.270 wcf

[TheGrimReaper]

Does anybody else HATE the .270 as much as I do. It is the WORST chambering ever and Jack O'Conner is a Commie. He even admitted on his death bed it sucked and he only got paid to endorse it! If you want anything smaller than a .30-06 get a .280 Rem. It does WAY better than the .270.:-P

[lefty o]

dont own one, and dont hate it. ive used them to kill deer with and they work just fine.

[UBER7MM]

280 Rem is better for reloading. There are a lot more 7mm bullets to select.
The 270 is better for non-reloaders. Walmart carries 270 ammo.
Other than that, it's not worth arguing the .007" diameter or the .005" shoulder difference.

[texassako]

I always wondered how someone could 'hate' a cartridge. Is there something specifically wrong with it? It appears to serve its purpose of killing game animals well. I never understood the whole argument over it since my main hunting rifle for decades was a .25-06, and don't own a .30-06 or .280 and only recently bought a .270(only a box of ammo through it so far). This is kind of like going on a car forum and stating Ford sucks, just buy a Dodge if you don't want a Chevy.

[TheGrimReaper]

Maybe it came from when I worked in a gun dept and the people that lived by the .270 that formed my opinion.

[Motor]

I always wondered how someone could 'hate' a cartridge. Is there something specifically wrong with it? It appears to serve its purpose of killing game animals well. I never understood the whole argument over it since my main hunting rifle for decades was a .25-06, and don't own a .30-06 or .280 and only recently bought a .270(only a box of ammo through it so far). This is kind of like going on a car forum and stating Ford sucks, just buy a Dodge if you don't want a Chevy.

Have you ever owned and used a 30-06' If you have not then I understand your opinion. Personally I never liked the .270 because as a deer rifle it can not do anything a 30-06' can do and typically kicks just as hard. The funny thing is it may even kick harder than a 06' or a .280 with some loads.

Opinion and hard recoil aside. It's as good as any in its class and as a hand loader there are more bullet choices now than ever before. Plus as someone else correctly stated new ammo is not hard to find.

Motor

[chsparkman]

I'm not a particular fan, but in my limited experience it has been devastating on whitetails. I would love to find an 80 to 90 grain mould to try it on squirrels. Just for the fun of it.

[texassako]

I bought my .270 Savage 110 mostly for the action, left hand actions(especially local bargains) are not that common. I guess I would have even less reason to own one than the OP's reason since a .25-06 120gr is almost the same as the .270 130gr I am likely to use for deer hunting, especially when the .25-06 is in a sub MOA left-hand Sako AV. Once the new wears off the .270, it will probably become something else anyway.

[aspangler]

I have owned, shot, and reloaded the .270 since '83. I have killed everything from groundhogs out to 400 yards up to trophy Whitetails. Several songdogs have fallen to my .270. I load 90,110,130,140,150, and 160 grain bullets and ALL have very good accuracy. (1/2 inch at 100 yards with the 130 grainers.) It is second only to the 06 for lions in Africa. To each his own. What trips your trigger may make me sick and vice-versa.

[leeggen]

Kinda like saying you don't like Reming.
CDton so everyone should buy a Weatherby. I own 2 270's and both will shoot 1' at 100 when I do my part. I also reload for each, they never have let me down. I guess that is why they mfg. multiple calibers, so each to his liking

[Hardcast416taylor]

Maybe it came from when I worked in a gun dept and the people that lived by the .270 that formed my opinion.

I`ll just bet that your "gun dept." was in a Kmart. Seems as there are an awful lot of dead animals that were taken with a .270 since the production start of it in the `30`s to make your argument as ridiculous as the way you presented it.Robert

[Sweetpea]

Have you ever owned and used a 30-06' If you have not then I understand your opinion. Personally I never liked the .270 because as a deer rifle it can not do anything a 30-06' can do and typically kicks just as hard. The funny thing is it may even kick harder than a 06' or a .280 with some loads.

Opinion and hard recoil aside. It's as good as any in its class and as a hand loader there are more bullet choices now than ever before. Plus as someone else correctly stated new ammo is not hard to find.

Motor

I've been guilty in the past of denigrating the 270, in favor of the '06...

And then I got a 270.

Can't do anything better? How about shoot flatter. Maybe not in WV, but out west, shots can be LOOOOOONG!

Penetrates better with the same weight bullet.

Recoils harder? Not hardly...

My family eats game, due to the 270, maybe I should get something bigger, (still have the '06 in the safe), but dead elk don't lie...

[Beagle333]

I love my .270 and I have taken 33 whitetails with it. I just started casting for it very recently and haven't gotten to try my own boolits, but that is coming up very soon.
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/cast%20boolits/Nov9005_zpsba4d04b7.jpg

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/cast%20boolits/11-15-14006_zps910edbe2.jpg

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/cast%20boolits/270001_zps9382c137.jpg

[GabbyM]

Nice looking boolits Beagle333. I have that Lyman # 280468 Loverin. Mine is the 122 gain version in a double cavity I bought for a song off Ebay a few years back. 14.0 grains of unique sends it along nicely. Old Lyman book list that at 1,875 fps but I've not clocked it. At 100 yards it shoots the same or better groups than full house jacketed loads. About 1 1/2". AS long as the wind don't blow. Bullets are cast BHN#9 and smack varmints with a pop. Also have the RCBS 150 gr SP. It shoots good over 20.0 grains of Rx7. Only tried the 150's cast hard. I prefer the little Loverin as it's cheep on powder and easy to load. No issues with powder position sensitivity with the Unique shotgun powder. I still have an unopened four pound can of it. :p

Bought my 270 back in the 1970's. Never had a reason not to like it. Even used to hunt Coyote with it using the 90 grain Sierra. Its' like a 22-250 on steroids. I did purchase a win M70 in 30-06 a couple years ago. I will keep both rifles, thank you very much. If I had to cut back to one I would keep the 30-06 with no hesitation however. Saying they do the same thing is moot. I use a simple load plan. For jacketed hunting stuff. The 270 gets the 150 grain soft points. After all why would I want to shoot 150 grain bullets from an 06 when I have a 270. My 30-06 gets bullets starting at 180 grain flat base Sierra Pro Hunter and up to the 220 grain RN PH. Just in case I ever go bear hunting again. Cast boolits start in weight at 180 grain HP from Mi Heck Then get heavier from there. 270 gets those little 122 grain rodent blasters. I may have more rifles than I need but I can't blame that on the 270 caliber.

[Love Life]

While I don't currently own a .270, I have before and I did a whole mess of killing with that rifle/cartridge combo. It seemed about right to me and I plan to buy another some day.

[725]

I think the OP tossed out this tweek just to get the conversation lively. The .270, especially after the advent of today's powders, is a mighty performer. Easy on recoil with the light, 130 gr bullets, and in the hands of a competent rifleman, humane to anything he shoots at.

[fouronesix]

Almost sounds like the OP has a case of cabin fever. Also interesting someone would have such absolute opinions having little or no experience with the cartridge.

Jack O'Connor used the 270 a lot if for no other reason than the small whitetails he hunted around southern Arizona. He equally liked other calibers such as the 30-06, 7x57, 375 HH, etc. It's nonsense to think someone was "paying" him to shoot or write about the 270. Given the superior bullets of today compared to those available to O'Connor, the 270 is even more effective today within it's range of capabilities.

[farmerjim]

The best shooting gun I own. Shoots 6 in groups at 500 yds. I use the 150 gr Nosler partition, the 110 does not do as well.

[Gemsbok405]

With the 270's very fine throating angle vs. the 280 and 30/06, have to seat the bullet further out for decent engagement with leade, but the std /06 magazine limits the .270 COL just too short!

Shoot a Win 1885 (Browning) in .270 Win, and with correct setback, it's a game changer...

[ColColt]

Don't bad mouth my favorite rifle!!

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Jack%20OConnor%20Tribute/jack-oconnor_zpsdf717dc5.jpg (http://s180.photobucket.com/user/ColColt/media/Jack%20OConnor%20Tribute/jack-oconnor_zpsdf717dc5.jpg.html)

[HawkCreek]

I've got both. The .30-06 has been a go-to gun for years while the .270 made it to the range one time and has lived in the cabinet ever since. It does nothing the .30-06 can't do. As far as being a "flatter" shooter I guess the answer to that is yes but only by a few inches. Not enough to make any difference in most hunting situations but the advocates will swear up and down it's a game changer.
Shoot either one you like they will both drop game, really there isn't enough difference between the two to worry about. I don't "hate" the .270 but I wouldnt say I like it either. Why? Simply because I'm stocked up on loaded ammo as well as components for the -06.

[Lloyd Smale]

I think your tape recorded my opinion and posted it, Jack O'conner and all:p tweed jacket wearing blow hole:groner:
Does anybody else HATE the .270 as much as I do. It is the WORST chambering ever and Jack O'Conner is a Commie. He even admitted on his death bed it sucked and he only got paid to endorse it! If you want anything smaller than a .30-06 get a .280 Rem. It does WAY better than the .270.:-P

[fouronesix]

If anyone is interested, a good perspective about this subject was written by Chuck Hawks. The article is on page 10 of this newsletter. Also, explains a little about the "thing" between O'Connor and Keith :)
http://www.jack-oconnor.org/pdf/JackoConnor-Newsletter-3rdQuarter-2014.pdf

[too many things]

much could be said for many out there. its up to what you like. I have a pre 64 win 70 in 270 and about 300 factory ammo
do I hunt with it? NO but it will do the job same as a 30-30
Remington has always been a copy cat and anything Winchester done they had to copy it the 280 was one.
26-06? the 270 will do the same with a 120gr
the 110s never worked in the win 70 but the 120s do
go in any store in WV mountains during deer season and see if you can get a box of 280 or 25-06 bet NOT

[TheGrimReaper]

Great points and storys guys! Keep them coming. But as a Woman loving AMERICAN I stilll can't see a use for the .270WCF.

[Sweetpea]

Great points and storys guys! Keep them coming. But as a Woman loving AMERICAN I stilll can't see a use for the .270WCF.

127915


How about this?

[Four Fingers of Death]

I have JO'C's book and he states that he doesn't mind the 3006 or the 270 (he may have mentioned another calibre, but it has been awhile since I read it), but he found that the 270 had a slightly flatter trajectory. I have two 270s and two (at least) 3006 rifles, the 7mms have never really attracted me, but I'm sure if someone handed you a 270 or a 3006 or a 280 in the field, you wouldn't know which one you were shooting. As to bullet availability, there is plenty available in all of the calibres. Mould choice is a bit different, but there are still plenty available.

[roysha]

When I first read this post I was so mad I just moved on before I said something as stupid as the original post. Now before somebody gets their panties all in a twist, I'm not accusing the OP of anything. I'm just saying the post itself was stupid.

Now that I've calmed down a bit, suffice to say that if you can't do the job with a 270 WCF, particularly on the NA continent, you probably couldn't do it with a 50 BMG! All things being equal, on any given day, a 270 WCF will do the job as well as a 280, 30-06 or 7mm MAG. It depends on the JERK on the trigger.

[Lloyd Smale]

yup and a Toyota prius will do anything my buick does but I don't want one of them either.

[roysha]

yup and a Toyota prius will do anything my buick does but I don't want one of them either.

My point exactly. But if the Prius were my choice, which it's not by any stretch, it would get me there as quickly, comfortably and safely as the Buick.

[35remington]

I'd say it's a little UNAmerican to dislike a .270, which is very similar to cartridges that others somehow "like." If your coworkers "lived by" their .270's that must have been because it did very well by them.

To proselytize a .280 is greatly superior is just plain silly. The .270 was first and the general public quite correctly regards it as so similar to the .270 that they don't buy a .280 in preference to it...they buy what is equivalent and commonly available. Which is the .270.

You might actually dislike the .270 for some reason but there's no sense doing so when a "liked" cartridge shows no real benefit over the disliked one.

A pleasing recent trend is factory rifles standard with 24 inch barrels. A .270 can take advantage of the length increase despite what David Petzal says.

[ColColt]

Jack O'Connor killed more game with this cartridge on four continents than most of us will ever see, much less hunt. I don't' recall him ever bad mouthing the 270 in any of his magazine articles or books. It will handle quite nicely gnats to Elk on this continent.

[Lloyd Smale]

I don't think anyone here is stupid enough to think the 280 is vastly superior. If fact its so close to the same that no animal would ever know the difference in which hit it. But this is America and that gives us the right to dislike something even if we just don't like the look or sound of it. by the way a true American would use an 06. Nothing more American then a .30 cal. ;)
I'd say it's a little UNAmerican to dislike a .270, which is very similar to cartridges that others somehow "like." If your coworkers "lived by" their .270's that must have been because it did very well by them.

To proselytize a .280 is greatly superior is just plain silly. The .270 was first and the general public quite correctly regards it as so similar to the .270 that they don't buy a .280 in preference to it...they buy what is equivalent and commonly available. Which is the .270.

You might actually dislike the .270 for some reason but there's no sense doing so when a "liked" cartridge shows no real benefit over the disliked one.

A pleasing recent trend is factory rifles standard with 24 inch barrels. A .270 can take advantage of the length increase despite what David Petzal says.

[35remington]

There's a lot of cartridges it may be un American to dislike....and the .270 might be one of those because it originated right here in the USA and hunters made it popular. It didn't need any military help. Given this grassroots popularity that's as American as it gets.

The OP argued the 280 was superior which is really hard to prove.

[kenyerian]

Rifles come and go at my house but I haven't been without at least one 270 since 1969. I've enjoyed several other calibers also such as the old 22 varminter, 220 swift, 243, 6 mm, 7mm mag, 30-30, 308,30-06 300 Win Mag, 348, 7.62x39. 7.62x54R. 35 rem, 7tcu, 45-70 and there is more that I want to try. Still haven't had anything in 223, any of the Weathersby's, 338's. The nice thing about having a 270 is if you are taking someone on a hunt and they are not experienced it doesn't take them long to get up to speed with a 270. Just a good versatile gun that you can find ammo for. I started both of my Grandson's on my current 270 Winchester model 70 that I purchased new in 1987 for my wife. It was very accurate so we still have it. It is not my favorite for shooting Boolits.

[rr2241tx]

Amazing! Two pages of replies to a Troll. Guess I might as well throw my 2 cents in the well. The first rifle I ever bought with my own money was a Remington 700 chambered in .270 Winchester. There's just so much DEAD a game animal can be and that .270 Winchester has always dropped my game in its tracks.

[richhodg66]

Have you ever owned and used a 30-06' If you have not then I understand your opinion. Personally I never liked the .270 because as a deer rifle it can not do anything a 30-06' can do and typically kicks just as hard. The funny thing is it may even kick harder than a 06' or a .280 with some loads.

Opinion and hard recoil aside. It's as good as any in its class and as a hand loader there are more bullet choices now than ever before. Plus as someone else correctly stated new ammo is not hard to find.

Motor


This.

I love the '06. Still kinda scratch my head why the .270 has the following it does when it's such an oddball bore size that basically is the only one. Then the ammo scare after Obama hit. In our local Wal Mart, the only rifle ammo that was never completely sold out was .270.

I picked up an old Sears model 50 (I think, FN Mauser action, good rifle) in a trade for some other stuff. Not a particularly interesting gun to me, but ammo availability means it will stay in a corner until such time as I may need it and in the mean time it'll get shot now and then. It's not eating anything except a little space.

Given the choice, I'd take a .30-06 any day for any purpose over one, but it probably doesn't make one iota of difference performance wise for 90% of hunting.

[onegunred]

I am sure glad I have a 45-70. Everybody likes them.

[Lloyd Smale]

everyone here on a cast bullet site anyway:-P
I am sure glad I have a 45-70. Everybody likes them.

[Scharfschuetze]

I always enjoyed reading Jack O'Conner's articles and books as a youth and I still have one of his books in my library.

As far as the 270 goes, I've got no issues with it and I really enjoy shooting and loading for it. My mold for it is the RCBS 270-150-SP.

What's not to like about this early Model 70 in 270 Winchester?

[aspangler]

I always enjoyed reading Jack O'Conner's articles and books as a youth and I still have one of his books in my library.

As far as the 270 goes, I've got no issues with it and I really enjoy shooting and loading for it. My mold for it is the RCBS 270-150-SP.

What's not to like about this Pre-War Model 70 in 270 Winchester?
OOOOHHH!!! Pretty! Can I have it? :bigsmyl2:

[Scharfschuetze]

Ha, ha! :) It shoots as well as it looks!

[ColColt]

I've had three over the years if that says anything...still have two with one being a 1952 model that I'd put up against any in it's class for accuracy. My first 270 was a custom job built by Hal Hartley of Lenoir, NC. FN Supreme action, Douglas Premium barrel, tiger tail maple stock(his specialty), fleur de fis checkering and steel butt plate. There were no digital cameras in 1970 so this is the best I could do to show a Polaroid shot of it. $600 in 1970 was a fair chunk of change but it was beautiful and I only had to drive 75 miles to pick it up.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Jack%20OConnor%20Tribute/img004_zpse4030f33.jpg (http://s180.photobucket.com/user/ColColt/media/Jack%20OConnor%20Tribute/img004_zpse4030f33.jpg.html)

[Moonie]

Guess I shouldn't have gotten my new TC Encore 15" pistol in 270... So far it has caused all of my grandchildren born since to be born nekid.

[Motor]

Between the "3" (.270Win, .280Rem, 30-06) if you were to only jugde them on bullistics the .280Rem would be the winner.

It will match the .270 with like weight bullets and will deliver more energy at 500 meters than any other non magnum cartridge including the 30-06. For this very reason it became the caliber of choice in the late 1980s amoung Highpower Rifle Metallic Shilloutte shooters. Its popularity fell off when they started to lean back the rams so lighter recoiling calibers like the 7mm TCU would knock them down.

But, as many have already stated the difference is not really that meaningful when it comes to putting meat on the table. :)

Motor

[ColColt]

It will match the .270 with like weight bullets and will deliver more energy at 500 meters than any other non magnum cartridge including the 30-06.

What difference does that make? You shoot an animal at 546 yards you'd best have a spotter as by the time you walk toward where you shot him you may be off 75-100 yards of where you thought you saw him. I marvel at folks taking shots at those kind of distances.

The 270, 280 and 284 won't afford you a dimes worth of difference at normal hunting distances.

[Motor]

What difference does that make? You shoot an animal at 546 yards you'd best have a spotter as by the time you walk toward where you shot him you may be off 75-100 yards of where you thought you saw him. I marvel at folks taking shots at those kind of distances.



The 270, 280 and 284 won't afford you a dimes worth of difference at normal hunting distances.

Did I say it did? No. If fact stated the opposite. As far as the bullistics go they are just simply facts, nothing more.

Motor

[Mallard57]

Maybe it came from when I worked in a gun dept and the people that lived by the .270 that formed my opinion.
That's kind of the way I feel about the 7mm Rem Magnum.