ThatArkansan

I am looking to buy my first deer rifle because I have just gotten into deer hunting. My dad has introduced me, and now I am hooked. He shoots a .30-30 marlin lever action that I like, but I was thinking of getting something along the lines of a .270.

My question is how do you like shooting your .270 at the range? Don't misunderstand me, this is my deer rifle, but I know realistically that in one season I won't shoot more than a few shots at actual deer. 99% of the shooting I do will be at a range, and I am luck enough to have on less than ten minutes from my house.

The big factor will be accuracy, recoil, and cost of shooting. As I understand it the .270 is about as accurate as it gets, so recoil is the main concern for ease/fun of shotting for an afternoon at the range.

CarpetBagger

270 has some recoil to it, but not as much as a 30-06 or a 300win mag or even a slug gun for that matter.

Im a pretty large fellow at 6'1' 265 and its really not too bad to shoot for fun at the range.

270 shoot incredibly flat with 130gr factory loads. I have mine sighted in 2" high at 100 and i am still dead on at 12 o'clockat 250yrds. Very honestly I cannot see a better round that is more suited for whitetail deer. I know alot of guys who shoot just regular core-lokt ammo and do very well with their 270...Me personally I shoot hornady 130 SP and get amazing 1.5" or less groups with it and it is just devistating when it strikes and animal you can tell all the energy is being transfered.

Very honestly any high powered rifle or slug gunthat has the ability to throw a 100-300grain projectile accuratly at 2000ft/s or more is devistating when it strikes a deer. A 270 offers you a good medium weight bullet of 100-150grains (165 ifyou reload)traveling upwards of 3000ft/s (At the muzzle) delivering a flat shooting, very accurate, mild recoiling rifle. It is a great round, I love mine....

Still there are alot of awesome calibers out there for whitetail. 243, 7mm-08, 30-30, 30-06, 257, 280, 270, ect...

ncpreacherboy1

270was my first deer gun. shot many a deer. switched to a 300 win mag about 5 yr ago. only 2 deer since.

BigEarl

To me it would all depend on how much you plan on shooting at the range. I personally wouldn't want to spend days at a range shooting a .270 as mine used to beat my shoulder up pretty good after about 15 rounds. If I understand you correctly it seems that you want a gun to just "shoot" that will double as a good deer gun, then I would probably atleast consider a 7mm 08 too. It has quite a bit less recoil, but it will drop deer with the best of them. Iam not sure on ammo cost, but can't imagine there is a big price differance. Again this is just my opinion.

nchawkeye

The ideal situation would be if you could shoot a few calibers and see what level of recoil is too much for you...

The .270 is a great deer caliber, my bother and his son both have one, the problem is, they don't like to shoot as much as I do so I sight them in for them...Both are pretty experienced hunters, but they don't like recoil and both admit it...

I'd also consider a 7mm-08 and a .243...My other brother has a 7mm-08 and it does kick a bit less than the .270 (I sight his rifles in as well...)

I shoota .243, the beauty of that caliber is that I also use it for crows, groundhogs, coyotes, etc., so I shoot year round...I go to the range and shoot a box of bullets and think nothing of it...A couple of other advantages is the low recoil so you never lose sight of the deer after pulling the trigger and you can also shoot it from your off shoulder...It's tougher for me to shoot a .270 left handed (I'm a righty)
and keep the scope from my eye...

zrexpilot

go check price of ammo where you will be buying it at. compare these calibers, .243, 25-06 7mm-08, .270 , .308, .30-06, 7 mag . 280, 30-30, then decide.

wjyarkiell

The 270 is one of the best all round cartridges. it is my personal favorite. i reload for my remington 700 CDL and the first time i shot 140 grain Hornady interlock boattail spitzers, i shot a 15/16" group. i shoot it at close to 2930 fps. It dropped my deer in its tracks this year. i dont have a problem with its recoil, it doesnt bother me at all. yet, my remington has that nice R3 recoil pad. But i dont think it would be too bothersome if you shot it a lot at the range. if you can get the bullet in the right spot it will put any deer down very quickly and ethically.

CarpetBagger

Yea i was going to say...lose sight of a deer really isnt an option with the 270. 5 of the 6 i have shot havent gone too far after that 130gr hornady goes through em.

I can shoot a box of 270 rounds and think nothing of it...i just love pulling the trigger you really get used to the recoil...And once you get to that point your aim becomes absolutly deadly out to 250yrds.

243 is a real sweet shooter and very capable deer caliber....mine groups under an inch at 100 but i just lend that gun out on occasion at deer camp and use it around the farms I hunt.

For a deer round...I like the 270 or 7mm08....for bigger game...300win mag or 7mm Rem Mag (one of these is next for me)

The 243 shoots everything else and has very little recoil...ground hogs, coons, and hopefully a coyote soon.

the outsider

I can't shoot a box of 270's and think nothing of it. I'm small-framed, and both of my shoulders were re-built. The pain doesn't affect my accuracy, but my 270 isn't fun for me to bench shoot. So I bought a Marlin 30-30 last year as my primary deer rifle, with the 270 as a back-up, and it's easy on my shoulder. Most of my hunting is in woods anyways, and if I get into a situation where I need my 270, I'll use it.

Zeak

The 270 has been my go to gun for years. I've shot 30 to 40 rounds on the bench and it didn't seem to bother me all that bad, not like a 06 does. Two years ago I went to a 270wsm and it sort of gets the nod over the 270. Still nothing wrong with the 270 it still fines it way into the pickup. Zeak