270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

Is the .270 Winadequate for big game?

Magnum308

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

Not sure what you want to hunt but the 270 is just fine for antelope, deer , caribou, sheep, goats and black bear cartridge. Marginal but doable with the proper premium bullet and shoot ing distance/angles limitations for elk and moose. Don't even think about for large bears or dangerous game!

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

Skeeter, I did a little research on Norma and they said that the 6.5 .156 SP ALASKA
is what is most commonly used in Sweden and most european countries for Moose.
I have two boxes of them and can't wait to use them.

I just can't understand why many people have the .270 as being marginal?

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

IMHO The 270-Winchester is a good deer caliber. I do not hunt anything larger than whitetail deer with my 270.

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

i would say anything from deer to moose the 270 could take no problum however i wouldn't hunt anything larger with it

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

I have had no problems with taking elk with a .270, often they go down faster than with a .300 in my experience.

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

Here we go again. Usually it doesn't happen until the previous "is the .270 adequate for...." drops off the page. The answer is the same. When blackpowder ruled the game fields, the only way to increase killing power was to increase the size of the bullet. Mostly by increasing the diameter. Smokeless powder, by increasing the velocity potential, changed that. Just about any smokeless powder round with a diameter of .26 or better will kill any game that walks. Those smaller than that don't have access to heavy for diameter bullets that ensure the necessary penetration. A 150 grain .270 bullet will do anything a 180 grain .30 caliber bullet will do. So will a 160 grain 7mm bullet, or a 140 grain 6.5mm bullet. It ain't a stunt it's been done so many times it is well proven. If you really want something bigger, that's fine. ;)

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

I agree, AS LONG AS you use "premium" bullets for the heavier animials. Higher velicity = shredded bullets!! SO, use a bullet that can stand the higher V so you get the proper penetration!!

I'm not fond of the 270 Win., but it is a good big game round that works well for many hunters. My problem with the 270 is, the 280 Rem. will do everything a 270 Win. will do, and still allow the use of 175 NP's in the 280 Rem. for the biggest game!

For many hunters this may not matter, but for me it has, as i carried my 280 Rem. in moose and bear country a lot.

Drilling Man

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

Shot place ment is the biggest deal.If you hit the sholder bone of an elk you will be tracking him with a 270.There is a lot of elk killed with a 270 dew to the fact that is a deer gun that every one has.

I am a game retriver!!!! I go to the woods to pack out game every year. Every year I have to go track elk shoot with a lesser gun than .308. In 7 years I have only hade to track 1 elk shoot with the 30-06. All the reast where shoot with lesser guns.

If you are going to hunt elk with a 270 plz take your time and do not try to shoot though there sholder.Barns are good rounds for elk in a light gun.

I am sure I will hear crap. What it comes down to is dont shoot a running shot if you have a 270.Dont shoot over 200 yards.Dont shoot in heavy timber.

Make sure you have a very very good shot befor pulling the trigger. I hate to track elk. Elk can go a very long ways when wonded. And they normaly go to the heavest timber they can find.

If all you have is a 270 to hunt elk with hunt elk with a 270.Every year there is a ton of elk killed with it. If you are buying a gun most any 308 is abetter elk gun than a 270.

Every year I see some guy standing at the truck that says I cant see how I missed him. I will go up and look where he shot at him and sure enough there is blood.When I ask him what he is shooting it will be a .270 or a 6.5 mm bulet.

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

I tell you what,I seen it this year and years in the past the 270 is not adequate for elk.

I was huting with a gent who was using a 270 win,we found a small herd of elk in the timber.He spooked a spike bull,the bull ran about 130 yds out,He took aim and shot he hit the bull smack dab in the shoulder,the bull wheeled turned and ran at us he fired again hitting him in the a$$.He then ran at the bull fired 2 round and hitting him once in the neck,wich put the bull on the ground but not dead.He then walked up to it and put one in the head.My bull was closer and I center punched him through the shoulder with a .338 win Mag 200 gr Balistic(not the best round for elk),he ran about 10 yds and died.The othe gent was using a so called prem bullet 140 Nosler.Now we all know that the nosler is a good soild bullet,yet it was mashed flat on the shoulder,and 1 was still in the neck of the bull.
Now you tell me if the 270 has enough punch.
I know he had abad shot,but I want a gun and bullet that will punch trough at any angle.
BBJ

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

Oh yeah, in the 75 years since the introduction of the .270 bullet makers couldn't design an adequate bullet until the introduction of the super magnum. [:-]

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

Quote:
"Just about any smokeless powder round with a diameter of .26 or better will kill any game that walks."

================================================== ====
Well, if that is a true statement and carried to its logical end, then the .243 or even the .223 will kill any game that walks.

With a statement like someone quoted above, I would love to see one of these Hardies take their .26s with them up against tuff stuff that would bite back. I believe most would wrap their hands around a rifle/caliber that has quite abit of thump and is more than an adequate killer. Why, because their own personal safety is important to them, or it should be. The larger calibers kill better when the shot placement isn't perfect. Why not give a big game animal your hunting the same respect of killing him quickly as you would any other animal (those which bite back)?

If a person wants to poke around for wounded griz in the thickets with the end of his .270, be my guest. Not Gade Zooks, though. My experience has not been all that good with the .270 on the larger big game animals, even though I own and shoot serveral different .270s. IMHO, I view the .270 as useful for the smaller size big game animals.

I've read where others have had great success with a .270. As stated before, this is not my experiences. So to answer your question, NO. I think it's a poor choice for hunting big game animals, unless you can't shooting something larger accurately.

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

"The larger calibers kill better when the shot placement isn't perfect." The myth that will not die, only something with an explosive bullet can kill quick when the vitals are missed.
"I would love to see one of these Hardies take their .26s with them up against tuff stuff that would bite back." You need to read some of the stuff written by Victorian era Brits, about hunting in Africa. Quite a few carried 6.5 or 7mms as their basic rifle.
"Well, if that is a true statement and carried to its logical end, then the .243 or even the .223 will kill any game that walks." I guess you missed the part about bullets with enough sectional density to penetrate sufficiently.
Now Gadd Zooks, tell me your favorite Elmer Keith story about the bullet proof ram. :eek:

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

Compare the .264- 140gr SP 6.5mmSwed S.D. and B.C., with other bullets
on the bullet charts.
6.5mmSwed> S.D..287......B.C..490

Norma Ammo says .158gr SP Alaska will take Moose with
no problem.

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

I think adequate and proper are two different things.Lot's of elk and other big game have been taken w/270 I think a lot of factors are involved especially shot placement,distance etc.Lot's of smaller calibers have killed big game it may have been adequate in their eyes at the time but a far cry from being a good choice.I prefer the 30 calibers in the magnum for big game.
Elkshed

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

It's a matter of personal opinion. In my opinion, I don't like the 270. Can't beat the 300win mag for large game. I can understand your question though, especially if it's biggest gun you own. I personally shoot a 30.06, and when I go after big game with my hunting friends, I have the smallest gun, now. I was up in Newfoundland last fall, shot my moose with the 30.06 and anchored him to the ground with the first shot. Yes shot placement is every thing. This particular time my hunting partner was using a 270. He watched his bull carry off his bullet, never to be seen again as in about 2 seconds it disappeard in the black brush of Newfoundland. Later that day he dropped a 200lb black bear at 185 yards on the range finder and it went about 15 yards. This year we have booked an elk hunt in Montana, the first thing my friend did was buy a 300 RUM. I know a bunch big game animals are taken every year with the 270, this is just my opinion of the caliber. Myself, I've heard more horror stories about wounded elk with the 270 than say the 30 cals. And I know any gun is only as good as it's shooter.

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

AND HIS/HER BULLET CHOICE!

You never stated what the angle of the shot or bullet used in your freinds case, so I will not assume either way. But all to often a poor choice in bullet and decision to make a poor angled shot = lost animals regardless of the cartridge or caliber used. Sure a larger cartridge will allow you to take raking angle shots and still find pay dirt but that is provided the rifleman picked the proper bullet!

As stated previous it is not ideal but with one using a premium solid contruction bullet (built for tougher game) and proper/realistic limitations on distance and angle of shots taken the 270 is adequate in the elk woods. This based on my experience - I used 150 gr NP or 140 Gr Failsafes, limited my shots to 250 or under and positive vital angled shots only were taken(aka broadside or quarter away) to anchor both elk and moose. If you can't do this I agree it is not adequate as it will lead to lost/wounded animals.

BTW I now use a 7mm rem mag which affords me many more options and wouldn't dream of going back now.

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

The 270 is a fine all around big game rifle. Good hunters will have no problem. Its been taking NA game since 1925.

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

the 270 is a great deer rifle. It IS NOT a good elk caliber.

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

I assure you that the 270 with 150 grain Barnes X bullet will take out both front shoulders on and elk as will the 260 with the 140 grain X bullet. I have done it with the 260 at well over 250 yards. Yea BOTH front shoulders. If you need more power than that then there is no hope for you.:D

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

You kill me james[8D][&:]. you say how great the 270 is, then, ...BY YOUR OWN ADMISSION[:o], say that the 30-06 was your main elk rifle;). why:eek:. If the S and W-read that as small and weak- calibers can knock God off his throne would you ever use such an over kill cartridge as the 06:D.

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

The 30-06 is a Remington Pump which I prefer over all other actions. I have hunted elk with the 260 and 6.5x55 as well as the 270 and several other rifles including the 280 which is sort of my current favorite. I have hunted with all the Magnums from 264 to 338 as well. I also had a 416 Rem mag for about five years or so. HOWEVER, I can see no real difference in elk hit with the 270 or the 300 Weatherby or any of the rifles I have used for elk that fall in between. The 270 has shown me plenty of power to take elk cleanly and put them down fast. I change rifles like many people change socks. I am a GUN NUT. Therefore I have tried a big share of them and realize that Elk just like deer or bear go down pretty quick when hit right and only when hit right.

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

So everyone how is the weather doing in your neck of the woods?:D With all the talk about .270's going on and on and on, how about we talk about something else more importantly,,,,,,the weather.:D

RE: 270 WIN ADEQUATE FOR BIG GAME?
 

The weather in ND sucks. Its been cloudy and windy and damp for weeks. I have been trying to get out the the range but you have to want to shoot pretty bad to sit out there very long. I can't remember when the wind was last under 25 MPH. Who started this 270 debate again?;)