Chamois and Mouflon hunting with a .270

[jfr_1991]

I’m lucky enough to be going hunting in Austria in November. I’m planning on taking my trusty .270w. Does anyone on the forum have experience of shooting either species with a .270 and if so what weight bullet would be best. I’m currently using 96gr copper from RWS which are great for roe but it’s been suggested something a little heavier would be better. I’m all for trying some Sako 120g copper but I got the impression even that would be a little on the light side. I’m loathed to go back to lead just for one trip but will if the consensus is 150g is the only option.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tim.243]

I’m lucky enough to be going hunting in Austria in November. I’m planning on taking my trusty .270w. Does anyone on the forum have experience of shooting either species with a .270 and if so what weight bullet would be best. I’m currently using 96gr copper from RWS which are great for roe but it’s been suggested something a little heavier would be better. I’m all for trying some Sako 120g copper but I got the impression even that would be a little on the light side. I’m loathed to go back to lead just for one trip but will if the consensus is 150g is the only option.

Thanks in advance.

Mine has 150's as to quarry no but they are only skin and bone. You just need to find the distance expected to shoot and work to that would be my way around it.

 

[VSS]

I’m lucky enough to be going hunting in Austria in November. I’m planning on taking my trusty .270w. Does anyone on the forum have experience of shooting either species with a .270 and if so what weight bullet would be best. I’m currently using 96gr copper from RWS which are great for roe but it’s been suggested something a little heavier would be better. I’m all for trying some Sako 120g copper but I got the impression even that would be a little on the light side. I’m loathed to go back to lead just for one trip but will if the consensus is 150g is the only option.

Thanks in advance.

My .270 really doesn't shoot 150 grain very well at all. 130 grain seems to be the optimum bullet weight for the calibre.

 

[Scipio]

2 of my italian mountain hunting friends uses the 270, and both are very fond of the cartridge - they both use lead ammo i am fairly sure, but i can hear them out about what they reccomend.

But yes, chamois and i think even muflon do not need super heavy duty bullet weights or construction, as i remember it, so i would be surprised if your 120gr copper loads isnt more than enough penetration capacity wise. Just as long as it hits with enough speed and force to expand well, even in softer tissue.

The main issue with alpine hunting for these sort of animals can be long shooting distances. So getting your range (and wind) estimate correct, knowing your loads external ballistics and how to compensate for it, and of course having trained enough to become a capable and ethical shot in the field, at the relevant ranges, is likely paramount for a succesful and a responsbile hunt. It sounds like an awesome hunting adventure .-) Weidmannsheil!!

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

A big sheep and a wee goat? In the mountains?

Sounds like the 270’s job description.

 

[RCS Deer Management]

Iv shot a load of chamois with 80gr in a .243. A 130gr monolithic .270 is more than enough

 

[finnbear270]

120 grain copper driven as fast as it is recommended, or my preferred 130 grain Nosler Partition.

 

[Dorset Shakari]

I’ve hunted mouflon in Austria with a 7x64, which is near as damn it a 270, although with a little more style.
I believe I used 129gr Hornady interlock? The ones with the red polymer tip. Around 2850fps.
Worked a treat.

 

[jfr_1991]

Thank you all for your comments. I’ll get a box of 120gr sako blades and see if the rifle likes them.

 

[Heym SR20]

The 270 was made for shooting smaller deer, sheep, goats and antelope across open ground.

270 with a bullet that you happily shoot on any UK deer will do the job more than adequately.

I shot my one and only Chamois with a 300 Win Mag k95 with a 100gn going very fast. It worked, but I rather felt that it was overkill.

 

[Heym SR20]

I’m lucky enough to be going hunting in Austria in November. I’m planning on taking my trusty .270w. Does anyone on the forum have experience of shooting either species with a .270 and if so what weight bullet would be best. I’m currently using 96gr copper from RWS which are great for roe but it’s been suggested something a little heavier would be better. I’m all for trying some Sako 120g copper but I got the impression even that would be a little on the light side. I’m loathed to go back to lead just for one trip but will if the consensus is 150g is the only option.

Thanks in advance.

Chamois are a little heavier than Roe but not much. They are carried off the mountains in a Roe sack or similar.

 

[Scipio]

The 270 was made for shooting smaller deer, sheep, goats and antelope across open ground.

270 with a bullet that you happily shoot on any UK deer will do the job more than adequately.

I shot my one and only Chamois with a 300 Win Mag k95 with a 100gn going very fast. It worked, but I rather felt that it was overkill.

A 100 gr win mag load!! I've never heard of that before, i think

But yep, some of the old timer teachers at the stalker school i did my badges with in Italy i think had a 6.5x57 R, and i think maybe even used it's little brother, the 5.6x57 for chamois and maybe roe, back in the day too. So a small and relatively light bullet being shoot fast in light kipplaufs or other break open solution) i think was the common way to go, traditionally.
These days the american catridges have become more normal, 270, 30-06 and even the win mag is seen. The 7 rem mag and the 264 win mag i think they also use a fair bit and I'd be suprised if there wernt also still some 25-06s (would be a great alpine round i reckon) and 7x64s knockin about too. In a few years i imagine that the 6.5 and 7 PRC might take their place next to the rem mag and 270 etc.

Now Muflon are bigger than chamois, but they arnt arnt incredibly shot resistant from what i remember. So i really think a well placed shot with the 120 grn copper will do the job just fine. Just as long as the energy is there to make it expand. Even a 110 grn going really fast could do the job very well i reckon and would likely be the copper alternative closets to the tradtional 130 lead, in the 270

 

[sy247]

I’m lucky enough to be going hunting in Austria in November. I’m planning on taking my trusty .270w. Does anyone on the forum have experience of shooting either species with a .270 and if so what weight bullet would be best. I’m currently using 96gr copper from RWS which are great for roe but it’s been suggested something a little heavier would be better. I’m all for trying some Sako 120g copper but I got the impression even that would be a little on the light side. I’m loathed to go back to lead just for one trip but will if the consensus is 150g is the only option.

Thanks in advance.

Do u get much damage on roe with 96 grain copper? I shoot 130 grain Hornady CX and it makes a bit of a mess on the smaller species.

 

[jfr_1991]

Do u get much damage on roe with 96 grain copper? I shoot 130 grain Hornady CX and it makes a bit of a mess on the smaller species.

I’ve been quite happy with carcass damage so far. I’ve shot roe and muntjac and Chinese with the 96gr. They’re fast as hell so I imagine in the wrong place it could be quite mucky but most stuff I just neck shoot.

 

[Motard]

As Scipio corretly wrote before me best advise for hunting on Alps is to know your's gun and load. Often you' ll find yourserf a side of a valley with the quarry on the other. Wind call, temperature variations and altitute density are threats. Not that I claim ro be a marksmsn with a such refined skills att all. I am not. But I hunt with a pall that lives in such enviroment and experience helps. so ask your's outfitter before going to the trigger. And not, chamois and muflons aren't the thoughest beats you can meet. They need to be light and slim to climb up rocks but they are both extremely resilient and capables of withstandind also lethal wounds. In this aspect their's behaviour is nearer to the boars than to roars. If the hit is not well placed they tend to run up and as far as they can and find a place to die alone not with the herd. so finding them and recovering can be a nightmare. That said my chamois rifle is a cheap haenel 7x57r kipp with a docter 2.5-10 x 48 scope and the ballistic label of the stadiametric reticle glued on the wood

 

[finnbear270]

Good to go out to 300.

 

[Dunwaters]

I’d go with the 120 Blade for your trip.
They penetrate far better than traditional cup and core ammunition, they’re pretty much all I use now.

 

[Heym SR20]

I’d go with the 120 Blade for your trip.
They penetrate far better than traditional cup and core ammunition, they’re pretty much all I use now.

He is already using the RWS HIT monolithic bullet which will penetrate right the way through as well as causing plenty of damage.

 

[Dunwaters]

He is already using the RWS HIT monolithic bullet which will penetrate right the way through as well as causing plenty of damage.

That bullet only weighs 96Gr. I’ve never used it, but I have used traditional 100gr bullets and they were extremely destructive.
The lighter bullet also will not penetrate as well as the heavier projectile and I like to see an exit, it helps no end if it comes to tracking.
If it was me, I’d go with the 120Gr Blade as a better all round choice, similarly, if I was using a traditional cup and core jobbie, I’d opt for a 140Gr bullet. Both of those options work for me.
Once I find a load that I like I tend to stick with just that one round for everything. Not very exciting I know, but it works.

 

[sh1kar]

I have shot Chamois and Mouflon in Macedonia with a .243 100g bullet. No problems

S