270 WSM

[calling4life]

I was looking through my Fed. Ammunition catalog for possible long range calibers, as I have my short range shooter.  I came upon this 270wsm round, never been a fan of the 270s for whatever reason, but zeroed at 200 the trajectory of this round according to Federals numbers is great.  From 110gr. tipped Triple shock x bullets to 150gr nosler partitions, and fusions, zeroed at 200 the drop out to 500 is between 30 and 36" for every one of the 9 rounds I have listed. 

What I am looking at for bullets that will beat that are the 243, 220 swift, 204 ruger, this is again looking at their data for sighted in at 200, and looking at the drop at 500.  I am looking at these numbers because I want a longer range shooter.  I like the idea of this 270 wsm over these smaller rounds because of that, it is a bigger round, a little extra weight thrown down range for a bit more stopping power.  I've owned a 243, these smaller rounds just don't appeal to me for whatever reason...

I also like the idea of the 270 short over the 7mm or 300 shorts because I'd like a bit less bite in this rifle.  I think this may be a "best of both worlds" caliber for me, not that magnum bite, but not the drop in power of the lighter rounds.
If you are wondering why I am looking at Federals ammunition, it is because I have a brother that works there. 

Rifle I was looking at was the Winchester Model 70 Coyote Light, looked at one the other day and for a good sized rifle, it felt great to me, light enough to carry.

So, Ideas or comments?  I don't reload, and getting ammunition for great prices keeps me in the federal line.  Another rifle I was looking at was the Rem 700 sps tactical in 308, I've read reports of the accuracy on this gun and that is what turned me on to it, but the trajectory of this 270wsm has me pondering.

Any help is appreciated, thank you

[LONGTOM]

I have used a 270 for close to 40 years and a 270wsm every since they came out.
With a 130gr BT at about 3250fps I sight in at 1.5" high at 100 which puts me between 3.5" & 4" low at 300.
I regularly shot long range on a weekly basis on varmints and from time to time I use the 270wsm.
I shot a 70lb doe a few years back at a measured 487yds.
She was on just a slight angle towards me looking to my right with her head up.
I have hunted this field on my farm for over 40 years and actually measured many parts of it so there is very little guessing as far as distance goes.
I placed the cross hair just a little over 1/2 way up her neck almost even with the bottom of the jaw and centered it over the center of the shoulder and squeezed the trigger very softly.
At the shot I saw her go down through the scope.
She never got up.
The shot hit her just a little below mid shoulder height at the base of the neck.
There was a light breeze between me & her so the bullet drifted about 2" to 3" right.
I estimated my hold over at about 10" to 12" and the bullet struck about 8" down from the line of the back.
That is only about 18" to 20" of drop at almost 500yds.
The books all say anywhere from 26" to 30" or more at that distance.
In real life I have found them to be pretty close out to about 350yds.
After that they seem to call for more drop than what the bullet actually does.
I have since taken 2 foxes and 1 coyote at almost the exact same spot as where the doe was standing and the bullet drop has been a pretty constant at that distance.
I did miss one of the foxes on the first shot.
I shot over about 2".
He never moved and the second shot almost tore him into.
Never underestimate what a 270 or 270wsm can do at the longer ranges.
They are both fine rounds!
If you know your equipment and regularly practice long range shooting than 500yds is a very doable shot with either cartridge.




LONGTOM

[calling4life]

I appreciate that, thank you, and I have a good range about a mile from my house
Look forward to hearing some more input.

[poncaguy]

270 wsm my favorite round, took a doe at 347 yards(if I remember right) with the Barnes 110TTSX  handload, she went about 20 yards................

[Gregory]

Took this guy this past season at 130 yds with my Win Model 70LH 270WSM and a 130 Sierra Pro-hunter going 3,000fps out of my handload (.270 Win ballistics).   This load is very accurate and is as powerful as I need for the area where I hunt.   Factory loads I've tried in my gun are very accurate as well.

[RWK]

I just got a box of win. 130gr. xp3's i'll let you know how they shoot. Rich

[OldReliable]

I have been hunting with a Tika T3 in 270 WSM for the last three years.  Have taken 3 antelope out to 427 yds, 3 mule deer bucks, a half dozen does, and two elk, a cow and a raghorn bull.  Both took 2 steps and dropped.  I found that the Winchester Supreme in 150 grain grouped best in this gun.  I shoot the Supreme Elite on elk for greater penetration.  I use a laser rangefinder and a Nikon BDC scope.  Love this gun and this round, I haven't used anything else since I bought it.

[charles p]

You may be suffering from "too much data".  I had the same disease about twenty years ago, even before the days of WSMs.  You will get over it with age, and discover that a plain vanilla 270 can do the same thing as that 270 WSM.  Don't worry though, your kids and grand kids will likely catch the magnum fever and that new gun will not go to waste.

[john keyes]

1 decent 270
1 decent scope
1 decent shooter
1 lb 4831
130gr bullets


/end

[valvesinmyhead]

Just bought a Wby Vanguard 270wsm. What factory 130gr rounds should I try that worked for you? The test target has 3 holes touching each other. This will be for 300yd Mulies and, Pronghorn.

[poncaguy]

My Winchester 270 WSM shot MOA or better with Federal 130 grain Barnes Triple Shock X bullets and 110 grain Barnes Tipped  Triple Shock bullets. Winchester 130 grain Ballistic Silvertip did also.It's my favorite deer rifle, replacing my 270's.

[magnum308]

never been a fan of the 270s for whatever reason

I have always been a fan of the .270 Win, it was my second centrefire rifle many years (make that decades) ago and the ballistics so impressed me. The .270 WSM should be just a little better. The .270 Win has been popular throughout its entire 85 year life span. But what has really given it a new lease of life is the advent (about 20 years ago) of the 140 gr SPBT bullets. In particular the Hornady stock no 2735. The interesting thing about this bullet (in the .270 Win) is that it shoots as flat as the famous 130 gr bullet and has the retained energy of the 150 gr bullet. As John Wooters (famed writer for Peterson Hunting magazine some years ago) said "that's some compromise". In fact as far as long range shooting is concerned, the 140 gr SPBT bullet driven at around 3,000 fps (my Winchester pre 64 M70 .270 Win featherweight's 22" barrel currently gives me 3,044 fps) it is flatter than the 130 gr load at ranges beyond 300 yards.

The .270 is capable of fine accuracy too. My 40 plus year old rifle still shoots 3 shots into ½" at 100 yards and about the same at 200 yards (see pic below)



On a recent Tahr and Chamois hunt in the alpine areas of New Zealand's south island this load accounted both species at 200 yards.



Hope this helps,
Cheers and God bless,
Magnum308
 

[kudzu]

the 270 wsm may be the best all round cal. while others may be a little better here and a little better there the 270wsm is great all the way around. Have a Ruger 77 270wsm which is probally my most acurate rifle, shooting the factory (fed.) 140 accubonds. However I found an orphaned rem boone and crocket last week in the 270wsm. I felt bad, it needed a home,not the box it was living in. This is one of the only 270wsm I have seen with a 26'' barrel. Topped off with a Bush 4200 4x16x50. Have not got to shoot yet. will start with the fed AB 140's and the fusions. Not a big BT fan. Of all the wsm rounds, I do believe the 270wsm will be around for years. The 300 wsm has a good chance with the 7wsm probally coming up on the short end. JMHO. Do however go ahead and get the 270wsm, you wont have any regrets.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

The .270's are calibers I have used very little....but on a trip last week to sw Montana, I stopped in a very nice sporting goods store that a friend of mine works in...we got to visiting about calibers....the owner said at present, the two most popular calibers in his area are the .270 WSM and the .300WSM...as kudzu said the 7mm was not in the running....interesting, I would probably prefer it over the .270 but right now in that area the .270wsm is hot....

[kudzu]

30 cal will allways have a chance. There is just not a lot of differance between the 300wsm and the 300wm and littler differance between the 7wsm and the 7mmm rem mag.   Of the three the 270wsm shows the largest advantange over its long action twin, even more so past 300 yards.

[john keyes]

 

dude, what kind of bases are those....killer 

nice shiny brass too....

[john keyes]

However I found an orphaned rem boone and crocket last week in the 270wsm. I felt bad, it needed a home,not the box it was living in. This is one of the only 270wsm I have seen with a 26'' barrel. Topped off with a Bush 4200 4x16x50. Have not got to shoot yet.

you are  a lucky man.  I have been wanting one of those 700 B&C's baaaaaaaad for a couple years now and cannot shake the gas for one

those long fluted barrels and the laminate stocks kill me....  (swoons)   

[kudzu]

the boone and crockets are gettin hard to find, at least here in the carolinas. One store owner found a few. No more 270wsm. One was a straight 270 I could have walked out the door for 675. Can't afford to take in too many orphans at a time.

[magnum308]

dude, what kind of bases are those....killer  

nice shiny brass too....

Conetrol Custum two piece bases and rings. These are the strongest and lightest mounts I have ever found. They give you windage adjustment on both fore and aft rings too. I have them on pretty well all my rifles and won't use anything else. Mind you they are top end mounts and prices too. They are gorgeous too.

See http://www.conetrol.com. Owner George Miller in Texas and a real good bloke too. tell him I referred you.

Peter Wetzig (Australia)    

[HogFan]

The .270's are calibers I have used very little....but on a trip last week to sw Montana, I stopped in a very nice sporting goods store that a friend of mine works in...we got to visiting about calibers....the owner said at present, the two most popular calibers in his area are the .270 WSM and the .300WSM...as kudzu said the 7mm was not in the running....interesting, I would probably prefer it over the .270 but right now in that area the .270wsm is hot....

I have a 270 WSM, and and I had a 7mm WSM. I honestly liked the 7mm WSM a little more, but I don't hadnload and finding ammo for it became too much of a hassel. At least with the 270 WSM, I can find ammo for it. I think the 270 and 300 WSM's will stick around, and the 7mm WSM will have a small cult following, as people that reload should have a field day with it.