.270 for plains game?

[enfieldspares]

Once upon a time there were 160 grain bullets for the .270 WCF. I think Nosler still offer a Partition Bullet in that weight. I had two or three boxes of them and still have some boxes of the Hornady 150 grain cup and core type. Indeed I would be happy to sell the Hornady bullets,

Nowadays, with very real grateful thanks to our friends in Scandinavia and their 10 grammes rule there is a 154 grain capped bullet.

The capped bullet is an old, British, Leslie Taylor design of Westley Richards fame. If the OP is near to Leicester I maybe have a box of twenty I'd be happy to sell to them, or meet at Garlands in Staffordshire, for the OP to buy and try.

RWS .270 Win. EVO 10,0g | RWS Ammunition

Discover the RWS .270 Win. EVO 10.0g now: Convincing penetration. Quality, made in Germany.

rws-ammunition.com

LESLIE B TAYLOR 'CAPPED BULLET'

Of Taylors many inventions, designs and patents one of the most famous must be the development of the 'Capped Bullet'. What might look simple today was in fact a complex bullet design that allowed for both maximum shock effect whilst ensuring maximum stability and accuracy. This design really...

www.westleyrichards.com

 

[Tim.243]

Folks I feel a bit mixed on the above and I’m sure the caliber is fine but I wanted opinions on here.

I’m looking at a SA trip in the next couple of years. Really after plains game and nothing more. Kudu / wildebeest type idea. Who knows, if the kudu are a no show on the last day and an old eland walks out , you take what is given is my understanding.

Now, I believe from speaking to clients and the outfitter that shots aren’t far where I’m looking. 100-200m. 250m I’m okay with and can practice to 300m,(although getting less ‘my thing’ and prefer to be close or try again another day).

I think most of what I’ve read understandably suggest the .30-06 is better. Heavier bullet at those distances gives more leeway.

I assume the .270 is up to the job? I’ve even seen people using 6.5’s..

Will I see a benefit in going to 150 grain over 130 grain? And will I notice a marked trajectory difference?

I’ve got a sako 75 so no new barrel options. Becomes an expensive trip if you’re buying a new rifle.

Particular bullets you’d recommend? I do like the 130 grain accubonds even for uk stuff. Will they be ample or try a 150 grain partition?


Many thanks! Folk will be more experienced than me. I don’t want to go out undergunned and I have weighed up a .30-06 for here anyway but the .270 has done me fine for years so reluctant to change for one week.

Just had a voice mail reply from a SA sd member who has plains game (20k acres)

"Tim your .270 with the 150's will spot on "

 

[Kalahari]

I don’t know whether you’re right or not, we had a 7x64 in camp……with 140gr Remington ammo, the claim was that the 7mm was “ better”.
I couldn’t see any practical difference between the two rounds myself.
Not here and not in Africa either, 2 peas in a pod.

I doubt there is much difference if you load the 7 x 64 with 140 grainers (assuming lead not Cu) but the extra sectional density of the 170 grain round should make a difference on plains game. Just an opinion of course.

David

 

[Mungo]

Folks I feel a bit mixed on the above and I’m sure the caliber is fine but I wanted opinions on here.

I’m looking at a SA trip in the next couple of years. Really after plains game and nothing more. Kudu / wildebeest type idea. Who knows, if the kudu are a no show on the last day and an old eland walks out , you take what is given is my understanding.

Now, I believe from speaking to clients and the outfitter that shots aren’t far where I’m looking. 100-200m. 250m I’m okay with and can practice to 300m,(although getting less ‘my thing’ and prefer to be close or try again another day).

I think most of what I’ve read understandably suggest the .30-06 is better. Heavier bullet at those distances gives more leeway.

I assume the .270 is up to the job? I’ve even seen people using 6.5’s..

Will I see a benefit in going to 150 grain over 130 grain? And will I notice a marked trajectory difference?

I’ve got a sako 75 so no new barrel options. Becomes an expensive trip if you’re buying a new rifle.

Particular bullets you’d recommend? I do like the 130 grain accubonds even for uk stuff. Will they be ample or try a 150 grain partition?


Many thanks! Folk will be more experienced than me. I don’t want to go out undergunned and I have weighed up a .30-06 for here anyway but the .270 has done me fine for years so reluctant to change for one week.

Never seen any plains game that was cleanly hit with a .270 go more than 20 metres or so. There is a lot of mythology about them, but ultimately they’re just antelope, built out of the same raw material as red deer.

Wildebeest in particular seemed to fold up like old deck chairs.

 

[Cranborne]

Shot placement is critical and there is a lot to be said for using a familiar rifle. The best investment I made before I went to Namibia was a decent set of quad sticks.

 

[ValleyPursuits]

It depends where you will be hunting. If in the bushveld (Limpopo, Mpumalanga, coastal E Cape) your requirements will be very different than in the wide open spaces of the Karoo, N Cape, Free State or E Cape highlands. In the former, shots are in thick bush, seldom in excess of 200m and tracking of wounded game can be very tricky. In the latter, shots can routinely be in excess of 250m across open plains and, if wounded by a less than perfect shot, quarry is easier to track.
In either scenario a 270 with a copper bullet of 130gr or heavier or a bonded bullet of 150gr or heavier will do everything you need given decent shot placement.
I typically shoot in the Karoo with a 7x64 and Hornady Interbond 154gr homeloads - they work just fine.
Find a load that shoots well in your rifle, practice beforehand and have a blast!

 

[Tazz]

Folks I feel a bit mixed on the above and I’m sure the caliber is fine but I wanted opinions on here.

I’m looking at a SA trip in the next couple of years. Really after plains game and nothing more. Kudu / wildebeest type idea. Who knows, if the kudu are a no show on the last day and an old eland walks out , you take what is given is my understanding.

Now, I believe from speaking to clients and the outfitter that shots aren’t far where I’m looking. 100-200m. 250m I’m okay with and can practice to 300m,(although getting less ‘my thing’ and prefer to be close or try again another day).

I think most of what I’ve read understandably suggest the .30-06 is better. Heavier bullet at those distances gives more leeway.

I assume the .270 is up to the job? I’ve even seen people using 6.5’s..

Will I see a benefit in going to 150 grain over 130 grain? And will I notice a marked trajectory difference?

I’ve got a sako 75 so no new barrel options. Becomes an expensive trip if you’re buying a new rifle.

Particular bullets you’d recommend? I do like the 130 grain accubonds even for uk stuff. Will they be ample or try a 150 grain partition?


Many thanks! Folk will be more experienced than me. I don’t want to go out undergunned and I have weighed up a .30-06 for here anyway but the .270 has done me fine for years so reluctant to change for one week.

My first trip to SA took my 270 and quality ammunition shot everything from Zebra to Springbok with it off both sticks and a bipod. Yes there are “ better” calibers 30-06 very popular and 300wm but 270 and good shot placement will get the job done with quality ammo I shot 130g Federal Trophy Bonded Tips. I now have a 300wm for trips abroad but take your 270 for first trip

 

[One on top of two]

This sounds like a job for a 7mm RM

 

[Hanechdene]

Shot antelope from Duiker to Eland with 6.5x284, 300 WM and 375 over the last 20 years.

I have predominantly used Sierra Gameking bullets in all the above calibres.

Ranges from very close to over350m.

300wm is destructive at close ranges.

On the bigger antelope, don’t expect expect exit wounds. I have found majority of the Sierra bullets nestled under the skin on the opposing side with hardly any runners.

The only thing that really matters is putting the bullet in the right place! Study Kevin Robertson’s books…….

 

[johndeere]

i used a 300 wm in Africa, an Irish gent we went with had a 270 and did very well with it.

 

[Pine Marten]

I mean I've not hunted on Africa but I have no doubt, based on ringing ears, shoulder bruises and dead deer that my 7x65R homeloads could cleanly kill 90% of things on the planet up to about moose size, but not cow/Buffalo sized. Well probably but there comes a point where I wouldn't want to take chances. Let's just say things that aren't likely to try and kill you.

 

[Heym SR20]

Lots of good info here

The Best Plains-Game Rifle for Africa - Sporting Classics Daily

The gun has to be capable of dropping everything from ten-pound dik-dik to 2,000-pound eland.

sportingclassicsdaily.com

And here

How to Plan an African Safari for Less - Sporting Classics Daily

Chase your dreams without ruining your credit score.

sportingclassicsdaily.com

Seems choice of bullet is more important than cartridge.

 

[Sakoodin1]

I don’t mean to hijack the thread at all,I was wondering how easy it is to get your own rifle across to Namibia? I met a guy at the shooting show selling packages from there and fancy a trip over in the next couple of years. (Just a cheap cull trip as I’m not into trophies at all)

 

[Heym SR20]

I mean I've not hunted on Africa but I have no doubt, based on ringing ears, shoulder bruises and dead deer that my 7x65R homeloads could cleanly kill 90% of things on the planet up to about moose size, but not cow/Buffalo sized. Well probably but there comes a point where I wouldn't want to take chances. Let's just say things that aren't likely to try and kill you.

To be honest 7x65R and 7x64 is used in Europe to shoot Brown Bears and will also have been used on even bigger grumpier stuff such as Buffalo and Elephants. Not advisable nor legal but as said on other threads the 7x57, 303 to 30-06 will pretty much do everything. And the .270 is right in the middle especially with 140 to 150gn bullets.

 

[Colonel]

I have shot some really big red stags with my 270 using 130gr Accubond bullets, but for Africa I would be very happy with the 140gr Accubond. I have been to Africa twice now and used the 30-06 with Accubond bullets. What I would say is get a good set of travel quad sticks, I shot out to 250m with ease.

 

[deerstalker.308]

I’ve only ever made it to the dark continent once, to Namibia, I took a .375 because, well, why not hey. I shot zebra, oryx x 2 and one springbok. All at circa 100m ranges.
When they say African game is tough, they do actually mean it, don’t ask me why.
The zebra died swiftly, but the bullet didn’t exit, and I have it to this day as an extra trophy of the trip, the oryx are tough as old boots, I shot one which died obligingly quickly, no drama, however the second I shot on a different day was stood slightly quartering, about 90m away. The shot felt good, the animal ran, and ran, and ran and ran.
We tracked that animal over a km claret everywhere, looked like someone had been squirting a ketchup bottle the whole way, reassuring at least.
When we found the animal the initial jubilation was short lived when I realised it was still very much alive, head came up so I said to the tracker to hold back and I popped another shot into it.
The tracker (who I think though rifles were magic wands) sauntered straight over to the still quite alive beast and proceeded to grab one of his 3foot long horns, with us all standing back ready to shoot again if required.
It died shortly after and on inspection of the gralloch, the first shot was fine, front shoulder smashed, lungs destroyed, and exited through the liver (as I say it was quartering). My point is, 300gr .375 through major vitals still gave that a 1km plus run and a follow up shot. Whilst I’m sure I .270 would “do” I would prefer a bigger hole and more knockdown personally.

 

[CBH Australia]

I used a camp rifle in South Africa because it made the whole thing simple.
That said I understand people wanting their own rifle to be a part of the whole experience and the photos.
The outfitters wife had 2 Kudu on display in their home that she had hunted herself. They were taken with a .25-06.

 

[stevec]

I don’t mean to hijack the thread at all,I was wondering how easy it is to get your own rifle across to Namibia? I met a guy at the shooting show selling packages from there and fancy a trip over in the next couple of years. (Just a cheap cull trip as I’m not into trophies at all)

Very straightforward as long as you aren’t flying via South Africa.

Windhoek airport is superb and very competent at handling firearms in my experience

 

[Dunwaters]

As above, providing you don’t go through SA Namibia is a doddle.

 

[alberta boy]

The 270 ( and the 280Rem ) with a 150 gr , or heavier , partition/premium lead copper bullet is very popular here for Moose and Elk . I've seen a number of both taken cleanly taken with the 270 . Bullet placement has been mentioned a number of times as being crucial , but that applies to all cartridges , not just the 270 . A solid hit from a 270 , 7x57 , 7x64 etc is a lot better than a shot in the guts with a 375 H&H . Personally , I would be perfectly happy using a 270 on plains game YMMV .

AB