270 WSM and Deer

[DrMike]

Deer opens in this zone on November 1st. I've developed two loads for my 270 WSM which offer great promise. Actually, they would work well for elk or moose or black bear. Yesterday, working on a variety of loads with a 7mm RM, a 300 WSM and a 270 WSM for customers, I managed to work in my 35 Whelan and my 270 WSM. The 270 WSM advanced one load to the front of the line. It is a 140 grain Partition with 72.5 grains of H1000 for 3245 fps and 0.4 inch group. This very closely matches the 130 grain E-Tip with 59.5 grains of RL17 for 3255 fps and 0.4 inch groups. I also generated a 0.35 inch group with 59 grains of H100V and 140 grain Swift A-Frames. The rifle is beginning to shoot quite well, and now it just needs to accompany me afield. November 1st should provide just the excuse I need for an evening hunt. I scouted this past week and saw some excellent muley bucks as well as a few nice whitetails.

 

[FOTIS]

Congrats! Nice shooting.

 

[SJB358]

I like the sound of the 140gr Partition load. That would be a heckuva elk load too. Once I am done shooting the 130gr Interbonds I have left, I am going to look at something in the AccuBond/Partition for my bigger game load. I am going to stick with the 150gr BT's for deer, but I would like a little stronger round for elk and bear. Can't wait to hear about your results against deer. I like the 270WSM alot, if I had to get rid of all my rifles, it would be a toss up between that and the 338WM that would stay. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Hopefully, I'll have some pictures after next weekend. Man, elk has been tough this fall, though I have one week left. Moose is drawing to a close as well. I've been on several legal bulls, but for various reasons have not pulled the trigger. I sure hate the thought of maintaining a vegetarian diet this coming year!

 

[JD338]

DrMike,

Congratulations on some nice load development.

Time to field test those loads on a moose and elk.
Let me know if you need some help. :wink:

JD338

 

[SJB358]

I second JD. I have a 270WSM, I would be more than happy to field test along side yours!! Scotty

 

[Richracer1]

I have field tested the 270WSM using the following:
160PT - cow elk
140 Fail Safe - CA hog (almost a "herd bull" bull elk - long story)
140 AB - 5 Blacktail, many hogs
130ET - Blacktail

I'd still be using it, but I acquired more guns to take out in the field. None-the-less, this Wal-mart special, Win Mod 70, 270WSM has been and will continue to be a very effective tool for hunting.

 

[DrMike]

Rich,

You've used the 130 E-Tip on blacktails. Based on the performance you observed, (probably a pass through) would you be comfortable using it on elk with your 270 WSM? I have a good load with the 130 grain E-Tip as well. It gives me sub-MOA and decent velocity.

JD and Scotty,

You know that I would love nothing better than to have some of the fellows from this forum come up for a hunt. Unfortunately, the provincial law makes it almost impossible. It is hard to even gain permission for a Canadian to hunt here.

 

[Richracer1]

Rich,

You've used the 130 E-Tip on blacktails. Based on the performance you observed, (probably a pass through) would you be comfortable using it on elk with your 270 WSM? I have a good load with the 130 grain E-Tip as well. It gives me sub-MOA and decent velocity.

There's a huge difference between a CA blacktail and an elk, but I'd still be comfortable using it for elk. An extremely flat shooting round for sure. I'm getting 3341 fps avg. velocity w/my 270WSM using Win brass, 60.5gn of IMR 4350, GM215M, and a COL of 2.88".

 

[SJB358]

Well, it is always worth a shot. Maybe you could smuggle us in and we could be your "gun bearers"..

Man, I would think that 130gr ETIP would be an awesome load for elk. I would think it may be a little better than an AccuBond since it would stay together threw heavy bones. Plus, it probably won't shed any real weight. Once I get ahead a little, I would like to try the Etips in the 270WSM. They seem like you guys are pushing them pretty fast, and if they open well, they would be a hammer on about anything you would use the 270WSM on. Scotty

 

[Richracer1]

Nosler's #6 has 6 powders listed that show promise for even more velocity than IMR4350, I just had some of it to use.

When you get some 130ETs try 57 to 59gn IMR4831 or 61.5 to 63.5gn of IMR7828

 

[DrMike]

Rich,

I know that a CA blacktail is small in comparison to an elk (I hunted blacktail on the coast of BC) but I had reserved my E-Tip load for deer. The E-Tip load I worked up is just a skosh over 3200 fps, but it is accurate. I think maybe I'll carry it for an evening hunt after church tomorrow. I've located a couple of little bulls that are legal (Mama says to get a youngun', and I always do what Mama says) and a small herd of elk. I think my 350 RM has brought me nothing but bad luck this fall (I think the rifle knows that I'm a Winchester fan, and being a Remington, it scares the game away). Therefore, I believe I'll just carry my Model 70 270 WSM afield tomorrow evening and see what I can find.

I have several "unblooded" rifles that need to slap game. No reason not to carry the 270 WSM with me tomorrow.

 

[Richracer1]

Good luck tomorrow. Like I mentioned, I wouldn't have any concerns with the 270WSM and 130ET on elk, especially if shots are kept below 300yds.

 

[DrMike]

Nosler's #6 has 6 powders listed that show promise for even more velocity than IMR4350, I just had some of it to use.

When you get some 130ETs try 57 to 59gn IMR4831 or 61.5 to 63.5gn of IMR7828

Thanks. I'll no doubt try these as time passes. I wanted to find a use for the ReLoder 17, and it worked quite well with the E-Tips in the 270 WSM. Consequently, I have had no success with this powder in standard cartridges to date, having tried it in the 280 and in the 30-06. I also tried it in my 7mm RM, but the velocities in each instance were unimpressive. I get decent (not great, but decent) velocities in the WSMs and good accuracy. That is pretty much what I anticipated.

 

[Richracer1]

Nosler's #6 has 6 powders listed that show promise for even more velocity than IMR4350, I just had some of it to use.

When you get some 130ETs try 57 to 59gn IMR4831 or 61.5 to 63.5gn of IMR7828

Thanks. I'll no doubt try these as time passes. I wanted to find a use for the ReLoder 17, and it worked quite well with the E-Tips in the 270 WSM. Consequently, I have had no success with this powder in standard cartridges to date, having tried it in the 280 and in the 30-06. I also tried it in my 7mm RM, but the velocities in each instance were unimpressive. I get decent (not great, but decent) velocities in the WSMs and good accuracy. That is pretty much what I anticipated.

I use 61.5gn RL-19 for my 140AB load. Velocity isn't the greatest at 3018 fps, but I have enough loaded that I don't feel like pulling them all and I had excellent accuracy with the load and they have performed great on the animals I listed above.

 

[DrMike]

3000 fps with a 140 grain AB isn't puny! It would still slap game right hard. Interestingly enough, to date I haven't been able to get the same accuracy with the ABs in this rifle as I do with the PTs and ETs. That doesn't mean that I will give up on the ABs, however. One of the nice things about doing load development for so many other people is that I am able to make time for my own rifles. So, you may be certain that I'll continue to work on the ABs until I have a decent load worked up.

 

[SJB358]

I am kind of surprised Nosler hasn't introduced a 150gr AccuBond. Seems like it would be a really hot ticket for the 270WSM and 270WBY shooter. Great BC and SD numbers plus it would hold together well up close as well as penetrate bigger animals really well. Maybe they figure they have it covered with the 130gr ETip and the 150gr Partition. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

A 150 grain AB would be very interesting indeed for the 270 WSM.

 

[SJB358]

It would be a great bullet for the Magnum 270's. I kinda think the Mags with the Heavier weight bullets really would be elk and moose busters. I am kinda excited to try the 150gr BT's. I think once I get the load worked out, they are going to be my go to until something else strikes my fancy. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Scotty,

In the interim, you could try the 150 grain PT. It would be an excellent bullet for elk, moose and black bear in the 270 WSM. In fact, I may just have to work up some loads in this over the winter.