.270 wsm

Cut+Squirt

Well-Known Member
I'm currently looking to treat myself to a new rifle.
I currently have an open slot for a .308 but I'm just not sure if my hearts quite in it.

I've been looking at the .270 WSM, it has impressive ballistics and looks like quite a nice (if not different) proposition.

I reload my own ammunition so availability of ammo wouldn't be a problem.

Are any SD members using this on deer and could maybe give an appraisal of it's 'real life' performance?
 
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I'm currently looking to treat myself to a new rifle.
I currently have an open slot for a .308 but I'm just not sure if my hearts in it.

I've been looking at the .270 WSM, it has impressive ballistics and looks like quite a nice (if not different) proposition.

I reload my own ammunition so availability of ammo wouldn't be a problem.

Are any SD members using this on deer and could maybe give an appraisal of it's 'real life' performance?

You need to talk to Ade, or on here He's known as 270WSM.
 
We have built several ,and I can assure you as a hunting cartridge it is extremely good. We have one client who recently used his to take a fantastic Spanish Ibex at extreme range . Recoil is entirely manageable and it delivers a s%8@t load of energy downrange. Stuart was using 130 grain Berger VLD hunting bullets @ 3250fps. I hope that is of help to you , yours respectfully Mike Norris, Brock and Norris Custom Rifles
 
I like the calibre but not in WSM form
old school Winchester form!

A 130gr at 3000+fps is a solution to anything we have on our shores
+1, zero, -6
100, 200, 300
point and shoot

People will quote the superior ballistics of a 6.5mm and the terrible recoil of 55-60gr of powder in a .270
but you need to be in 6.5x284 territory before you can match anything like the impact energy....and they come with similar perceived recoil

and I happen to have several hundred 130gr SP bullets sitting here looking for a good home!
 
I use a 270WSM for all my stalking, I think it is ideally suited to take all forms of UK deer but also big enough to use on driven boar or plains game.

I reload for mine and have had no problem getting any components as yet and Norma do make the brass so you are not totally reliant on the yanks.

I used to use 130gr Nosler Accubonds with RL19 which were very effective but now use 150gr Bergers with RL17 however I have yet to use these at live targets. I used 150gr Nosler Partitions for boar which worked brilliantly.
 
Lads, thanks for the input.
Reloading components seem easy enough to get hold of, however there is the grand total of six rifles chambered in WSM on gun trader and none of them really hit the mark .. . doh!!!
 
Lads, thanks for the input.
Reloading components seem easy enough to get hold of, however there is the grand total of six rifles chambered in WSM on gun trader and none of them really hit the mark .. . doh!!!


There are actually 8 on there at the moment.

I think you forgot the 2 Blasers :)
 
Mine is a Winchester Mod 70 Super stealth (synthetic stock with rubber grip inlays), flat shooting and hard hitting, used it for cwd, munties, roe, fallow, boar and soon some reds . Currently using 130g pro hunters with 67g of Hogdons 4831sc producing @3200fps. Also good with 150gr Hornady interlock. Love the calibre. There was an article in Shooting Times a few years ago where they used a 270wsm for plains game with impressive results.


I have used a 300wsm before, but am looking at getting a 325wsm to add to the collection.


Ade
 
I only know one person who owns a .270 WSM. He is a sheep hunting guide in Alaska. He loves it, but he did not buy the rifle because of the paper ballistics of the cartridge; he bought it because it gives a little more reach and power than the .270 Win with which he is familiar, in a shorter, lighter package, a Sako 85 Finnlight.

Another friend, who travels to hunt mule deer and elk every year, has several 7mm Rem Mags. Last year, he took a Remington 700 Mountain in 7mm SAUM, probably the best of the short magnums. This year, he is taking a .325 WSM in a Kimber, another light rifle for working the hills.

As Muir said, just realize you are dealing with the .30 Newton of the 21st century.
 
There are a lot of great cartridges out there that won't see the end of the decade. It's always been that way because the market drives the supply. Anyone remember Lazzeroni chamberings? They were going to be all the rage and coming to a shop near you.... Yeah. Sure.
I always vote for what is practical. ~Muir
 
Meanwhile, pundits label the 7x57 as obsolete.

I am as big a rifle crank as there is. But when I seriously consider building a .338-06, it is not because I need it. I have a .375 H&H which will cover all the .338s, .35s and 8mms inside 300 yards. It is because if I am going to build another 1903 sporter, no point in keeping it .30-06. It might just as likely be a .257 Roberts in a Mannlicher stocked carbine as a .35 Whelen.
 
I have posted about this before but the 270WSM is seriously popular in parts of Europe, it was one of the best selling calibers in France before they allowed the previously restricted military calibers back in last year so I don't see the likes of Norma giving up on it any time soon.

I ordered some Norma brass last year, it took a few months to come but come it did and I get plenty of firings out of it as well.

Also you could always form the brass out of other WSM calibres if you really have too as well.
 
Hi Cadex,

I have got one. Browning Abolt, it was the right money etc. Have shot a roe buck with it ( i am very novice to stalking) buck went down clean kill. Range wise it is accurate as you like to 350 yds for me, i have Zeiss glass on it, plain hunting reticle, no mil dots etc. Brass wise and factory ammo wise i have been able to get hold of what i want RUAG import Norma brass, and ammo. I got the rifle with 80 rnds of factory loaded Winchester Supreme Ammo (yes the shiny nickel plated ones :) ) It groups on a 10p size group at 100 yds with these, i don't bother grouping it now as for what i am using it for i only want to know the first, and second round are on target, as i wont be firing a 3rd. I have also come across a fair bit of Remmy Ammo in various rifle shops at around £24 for 20 factory loaded, seems similar in performance to the Winchester stuff little if any material shift on point of impact.
My personal perspective is, i was a little wary at first, but don't regret buying it at all now. If you get one stick a can on it or make sure you have ear defs on :) . Its really popular in Europe from what i have read and seen on the internet so reckon you will be able to get brass for it one way or another for years to come. Have fun and good luck!
 
A mate of mine has a custom based on a Sako 75 action which he might sell, if that is what you are looking for drop us a PM.

ATB

Tahr
 
Been really interested in this caliber for quite a bit, however, to be honest as I currently use .270 Win in my R93 with a good degree of success, I dont see why I should change.
Having weighed up what I have successfully shot with the .270 130 grn over the last three years, the average distance has been between 30 and 255m and my .270 has performed superbly !
Only last weekend in Argyll I shot a nice 8 Pointer at 155m (Sat 18) and a 6 Pointer Sika on the last day of Stags (Mon 20 in a bloody hurricaine) at 235m with the .270 !
Why should I change, keep it simple, .270 Win for me !
 
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I'm a fan of the 270 win & would use one as often as a 30 30. I've settled on 130grn projectiles for this chambering for animals up to 150kgs. It's a pleasant chambering & the one I grab very often. I also have a 270 wby (on a CRF win action) & its good for animals to 250kgs (a bit larger than this for elk, as they are soft for weight) with the correct projectiles. It's a bit of a specialist rifle & 20 shots at animals a year with it would be a big year. I mainly use 150 grn Woodlieghs or 140 grn failsafes which I've hoarded just for use in this chambering. I'm not likely to get a 270 wsm (or any wsm for that matter), but I've seen enough used to see the performance is between that of the two others.

If you want more than the 270win why not consider the 270 wby? It's a useful chambering.

Sharkey
 
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