Best 270 bullet for Elk

[RDA 226sig]

If you have taken, or attempted to take, an elk with a 270....what bullet did you use and how did it perform? In planning a trip for this fall with a friend he is planning on shooting his 270 and has been debating what ammo to use and I was hoping someone had specific experience.

 

[exbiologist]

I've used a .270 WSM, .264 Win and .280 Rem, so that's all kind of close right? I've only used premium bullets in each and you didn't mention whether you were handloading or this was factory stuff. Either way, I've had good luck with both Nosler Partitions and TSXs and TTSXs. Guys in my party use a lot of Barnes type stuff and the new Winchester XP3, now that the Fail Safe is gone.

 

[LeonCarr]

150 grain Nosler Partition.

My Father in Law shot his first Elk, a monster 8x7 bull in Northern New Mexico, six times with his .270 shooting 130 grain Sierra Gamekings. His next Elk, an almost as big 6x5, went down with one shot from the .270 shooting 150 grain Nosler Partitions.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Buzzard]

Barnes TSX, Remington/Swift A-Frame or Scirocco II, or Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw in .270 will all get the job done. If you handload, go with a Barnes MRX or a Swift Scirocco II in 130 gr. As long as you don't hit the shoulder you won't have any trouble.

 

[steveno]

the best shooting bullet that I found for my Ruger #1A was the 160 grain Nosler Partition. that would be the bullet I would use

 

[loneguitar]

Another +1 for the 150 Partition. I took my elk 2yrs ago with my .270 Wby Mag shooting a 150 gr.

 

[ChefJeff1]

150 nosler partition worked for me, twice. if you reload you could try the 160.

 

[rdb]

I've harvested a few cow elk with 150 grain corelokts.

 

[H&Hhunter]

All good choices. Another one to consider is the new Hornandy InterBOND. I am highly impressed with so far.

 

[Sunray]

"...has been debating what ammo to use..." Your buddy using factory ammo or handloads?
Jack O'Connor, the King of the .270, suggests 150's as the best weight for elk. Better penetration with quartering away shots. Mind you, he also says he took 'em with no fuss with a 130.

 

[sumpnz]

My FIL prefers his pre-64 M70 Featherweight .270 for elk hunting. He's killed them since he was 16 with that gun with everything from 130gr generic soft points to 150gr Partitions. Place the shot in the boiler room and the elk won't go too far. If using the 130's and especially a non-premium 130 avoid the heavy bones on the entrance side.

If it was me (and eventually it will be, or my son, as his hunting days are numbered since a horse riding accident) I'd probably load that rifle with 140-150gr premium bullets (Barnes TSX, Partition, Sirocco II, Bear Claws, etc) and try to break the front shoulders of the elk.

 

[Pat S]

150 partition

 

[Huntin'Gun]

Jack Oconnor was a smart guy, great hunter, and certainly new the .270 inside and out for his era! He was limited to cup and core bullets for the most part. With the bullets we have now, you could use a 130 [Barnes, Swift, etc]. I would be happy with a 140gr Accubond. It will have the trajectory, weight and construction to hit hard and penetrate deep. If in doubt, go heavy-for-caliber. The 150's won't do you wrong. If you trust the bullet construction, you can go lighter.

 

[CoRoMo]

I only use 130 gr. bullets in my 270 handloads, and they've been killing elk handily. A few years ago, a Winchester Power Point bullet went from 130gr. down under 60gr; horrible weight retention. Killed that animal dead right there though. Last year's elk was hit with a Core Lokt. The bullet wasn't recovered as it exited the off side. I don't like the way Core Lokts group in any of my 270s, these rifles like Hornady Interlocks, but I haven't put one in an elk yet.


hth

 

[bobelk99]

Elk 270

Whatever bullet you decide on, it would be wise to hold out for a broadside shot. The 270 is a fine weapon, but...

I'm no expert, but have put in several hundred foot miles looking for that special elk.

 

[dougwx12]

130 e-tip worked just fine (270win).

 

[RDA 226sig]

Thanks for the opinions

I was leaning toward handloading a 150 grain partition or a TSX for the 270. I tend toward heavier bullets and with a bit more juice behind them but it sounds like plenty of elk are being taken with 270's.

 

[bobelk99]

One more vote for the 150 Partition.

 

[T.R.]

I've never owned a 270 but have first hand experience as an eye witness. 270 is a very good elk cartridge in the hands of a genuine hunter who knows his rifle and its limitations.

Plain Winchester Power Point and SilverTip ammo has put scores of elk into freezers long before Premium bullets were invented. Remington core-lockt, Hornady Interlockt and the various bonded bullets are good choices too. I suggest the 150 grain offerings.

My sister-in-law has taken 5 elk with her 7mm-08 featuring 140 grain Nosler Partition ammo. Before this rifle, she took 3 elk with her 257 Roberts. My first three elk were taken with a 30-30 Winchester long barreled rifle under Grandad's supervison in the 1960's. Elk are not armor-plated despite the so-called wisdom of critics.

TR

 

[blitzen]

T.R., Thanks for the nice picture and a very nice way of saying that the proper bullet put in the proper place will anchor an elk. That's all I have to say about that.

 

[dougwx12]

I was leaning toward handloading a 150 grain partition or a TSX for the 270. I tend toward heavier bullets and with a bit more juice behind them but it sounds like plenty of elk are being taken with 270's.

Partitions in 150 would be great, but if going with the TSX, I'd go 130. TSX's need velocity to expand, whereas penetration is never an issue with them. Figure out where they drop below 2000fps, and that's your max range with any hope of decent expansion, even if they will still drive through 9 elk longways.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

^ +1 on this. I read a thread just the other day about someone shooting TSXs at lower velocities and they acted like an fmj, not expanding at all. I don't have first hand experience with this, but have heard it here.

 

[Buzzard]

Barnes has very simple instructions on their web site: Use the next-lightest weight bullet when using a Barnes round i.e. if you usually shoot a 150 lead round, step down one weight lighter to the 130. Their bullets need a good head of steam to expand, but will go through darn near anything (really watch your background!).

 

[AzBuckfever]

The heaviest one you can find....Minimum I'd go with my 30-06 is 165 grn. Partition....but that's my universal grn for deer & elk. Works wonders on deer and acceptable for elk.
So tally another +1 for the 150grn. Partition; or maybe even Hornady Interlock SST Boattail, Sierra GameKing, Or even the Berger VLD.

I'm thinking of trying out the Berger VLDs this year 168grn. High co-efficient, high weight retention (alledgedly)...seems to be like a good round. I won't shoot anything but boattails though or a VLD type round.