COTW - .270 Winchester

[AJ]

Back in 1925 Winchester did not know it but they were about to release a cartridge that would become one of the most popular big game cartridges ever. This cartridge was based on the 30-06 Springfield case but was necked to handle .277 caliber bullets. The case design also uses a longer neck but the same headspace as the 30-06. The new cartridge was introduced in the Model 54 and later the model 70 bolt action rifle

Gun writer, Jack O’Connor was one of the biggest fans of the cartridge and wrote about it very often during his career. In fact, Jack wrote more articles on the .270 Winchester than anyone else. His efforts definitely helped spawn the popularity of the cartridge.

Today, the cartridge is very alive and doing quite well. Every rifle maker who is anybody now offers the .270 Winchester in a variety of bolt actions, single shots, pump actions, and autoloaders.

Likewise with ammunition makers, just about everyone that offers centerfire rifle ammo has an offering for the .270 Winchester. Remington has a 100 grain load exiting the muzzle at 3320 fps. Nearly all ammo makers offer a 130 grain load as it is the most popular for this cartridge. The 140 and 150 grain load is also popular as nearly every ammo maker offers them. Ammo availability is high for the very popular bullet weight and styles. Its hard to find a store that sells ammo that does not have at least a box or two of the .270 Winchester fodder available. If you do find one, they are probably sold out, but more will be in soon.

Handloaders have a decent variety of bullet weights available today. Those wanting to hunt varmints or predators with the .270 Winchester can choose the 90 grain Sierra hollow point or the 110 grain V-Max by Hornady. Big game shooters can choose from many bullets from the 124 grain X-Bullet by Barnes to the 160 grain Nosler Partition or Barnes 180 grain Original.

The most popular bullet weight for handloaders is again the 130 grain version. Handloaders can achieve 3100 fps with the right combination of components. This load when sighted in to hit 2” high at 100 yards will still be 1.3” high at 200 yards, about an inch low at 250, and be 4 ¼” low at 300 yards. This load will still provide over 1700 ft lbs of energy at 300 yards. The 150 grain bullet pushed at speeds of 3000 fps also sighted in 2” high at 100 yards, will be 1” high at 200 yards, 1 ¼” low at 250 yards, and 4 ¾” low at 300 yards. Energy is boosted to a ton at 300 yards.

Only the .30-06 is more popular than the .270 Winchester among big game hunters, a state of affairs that does not take a genius to figure out. The .270 Winchester offers superb accuracy in good bolt action rifles, a flat trajectory, and good long range punch, all at a level of recoil tolerable by all but the most inexperienced shooters. The longest running debate among fans of the .270 is which bullet weight is best for shooting big game.

[iron buck]

Great Round. I love the 270. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[archerjg]

Good info It won't be long and I will be getting a .270.

Archerjg

[dogdoc]

I still enjoy your cartridge teachings. Keep it up and thanks!

todd

[AJ]

My new truck has a hemi. I have not added the parachute, yet. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[AJ]

T7,
Yep its our land. A whopping grand total of 1.5 acres. Its actually a decent sized lot for this area. I am 25 miles from Washington DC. Most big tracts of land are made into developments with 1/4 acre lots. A guy I got to know used to hunt here before the development went in. I guess thats progress.

The driveway is all blacktop. Just faded a bit. It has not had sealer on it for a few years.

[size="1"][ 06-17-2003, 01:14 PM: Message edited by: AJ ][/size]

[HaDeRonDa]

This post needs to stay. At least I thinhk so. LOL

[ousoonerfan22]

My favorite caliber and my ruger no.1 in the .270 is my favorite hunting rifle.

[OJR]

Great caliber and I have it in the Tikka T3 Lite. Great gun!

[Les]

I have hunted with a model 70 270 for 27years useing 130gr bullets great combonation.