Which .270 hunting rifle and scope

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texascrane

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I'd like to buy a bolt action hunting rifle in 270 win. I'd like to keep it under $2k for the rifle and scope although that's somewhat arbitrary. A few hundred more isn't going to be a big deal.

This is going to primarily be a whitetail deer rifle. I generally won't be shooting past 300 yards.

I've been thinking about a leupold scope (maybe a vx-3?) but I honestly don't have a clue when it comes to the rifle. I do know that I want a synthetic stock, but beyond that I really don't follow bolt action guns enough to really know the differences between the numerous choices from Remington, Browning, Weatherby etc.

Should I go Rem 700? X-bolt? Mark V? Whose factory synthetic stocks are worth a darn? Should I go with an aftermarket stock? There's so many options out there my head has been spinning trying to figure out what I want.

I really appreciate any input. Thanks.
 
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Sako + Zeiss Z3. Go stainless and synthetic and hunt it anywhere, anytime.

If you score a deal on a Sako, go Zeiss Z6 if you can.

You will be happy the rest of your hunting life.
 
Well you are not going to like my response.

My .270 is a Ruger All-Weather M-77 (stainless steel and synthetic stock) with a Weaver 6x fixed power scope. With Jack O'Conner's pet load it places 3 rounds in a 1/2" group at 100 yards.

I own a better quality adjustable power scope but with 1/2" groups there is nothing to improve on.
 
With Remington's awesomeness lately, I'd go Tikka or Savage with Leupold glass.
 
I'd buy a Weatherby Vanguard Sub MOA and put a Leupold VXIII on top. The sub-MOA accuracy guaranty is nice. I bought one for my son and while the guaranty is for premium bullets...I bought the cheapest Remington shells they make and they shot 0.39 inches right out of the box.
 
With a $2000 budget I'd buy a Kimber 84L. They make some really good looking wood stocked versions and offer the ONLY quality factory synthetic. If you want synthetic, the one offered on the Kimber is equal in quality to a $600 McMillan. Everything else offered on a factory synthetic stock is injection molded plastic, not true fiberglass or Kevlar construction. The Kimber stock will be almost 1/2 the weight of the others, much stronger and stiffer. Kimber, Winchester, and Ruger are the only options with controlled round feeding. Which is important to me, not everyone.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/model-84l

The Leupold VX-3 is a good scope, but I'd save $100-$150 and buy the VX-2. Leupold upgraded their entire lineup 3 years ago. A current VX-2 is essentially an older VX-3, but selling at VX-2 prices. While the VX-3 is a better scope, it is not $100 better. At least not the ones made since 2012.

If you want to spend a lot less, and get a much lower quality stock and heavier rifle, then Tikka, Winchester, and Ruger have good options too.

The Sako is another option. Very good rifles. They use a cheap plastic stock on their SS versions, but that is the only real negative.
 
For right around $1000 with scope I'd go with a Tikka T3 Lite. They have the best factory trigger you will ever find the bolt is as slick as glass too. They are very light weight and have a REALLY GOOD synthetic stock. Much better than any Savage or Remington is gonna have. Tikka's also have a 3 shot MOA accuracy guarantee with any factory ammo. For scope look at a Zeiss 3-9x40 or a Leupold VX2 or VX3 3-9x40.

I personally own a Tikka T3 Lite in .270 Winchester and it is the most accurate rifle I own. It has put 3 different types of factory inside of 1 inch at 100 yards. My handloads with a 130gr Nosler Accubond shoot 1/2 3 shot groups everytime that I shoot it and clock 3019fps.

These 3 shot groups were shot with Federal Fusion 130gr factory loads
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I like the X-Bolt's marketing on Browning's website. A lot. I have not shot one though. Good comments on those rifles from a fellow shooter at the range the other day. The guy owns many rifles (I have seen him shoot different nice ones every Wednesday for some weeks), so I would give some credit on his opinion regarding rifles in general, and regarding bolt action rifles in particular. I just can not remember in which caliber he owns his X-Bolts, but he seemed to like them. He is a wood and blue guy, so I do not have a clue about their synthetic stocks. From my personal experience with Browning rifles, they are usually quite enjoyable, but I do not own any of their synthetic offerings. If their synthetic stock was that bad, I guess you could still change for something better at a later time.
 
You really can't go wrong with anything recommended so far.

The question here is, knowing your budget: is that something you WANT to spend, and hold an attractive rifle in your hands? Or is that a limit, within which you want to walk away with a functional tool?

You can have both, of course, and you'll stretch your budget. My point is that for the purpose you described, you can have a very capable rifle and optic for far less than that budget cap.
 
I would buy a used Rem 700 Walmart/Dick's special, top it with a Leopold of my liking and keep well over a grand in my pocket.
 
I have a Tikka T3 Lite in .270. It became my favorite rifle after about 10 rounds and the addition of a limbsaver. With the load I worked up for it I'm getting clover leaves with 3 shots.

It is by far the smoothest action, most ergonomic, and overall best bolt action I've ever fired.
 
While I have two in different calibers, I recommend the Winchester M70 Extreme Weather. Mine, in 7mmRM and .30-06, are terrific. I have Zeiss Conquests on each, a 3.5-10x44 with RapidZ800 reticle on the 7mmRM and a 3-9x40 with RapidZ600 reticle on the -o6.

Some detail: each comes with a Bell&Carlson Medalist stock with full bedding block, stainless barreled action, controlled round feed and each gives me 0.75 MOA accuracy with Federal Premium factory ammo as well as my handholds. I've gotten 0.5" groups at 100 yards but they're both reliable 0.75 MOA shooters. For a good multi-day hunt, they're ideal. The only reason that I haven't picked one up in .270 is that I'm pretty well covered for deer, elk, speed goat and black bear with what I've got. I do have a Ruger 77RSI in .270 that is wood and blu steel but I love it for woods hunting with its 18" bbl and 2.5-8x36 Leupy VX3 scope.

You should be able to get the Win rifle for a little over a $1,000 and a Leupy or Zeiss scope for under $700 with bases and rings for <$75.

Good hunting.

FH
 
There are a lot of 270's. Sako, Kimber are my favorites. I also would highly recommend the 270 WSM. Winchester M70 extreme weather new old stock made in USA would be a great rifle cant recall if it was offered in 270. I just saw the Kimber montana is offered in 270. That would be my pick.
 
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How about a Kimber Montana 84L with a Zeiss Conquest HD5 or Vortex Viper scope. I shot this 6-round group (0.6") at 100 yards today during load development using Barnes 130gr TTSX bullets. The rifle is a Mountain Ascent in .270 Win and it shoots Federal (3-shot group) and Barnes (4-shot group) factory ammunition into about 0.9" at 100 yards. The Montana and Mountain Ascent are very similar.

barnes_130gr_ttsx.jpg

mountain_ascent_270win_02.jpg
 
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I procured the rifle above for a female friend who has a Tikka in .270 Win. She developed a flinch shooting that rifle. She changed the recoil pad and added weight but still wasn't happy. Her rifle above weighs 6lb-6oz as shown and she was amazed at how comfortable it is to shoot and carry. She drooped a whitetail buck a couple of weeks ago with a heart shot at 150 yards using her new rifle. Needless to say she's thrilled and will probably sell the Tikka.

I have two Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather rifles and they're HEAVY! Nice, but heavy.
 
Thanks for the input so far everybody. I didn't even know that Kimber made rifles. The M70 is an intriguing option as well.

I'm not sure how much I like stainless steel barrels. I know they have some advantages when it comes to corrosion resistance, but I've always leaned towards more traditional blued finishes.

To your question Bobson, I'm perfectly happy spending less than $2k if that gets me a solid rifle/scope that will last for years with at least MOA accuracy. I certainly can appreciate a nice looking rifle, but for me guns are tools. I value function over form every time. That's my main reason for a synthetic stock. I don't want to worry about scratching it up. That said, I'll pay for quality. FWIW, my AR's are Colts and Noveskes with Aimpoint T-1's that have been rattle canned.

Looking at the different options, that M70 is kind of growing on me. The Weatherby Vanguard looks like a nice option too.
 
The Winchester M70 Extreme Weather (someone else mentioned it too) is an excellent rifle. I had one (chambered in .270 Win, actually) but had to sell it due to a family emergency. I've sold a few guns over the last five years, but that's the only one I really regret. Another poster mentioned that it's heavy. Obviously, heavy is a relative term. Not sure what he's comparing it to, but I never thought of it as a heavy rifle. Winchester says it weighs between 6.75 lbs and 7.125 lbs (depending on caliber). The synthetic stock it comes with is a Bell and Carlson Medalist, and it feels excellent. Very dense and grippy, not hollow and slick. Street price seems to be around $900, but Bud's sometimes has em as low as the high $700s.

That'd be my recommendation. Top it with a nice Leupold scope (VX-3 you mentioned would be great), and you've got a fistful of benjamins left over.

By the way, welcome to THR.
 
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Bobson said:
Another poster mentioned that it's heavy. Obviously, heavy is a relative term. Not sure what he's comparing it to, but I never thought of it as a heavy rifle.
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Compare a Kimber Montana in .270 Win at 5lb-10oz to a Winchester Extreme Weather in .270 Win at 7lb-2oz .... that's a 1-1/2lb difference!! Heck, the Montana with a Vortex Viper 3-9x40mm scope weighs more than 1/2lb less than the Winchester rifle alone. I stand by my comment as an owner of two Extreme Weather rifles that they are heavy.
 
I'm feeling nostalgic because I am selling my 1953 Winchester Model 70 in .270 at the LGS. It was given to me by my "Dutch Uncle" in 1963 when I was a junior in HS. Since we lived close to the gunsmith country of Pennsylvania he had a Unertl Hawk 4x with twin Dots installed because he felt bad about giving me a (primo shape) 10 year old USED .270 ! :rolleyes:
I got multiple bucks each year with that gun and 130 grain Silvertips, truck loads of Penn. ground hogs with 100grain powerpoints until I went in the Army 3 years later and got issued an M-14 ! In the 70s I dragged it over California coastlands around Monterey and it killed truck loads of the little Blacktail up to maybe 400+ yards and a semi full of pigs. All with 130 silvertips for the deer hunts and Remington Corloktd 150s for pigs. In the 80s it went into the safe and used as a loaner after I got hooked into Chet Brown and Remingtons!
Because Calif. requires lead free ammo to hunt I bought a 1999 Winchester Stainless Classic .270 WSM as it is the easiest cart to get lead free around here 10 years back.;) It has a Vx 3 3.5-10x and in 2006 went on safari and knocked the plains game DRN with Factory 140 grain loads so has become my go to deer gun!
My original 1953 rifle .270 win could shoot under 2" at 200 yards with ammo it liked : Remington Bronze points from the day or my reloads with Sierra Game King bullets . The gun was fiberglass bedded by me one year I was not Imm. deployed in the 60s and has a 3 pound icicle trigger. The 1999 .270 WSM has a Rifle Basix trigger tuned down to 2.5 pounds and the factory ryanite stock is pillar bedded in Marinetex by me :D and shoots almost 1/2 what the old gun shoots both guns Lead sledded . My eyes are going quicker now and I need all the help I can get. I'll keep the .270 WSM until ...............
I will sell off my dozen pre 64 model 70s but keep the last one built in the Conn. Winchester plant before the workers got the bad news......

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1858 said:
Compare a Kimber Montana in .270 Win at 5lb-10oz to a Winchester Extreme Weather in .270 Win at 7lb-2oz .... I stand by my comment as an owner of two Extreme Weather rifles that they are heavy.
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By all means, please do. I wasn't trying to say you're not entitled to your opinion. Like I said, "heavy" really is a relative term. That said, my opinion is that being able to find a rifle that weighs less doesn't make it heavy, any more than finding a more accurate rifle makes a 1/2 MOA rifle "inaccurate."

BTW, does the Kimber 84L you pictured above (Post #17) come with that brake, or was it added? If it's added, what is it, exactly? It's a great looking rifle, and evidently it shoots... I'm not trying to be argumentative; just stating what I think.

Thanks in advance.
 
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$2000 for a whitetail rifle for under 300 yards? Can I have your job?

If you are willing to pay, I say the Kimbers are pretty nice rifles (never had a chance to shoot one but their specs are cool and they feel neat to hold). I also think Sako and Winchesters are excellent if you want a premium rifle.

I would also leave everything stock from the factory unless you want to pay more for a good gunsmith, even though I think you should just buy one the way you want to begin with. When it comes to optics, Leupold and Nikon have always treated me well and I consider the standard depending on price range.

Might want to buy a Pelican case and put backpack straps on it if you're taking it hunting so you don't ding up this investment...
 
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