Bullet head suggestions for a .270 for wild boar

[mikek207]

I think the .270 is ok for the job in hand but is limited in bullet (not head) weight options as others have already said. The Naturescot guidance you are quoting is just that, guidance. I think 150gr is not a bad arbitrary minimum weight to quote in the guidance but in .270 I would probably be happier with a 130gr Fox or Barnes NT than a 150gr standard cup and core bullet. In 7mm or .30 options there are some great 150gr bullets for boar such as Accubond, Partition, Swift Scirocco, Fox or TTSX.

You keep referencing the need for a big wound channel. You first need to get your bullet to penetrate a lot of tough material before getting in to the engine room. Therefore bullet construction is key and hence why I would always recommend a stout bullet of bonded core design like the Oryx or Accubond or a slightly lighter NT such as the TTSX. If you are shooting stationary pigs at relatively close range at a feed station then you will be head shooting anyway and any half decent bullet will do that job no drama so long as the operator is capable of good accuracy and understands the behaviour of boar and their anatomy. However, what about the 2nd pig that stops 100 yards away or the one you bump in to walking to the seat? You need a bullet that can cope with the range of shot placements you encounter as a pig hunter and, in my opinion, that means a stout bullet with plenty of energy.

A standard cup and core or SST in .270 150gr will be fine for head shots at feed stations and fine most of the time on most of the pigs in most of the scenarios but you are, in my opinion, increasing the risk of poor outcomes some of the time on bigger animals or with sub-optimal shot placement.

I have shot a couple of them with a .243 55gr ballistic tip but would strongly advise against it. Last one was a decent sized boar and despite perfect head shot placement it was only stunned and required 2 more!

Just my tuppence worth but based upon 20 years of shooting boar in UK scenarios.

 

[mikek207]

I just trying to stick to the information given to me when I did my wild boar DSQ.

I am hunting them for vermin control on farmed fields so there are no high seats or traps involved just dead ground and livestock to contend with. Distances vary from 100 to 250 yards. I’m only looking for bullet suggestions for quick expanding bullet heads for lung shots at 200+ distances because the initial factory rounds that I was using didn’t leave as large an exit wound as I was expecting to see from a .270 or the accuracy loaded ammunition provides. My 6.5 cm leaves larger exit wounds on deer. I can’t see a 150gn bullet shot from a .270 at 250 yards or less not penetrate, even a very rapidly expanding one. I’m looking for suggestions on bullets that will transfer more of its energy into the boar rather than carry its energy through but thanks for your input I’ll keep some of your suggestions in mind.

 

[mikek207]

A .270 shooting 150gr interlocks will kill anything on this island very effectively

I’ll put them on my list. Thanks for the suggestion

 

[mikek207]

Even with a bullet that exits boar can be, self sealing and they tend to have a tough constitution. 250 yds is a long shot to get an accurate lug hole shot or a spine shot. It's worth looking at the internal lay out of the boars organs and skeleton . Hit them in the lungs, a fatal shot but they can go a long way. Because the spine is lower in the shoulder area its easy to shoot over the spine hit the tags and it will often knock the boar of its feet then they will jump up and leg it then you have a real follow up on your

It’s quite a new rifle and I had to use factory rounds because when the farmer asked me it was a matter of urgency but now I’ve had time to do load development I’m more than confident to take neck shots now. We went over the anatomy in detail on the DSQ qualification course but I was using RWS 150gn rounds which seemed to pass through the lungs like they were paper which came as quite the surprise.

 

[stubear]

Any suggestions for a very quick expanding accurate 150gn for a .270? I’m currently using Berger hunting vld’s very accurate bullet but I’m worried they won’t expand quickly enough.
Suggestions welcome.

For boar to be honest you don’t want fast expansion - they’re big heavy boned things with tough skin and lots of muscle. I’d stick with the Bergers to be honest

 

[Jagare]

It’s quite a new rifle and I had to use factory rounds because when the farmer asked me it was a matter of urgency but now I’ve had time to do load development I’m more than confident to take neck shots now. We went over the anatomy in detail on the DSQ qualification course but I was using RWS 150gn rounds which seemed to pass through the lungs like they were paper which came as quite the surprise.

The problem with boar is that not all boar are equal. A 50kg boar is no problem the bullets will pass through easily. As Bavarianbrit said in post #58 a mud covered mature boar can be more of a challenge. Myself I would not try a neck shot. Not alot of neck and a greater chance of missing the spine. Put the bullet in or just behind the ear. If your going for a chest shot take a line in the centre of the front leg, not just behind the leg like on deer. Come up the leg too a bit over halfway up the boars chest and the shot will take out the spine dropping the boar on the spot.

 

[mikek207]

For boar to be honest you don’t want fast expansion - they’re big heavy boned things with tough skin and lots of muscle. I’d stick with the Bergers to be honest

I’m using a .270 with 150gn, under penetration isn’t my current problem it’s over penetration but thanks

 

[Jagare]

Just 3 of many that succumbed to a Norma 165grn Oryx in the ear. The first boar is the fattest boar I've ever shot the fat was on a par with a domestic pig

 

[Penyard]

You have received some very sound advice from people with plenty of real world experience in this thread. It’s your choice whether you choose to follow it or not….

 

[Bowland blades]

Because it doesn’t break up when driven hard into bone/shoulder shots like the Gameking can
Ergo - less frangible

never found that personally speaking when i used both through a 243win . The flat base makes the pro-hunter easier to stabilize while some 243 rifles wont ballance the 100 grain gameking in same . They are both cup and core with exposed lead tip , can you explain further on that ? I never needed the better BC of the boat tail of the gameking although they helped with hand loading into the case and although my old 243 shot them i just started to buy the flat base pro-hunter to standardise supply as gamekings where harder to get ( this was before ordering on line was very, very rare ) i used to order stuff in from America by phone then, action parts the whole shebang LOL . When i then got a 7-08 all i could get was gamekings or the lighter Nosler BT in the Uk ( suppose it was all down to what Kranks brought in, regards the Seirra ?) it was as i say that or the lighter Nosler BT and the rifle didn't shoot them as good . Hence i ended up having shot a fair few pro-hunters and gamekings on deer from two rifles / cartriges .
The only thing i can think of is the improved BC of the Gameking meaning you shot more with them and they hit at greater impact velocity at longer ranges or favoured the the boat tail design and gathered more confidence in it as a result perhaps ?
Would like to hear of some extra data away from your personal experience and confidence about these two bullets though, even though like many i shoot very close to all my deer with copper bullets nowadays

 

[Bowland blades]

I’m using a .270 with 150gn, under penetration isn’t my current problem it’s over penetration but thanks

Firstly i honestly dont shoot boar ( unless we talk about really close with them penned in - very rare also ) . I do and have shot some real heavy stags though at range ( using a 260 " ie 6.5mm) from very close to a long way out . I would be perfectly happy with the 120 tTSX inside 200yds max to be fair from what i have seen of this bullet if i was inside 100 with a static boar i would shoot one with the 100 grain .

 

[Heym SR20]

It’s quite a new rifle and I had to use factory rounds because when the farmer asked me it was a matter of urgency but now I’ve had time to do load development I’m more than confident to take neck shots now. We went over the anatomy in detail on the DSQ qualification course but I was using RWS 150gn rounds which seemed to pass through the lungs like they were paper which came as quite the surprise.

The problem is not the bullet but the placement through the Lungs.

Put the bullet further forward. The German 4A reticle has three thick posts. Put the horizontal on the tail and the snout and the vertical on the front leg and squeeze the trigger. It’s how it is done under the moon with no artificial light. Works just as well in the day time.

There are plenty of different RWS bullets. The Cone Points, ID Classics and H Mantles are all designed to penetrate well on big game.

Most animals just shot through the lungs will travel a good way.

 

[hunta]

I actually checked several sites that came up in favour of my original reply Ed. Some one doesn't agree with Rems figures.

I think that you will find that is erroneous Ed.
The heavier projectile delivers more...I will check with Nathan.

.270 Winchester

When loading my 270 with 22.5" barrel I'll get about 3100fps top whack with 130g bullets giving 2775 fpe. In the same rifle using 150g bullets I can easily get 2900fps giving 2802 fpe. Factory ammo with 150g bullets seem to be down loaded compared to 130g ammo.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Well I'm ****ed if I know as I did check several sites. Where are the resident ballistic calculators when you need them. As far as gain I imagine that a heavier bullet wouldn't be as frangible as a lesser weighed one..where are these expert gurus?

I'm here...

Shot the 270 from the age of 14 to about 40
in that time I have loaded and shot factory and home made ammo from 90gr to 180gr
Always came back to 130gr with the exception of some time using 145gr ELDX in a longer barrelled gun
I was pushing those at 3100fps from a 24" but it was eating brass to do so
I have owned 7 .270s with barrels from 24" down to 20" and loaded ammo for countless others.

Regardless of the overstated MV on any Factory box
is it says 3150 for a 130 and 2850 for a 150 the overstatement is linear
its more likely to be 3000 and 2700 from a shorter barrel

Unless you are willing to run a 26" barrel and extremely hot loads the MV of a 150gr will be significantly lower than the increase in weight would enable you to gain any energy at range sfrom 0-300m
if you run the same barrel length with a 130gr you can run factory MV or stoke them up
You will always bet better trajectory, terminal energy from the 130gr

if you compare 20" barrel running 130gr vs a 26" running 150gr then you are not like for like

Each to their own
but the gain in 150s is in the marketing and the shooter's head

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

When loading my 270 with 22.5" barrel I'll get about 3100fps top whack with 130g bullets giving 2775 fpe. In the same rifle using 150g bullets I can easily get 2900fps giving 2802 fpe. Factory ammo with 150g bullets seem to be down loaded compared to 130g ammo.

then you have chosen to download your 130gr load and are running your 150gr either close to or over pressure even if its not showing signs
You can get under MAP with RS70 and RL22 at 59-61000psi
But if you run the 130s at the same pressure you get .......drum rolllll

More energy than the 150gr....

 

[John Gryphon]

but the gain in 150s is in the marketing and the shooter's head

Ed you must take into account that 150`s are actually a gain in shooting heavy game as the projectile itself is more stoutly constructed...it is a gain is it not? m Id rather use heavier on a 400 pound muddy boar shoulder than lighter. Its why they are made.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Ed you must take into account that 150`s are actually a gain in shooting heavy game as the projectile itself is more stoutly constructed...it is a gain is it not? m Id rather use heavier on a 400 pound muddy boar shoulder than lighter. Its why they are made.

Weight has no bearing on construction
This is base physics

A 150gr SST is going to break up faster than a 130gr monolithic

Run a 130gr solid copper:brass or bonded bullet as many many African hunters do on much more heavily boned and thicker skinned game than we do and get the best of both worlds

A flatter trajectory
More terminal energy
Lower flight time for the longer shots
Etc etc

 

[User00056]

I’m looking for suggestions on bullets that will transfer more of its energy into the boar rather than carry its energy through but thanks for your input I’ll keep some of your suggestions in mind.

I have no experience on boar whatsoever, but I wonder if something like the Pro-Hunter round nose would be worth a look? Reason it comes to mind is I loaded my .308 with the Pro-Hunter and found it just penciled though roe with no expansion. I had a few very long runners with it before the penny dropped that it wasn't expanding on them. I wonder if it world work on boar?

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I am concerned ref the 200-250 shot on boar, they move somewhat when feeding and to get good bullet expansion performance at that range I would say go for a .300 Win mag for speed to the target and energy dump. With .270 I would say stay within 150 yds.

 

[stubear]

I’m using a .270 with 150gn, under penetration isn’t my current problem it’s over penetration but thanks

No such thing as over penetration - you want a good exit wound for the blood trail. Boar tend to run on with engine room shots (far more than deer do anyway IME) so if you can get a decent exit you’ll have a trail to follow.

If the bullet goes in and doesn’t exit you’ll only have the entry wound which will be a tiny .27” hole which will quickly fill up with fat and they’ll run a good long way with no trail at all.

Stick with the Bergers and get a good exit wound.