Opinions please on .270 Winchester


EricF

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Shot placement on the 2 deer I killed ThanksGiving Week last year with my Remington 7400 in .270 dropped both deer where they stood.

From a Ground Blind with a solid rest and having practiced constantly out to 300yds made it happen. At 225 and 235yds Remington Factory Core-Lokt PSP 130gr. ammo folded one deer and the other deer got lifted off it's hooves and landed on it's side DEAD. Some may not believe a .270 has that kind of power but IMO dead deer dont lie!

If the conditions were not as perfect as they were(solid rest,zero wind, and broadside stationary deer) I would have waited to see if they got closer.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I also have both a 270 and 7mm. Used the 270 from the mid 70s to a couple of years ago. Killed a whole bunch of critters with it. I then got a 7mm from my father in law and have used it since then. I use 160 gr nosler partitions and am real pleased with its action on deer. I would not hesitate to take either one out for my next deer.

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I've shot a 270 A-Bolt for years, but if I go out west, i'm taking my weatherby. But like it has been mentioned, taking a deer at 500 yards reliably takes not only practice and skill, but also a good rangefinder and optics to make that adjustment. I'm not looking at a chart, but my guess is a 270 factory load is approaching a 5 foot drop at 500 yards. Best advice is to close the distance.

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Well, I'm glad to see that someone brought up the fabled "Jack O'Connor". Anyone that has read gun magazines over the last 20 years probably knows more about the .270 win than any other rifle because Jack wrote about it so much. Shooting and reloading for numerous Win, Rem, Ruger and Savage rifles I personally find the 270 win to be inherently more accurate than the 7 mag. I have owned one 700 BDL that would consistently print about 1" at 100 yards at its best. I have had 3 270 Win's when loaded with 140 grain bullets (Ballistic Tip) would consistently print 1/2" groups at 100. My input....If you have a 7 mag that prints 1/2" or better at 100 yards.....DON'T SELL IT! Because at 500 yards, a deer looks awfully small and your rifle better be up to those 1/2" groups. As long as you shoot an animal broad side and your selected Cal/load can still achieve 1000 foot pounds of energy.....I consider cal a mute point. Ask any terrorist that was shot with a 5.56mm, 6.8 SPC, 7.62 or 50 BMG this question. This is what we use to sing to cadence in the MP core:

Marksman Aim for center

Sharpshooters Shoulder High

But the Experts are a smil'in

when we aim between the eyes!

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  • 11 months later...

I love my .270 and it is my primary hunting rifle. Last november i dropped a nice 8 pointer in his tracks at 250 yards with remington 130 grn core lokt. I had a perfect rest though.

In my opinion, shot placement is key. I think a .270 will humanely kill a deer at 400 yards IF you can hit it in the vitals. And you need a good rest to shoot off of. everything is magnified at that distance so that if you flinch or move even a tiny bit, you are at a risk of missing or worse, wounding and not recovering an animal.

Just putting my two cents in.

Merry Christmas and God Bless

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I've shot a 270 A-Bolt for years, but if I go out west, i'm taking my weatherby. But like it has been mentioned, taking a deer at 500 yards reliably takes not only practice and skill, but also a good rangefinder and optics to make that adjustment. I'm not looking at a chart, but my guess is a 270 factory load is approaching a 5 foot drop at 500 yards. Best advice is to close the distance.

a 130 grn core lokt bullet drops approximately 42" at 500.

(out of my 22 inch barrel anyway)

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I would like to start out by saying that the 7MM Mag is definatly a better choice in all situations.

Second, I can't believe how many people on here are talking about taking 500 yards shots at deer. I think you should all be working on your stalking skills and stop worrying about which rifle you can shoot the farthest with.

Third I would epoxy the bases but not the rings. You never know when you might want to switch scopes. Applying epoxy to the rings makes them pretty much a permanent atachment.

:gun2:

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The best gun is......

There is always a lot of talk about the best Caliber...

The winner is the one in the rifle you are most comfortable with. I have a good friend of mine who is 71 years old. I have known the man for over 30 years. Every day of hunting season he carries the same Winchester Model 70 in .257 Roberts. I have never known him to miss, he handloads, he practices, he sleeps with that rifle. Find the right rifle and marry it.

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I've owned 7, 270 win. rifles and have shot probably close to 100 deer with them and a half dozen elk. I spent all day saturdays shooting prarie dogs and usually took one 270 with me to use. It's a very accurate cartridge in a quality rifle. I've shot it enough to have worn out the barrels of several of them. I have shot 3 deer at the 450 yard mark. All were one shot kills. One was laying facing me with his head showing and I put the 150 grain Speer Grand Slam under his eye and it angled out through the back of his head (prairie dogs are good for something if only for practice). The other two I shot through the lungs. I like something more powerful for elk like the 338-06. The 270 win. is a wonderful deer cartirdge especially for old frail guys like me.:D.

Mark

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I was hoping someone would bring up Jack O'Connor's name. May we be struck by lightning if we don't when discussing the 270 win. What we are comparing are .277 inch and .284 inch bullets. The 7mag has the powder capacity and capability to handle heavier bullets....and in theory.....provide more down range energy...that's on paper and in theory. However, neither are 500 yard rifles. Those are the .338 Ultras, 338-378 Weatherby, 338 Lapau and some of the 30 Cal's that hold 100+ grains of powder. I like big and use a 338-378 in Montana every year. My guide and his daughter use a 7 Mag and a 270 win. Both have shot twice as many Elk than I ever will. Did the Elk complain.....I reckon not. So.....Jack O'connor....don't roll over in your grave. We are all trying to convince ourselves that bigger is better...but all the dead elk and deer shot with your beloved 270 win..keep the fire of debate alive. Yes, your legacy lives.

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