.270 for elk

[Fat Daddy]

Recently purchased a new .270 Win for deer hunting, but am considering taking it on my elk trip this fall.
Anyone on here use a .270 for elk and if so how has it performed for you?
I'll be shooting a 130 gr SST Hornady Superformance @3200fps.
I have other larger caliber options, but want input from you all on the .270 for elk.

 

[libidilatimmy]

270's work fine for elk with proper bullet choice. Use a tough bullet meant for penetration and you'll be fine.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The most important thing is shot placement, done properly I've seen elk go down with one shot with a .243.

 

[Musket Man]

I shoot a 270 Win at everything! Like CC said its more shot placement then caliber.

 

[woodtick]

I'd suggest trying to find some interbonds or accubonds instead of SST's. Just a thought

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I hunted almost everything with a .270 until 2006. My family killed several elk and moose, even a couple grizzlies with a .270. Limit your shots to about 250 yards, and use a quality bullet. A Barnes X type bullet, Nosler Accubond, or Trophy Bonded are very good bullets. Although my family shot 130 grain bullets in most situations (which were the most accurate), we shot 150 grain bullets when hunting larger game with a .270. I used to always use Federal Premium ammo.

First rule of elk hunting no matter what…don't stop shooting until the animal is on the ground and done for!!

 

[Hilltop]

Recently purchased a new .270 Win for deer hunting, but am considering taking it on my elk trip this fall.
Anyone on here use a .270 for elk and if so how has it performed for you?
I'll be shooting a 130 gr SST Hornady Superformance @3200fps.
I have other larger caliber options, but want input from you all on the .270 for elk.

Switch bullets to something bonded and you will be fine. Stay away from the SST as they are designed for thin skinned game- Not Elk. I'm repeating to make sure you get the message and not make the mistake I have seen others make. Nothing turns a hunt sour more than a wounded animal. The Hornady Interbond in the same load is my favorite.

 

[Joseph]

I carry a 270win for most of my hunting including elk. I shoot 150gr Federal Fusion and they worked perfectly on the two antlerless elk I was lucky enough to draw tags for. I have yet to put a bullet into a big bull but when I do it will be from the 270win unless I happen to be carrying my 25-06rem that day.

 

[Fat Daddy]

Thanks for the input fella's. I may just stick with my old elk rifle (.300Wby). I have taken several elk with it, but was looking at saving a couple of pounds by carrying my new T3 Lite in .270.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Thanks for the input fella's. I may just stick with my old elk rifle (.300Wby). I have taken several elk with it, but was looking at saving a couple of pounds by carrying my new T3 Lite in .270.

Fat Daddy…we all just said it would work great with a good bullet…don't bail now!

 

[Cobbhunts]

Run a well constructed bullet through it and you'll be fine. I have some 150 grain Nosler Partitions for my 270wsm loaded up for elk, if I ever get drawn.

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[RockChucker30]

That T3 Lite in a 270 with a Barnes x, accubond, interbond, partition, or similar would be awesome for elk.

I've got two Kimber Montana's, one 260 Rem the other 270 WSM and honestly I'd take either on an elk hunt. The only difference would be longest comfortable shot distance.


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[ivorytip]

that .270 will shoot flatter for ya to with way less recoil. but if ur commfy with the .300 dont change it up. once you do use that .270 though.... you wont ever hunt with another cal.

 

[shootbrownelk]

I'd suggest trying to find some interbonds or accubonds instead of SST's. Just a thought

Woodtick, I used SST's on antelope and last year on elk. The SST's seem to be an early Nosler BT design. Hit them where you should, behind the shoulder through the ribs, and they're some real killers. Be off a bit, and hit a shoulder and they are horribly destructive. Lord help you if you hit a hindquarter. From my experience with them, they seem to be too explosive. Hence the comparison to the early Ballstic tips. I pretty much use solid copper bullets in calibers .308 & under. Just my take on it.

 

[shootbrownelk]

The most important thing is shot placement, done properly I've seen elk go down with one shot with a .243.

Good advice Cowboy..practice makes perfect.

 

[Fat Daddy]

With all the good input I've got on here so far, I've decided to try out the .270 on my hunt. May need to take a look at some different bullets for the thicker skinned elk, but it sounds like a lot of folks have good success with a .270 on elk. Just got the gun and I'm looking forward to getting it out to the range and getting some trigger time on it soon.

 

[OregonJim]

I'm going to drift a little from the pack.
Everything said IRT a .270 is right and I am a huge fan, I use a .270 a lot.
I use a .300WSM on elk because I own one. I pick it over .270. .30-06, and .308 which I also own (all would do fine with good ammo and effective range)
What is bugging me a little is, you said that you have taken elk with a .300 that you own.
Hypothetically you hit Mr. Bull in the kill zone with a .270 or a .300, both will kill him.
I would argue that with equally well placed shots, a .300 round provides a better chance that he will go down sooner (better knockdown, wider tissue damage). I am no ballistics guru but while a .270 shoots very flat, by the time that flatness matters, (say 275-300yrds) you lose a lot of energy compared to the .300.
Please tell me if I'm off base folks, I'd really like to know?
Thanks

 

[packmule]

That all depends on what gets hit and bullet construction. A 270 bullet that doesn't exit will likely "dump" more energy than a clean pass through of a 300 bc that bullet is still burning energy after exit. Then you get into hydrostatic shock and see that a lot of the smaller faster bullets will create more damage than bigger, slower bullets (think 308 vs 257wby).

 

[Elkoholic307]

There are plenty of elk that have been killed by a 270 Win but there are also plenty of better cartridges to choose from.

 

[Hilltop]

I'm going to drift a little from the pack.
Everything said IRT a .270 is right and I am a huge fan, I use a .270 a lot.
I use a .300WSM on elk because I own one. I pick it over .270. .30-06, and .308 which I also own (all would do fine with good ammo and effective range)
What is bugging me a little is, you said that you have taken elk with a .300 that you own.
Hypothetically you hit Mr. Bull in the kill zone with a .270 or a .300, both will kill him.
I would argue that with equally well placed shots, a .300 round provides a better chance that he will go down sooner (better knockdown, wider tissue damage). I am no ballistics guru but while a .270 shoots very flat, by the time that flatness matters, (say 275-300yrds) you lose a lot of energy compared to the .300.
Please tell me if I'm off base folks, I'd really like to know?
Thanks

I think will all cartridges there are trade offs. You are correct, IMO, with you assessment. I think the benefit of a lighter rifle to carry has it's own benefits but killing power has a gob of variables that I don't understand. I can simply speak from my experiences of myself and my hunters when I was guiding and outfitting for elk. A person should simply use the best rifle that they are comfortable shooting. Inside of 400 yards, I have noticed very little, if any, difference in an elk's reaction when being shot with a .270 through a 30-378. I have either shot or witnessed first hand 36 different elk kills with very similar results. Most of these elk were taken with .270, 30-06 or one of the 300s. The only bad stories were from poor bullet selection or poor shots. With todays bullet technology, I really don't think it matters what caliber you shoot as long as you can shoot it well.