.270 Build Advice

[H2A1994]

Hi all,



I’m thinking of starting a .270 build project and wondered if those in the known are happy to give some thoughts on the below spec. The rifle will largely be used for hill stalking Reds and Roes but may occasionally be used for woodland Sika and Roe (.243 also available). I also do a bit of plinking (out on the hill) out to 1250Yds or so. So weight, accuracy and the requirement to shoot lead and copper are all factors:



PSE E-Tac Ultra-Lite

Proof Research Sendero 24”, 1:8.5 twist carbon fibre wrap

Defiance Anti-X (long action)

Triggertech Rem 700 2-stage trigger

Tier 1 or AICS bottom metal and box mag.

Freyr & Devik mod



Tell me I’m mad. Give me better ideas. Suggest who might be good to speak to or even build this. Would appreciate your thoughts!



Thanks,

H

 

[Ronin]

I’d suggest you considered moving to a 7mm for the greater choice of projectile

284 Winchester

7x57

275 Rigby

All similar to 270 in terms of case dimension (they are all long action) and will serve you better in my view for your spec

The defiance action could also be replaced with say a Borden Timberline which may offer better value and build quality is second to none

Do you really “need” box mag (long action mags are large and limited in choice and do nothing for aesthetics

Trap door mag such as sunny hill offer sleek design, four plus one capacity and no issues with lost magazine,,,,

 

[User00040]

Tell me I’m mad. Give me better ideas. Suggest who might be good to speak to or even build this. Would appreciate your thoughts!

Choose a modern cartridge with good brass (270 suffers with general lack of good brass and archaic design, not meant for modern VLD type bullets).

6.5 PRC and 7mm PRC will have benefit of factory ammo, with Lapua brass in the former (although expensive), however, do some research on the Alex Wheeler PRC reamer fix.

7mm Rem Mag still a heavy hitter but needs the correct specs (long throat, headspace off shoulder not belt).

Then choose good bullets, no point having super rifle with sh!te bullets (poor BC and/or expansion), and get plenty of them.

Hard to look past Hornady's offerings at the minute.

Another avenue is 25 Creedmoor/PRC, which are not SAAMI or CIP approved wildcats but becoming increasingly popular in the USA for NRL Hunter competitions and due to recent developments in 25 cal bullets, pushed by Berger and now Hornady.

PSE E-Tac Ultra-Lite

Had one of these on a Tikka T3x, quality stock and company but had difficulty getting along with the design.

Proof Research Sendero 24”, 1:8.5 twist carbon fibre wrap

Personally would not take a carbon wrapped barrel for free.

Defiance Anti-X (long action)

Look up Defiance, they have changed owner and prices are up along with wait times.

American Rifle Company named their latest action the Coup De Grâce as a taunt to them...

The latter has several advantages over it.

Triggertech 2 stage trigger

Have one of these on the 7Mag, good trigger but be aware that the travel is not adjustable.

Tier 1 or AICS bottom metal and box mag.

I would look at Badger Ordnance or Hawkins M5 as Manners stocks inlet for them, personally would not be buying anything 'Tier 1'

Freyr & Devik mod

Do a search on these before committing...

 

[JRF]

Tier 1 don’t do a long action AICS bottom metal. Easiest/cheapest option is the Atlasworx unit and PSE also inlet the stock for them.

Defiance are very thin on the ground and gone up alot in cost and lead times. Like Ronin said, a Borden would be a good option, you will likely get one and be reasonable cost/availability.

Proof research carbon, check if Highlands have one, if not it could be a long wait.

 

[Ronin]

In addition to my last

The defiance action uou mention is only available through the uk importer in wyatt magazine configuration (internal or external box ) and they are pretty expensive ,,,,even for a custom action

Proof research available from original importers still though in limited choice

Other CF wrapped barrels to consider are Blake and of course Bartlein (both similar on cost to Proof)

 

[25 Sharps]

I’d suggest you considered moving to a 7mm for the greater choice of projectile

284 Winchester

7x57

275 Rigby

All similar to 270 in terms of case dimension (they are all long action) and will serve you better in my view for your spec

The defiance action could also be replaced with say a Borden Timberline which may offer better value and build quality is second to none

Do you really “need” box mag (long action mags are large and limited in choice and do nothing for aesthetics

Trap door mag such as sunny hill offer sleek design, four plus one capacity and no issues with lost magazine,,,,

I’d add .280 Remington to that list.

What about the new 7 PRC?

 

[KimE]

.270w with a fast twist are great. The new 6,8 Common will make 270 more popular in the future. Dont make it to light if you want to shoot at long distance. I like box mags its nice to load and unload and have a spare in your pocket or backpack.

 

[Dunwaters]

If you go for a .270 then I’d personally opt for a more classic stalking rifle package. Say a Winchester action in a Hunters edge or similar, maybe lose the can and with a mid range scope.
The caliber is not optimal for long range performance, that was never part of the job spec.
I’m not saying that it wont perform, but other cartridges might be better If that’s what you have in mind.
The 7mm options are definitely worth a peruse if you have both targets and stalking in mind

 

[Dawnrazor]

I'm not sure about the long range spec but get the .270, it's an outstanding cartridge for killing deer, the amount of deer it's killed is testament at how good at killing deer it is!

 

[Bowland blades]

270 in regular twist works ! Its the first or second easiest ammo to get hold of in factory deer ammo. Ok there are not a wide range of different weight bullets here in the UK but they do exist - its only like that because the 270 here is seen as a deer rifle , most who own one and shoot more than deer will generally have another rifle in a smaller calibre
As fox pelts are worthless here and have been for around 30 years along with other fur , does it really matter if you cant get hold of varmint bullets or buy reduced power factory for small game or Subsonic ? If you want that get a 308 win .
The best rifle i ever sold was a 7-08 rem about 2009 the choice then was 140 gamekings or 130 nosler BT if i remember correctly and the only brass was Remington which i hate ! 7-08 has become excepted by Europe now ( well some of it )
The only bad bit of 270 is it burns more powder than most and hence is harder to moderate well, be hard to find quarry that hasn't met its end from a 270 the world over

 

[H2A1994]

Thank you all for such quick and detailed replies.

Noted on the Defiance actions. I have looked at Borden before and would be equally happy (if not more by the sounds of it) with that.

I appreciate that the longer range tasks mentioned stretches the .270. I think deep down I know one day I’d like to add a 7mm PRC or Rem Mag to tick that off.

A few follow up Qs please:

What’s the aversion to carbon wraps? They seem accurate enough and lighter. Is it just aesthetics (and in some cases cost)?

Is decent .270 factory ammo really that hard to find? I’ve had good results with the Hornady 145gr ELD-Xs and 110V-Max. No shortage of options out there. Harder to find a good 100+ gr .243 to shoot deer in Scotland.

Who would be the names this forum would recommend to speak to about building this rifle?

 

[Acm]

Thank you all for such quick and detailed replies.

Noted on the Defiance actions. I have looked at Borden before and would be equally happy (if not more by the sounds of it) with that.

I appreciate that the longer range tasks mentioned stretches the .270. I think deep down I know one day I’d like to add a 7mm PRC or Rem Mag to tick that off.

A few follow up Qs please:

What’s the aversion to carbon wraps? They seem accurate enough and lighter. Is it just aesthetics (and in some cases cost)?

Is decent .270 factory ammo really that hard to find? I’ve had good results with the Hornady 145gr ELD-Xs and 110V-Max. No shortage of options out there. Harder to find a good 100+ gr .243 to shoot deer in Scotland.

Who would be the names this forum would recommend to speak to about building this rifle?

I think if your after a hill rifle for stalking the .270 is hard to beat, and if your in a position to also build a 7prc in the future then don’t compromise the .270 build by trying to make it do targets at long range too. I think you’d be better off going for an all out lightweight stalker rifle, I’d forget the carbon barrel and go for a pencil weight stainless barrel, an ase stainless mod, a tikka action with a bottom metal conversion and a trigger upgrade if you felt you needed it. Then drop it into a stock of your fancy.
That being said, before I ordered a new rifle build I’d take a serious look at the fierce rifle line. Basically an improved sako 75. https://www.dauntseyguns.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=FIER00465PRC
Either way, I would t put a long range tactical stock on a target rifle. Keep it for a different setup. Specialise, don’t compromise

 

[Malxwal]

Personally, and I doubt it's just me, having tried to build the one rifle for everything, it's always a compromise. And one that is heavy to carry. My 270 is a shade below 12lbs all in, not a lightweight.
I've a pal with a 20 + yr old Tikka stainless/synthetic 695 270 that still shoots bughole groups, and it's shot a lot of deer.
Something like that for deer. Then build something in 7mm (or 6.5, or 6) that's going to make your plinking both comfortable and successful?

 

[Eric the Red]

6.8 PRC - sorted!

In all seriousness, having shot both 270W and 6.5PRC for a while now, I see the 6.5PRC as a sort of 270 AI - more bullet choice, better BC. Packs all the punch - and more. Now my go to rifle.

 

[enfieldspares]

I'd ditch the .270 WCF idea and strongly consider .280 Remington or, if "continental" 7x64 as BOTH will do what the .270 WCF does but do it better and be more lead-free friendly going forward plus all those lovely exotic continental 7mm TIG, TUG and etc., etc.. And if the need ever arises where lead is allowed 165 grain and 175 grain bullets too.

 

[finnbear270]

I'm using the 6.5 PRC now, the .270 is no more.

 

[roebuck14]

300WSM a very good long range cartridge ans a short action

 

[Bowland blades]

Personally speaking about 400 yards limit on the shot , there isnt a lot to gain on deer . Indeed the requirements are less today now we have good rangefinders

 

[pendle]

I'm using the 6.5 PRC now, the .270 is no more.

finnbear6.5PRC does not have the same ring to it

 

[TheEngineer]

I don't get why some people say the .270 doesn't have good bullet selection!

In my cabinet I have boxes of 110gr, 130gr, 140gr, 150gr, 156gr ammo, all factory.

Additionally, you can get 120gr factory ammo and 145gr factory ammo, and if you reload then 90gr and 170gr bullets become an option too.

What more could you possibly want?