Please rate my 270 hunting bullets

[mpstan]

Hi everyone,

I've been reloading for the 270 Winchester for less than a year and have owned rifles for about the same time. I've never hunted but hope to this Fall in an area where there are both whitetails and muledeer (Eastern WA)

I've accumulated lots of bullets through estate sales etc. I will not be buying TSX, Partition or other highly regarded bullets. Would you help me prioritize which bullets you'd recommend, assuming they are accurate when I test them?

Nosler 130 grain ballistic tip
Hornady Interlock 130 grain
Sierra 130 grain Gameking softpoint
Sierra 130 grain ProHunter
Sierra 140 grain Gameking Hollowpoint

Thank you!

 

[trickyasafox]

I have never used Sierras in my 270, but Nosler ballistic tips grouped phenomenally well for me, but due to cost, I think Hornady has the best value accuracy/ performance bullet I have tried. My gun does group better with 150s though than 130s.

 

[Kentucky Windage]

Some random observations: Since you've defined the upper limitation as use for hunting whitetails and mulies, I'd determine which shoots most accurately from your rifle and live happily ever after, or as long as your bullet supply lasts... although I'd have to admit to a bias in favor of Nosler and Hornady... The Interlock may be the toughest bullet in that batch, so it's a good candidate if you decide to take on something bigger than deer with your .270... Overall, you'll likely get your best ballistic performance out of the 130-grain stuff -- that's the sweet spot for 270s...

One interesting observation re. .270 ammo: I use all sorts of premium ammo for all sorts of calibers because I frequently write about their performance. So which does my old favorite pet .270 prefer? Oddly enough, it shoots plane-Jane Winchester power points more accurately than ANYTHING. Very strange, I know, but it's absolutely true. You might check prices on the factory 130-grain stuff. I've seen some so cheap there's little reason to reload if all you're looking for is deer ammo. The stuff still kills them just as dead as it did decades ago.

 

[FlyinBryan]

nosler ballistic tips are hard to beat.

fantastic accuracy and they are more than just a pretty face too. great expansion and weight retention approaching a solid (well, not quite like a solid, but better than most other expanding bullets, maybe short of a barnes triple shot x bullet.

 

[BigEd]

I'd start with the Hornadys, then the Nosler BT and then the Prohunter. Pick the one that shoots best and go slay a deer.

 

[Tim the student]

I think that any of those will kill a deer if you put it where it should go. +1 for finding which one shoots best.

 

[25-20 WCF]

My experience with the Sierra boattails in my .270s is that they are prone to slipping their cores in game. Does this matter? Depends.

Don't get fooled into thinking that the best game bullet is the one that gives the smallest groups. You certainly do not need moa accuracy from a deer rifle. I'd choose the bullet with the best terminal performance, which IME would be the Hornady or Nosler. You will not kill more game with a 1-moa load than you would with a 2-moa load, but you might lose an animal from poor bullet performance.



.

 

[Runningman]

In my experience the Sierra 130 grain Pro Hunter flat base is usually a very accurate bullet in the 270 and tends to hold up much better than the Sierra Boat tails on deer.

 

[Ol` Joe]

I`ve killed an deer sized animal with each of the bullet styles you have listed although in various calibers. Hit them right and all will work.
The 130 Hornady SP is my favotite 270 cal deer bullet for it is worth.......