the ammo or a combination of both. Hate to cough up that kind of coin on ammo but may have to.

rickt300 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 09, 2009, 02:30:26 PM »

I wouldn't automatically blame the ammo. There could be something loose and a little tuning could be needed. The Winchester 150 grain Power Points shoot very nicely in either of my 270 rifles. Easily under 1 1/2 inches.

mattri · « **Reply #17 on:** October 09, 2009, 02:33:30 PM »

Just went back out with some Federal 130grns they did better but still not great. Everything on the rifle checks out, scope is tight etc.

rickt300 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 10, 2009, 09:41:46 AM »

Might try a different scope. I recently had a 3x9 Prostaff start double grouping and I burned a bunch of ammo before I found the problem.

tmccray45 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 10, 2009, 12:43:55 PM »

Quote from: mattri on October 09, 2009, 12:55:14 PM

Thanks again for all the replies.
Rifle is a Mossberg ATR .270 Win with a 3-9 Nikon.
Bought the rifle on Mon, just took it to the range today.
Only one place in town had the Federals and they were $35 a box. Another shop had some Winchester 150grns for $17 a box so I thought I would try them.
Went through two boxes (40 rounds) today and I have to say I was pretty dissapointed. At 100 yards I was doing well to get a 3" group and there were lots of flyers.
I don't expect this rifle to compete with guns that cost 2-3 times as much but I certainley expect better than that. Don't know yet if it was the rifle, the ammo or a combination of both. Hate to cough up that kind of coin on ammo but may have to.

I too have a Mossberg ATR .270 Win with a 3-9 Nikon Buckmaster scope, and I too had problems getting anything to shoot well until I tried IMR4831 and the load posted on the Hodgdon site tables for the 130 grain bullet. I went from 3 inch groups to less than 1" groups and was quickly able to zero the scope to consistently hit a 1-inch area of my target.

The rifle went from the back of the gun safe to the front row.

mattri · « **Reply #20 on:** October 10, 2009, 01:41:05 PM »

Yep- tried some hand loads and they went where I aimed them. Thanks again to all who posted

Tonk · « **Reply #21 on:** October 12, 2009, 06:09:15 PM »

I lost my very first bull elk using a .270 Winchester way back when, I shot 130 grain bullets because I was advised it was fast, flat and would kill an elephant. Obviously these gents had never been to the Dark Continent!

Years went by and I learned the hard way through my wallet, that using a 160 grain Nosler Partition bullet in a .270 Winchester, was the way to go for killing any elk in the high country. It is real hard to beat a Nosler Partition bullet for killing big game animals, unless your loading up Trophy Bonded Bear Claw Bullets Gents.