After season buck sighting - may need a 650 yd. rifle.......

[Guy Miner]

If you and your .270 can produce the accuracy, I'd not have any worry about the .270 not being "enough gun" for deer, even at 650 yards.

Shoot it, build a "drop chart" to confirm your elevation data. Use a scope with target turrets and do some 650 yard shooting this year, in preparation. Learn what temp differences do to your point of impact as well.

I like the idea of the 150 gr LRAB. Another excellent long-range hunting bullet to consider is the Berger VLD. I've had excellent success with them from my .25-06 rifle.

One problem I seldom see addressed by longish range hunters is... What if the buck is hit, but manages to stay up, or get up, and heads into the woods... This is a pretty serious concern of mine, I really don't want a game animal getting a 600 yard head start on me.

Some things I came up with:

1. Make a GOOD first round hit.
2. Cycle the bolt instantly and be ready to shoot again.
3. When possible use a second person as a "spotter" - it's tougher to be your own spotter.
4. Watch that animal, and see if it looks like this is a 40 yard death run, or if it's lightly wounded and heading for the next county... Hopefully it will bed down. If so, let it bed down and bleed to death rather than pushing it.

I went through a long-range phase some years back. It worked out well, but I also learned of the drawbacks. If you and your .270 are accurate enough, you can certainly pull this off. I'll be very interested in how you tackle your new "chore" of prepping for your 650 yard hunt!

Regards, Guy

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have no doubt that a 7mm Rem Mag, 168 LRAB or a 140 grain AB in a .270 Win for that matter, would kill that deer at that range. I have killed a buck mule deer with my .270 Win at 425 yards or so with one shot from a 130 Partition, mountain to mountain in Utah. Your biggest issue would probably be the wind.

 

[HTDUCK]

After seeing what Creedmore is getting out of his .280AI all the way out to 900 yards with 140 ABs I can't imagine you need another rifle. A 270 running the 150 LRAB should have plenty of punch.
As stated, get a good long range load worked up and build an accurate dope chart.
Get a good scope with repeatable turrets and shoot it until it becomes second nature.

Sounds like you have a fun spring and summer ahead !

 

[baltz526]

If I had a big field like yours, I would put out Range markers every 50yrds with a wind flag on each. Then during the off season set up gongs and practice. Probably get a few 12" plate steel circles cut and weld them to some stakes I could drive in the ground. Move them around so I got used to quick ranging them off the range markers. With practice I would even make a long 650yrd shot.

 

[Guy Miner]

I like your thinking. The field could be "groomed" to make it easier for longish range shooting. No doubt...

 

[DrMike]

If I had a big field like yours, I would put out Range markers every 50yrds with a wind flag on each. Then during the off season set up gongs and practice. Probably get a few 12" plate steel circles cut and weld them to some stakes I could drive in the ground. Move them around so I got used to quick ranging them off the range markers. With practice I would even make a long 650yrd shot.

Superb idea!

 

[NYDAN]

Yes, there are distance markers and target holders at 200 yards, 300 yards, and 400 yards. I use a Leopold scope with a B&C reticule. It has cross hairs for 200, 300, 400, 450, and 500 yards. It works very well when you know the distance from the markers.

 

[DON]

NYDAN,
Nothing wrong with the 270 you have, just my opinion here, at 650 yards, that is a long shot and the bullet energy is sacrificed at that point in a lot of cartridges. Some of the New York Bruiser Bucks I have seen in my business travel appear to be in the 200lb + class. That being said I would tend to migrate towards something in a 300 magnum class. Although I own a 300 RUM I think the 300 win mag here would apply to the situation. Check out the ballistics of a 180 grain going 3100-3200 fps against your 270 with a 150 bullet, the energy is something to consider. Also you could put a muzzle break or port the barrel to reduce the recoil to 30-06 levels.

Don

 

[Oldtrader3]

The 140 grain .270 Winchester AccuBond handloaded close to 3000 fps should be able to kill a whitetail at 650 yards? Some people here dump on the .270 Win but it has been killing WT deer at all ranges for almost 80 years now. The 140 AB has nearly 2000 fps at that range and will expand.