Anyone use the .270 Winchester?

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Im on my phone so this will be brief.
I have shot dozens of mule deer and blacktail deer with a 270. In addition, I have taken one moose, a dozen and a half elk, and just a few pronghorn. The 140 grain bullet has been my favorite to date. You can get 165 grain and higher bullets but must consider the twist as most commercial barrels are 1:10.

In my limited experience with African plains game, I would be incredibly comfortable taking anything up to and including big kudu bulls.

Quite simply my favorite cartridge. Admittedly it's my favorite due to sentiment as much as performance. Opinions are like Bellybuttons... We all have one and that is mine on the .270.
View attachment 418923View attachment 418925

I'm having another one built... If that tells ya anything.

@hunting Gold
You will change your mind when you start using your Whelen loaded with those 225gn solid base balistic tips at 2,900fps. Me thinks the 270 will be spending a lot of time in the cupboard. How is the build going.
Bob

 

[Graham Hunter]

@hunting Gold
You will change your mind when you start using your Whelen loaded with those 225gn solid base balistic tips at 2,900fps. Me thinks the 270 will be spending a lot of time in the cupboard. How is the build going.
Bob

Yes I do use a 35 Whelen. But it will always spend more time in the cabinet than the 270. Two calibers for 2 different reasons. Always liked Jack better than Townsend anyway!

 

[baxterb]

@hawkeyesatx
My 270 is now my Whelen if that says anything.
I had never used a 270 before and decided to give it a go before the rebarreling.
With 100gn hornadayVMax it was devastating on pigs and goats but didn't do anything my 25 wouldn't. With the 130gn Australian ACPs similar to Barnes tsx it worked well on sambar deer. I rebarreled it because my 25 did the same job and I wanted a bigger caliber for Namibia, I wouldn't go back to the 270 but still have the barrel just in case.
Bob

Funny you say that... I have a nice Model 70 SS 270 that I never use. I happened into some 35W brass for a quarter each and made up some dummies. It has essentially the same base and shoulder as the 270 and feeds slicker than snot... I might just have an extra 270 barrel soon as well... ;-)

 

[cal pappas]

Before my double rifle days, I used a .270 as my hunting rifle. Zimbabwe plains game and a dozen caribou here in Alaska. Only use 150 grain PSP bullets and 4831n powder. Yes, others shoot farther, flatter and with more power but unless there is a big increase in game size the .270 will suffice. My rifle in .270 WCF was made in 1952 by Weatherby in Southgate CA. The serial number is less that 900. a California hunter came to Alaska in 1953 and my Uncle was the guide in the Wrangell Mts. He used only a Model 94 carbine in .3030. The hunter gifted the .270 to my uncle so he would have a better rifle to use against brown bears and big moose. He was happy with his hunt, I guess. The rifle is really well made but now gathers dust and hasn't been used in a decade or more.

 

[Tanner Lee]

My family has always used the 270 Winchester as our standard hunting rifle/ cartridge. We have taken many elk, deer, Antelope etc. the longest range shot we have used it for was around 500+ the range finder couldn’t reach the exact distance so at least 500 if not further. One shot one kill, the pronghorn went down right away. My dad and I took it to Africa for our first safari and it was very successful. We took many small animals with it and the biggest was a blue wildebeest around 450 yards. It took multiple shots because my first shot was a little low but it did the job. It is a great cartridge for the vast majority of hunts. Hope that helps some.

 

[wesheltonj]

My father has one, I used it a few times to shoot some South Texas White-tail’s. Works better then a 243 on them. But my 308 is just as good.

I doubt it would be popular at all if it was not for Jack O’Connor.

 

[hawkeyesatx]

If any of you guys want to sell me your 270 barrels, I will gladly buy one.
I’m looking for 24 inch barrels, especially if made by Savage.
If blued, that’s great! Even if they’re Stainless Steel, I will be interested.
If they are not that abused, and 22 inch, I will definitely be interested as well.
Other manufacturers are great too, if it meets the 24 inch min, or longer, and heavier too!

Hawk

 

[Martin77]

This has always been a chambering that I have considered getting.

 

[Randy F]

I grew up hunting whitetail with a 270 slinging 150 gr. Love that caliber.

 

[Bullthrower338]

It’s a cute round. Elmer would like it necked up to 338.

 

[colorado]

It’s a cute round. Elmer would like it necked up to 338.

That's what I say to you folks with 375s and 458s lol Go .500 or go home. BTW I love the 270 Win. With 150g Partitions at 2900 fps it's a stone killer on deer, elk and black bear.

 

[Graham Hunter]

It’s a cute round. Elmer would like it necked up to 338.

Cute is you in your Widebeest loin cloth. The 270 is a classic and a legend.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

If any of you guys want to sell me your 270 barrels, I will gladly buy one.
I’m looking for 24 inch barrels, especially if made by Savage.
If blued, that’s great! Even if they’re Stainless Steel, I will be interested.
If they are not that abused, and 22 inch, I will definitely be interested as well.
Other manufacturers are great too, if it meets the 24 inch min, or longer, and heavier too!

Hawk

Don’t you have a Savage 270 you are trying to make a 9.3 out of.
Who needs two mid bores anyway.

 

[hawkeyesatx]

Don’t you have a Savage 270 you are trying to make a 9.3 out of.
Who needs two mid bores anyway.

Yes, I had thought about that. But I’m listening to others who say keep it in its original caliber. After tomorrow, I will have 2 Savage 110/111 rifles in .270!
If the one I pick up tomorrow (Savage 110E) has a bad bore, I thought I might keep it in .270 to see what one can and will do!


Hawk

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Yes, I had thought about that. But I’m listening to others who say keep it in its original caliber. After tomorrow, I will have 2 Savage 110/111 rifles in .270!
If the one I pick up tomorrow (Savage 110E) has a bad bore, I thought I might keep it in .270 to see what one can and will do!


Hawk

I would say it is unlikely. Just shoot them both, keep your favorite, and play with the other.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Yes, I had thought about that. But I’m listening to others who say keep it in its original caliber. After tomorrow, I will have 2 Savage 110/111 rifles in .270!
If the one I pick up tomorrow (Savage 110E) has a bad bore, I thought I might keep it in .270 to see what one can and will do!


Hawk

I still have a 110E in 7 mag from when I was a kid, if that one isn’t shot out I dont know how you would shoot out a 270. That rifle was a machine

 

[Randy F]

Cute is you in your Widebeest loin cloth. The 270 is a classic and a legend.

Desperately trying to poke my mind’s eye out right now.

 

[TMac]

Myself and my family use a 270 often for game up to Bull Elk. It has worked very well. 130 TTSX, 129 LRX, & 140 Accubonds are bullets we use the most. All work very well. It’s close to interchangeable with my 280’s.

 

[colorado]

Desperately trying to poke my mind’s eye out right now.

That lol

 

[Wheels]

I have a 270. It's a great little gun. Never taken it to Africa. I have better options.

That being said, the 7x57 has probably taken more African animals than any other cartridge. The 270 is almost a fraternal twin to the 7x57. Yes the 7mm can carry extra weight and the 270 can go a bit faster but for most purposes it should do the job you need on African pg.