270WCF Centennial

[M65Man]

100th Birthday of the 270WCF, and by popular opinion, it was a very slow starter in popularity! But it was launched by Winchester in its also new Mod 54 in 1925. And it's roots go back well before WWl, first designated the 27Win and the same for the rifle, which in original form was the Mod 51.
I always just pictured in my mind, Win kinda knew it was time for a bolt action for the public, and the 270WCF a decided quick new cartridge to launch it in a new rifle. But obviously they put a lotta time and work into a perfect new cartridge, for a specific purpose, apart from the 30-06, and Jack O'Connor saw and knew it was a great idea, and really kicked it into high gear on down the road!
I had always hunted & shot with 30-30 and 30-06, plus a 7.62x54R until I found this Rem 700 270W for sale in 2022. I hadn't really put much time into it until the early spring of 2024, but suddenly got an real interest in it. But after reloads & factory loads, by Sept had really come to like this rifle and decided to hunt with it for first time. I found it was very accurate with both Rem CL 150gr & Win PP's 150gr factory ammo, so that was my plan.
Then I realized it was the Eve of the 270WCF BD, and that made it even more special, and I very much wanted to take my first deer ever with a Rem 700 & the 270WCF. And on 11/13/ 24 early morning I did it, 1 shot DRT!
Now I got to say I'm in love with both! Have been working on my own reloads and will probably use my 130gr Hornady IL loads this year, only appropriate because the 130gr being by far O'Connor's primary load! And years later, Townsend Whelen acknowledged it as probably our best cartridge for quick dead right then kills, his first Moose with it being the quickest he ever seen a Moose die instantly, and with a 130gr SP! But both said the 150gr probably better for Elk or larger game.
But let's show & tell, celebrate, and tell some good stories of our use of this, what might be the most successful WCF Cartridge of them all, and what a list of them there was for the 270 to compete against!

 

[rdnktrkr]

I would think the 30-30w would be Winchesters most successful cartridge, but I like my 270w.

I haven't thought about trying a 150gr load, I worked up a 130gr load that is very accurate out to 200yrds. Around here most shots are within 100yrds and not uncommon to be closer to 50-60yrds.

 

[Anchorite]

I’ve lost count of the different rifles and cartridges I’ve hunted with over the years, but I’ve settled on the 270 as my coyote-to-elk rifle for the rest of my life. It’s the metric against which most all other cartridges are measured. I like it for the simplicity.

My current 270 is a rebarreld Model 70 with a 25” pipe twisted 1x8 slinging 140s.

 

[M65Man]

I would think the 30-30w would be Winchesters most successful cartridge, but I like my 270w.

I haven't thought about trying a 150gr load, I worked up a 130gr load that is very accurate out to 200yrds. Around here most shots are within 100yrds and not uncommon to be closer to 50-60yrds.

I always considered the 30wcf to be #1 also, but apart from total numbers of heads of game, and take into consideration the much more no doubt of big game in far north and even Africa, in near half the amount of time, the 270WCF has got to be right with it! No one can answer this for sure, but I consider it a neck to neck race!

 

[JmacD]

270 was the “family” cartridge for years. Pre 64 model 70, couple 700s, a model 77, a 760, a 110… kinda runs the gamete, but all in the 270… mostly running 130 gr Sierras, but the 140 SST and 145 eldx have got a fan club too.

 

[dieselchief]

the model 70 super grade in 270 with a maple stock really floats my boat. of course it needs a 4x weaver steel anniversary scope to complete it. just saying.

 

[sage5907]

I bought my first Pre 64 model 70 Winchester chambered for the 270 Winchester in 1978 and a 2nd rifle two years later and I hunted big mature bucks with them for the next 24 years and I still have the rifles. They both are standard grade with 24 inch barrels and they still look like new rifles. The only changes to the rifles are Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pads and Timney triggers. They are great deer rifles and I took over 20 white tail and mule deer bucks with them, almost all with 130 grain bullets and I remember only one with a 150 grain bullet. In the early years I was always alternating between the 270 and the 30-06 and in 2002 I quit using the 270 and moved to the 30-06 because the 30-06 were featherweight rifles with 22 inch barrels. I still target practice with the 270's on occasion and I really like to use them.

 

[Litetrigger]

Three years in the making, (including being twice lost in shipping) this Centennial .270 was finally delivered a week before Christmas. Three craftsmen were involved, plus my wife who gifted me the striking piece of Circassian walnut. Dave Thomas, who did the rust process blue, also case color finished the skeleton grip cap and buttplate. Next is mounting a scope in custom rings.

 

[M65Man]

Three years in the making, (including being lost in shipping three times) this Centennial .270 was finally delivered a week before Christmas. Three different craftsmen were involved, plus my wife who gifted me the striking piece of Circassian walnut. Craftsman Dave Thomas, who did the rust process blue, also creatively color case finished skeleton grip cap and buttplate. Next step is mounting scope in custom rings.View attachment 1255153View attachment 1255154View attachment 1255155View attachment 1255156View attachment 1255156View attachment 1255157View attachment 1255158View attachment 1255159View attachment 1255160

Wow, Mauser action?

 

[sage5907]

Three years in the making, (including being twice lost in shipping) this Centennial .270 was finally delivered a week before Christmas. Three craftsmen were involved, plus my wife who gifted me the striking piece of Circassian walnut. Dave Thomas, who did the rust process blue, also case color finished the skeleton grip cap and buttplate. Next is mounting a scope in custom rings.

Your rifle reminds me of the wonderful rifles that were assembled by Paul Jaeger in Jenkintown, PA many years ago. His shop ended up moving to Grand Junction, TN in the 1980's. I owned one of them for several years built in 1972 on a FN Mauser Supreme action chambered in 25-06 Remington but in an effort to reduce the number of rifles in my gun safe I sold it in favor of other rifles I was interest in building. Beautiful rifle but too pretty for my style of hunting. I especially liked the FN Mauser DeLuxe action but that looks like one of the original 98 actions made about 1948.

 

[Jim Watson]

Your rifle reminds me of the wonderful rifles that were assembled by Paul Jaeger in Jenkintown, PA many years ago. His shop ended up moving to Grand Junction, TN in the 1980's.

My travels took me to both places over the years.
I admired, but had no real use for, his double rifles on Ruger Red Label actions.
I sniffed around a .44 Russian but a collector said he could get me a better one for the money. But he couldn't.

 

[Odessa]

I started hunting whitetail in fall 1976 when I was 21 years old, used a Winchester Super-X Model-1 shotgun and slugs the first two seasons. Got married in mid-1977 and wanted a rifle, my new wife said she would buy me one for Christmas, to pick it out. I researched rifles and cartridges and came across a Jack O'Connor article where he said something like this, 'I'm an old man now, but if I needed a new rifle I would buy a Ruger M77 chambered in 270 WIN and put a Weaver 3X scope on it'. We went to the gunshop around Christmas in 1977, ordered the Ruger M77 and the Weaver Steel-lite Scope; I still hunt with the Ruger today (not exclusively and it has a VX-III Leupold now). I killed two does with it this past season, 140 grain Interlock handload using H4831sc. I think Winchester and O'Connor got it right.

 

[M65Man]

I started hunting whitetail in fall 1976 when I was 21 years old, used a Winchester Super-X Model-1 shotgun and slugs the first two seasons. Got married in mid-1977 and wanted a rifle, my new wife said she would buy me one for Christmas, to pick it out. I researched rifles and cartridges and came across a Jack O'Connor article where he said something like this, 'I'm an old man now, but if I needed a new rifle I would buy a Ruger M77 chambered in 270 WIN and put a Weaver 3X scope on it'. We went to the gunshop around Christmas in 1977, ordered the Ruger M77 and the Weaver Steel-lite Scope; I still hunt with the Ruger today (not exclusively and it has a VX-III Leupold now). I killed two does with it this past season, 140 grain Interlock handload using H4831sc. I think Winchester and O'Connor got it right.

Good story Odessa! Got me reminiscing, not really 270Win, but it's roots of my Rem 700 lust? Graduated HS in 77, went work within a week, outside supply man at a small coal mine, making decent money. Went underground in Sept, and my first payday bout the prettiest 870 Wingmaster 12ga I've yet to see. 3rd payday bought a new Mod 39a Marlin, my squirrel rifle. Squirrel hunting was a 2-3 times a week at least, every week, often trips other place's! For Christmas my soon to be wife bought me a CVA Mountain Rifle 45cal. I truly wanted to deer hunt, but it was about a joke here then, rifle season was 3 days bucks only, lucky to see tracks! But about same time my uncle in VA bought a Rem 700, I believe 30-06. He was a squirrel hunter too, but plenty deer hunting where he lived, but I doubt he ever hunted it? But I fell in love with Rem 700's!
1981, I bought a Marlin 336 30-30, from a co worker, who bought it new in 77! Few years later I hunted deer occasionally with it, but a 3 day season, and me working 6 days a week, I was long time yet from serious deer hunting! But another buddy I graduated with, he got a Ruger 77 in 270Win, still has it, loves it probably best even today, amongst other rifles! He's the one that finally convinced me to try a 270Win! After having become a serious deer hunter in last 25 years, 30-30 & 30-06! It was only right my first 270Win was a Rem 700! Still like have one in 30-06, but I got two others long time now anyways! But yeah, finally agree, Winchester & O'Connor had it figured out pretty well!

 

[GooseGestapo]

In my early youth, I read and soaked up everything O’Conner due to my mother gifting me a subscription to Outdoor Life when I was 12yr old.
However, it was much later in life I got around to actually shooting anything with a.270.
I’ve got two! I originally wanted a MkX Mauser in .270, but when money became available, a .30/06 was all I could find. Ended up getting first deer with the ‘06 so the first 20 or so deer.
I finally found the MkX at a pawn shop and grabbed it. It’s a shooter! Just like the ‘06, with IMR4350 and a Sierra bullet, 3-shots can hide behind a dime.
The first deer was a 130lb doe with a Nosler/Winchester 130gr Ballistic Silver Tip.
Highly destructive! Second was a 310yd shot on another doe on a blustery January afternoon. 140gr Sierra Game King, superlative performance! Bang flop.

A friend of a friend wanted to sell his Remington M700 ADL. I’m a sucker for deals. I removed the Chinesium scope and replaced it with a Redfield 3-9x.
130gr Speer Hot Core over MagPro for 3,100fps. Expected a 250-275yd shot.
Noop, 90yds! Exit wound visible.

 

[JmacD]

Expected a 250-275yd shot.
Noop, 90yds! Exit wound visible.

Knew a guy that spent a LOT of money building a big 30-378 weatherby to shoot stuff a long way away… shot an awesome buck at 37 yards. lol.

I was just reading an old O’Connor book earlier this week. The 270 and the 250-3000 were both spoken of in great detail.

 

[Gun-Reck]

Truly versatile cartridge for North America.

A beltless magnum with 130 grain bullets, and duplicates the ballistics of the .30-06 M2 ball with the high sectional density 150 grain.

In a cartridge most can shoot well.

Win/win.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Knew a guy that spent a LOT of money building a big 30-378 weatherby to shoot stuff a long way away… shot an awesome buck at 37 yards. lol.

I was just reading an old O’Connor book earlier this week. The 270 and the 250-3000 were both spoken of in great detail.

BTDT !
I acquired a Savage M110 in .300RUM circa 2005. Even then, the ammo was high $$, now even $$$ per 20!
I got the rifle CHEAP! It actually had a couple of issues. At the factory apparently, the extractor was installed backwards! It wouldn’t extract or eject a fired round. To top it off, someone had evidently used a pocket knife to extract a round and scored the chamber further aggravating the situation.
I made a hone and polished the chamber, and flipped the extractor. FIXED!
I acquired cases on top of a couple of boxes of ammo attained on clearance at Walmart for $12/20!, another for $8/20!
Also bought 16lbs of WC860 surplus powder from pull down 20mm Cannon ammo.
Tweaked the trigger to 3lbs.
Getting 3,300fps with 180gr bullets.
First day out I was sitting on a property ROW I had freshly mowed. Expected deer to cross at 275-310yds.
NOOP! 35yds! Looking away from Me. As a test of the CHEAP Remington bulk 180 Corlokts (1,000@ $50!), I hit the 140lb doe on the last rib angled forward.
Dang scope drew blood on both Ended!
After I stanched the copious blood flow, I discovered the deer had not been blown in half, nor had the bullet disintegrated. Actually rather acceptable performance. I’ve killed three more deer with it on nuisance control shoots at the airport. Longest shot is 378yds, lased. 180gr SST. For accuracy it prefers RL25.
But every time I get cut!
It’s a closet queen for sure!
Stick to the.270!

 

[Odessa]

Heaviest doe I have ever shot, day after Christmas 2024. A 144 pound doe, 128 yards, coming out of a cutover to the power line, 140 grain Interlock, 270 WIN in the Ruger M77.

 

[Anchorite]

Heaviest doe I have ever shot, day after Christmas 2024. A 144 pound doe, 128 yards, coming out of a cutover to the power line, 140 grain Interlock, 270 WIN in the Ruger M77.

Doesn’t get much better than that!

 

[marksman13]

I’ve owned a couple of 270 Winchesters over the years. I had a very early model (after the revamp in 2008) Winchester M70 Extreme Weather. Also had a M70 Super Grade Maple that I liked a lot, but it was just too nice to hunt with. The only one I have left is a Ruger No. 1 AB and I’ll probably hang onto it because they are so hard to find.

 

[dieselchief]

that super grade is the bomb

 

[Wildfan99]

My Interarms MarkX was given to me by my father years ago. It is an awesome shooter and has taken a couple of whitetails.

The Model 70 is a fairly recent acquisition. I haven't had it out hunting yet, but shoots pretty good.

I haven't handloaded for either rifle yet. I have the dies and all of the components and this thread has given me plenty of starting loads to try.

 

[marksman13]

Three years in the making, (including being twice lost in shipping) this Centennial .270 was finally delivered a week before Christmas. Three craftsmen were involved, plus my wife who gifted me the striking piece of Circassian walnut. Dave Thomas, who did the rust process blue, also case color finished the skeleton grip cap and buttplate. Next is mounting a scope in custom rings.View attachment 1255153View attachment 1255154View attachment 1255155View attachment 1255156View attachment 1255156View attachment 1255157View attachment 1255158View attachment 1255159View attachment 1255160View attachment 1255664

What’s a guy gotta do to be written into your will? Many, many years from now, of course…

 

[M65Man]

I'm gonna try start working up a accurate reduced load for a woods walking-predator load using what I already have. IMR4895 & Speer 130gr, but may get some 110gr bullets to try also. I've done this in my 30-30 and just a little in a 30-06, but not yet in 270. Anyone got any successful loads doing this?
My goal is not mild pop loads, but the 130gr @ 2000-2100fps, to get reasonable trajectory out to 150-200yds at most, or similar with the 110gr.
But most my yote encounters are random by circumstance, or turkey hunting. I believe young turkey sounds are the best call there is, I've killed a couple this way.

 

[dieselchief]

4064 was the original powder for 270. limited the velocity and was eclipsed rapidly. 5744 is my go to powder in my 270 and 7 x 57 for those kind of velocities...