Musket Man
Veteran member
I think a bigger gun gives more room for error and will be more forgiving on a poorly placed shot.
.270 for elk
- Thread starter Fat Daddy
- Start date
Sawfish
Very Active Member
I have to agree with Musket Man on this. A 270 Win is perfectly adequate for elk, under the right circumstances, and every year thousands of elk are killed with the .270, and lesser calibers. Unfortunately, every year I come across carcasses from elk that have died from their wounds, and were not recovered. When conditions are right, game is undisturbed, and you have the time to make a perfect shot, pretty much any cartridge, within reason, will do the job. In these days of shorter seasons, increased hunting pressure, and less abundant game populations, things are very seldom perfect. Consequently, I like having a little insurance in the form of a heavier caliber. You may only get one chance in a season, so you need to make it count. In some states (Colorado comes to mind), you had better put your elk on the ground right now, or you may find another hunter attempting to tag your animal. Another factor is the increased use of monolithic bullets that require sufficiently higher impact velocities for expansion, than the traditional cup and core bullets. I am not a long range shooter, so that is not why I advocate using a heavier caliber. I prefer the dark timber, and have never shot an elk further than fifty yards. In truth, a .270 would probably have killed most of them, but I have no love for tracking animals in downed timber. I prefer they fall where they are shot. Just MHO.
d.kerri
Active Member
I agree with UH- make the first shot your best shot and keep pumpin rounds until it's chewin' dirt. The T3 is a great rifle. You'd be glad you took it over the heavier 300wby
OregonJim
Very Active Member
First shot kill with the T3 means he won't be spending $3 every time one of those .300 wby rounds goes down range
6mm Remington
Very Active Member
I agree don't bail now!! The 270 loaded with a good bullet will work just fine!! A 130 gr. Partition or Accubond would work perfectly. Either of those in 140 or 150 gr. loadings would work fine also. Use which one your rifle shoots the best and go hunt!!
bigshot
Very Active Member
I think youll be fine with a 270 and sst's. My buddies daughter shot a nice 6x6 bull at 250 yards with a 270 and 150gr Nosler ballistic tips (approx 2850 fps) I loaded for him. The bull was hit behind the shoulder, at the shot the bull humped up, took one step back and fell over dead. That load was super accurate in his Browning rifle, so he did not want to change anything.....even after I told him I could load better made bullets for him. SST's are a wicked bullet.
I personally would use the 300 Weatherby only because I would feel better hitting an elk with the biggest and fastest bullet I have. I use a 300 RUM for elk hunting loaded with 200gr accubonds going 3200 fps. But I think the recoil has jarred my brain loose cause I'm starting to forget things more and more each day....Oh hey what was I talking about. lol
I personally would use the 300 Weatherby only because I would feel better hitting an elk with the biggest and fastest bullet I have. I use a 300 RUM for elk hunting loaded with 200gr accubonds going 3200 fps. But I think the recoil has jarred my brain loose cause I'm starting to forget things more and more each day....Oh hey what was I talking about. lol
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swampokie
Veteran member
Topgun 30-06
Banned
Musket Man
Veteran member
swampokie
Veteran member
Hilltop
Veteran member
Big shot,i have no intention of picking a fight here so take my words with a grain of salt. I live very close to the Hornady factory and have a bit of first hand knowledge from them. If you ask ANY employee there, they will tell you the SST is not designed for elk sized game. While it is possible it will kill an elk with those bullets, there are much better bullets out there designed for elk. I have witnessed badly wounded elk from poor bullet selection in the past and I never want to see it again. Please give the factory a call so you can learn from them if you don't trust me. We owe these animals the utmost respect and proper bullet selection is part of that respect. Hornady designes several bullets that will work great for elk including the interbond and the GMX. Either of these are better choices. They aren't overly expensive and they are readily available so there isn't any reason I can think to not switch to a bullet designed for the game you are pusuing.
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
I find the very idea that 270 Win. is inadequate for elk to be laughable.
There are other calibers that offer more range, less drift, etc., but used within its limits (decent bullet, moderate range), it will put the biggest bulls down every time.
My uncle has killed I don't know how many elk (maybe 30+?) with the 270 and 130 grain corelokt, and I don't know if he has ever taken a second shot. He killed two this year with his 270.
There are other calibers that offer more range, less drift, etc., but used within its limits (decent bullet, moderate range), it will put the biggest bulls down every time.
My uncle has killed I don't know how many elk (maybe 30+?) with the 270 and 130 grain corelokt, and I don't know if he has ever taken a second shot. He killed two this year with his 270.
6mm Remington
Very Active Member
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
BB, those .270's have killed a pile of elk over the years, heck; I know an old timer who used to bag an elk every year with a Winchester 1894 in .32 special. Experience, Practice and Picking your shot...works everytime. The .270 is a tried and true elk killer.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
Excellent post and exactly why I said to change to their Interbond for elk size animals. The newer GMX they now have on the market that you mentioned would also be a good choice.
swampokie
Veteran member
Topgun I figured you would have no use for a 270 at least going by your forum handle. Its usually 30-06 or 270. Kinda like mayo or mustard or ford or chevy
Musket Man
Veteran member
swampokie
Veteran member
Topgun 30-06
Banned
If the .270 was good enough for Jack O'Connor, then it's good enough for anybody
corelokt is cheap and works so damn well. and those 130g in that .270 is soooo deadly and the 130g shoots so much flatter out of just about any .270 you will shoot. i allways use my .270 but used a .338 a few years ago on an elk and even though it killed it, i still whent back to the.... drum roll please..... pre 64 .270. shoots flat, fast and kills. and swampokie..... chevy all the way