.270WSM Experience
- Thread starter roy reali
- Start date
My brother shoots it in a Browning A-Bolt. He likes it. I have a Savage in .270win and like it because it is cheaper to shoot and easier to find ammo for it and don't feel the balistics are different enough to justify the added expense. We have both harvested many white-tail with our respective rifles, so to each their own. If it is a good deal, then buy it and shoot the hell out of it!
I had one and shot a smaller buck at about 250 yards. Killed it deader than a doornail. I was very happy with it. It was a flat shooter and very accurate. However, not much better than the Sako 270 that I had back in the early seventies. I gifted it to my SIL for his birthday about five years ago. The price of the ammo doesn't justify having one (to me).
If you're a reloader, it's worth a look, esp. if it's priced right.
Be aware though, factory ammo is EXPENSIVE, and much less available, compared to more conventional cartridges. It does give a boost compared to a regular .270 Win, but, realistically, on smallish, thin skinned targets like deer, the difference in velocity and energy is largely wasted. An eye opener for me was to compare drop tables for the two .270's, Win and WSM. Out to even very long distances of 4-500 yards, the difference is almost negligable, and in my opinion, if you have any business shooting at those distances, a little more drop isn't going to bother you.
All of that said, I have one and really like it. I got an excellent deal on a left handed model 70 in .270 WSM and have been shooting it for about a year. I do reload, and actually load mine to right around regular .270 velocities, 130 grain bullets at about 3000 fps (chronographed). I shot the biggest deer of my life last November with it and it (the deer) dropped like a sack of rocks. (Though in truth, at 30 yards, a .22 probably would have done the job)
In short, if it's a steal, go ahead. If you reload, go ahead. If you just really want it, go ahead. Just be aware of the ammo availability/price issue. You might also make sure it will feed rounds properly from the magazine. Reportedly some actions have issues with the relatively fat cases.
Be aware though, factory ammo is EXPENSIVE, and much less available, compared to more conventional cartridges. It does give a boost compared to a regular .270 Win, but, realistically, on smallish, thin skinned targets like deer, the difference in velocity and energy is largely wasted. An eye opener for me was to compare drop tables for the two .270's, Win and WSM. Out to even very long distances of 4-500 yards, the difference is almost negligable, and in my opinion, if you have any business shooting at those distances, a little more drop isn't going to bother you.
All of that said, I have one and really like it. I got an excellent deal on a left handed model 70 in .270 WSM and have been shooting it for about a year. I do reload, and actually load mine to right around regular .270 velocities, 130 grain bullets at about 3000 fps (chronographed). I shot the biggest deer of my life last November with it and it (the deer) dropped like a sack of rocks. (Though in truth, at 30 yards, a .22 probably would have done the job)
In short, if it's a steal, go ahead. If you reload, go ahead. If you just really want it, go ahead. Just be aware of the ammo availability/price issue. You might also make sure it will feed rounds properly from the magazine. Reportedly some actions have issues with the relatively fat cases.
In our mountains (France) I use the .308 Mannlicher for the simple reason that any deer or gems doesn't come closer than abt 250 yards (min. 200 mtrs). Often, distances are more than that. The gemshunt is very particular, you may fire one shot and one shot only. Distances vary but never under 200 mtrs.
What DWWHITE said. I have one in a Weatherby Vanguard and love it. I handload, so cost of ammo is not a factor. Truth be told, I am not enough of a marksman to really use it to its ballistic advantage (over 350 yards) over the regular 270. For typical hunting, get the regular 270.
Doodlebugger45
New member
I have one in a Model 70 and I really like it. Truthfully though I got it just to be different. I reload so the factory ammo price has no bearing on me. It might be a small step up from a regular 270 but probably not enough to make a difference. With 130 grain bullets, I figure it's pretty much the same thing as my 7 mm mag rifles shooting 140 gr as far as killing power on deer or elk.
My largest buck fell from a pill delivered from a Interarms Mark X Whitworth ( my brothers rifle) in the 270 win. The bullet struck the deer precisley where I held on him 2 inches back from his left ear,as this was the only shot that I could take being that he knew I was there, anyway the load was 53grs. 4350 pushing 130 gr. ballistic tip. He went down like an anvil fell from the sky onto his noggin. I also shot a trotting bobcat just to the left of his tail and a little low, striking his femoral artery 120 yds from a New England Handi-Rifle, (those rifles are very accurate for what they are),. So I would never hesitate to give "Jack's Favorite a nod for whitetails of any size and color. I have taken at least 5 or 6, and all died quick deaths.... happy shootin
Armed Citizen
New member
Mine is a Remington 700 SPS in .270WSM, I like it for more open field hunting vs. my .30-06 I usually use in the woods. I hunt in Northern Michigan LP, .270WSM with 130gr. Federal Vital-Shok Nosler Ballistic Tips do the trick everytime. Sight-in for a 200yd zero and you will enjoy.
Absolutley love my .270wsm. I hunt whitetail up in northern Minnesota and I just use federal power shock 130 grain and I can drop deer at 300 yards, and if you want you can shoot federal premiums accubonds which I've hit paper at 800 yards with. And the guy that convinced me to get the .270wsm has shot a mulie at over 1200 yards! Only down side is ammos kinda spendy