Just looking for suggestions on maximum effective kill range and hand load bullet recommendations for my Tikka t3 Deluxe in 270 Winchester. Thanks!
Maximum kill range on whitetail with 270 win. using handloads
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This is a difficult question to answer, there are to many variables to consider. The weather conditions my play a big roll and the answer will change depending on all the perimeters. Here are some things to consider, wind speed and direction, elevation, humidity, time of day, etc... I hunt deer with the .270Win and love the .277 caliber platform. All the .277 calibers work well, the .270Win., .270WSM, .270WBY and 6.8SPC they all hold their own. The .270Win has survived years because it works, other calibers work but have had help of the military (.308/7.62x51mm and 30-06/7.62X63mm), it is just a good caliber. I reload and use 140gr SPBT Hornady interlock with 58.8grains of H4831 powder. I personally would NOT take a shot longer that 350yards with my .270Win zeroed at 200 yards. My $0.02 and hope this helps. -Geo
Exactly. The max effective range is the range you can keep ALL your shots in an 8" circle.
OFG
Like others say. It is not the rifles fault if you miss. I am with OFG. Keep it in an 8" circle. Also keep in mind field conditions, wind, environmentals. These things can greatly cut the range at which you SHOULD attempt a shot on a game animal. My longest shot was a hair under 300yds.
When I hunted with a .270 I used 130gr Power Points, plain jane ammo, cheapest thing Rose's dimestore sold. They worked just fine. I knew guys that used 150's but at that point you have defeated the purpose of the .270 as a 30-06 can generate more velocity with 150 class bullets than the .270Win.
I disagree that the .270 has been given short shrift due to lack of support from the military. It is my opinion that the .270 would have never survived without the ardent support of one of the most prolific writers of all time, Jack O'Connor. I know that many animals have fell to the .270, but it has been used for game was never intended to be used to kill. Dead is dead and I am not here to argue that, god knows I hate those arguments myself. I have just found myself gravitating back to what I feel are more balanced cartridges with broader latitudes in range and bullet selection. Doesn't mean I didn't kill deer with one to great effect. I have killed deer with everything from .223 to 300 Win Mag and all points in between. If I did nothing beyond deer hunting and some varmint hunting the .270 would serve me well as long as it was damn accurate. Still I am not a fan. Much rather have a .280 or 30-06 for range and versatility in big game applications.
When I hunted with a .270 I used 130gr Power Points, plain jane ammo, cheapest thing Rose's dimestore sold. They worked just fine. I knew guys that used 150's but at that point you have defeated the purpose of the .270 as a 30-06 can generate more velocity with 150 class bullets than the .270Win.
I disagree that the .270 has been given short shrift due to lack of support from the military. It is my opinion that the .270 would have never survived without the ardent support of one of the most prolific writers of all time, Jack O'Connor. I know that many animals have fell to the .270, but it has been used for game was never intended to be used to kill. Dead is dead and I am not here to argue that, god knows I hate those arguments myself. I have just found myself gravitating back to what I feel are more balanced cartridges with broader latitudes in range and bullet selection. Doesn't mean I didn't kill deer with one to great effect. I have killed deer with everything from .223 to 300 Win Mag and all points in between. If I did nothing beyond deer hunting and some varmint hunting the .270 would serve me well as long as it was damn accurate. Still I am not a fan. Much rather have a .280 or 30-06 for range and versatility in big game applications.
go to long range hunting site as there are some guys with real love of the 270. Seems they are liking the 165 matrix. Last two years my friend has used the 130 ttsx and took deer at a little over 500 yards drt. That is with a lot of practice and knowing when conditions are right and when they are not. After shooting my 6.5 creed I think his time with the .270 are about over.
1000 ft/lbs of energy at the target has long been considered the ethical minimum for deer sized animals. So depending on the B.C. of the bullet you are using, and the velocity of the load your .270 will likely have the ability to kill out to 700+ meters. This is probably twice as far as most people have any business shooting at a live animal.
I love my Win Mod 70 in .270, the longest I have killed anything is 286 yards on a running pig, I think this is an under rated gun in the right hands they are great, I use the tsx 130's and it likes them the best, can't remember the powder because, I load a lot of different calibers 
, I also have a HS hunter light in .270 WSM like my Win better . So the average Joe can do it if he has the trigger time and loads for the area he/she is going to hunt
, I also have a HS hunter light in .270 WSM like my Win better . So the average Joe can do it if he has the trigger time and loads for the area he/she is going to hunt
I should have been more specific with my question I'm mainly interested in the approximate, longest range this particular caliber will maintain enough ft /lbs of energy to make an ethical humane kill. I realize, there are a lot of variables depending on bullet weight, design, etc. The only loads I've tried so far was Hornady SST 150 gr. over 52gr. of H4831. from the bench at 100yds. I was able to keep most groups below moa usually between 1/2" and 3'4". I don't plan on making any shots any further than 250-300yds especially, in my area here where I hunt as it's rare to get a shot that far anyway. I'm trying mostly to get more familiar with this caliber as I always hunted with a 30-06 before this caliber. Thanks very much for all the help!
I've taken Whitetail at 300+ yards with 55gr Nosler BT bullets, out of a 22-250....
Your caliber is much better suited for deer, and the shot depends on you. In calm conditions, 500+ yards would be an easy shot, just know your drops...
Your caliber is much better suited for deer, and the shot depends on you. In calm conditions, 500+ yards would be an easy shot, just know your drops...
The best answer is the Maximum Effective Range that you are accurate with the rifle. Everyone knows someone that killed a deer at 600 yds with a small caliber like a .243 or 22-250, but it was primarily luck or extremely accurate shooting that made it happen. I have a Voere Shikar .270 Win. that i would shoot at a Deer or even an Elk at 500 yards all day with. But that is because I have shot the rifle so much that I can hit with it out to 600 yards all day long. If you can't control yourself and the rifle the maximum range means nothing. My best shot with it was dropping a Mule Deer in New Mexico with it at 450 yards. But again i had time to take a steady shot after I was able to get the exact range to the target and calm down. I have also missed deer at 100 yards with the same rifle, because I was in too much of a hurry and threw a hail mary at the deer.
focus on your shooting and understanding your rifle and given the correct situation you can kill any deer with any caliber out to almost 500 yards if you do it right. That being said I would personally never shoot at an animal at over 300 yards with anything less than a .308 / .270 type round. I don't hunt deer with a .223 as I know that if my shot is not absolutely perfect then I will make the deer suffer longer than it needs to.
I love the .270 and if you hand load for it the 150 gr. Sierra Game King is an excellent bullet on Big Game. I have dropped both Elk and Deer with it and would not hesitate to do it again.
focus on your shooting and understanding your rifle and given the correct situation you can kill any deer with any caliber out to almost 500 yards if you do it right. That being said I would personally never shoot at an animal at over 300 yards with anything less than a .308 / .270 type round. I don't hunt deer with a .223 as I know that if my shot is not absolutely perfect then I will make the deer suffer longer than it needs to.
I love the .270 and if you hand load for it the 150 gr. Sierra Game King is an excellent bullet on Big Game. I have dropped both Elk and Deer with it and would not hesitate to do it again.
The 270 has LOTS of capability, the problem generally comes with the bang-switch nut actuating it. It has 1,000yd capability with the right bullet but bullet selection doesn't matter worth squat if you aren't going to make that shot with an extremely high probability.
Others have said it...depends how far YOU are accurate with your rifle.
The bulk of LR Hunters NEVER tell you about the screw ups and lost or wounded game. They only talk about the shots that connected.
I have found elk with bottom jaws missing, or deer or elk wounded by a poor shot..... that have lingered for days after the shot before being eaten alive by magpies and coyotes.
Hunters should strive for a CLEAN KILL on a game animal...not long range bragging rights.
The bulk of LR Hunters NEVER tell you about the screw ups and lost or wounded game. They only talk about the shots that connected.
I have found elk with bottom jaws missing, or deer or elk wounded by a poor shot..... that have lingered for days after the shot before being eaten alive by magpies and coyotes.
Hunters should strive for a CLEAN KILL on a game animal...not long range bragging rights.
Yep just how good you are that day, I took a Prong horn fawn, out at 470 yards with my .204 Ruger 45 Grn Hornady hand loads with a bi-pod, anything will kill, it is just you and the capability of the shot
