.270 copper question

[A Guy Out West]

3134 fps, you’ve proven that is plenty of horsepower, I know it can zip along at a few hundred fps faster. No need though for you, your results speak for themselves.

 

[Scipio]

Isn’t the classic deer load for a 7x57, a 140 gr. bullet? I believe Hornady makes a 140gr. Loading in .270. The old 140 gr. Light Magnum loads they once made were spectacular. I myself would go with a 110 gr. Barnes TTSX for the hunt you are going on. I know that there are a few on this sight that would agree.

Yep, in old school lead ammo I believe it was , just like the 130 was for the 270.
Thus 110ish gr for a non fragmenting non lead for deer in a 270 sounds about right, as would as 115 gr (which I have never seen) to 120 grn for a 7x57.

Naturally going to those weights means that quite fast MVs can be achieved with a decent length barrel, especially in the 270.
This said I am Not sure what effect it has on a carcass impacting it at for example 3000 fps with something like a Barnes or a Fox classic. And it probably depends on shot placenent too. However im sure there will be posters on here to help guide you on this.
Best of luck!

 

[Scipio]

As with all things in life, a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. I’ve read a few articles about heavy for calibre, slower moving rounds providing good stopping power with minimal carcass damage. Was thinking along those lines. All of my shots are within 150m so trajectory isn’t so much of a worry. I suspect I’m trying to reinvent the wheel and I should just have a 7x57 as well.

This is true, and I guess this might be one of the articles that you already Read: Forty Years with the Little 7mm
If not, it might interest you.

Its worth nothing though, that when Jack O'Connor writes about bullet weights and the power of 7x57, also with the heavier and slower bullets, they're talking about softer lead ones and not the harder non fragmenting lead frees of today.
And The latter have different traits upon impact vs classic lead bullets, hence some considerations and adaptions with regards to bullet weight used, muzzle velocities sought after, and shot placement in leads vs non frangible non leads might be wise, and is done by many.

There are loads of posts on here discussing this Very matter, though I doubt you'll find a complete consensus.
Personally I found reading Nathan fosters input on terminal effect/how bullets kill and in general Just understanding the physics behind how a bullet works upon impact to help.
Regarding Caracas damage and impact speeds with non leads I am no expert there myself just yet, as I'm only about to start using too.
My impression is that the Caracas damage, also at higher speeds, is reduced vs classic leads but how much I am unsure of, just as I'm unsure of below what Impact velocity one should expect fairly moderate meat damage with, using non leads.