Explain this: 270 wins the poll

[Jhsmith]

I saw the video a few nights ago and I too was surprised. Surprised as I hear nothing but bashing and bloviating on many platforms about the inadequacy of the .270. However, I've killed everything from jack rabbits to moose with the .270 AND properly chosen bullets. I've killed about 80% of my game with the .270.

Not surprising to me, my growing favorite is the 280 Ackley Improved.

One of about 20 elk killed with the .270
View attachment 708595

What bullet do you use for Elk in a 270?

 

[Kevin375]

I own neither a .243 Winchester nor a .270 Winchester, but I like these calibers.
In my country, the .243 Winchester is quite popular among roe deer and fox hunters during summertime. A buddy who guides several hunters every year for roe deers told me he saw many Blaser K95 in .243 Winchester in hands of roe buck addicts. He also loans a Winchester XPR in this caliber for people who don't have their own gun.

The .270 Winchester is a bit less popular, but not rare. Many mountains hunters still use it in rifles like Tikka, Blaser (R93, R8 & K95) and others. I also saw some Browning Bar's in this caliber for driben hunts, but far less than the .300 Winchester magnum.

In UK, the .243 Winchester is also very popular for deer hunting. I hunted muntjacs, chinese water deers and fallow deers with it with several rifles chambered in this caliber.

In Namibia, the .243 Winchester is very popular in the southern part for springboks, bul also gemsboks, even if most of farmers shoot them in the head.
I had the opportunity to use it during a springbok culling. The farmer gave me his rifle that was a Brno ZKK 601 rebarreled with a heavy stainless barrel in .243 Winchester. Ammunitions were loaded mainly with Nosler BT 80 gr and it was incredible how effective was this combo, even above 300 meters.

The .270 Winchester is also appreciated in the southern part of this country. I bought a Tikka in this caliber to a Namibian girl ans she has hunted many animals with it.
I saw another girl hunting many animals up to a big waterbuck bull with her Tikka and Hornady CX 130 gr. She had a full success and I also had the opportunity to use this rifle on a young blue wildebeest cow shot at around 200 meters. Dropped on the spot. It won't be my fist choice for a big eland bull, but with a good quality bullet, I won't hesitate to use it again on all plains game.

 

[CBH Australia]

7x64 is the European equivalent of a .280 Remington/ 7mm express
Which imo is an underrated cartridge ( .280 Remington) I don’t know why more people don’t use it for plains game ?

Because the .280ai looks so much cooler.

After reading every comment and @Creigh opening post Bob is the only .243 hater I know, and I know him. We talk often.

But, I think the .243 has a place in Australia. Plenty like the .270

I watch Backfire on YouTube and I’m pretty sure I watched the episode and my thoughts haven’t changed.

I seem to like the 7mm. I was enlightened to the .280ai and I think it’s neat. My 7mm-08 came first as I always thought it would be good.

My wife has a 7x64, and a uhh, .243

To cut to the chase I like what I like. I have never owned a .30-06 or .270 but have owned a few .308s and shot others

There are latest and greatest cartridges out there but with careful consideration and shot placement most work.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

A 270 is probably not 'the best' cartridge for any given situation. There's always a specialist tool that's better for any given shot.

I don’t think a whitetail hunter could do any better than a 270. I believe it is the best tool for that job.

 

[Mark Clark]

What about 9.3X62?

 

[mauser98]

I don’t think a whitetail hunter could do any better than a 270. I believe it is the best tool for that job.

Agreed, I also think its pretty much the perfect mule deer cartridge as well. Especially out west.

 

[HuntingGold]

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What bullet do you use for Elk in a 270?

Over the last 30 years I've used all kinds, usually in the 140 range, and I haven't truly settled on a favorite. I'll be moving to the 150 grain partition in the near future and I'm excited to work up a load. On the down (?) Side is that I've picked up several new rifles the last 8 years and I want to try them all. This coming elk season I have a 280 Ackley that really wants to go. I may take my 270 as backup, but I've also been shooting a .308 ALOT the last six months with 168 Gold Dots. That one may actually take the backup position this year.
If I had to sell all my guns tomorrow and narrow it down to just a few, I'd be "happy" to keep my .270, my little .22 rifle with open sights, and a 12 gauge Wingmaster. Those are the 3 that carried me most of my life. Gladly, I don't have to and won't anytime soon.
If God spoke and said the .270 must go, I'd likely be just as happy with a 280AI. Just a neat cartridge.

 

[matt85]

What about 9.3X62?

A fine old cartridge! Perfect for the thick bush.

It's North American cousin the 35 Whelen is no slouch either!

 

[odonata]

When I say this, Its coming from a guy who grew up having a dislike of the 270 win in favor for the 6.5x55, 7x57, and 30-06. At this point in life, I can see it's merits without the emotions of older men trying to convince me otherwise.

The 270 win is about the most balanced cartridge for non DG hunting in North America.

Use 130,140,145gr for longer shots on deer sized game, 150-160gr for elk/moose and your set.
Its pretty much the American 7mm.

When I was younger, I had an unsubstantiated bias towards the 270 Win feeling that there were better options available. I think a lot of it simply had to do with the fact that no one I knew had one when I was a youth learning how to hunt. I have the 6.5x55, 7x57 & 30-06 just like @mauser98. So having options I really liked all around the 270 Win prevented it from ever finding a slot in my gun safe even though my attitude towards it evolved. I'm absolutely confident the 270 Win could have efficiently killed everything that I've ever put in my freezer. It would just feel a bit superfluous to purchase one now based on previous decisions I've made.

 

[MS 9x56]

Old Jack O’Conner still reaches out from the grave. Honestly though the 270 is a fine caliber with a long history of success. I think with the younger shooters it is probably at about the top end for their recoil tolerance. I have never owned one but have shot them.