What do you all think about the 270????

[Buckmaster 30-30]

Im planning on buying a handi rifle , this will make my first handi but i do own a couple of NEF/H&R. I am looking at a synthetic 270 and i plan on puting a 4-12 power bushnell scope on it. Its mainly going to be used for deer hunting and plinking but i wanted to know how your 270's shoot...

Thanks

           Buckmaster

[Mac11700]

Im planning on buying a handi rifle , this will make my first handi but i do own a couple of NEF/H&R. I am looking at a synthetic 270 and i plan on puting a 4-12 power bushnell scope on it. Its mainly going to be used for deer hunting and plinking but i wanted to know how your 270's shoot...

Thanks

           Buckmaster

I've owned a couple 270' Handi's...they all have shot fine...Try some Federal Fusion ammo...I think it's the best for the money right now.Another good choice is the Winchester Supreme line...it cost a-lot more...but has always shot good for me..They shoot good out of my new 26" custom Ulta Wayne York did for me...

Mac

[Swampman]

I see no reason to choose the .270 over the .30-06.  You are giving up a lot, and getting nothing in return.

[Buckmaster 30-30]

Swampman , I considered the 30-06 also and I want both but cant afford 2 new rifles , Mabe after I get some money saved up i can order me an -06 barrel , and then a 223 , and a 45/70 , and a 44 mag...

[Mac11700]

I see no reason to choose the .270 over the .30-06.  You are giving up a lot, and getting nothing in return.

Swampman...did you see what he has planned for the rifle?...

Its mainly going to be used for deer hunting and plinking

...He's not really giving up as much as you think...the bullet selection...while not as extensive as a 06'...is quite good...90 grains to 180 grains isn't bad at all...and one of the nice things about the 270 over the 06'...most 270's will shoot the different bullet weights close together...especially from 115 thru the 160's...Now...if he was planning on doing some north country hunting where big bears are around..and was limited to a single shot...I would have to agree with ya...but...for his intended purpose...the 270 will work just as well...

BM30-30..if & when you get it...try some of the 90grain hollow points with it...they make dandy coyote pills...and are quite pleasent to shoot...

Mac

[Buckmaster 30-30]

Mac.... who makes those 90 grain hollow points?

[knight0334]

Sierra does.

http://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=bullets&page=bullets&brandID=4&displayAll=1

I used them in a Ruger 270 bolt gun I had a long time ago.   All I can remember was it took a long time for me to find a load that worked with them.

[Fred M]

Unless your hunting is mostly done in open country the 270 is a poor choice. Myself I always considered the 270 an odd ball.

[Swampman]

Me too, and I have no use for it.  The .30-06 is a much better choice.

[Mac11700]

Unless your hunting is mostly done in open country the 270 is a poor choice. Myself I always considered the 270 an odd ball.

I've never thought of the 270 as being a odd ball...and I like the caliber enough to have a 26" Ultra done up in it..So...."To each his own" ehh Fred




Mac

[Buckmaster 30-30]

Mac , that sure is one good lookin handi

[Mac11700]

Thank You..

Wayne of Oregunsmithing does excellent work...should you ever need his services...



Mac

[mt3030]

Having used the 30-06 and 25-06 extensively since '71, I never paid much attention to the 270, until this past two seasons. This year two of my shots were with my partners Handi 270 rifle. (Two years ago he took both his antelope with my 30-06.) Once for a coyote and another time for a muly buck. During the last two years I also watched him kill 4 antelope, 4 whitetails and 2 mule deer. Each time the 270 shot accurate, flat, and delivered the mail. I am impressed with it's field performance. (And personaly, field performance is the major thing I look at.) The 270s (130 gr) recoil was lighter then my 30-06 (165 gr) and just a litttle more noticable then my 25-06 (117 gr). But it sure got the job done. Would the game of known the difference between the three calibers? Of couse not. And I could continue to hunt medium game with any of them. While elk hunting, the 30-06 offers heavier bullets, the same as the 25-06 offers flatter exterior ballistics for antelope hunting. But, the 270 will still do both, and is excellant for deer. We all develop our preferences, but for someone to state one is better then the other without offering any supporting thoughts shows their inexperience and ignorance.

[Mac11700]

Having used the 30-06 and 25-06 extensively since '71, I never paid much attention to the 270, until this past two seasons. This year two of my shots were with my partners Handi 270 rifle. (Two years ago he took both his antelope with my 30-06.) Once for a coyote and another time for a muly buck. During the last two years I also watched him kill 4 antelope, 4 whitetails and 2 mule deer. Each time the 270 shot accurate, flat, and delivered the mail. I am impressed with it's field performance. (And personaly, field performance is the major thing I look at.) The 270s (130 gr) recoil was lighter then my 30-06 (165 gr) and just a litttle more noticable then my 25-06 (117 gr). But it sure got the job done. Would the game of known the difference between the three calibers? Of couse not. And I could continue to hunt medium game with any of them. While elk hunting, the 30-06 offers heavier bullets, the same as the 25-06 offers flatter exterior ballistics for antelope hunting. But, the 270 will still do both, and is excellant for deer. We all develop our preferences, but for someone to state one is better then the other without offering any supporting thoughts shows their inexperience and ignorance.

Without anyone thinking this is a slam...I too think this way...Personal preference is one thing...and one we are all intitaled too..but...abitraraly downing one cartridge over another without atleast stating why you feel this way...is a good way to start an arguement...and should be avoided if possible.....Inexperiance or bad luck with a cartridge causes many to be turned off by it's performance...and ignorance of a paticular cartridge can be aliviated by talking with folks who have used them successfully...and also by talking with the bullet manufactuers and ammo companies.....While someone may take offence to the statement..it really isn't anything more than constructive critisism...if not taken out of context....So...if you really don't like a cartridge...please atleast state your reasons..perhaps with a good discussion of them...you may decide they are worth a try...

There are many different hunting styles...and many folks don't always hunt in the same terrain..While the 270 wouldn't be my first choice for deeps wood hunting...with the right scope...I wouldn't hesitate to do so..If it was my only or favorite gun...I would load the 270 up with some well built bullets...and never worry about what I was hunting or where....since it has taken every thing on this continent...and most other animals on different continents as well...

Mac

[quickdtoo]

Boy oh boy, you .270 naysayers need to read some on Jack O'Conner and his love of the .270 Winchester.

Tim

http://outdoorlife.blogs.com/zumbo/2006/11/hunting_with_ja.html

[Swampman]

Jack was quite the salesman.  The only reason the .270 is still being loaded as a commerical cartridge is because Jack a great salesman.  They are never very accurate in my experience, and they aren't nealy as versitile as the .30-06.

[quickdtoo]

Read and maybe you'll learn something...

http://www.outdoorlife.com/outdoor/shooting/article/0,19912,768584-1,00.html

[Indian Creek 1]

Jack was quite the salesman.  The only reason the .270 is still being loaded as a commerical cartridge is because Jack a great salesman.

I have taken deer in my 71 years with everything from .223 to 7mm rem mag . A lot of them were taken with the .270 also a few hogs and have never had it fail me. It does a fine job on elk with the heavier bullets . No cartridge keeps it's popularity as long as the 270 unless it performs. Of course if you're going to gut shoot them even a 458 or 460 won't be to your expectations. It's a good flat shooting and accurate cartridge that performs if you do your job. It's even been nicknamed the poor mans magnum. what more can you say?

[knight0334]

Its always been my experience and teaching(from the US Marine Corp, hunter education, and other persons) , that accuracy is dependant on four (4) things: the elements(humidity, rain, wind), bullet design(B.C., center of mass, etc), rifle itself and the shooter.   The casing has little to nothing to do with accuracy.

Its like comparing a 2800fps 150gr bullet from a .308 Winchester cartridge to a 2800fps 150gr bullet from a 30-06 Springfield.  If both bullets are the same, both rifles the same - then any differences in accuracy has to be the elements and the shooter.  The casing doesn't interfere with the bullets path once it leaves the barrel.  In fact, once the bullet leaves the casing - no longer can it interfere.  The only variance would have to be the "luck" factor.

In logic, the 270 is no better, or no worse then any other cartridge.  Its just another casing designed to hold powder and bullet together until fired - then all it is is a gasket to keep the pressure in the chamber and barrel.     The differences between .257, .264, .277, .284 and .308 inches are moot, same with any arguments with the cartridge itself. ...in truth, its quite asinine.

One things that is an absolute: bigger bullets make bigger holes.

[ncpreacherboy1]

Unless your hunting is mostly done in open country the 270 is a poor choice. Myself I always considered the 270 an odd ball.

i hunt in cenrtral nc where there is some of the thickest cover anywhere and thwe longest shot i have never had is over 100 yards. i hunted with a 270 for years before going back to a 30-30. a 270 is a great cartridge for the non-magnum shooter.

[Stan in SC]

Considering that the gentleman posting the question lives in W. Va. the .270 would probably be his lesser desired caliber.A .308WIN Handi would be much better suited for him.

Stan

[Swampman]

I base my opinions on 30+ years of being in the field, and watching the performance of the .270 on the range.  There
is a rack full of used .270s at the local gun shop.  I'd buy several of them if they were another caliber.  Rebarreling them to a useful caliber is too expensive.  At least with the .270 Handi you can sell the barrel on eBay and get something in the .30+ range for deer hunting.  The .270 is really to big for varmits.  I'll never own one.

[Buckmaster 30-30]

Stan, I wanted a 308 for a long time but I want one with synthetic stocks , I already have one 270 , a Savage 111 bolt action , A 308 would be a good choice if I could trade the wood stocks to someone with synthetics they want to get rid of

[MSP Ret]

Buckmaster there is always someone here that is willing to trade a set of synthetics stock for a nice set of wood stocks, especially a laminate set, myself included. If you get a nice set and want to swap for a nice like new set of synthetic let me know, I have a synthetic set here waiting for a laminate set to swap for. As far as the .270 goes, I have a personal preference for a bit larger diameter bullets but there are many who hunt the thick woods of Maine with a .270, it is accurate and plenty of gun for whitetails, it's probably more with bullet placement anyway, but I still prefer a .30 to .35 caliber for deer. I deer hunted this year with my 45-70 Handi and if things go right I might hunt with a couple of 7x57's next year, my Handi in 7x57 and hopefully a rolling block in 7x57 which may be hanging over my fireplace most of the year but might spend a week or 2 at camp with me in November. I say if you want the .270 go for it, it will certainly do the job....<><....

[RemingtonMagnum]

I too see no reason to choose the 270 over the 30-06!~ I also see no reason not to own a 270 along with the 30-06. The more handi the happier. I have a 270 that is a fantastic shooter and don't plan to let it go any time in the future. Still love the one Mac made into a custon firearm.

Don Jackson Remington Magnum/Ultramag

[nomosendero]

Mac, I am sorry about this new discovery. I know you wanted to hunt Deer with your new 270, but
now we know it is woefully inadaquate. I believe a logical out for you is to sell it to me for half price!

We have some dang healthy Coyotes, but if I use 150gr. Partitions, I just might obtain decent penetration.

Just let me know! 

[illy_goat]

Can't say enough about my 270 so far, so I'll show yah first time I pointed it at a warm blooded target Friday afternoon from 200 yards. With "crappy" generic federal power shok 150 grain walmart specials.

[twocan]

 When compared across calibres, BC provides some interesting results: a 165-grain .30-06 spitzer boattail has a BC of .477, for instance, while a 130-grain .270 spitzer boattail has a BC of .449. This tells us that the 165-grain .30-06 will have a flatter trajectory and buck winds better than the 130-grain .270 will. I my self Had a .270 it did shoot good but i just could not get it to kill for me. Mybe it was just a poor lead choice but the remington corelokt have always worked for me until the .270 I shot 5 deer with it only found 1, I did find a front leg of one. 

[quickdtoo]

.... I did find a front leg of one.

Sounds like shot placement is the problem, not caliber selection! How bout knocking off the ignorant posts like that, you and Swampman have stated you don't like the .270, let it go. Anyone that thinks the .270 isn't a good deer caliber has to be either ignorant or a bad shot and shouldn't be allowed in the woods with any caliber!

Tim

[illy_goat]

Well put Tim.