.270 WSM -- Any fans here? Why?

[Old Dog]

I have an opportunity to end up with a pretty little Model 70 in .270 WSM. It would basically be given to me.

What should I know about this caliber? I grew hunting in the Upper Midwest, where our standard calibers for whitetail were .270, .30-06 and .30/30. I currently have rifles in all these calibers.

Do I even need a .270 WSM? What would it offer me? What do you guys like about it? Not like about it?

Also, I haven't even really noted current availability of ammo in this caliber -- is it out there?

I did do a search in this forum (Rifle Country) but the only thread that really talked much about the WSM was the "Death of the WSMs" thread from last August. l

 

[H&Hhunter]

The .270 WSM was one of the best WSM's IMO. It ACTUALLY offers some ballistic advantage to the .270 diameter. Unlike the .300 WSM which give you no tangible advantage over the .300 WM and far less than many other .300 mag rounds. Same can be said fro the 7 WSM. The .270 WSM pretty closely duplicates the ballistics of the .270 Weatherby the .270 class of rounds has been decidedly lacking in diversity. The problem with it and all WSMS can be feeding issues and the cost ammo/components is generally higher in the WSM offerings.

If you want a flat shooting .270 round this a decent choice. If I was looking for an open country deer and antelope gun I wouldn't look that gift horse in the mouth. I'd take it and go shoot stuff.

 

[dvdcrr]

Thumbs up for 270 wsm from me. I recommend the Kimber Classic., Warne bases.
The reason I like mine so much is we hunt open country and longer shots are possible on big deer. I like a rifle like this that I can hold middle of the shoulder to 350-400 yds. The 270 wsm performed much like my 257 Weatherby at this range. My 270 wsm with 130 gr. Sierra reloads drops deer with authority at 350 yds. I hold dead on. I am zeroed 2 in.high at 220 yds.
It has obvious advantage in my situation over 30-30. I think it gives me more confidence on the long shots over a 270 Win. On the other hand if I had an accurate and stoked 24" 30-06 zeroed properly I would not feel inferior at all.
Mine is a Kimber 8400 which has minimal dimension to save weight but it does have a match grade 24" barrel. It is a short action which is very nice. Only holds three though.

 

[Abel]

It allows you the advantage of using a short action. This gives you more flexibility in scope mounting and an overall handier package. Plus it's a faster, which gives you a flatter trajectory. If you can get it for a low price, go for it. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

 

[35Remfan]

Need a 270WSM if you already have a 270?? You gain a couple feet per second

Best of WSM class of magnums but... Not sure if it ever was as good as the hype given to it when they were new.

I would certainly take the rifle if it was a "gift". But I would look to get a supply of brass and/or ammo for it. The WSM's don't seem to be popular anymore (not that personally would bother me) and with that said future ammo availability might be a concern of mine.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

A guy I work with hunts deer with a .270wsm he raves about that caliber. I've seen him kill 10-15 deer with it and its never let him down. I was impressed to say the least.

 

[Gordon]

Since California switched to no lead ammo for hunting in my zone about 5 years ago, I switched to the .270 WSM in a 1999 made Ultimate Shadow Stainless Classic. I broke it in with a trip to Africa in 2006, along with a .375 H&H. It worked like a champ in Africa on all plains game I shot AND it seems a death ray on the local deer . I used 150 grain Nosler Partitions Federal ammo in Africa and use 130 grain Federal Barnes Triple Shock locally. I get sub MOA with either load with a VariX III 3-9 . I don't use this gun as a range gun so I don't reload for it, tho I can. FWIW my first high power rifle in 1963 was a Winchester Model 70 in .270 and yes this is an upgrade.

 

[Savage99]

I got one of the first M70's in 270 WSM. I don't like the belted cartridges and went for one without the belt.

That was when SS rifles with Syn. stocks were coming out. I didn't have one so I got a 270 WSM.

A problem with some of those rifles is that Winchester overtightened the barrels and it made the chambers out of round.

Now I have a Kimber 270 WSM. It'a a better rifle.

 

[dvdcrr]

I think it has a darned good case for being the best deer cartridge there is. Also it can be loaded with heavier 150 gr partitions or similar big game bullets in 270 and be adequate for anything in North America, velocity with 24" barrel would be close to 3000 fps.

 

[Gtscotty]

Also it can be loaded with heavier 150 gr partitions or similar big game bullets in 270 and be adequate for anything in North America, velocity with 24" barrel would be close to 3000 fps.

You should be able to edge up on 3100 fps with 150's in the WSM. When I had mine, I loaded 130gr Speer boat tails at 3300 (too much speed for that particular bullet), and 140gr Accubonds at 3200. I worked up some loads for mine (which was a simple process), shot one deer and then sold it. At the time I had no real need for a long range deer round, but if I ever do, I'd happily pick up another 270 WSM. MagPro seems to be THE powder for heavy loads in this cartridge.

I will say that top end loads did produce some ferocious muzzle blast... at the end of a load development session I often found myself alone on the firing line.

 

[Abel]

Need a 270WSM if you already have a 270?? You gain a couple feet per second

Best of WSM class of magnums but... Not sure if it ever was as good as the hype given to it when they were new.

I would certainly take the rifle if it was a "gift". But I would look to get a supply of brass and/or ammo for it. The WSM's don't seem to be popular anymore (not that personally would bother me) and with that said future ammo availability might be a concern of mine.

The 270WSM & the 300WSM are a huge success. There will always be ammo for both. The other two, the 7 & the 325, are not as well represented in the marketplace, and just haven't been as well received by the largest group of rifle customers; the deer hunters, and specifically they Whitetail deer hunters.

 

[jmr40]

The WSM's fall in between similar belted magnums and similar non magnum rounds.

270 win vs 270 WSM vs 270 Wby mag

7-08 vs 280 vs 7mm WSM vs 7mm RM

308 vs 30-06 vs 300 WSM vs 300 WM

In each case the WSM's give about 10% more bullet speed than the closest non magnum and about 1-2% less speed than the traditional belted magnum. They do it with notitceably less recoil than the belted magnums because they use less powder and the 1-2% lower speed. They tend to be more accurate and are offered in lighter rifles.

In every case the traditional belted magnums are faster, but not by much. Some dismiss them, but they are comparing them to the wrong chambering and are dismissing other advantages. The WSM's should be considered an improvement over 270, 280, and 30-06, not the belted magnum rounds.

Since I own 308, 30-06 and 300 WSM let me provide some real numbers using my chronographed loads. Since I don't own a 300 WM I'll pick a load from my manuals. I'll use 165 gr bullets in all. I used this link to calculate recoil http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

308 --------46gr Varget ---------------- 2765fps-----16.2 ft lbs recoil
30-06 ------58 gr H-4350---------------2890 fps----19.9
300WSM----68gr RL-17-----------------3200 fps----25.3
300 wm-----84 gr RL-25----------------3230fps-----29.9

I'm personally a bit torn about the WSM's. I don't really NEED a magnum. My 308 does most of what I need doing. It is the 30-06 that I never use anymore. The WSM load easily beats it in speed, with only slightly more recoil, but from a smaller package.

I only own one because I ran across the exact rifle at a steal I couldn't pass up. I paid $400 for a SS Winchester Classic. Including a new Burrris FF-II scope worth $200. Figured if I didn't like it I could easily get my money back. After using it for a while I'm sold on the WSM's.

Mine gives me virtually all of the power of the 300 WM, in a 308 sized package with recoil that essentialy splits the difference between 300 WM and 30-06. The WSM's are proving to be more accurate to boot. There isn't a lot not to like all things considered. Some just cannot get past the extra 50 fps or so you'd get with a traditional belted magnum.

I have no personal experience with the 270WSM, but see no reason it wouldn't do the same thing compared to a 270 Win.

 

[Old Dog]

Truly appreciate the responses! As always, the rifle guys come through with great info. I'm not gonna let this one go, and if it shoots as great as it looks and feels, it'll go after whitetail next fall.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I don't currently own a magnum rifle round. I have a .243 and a .30-06 and I admit they do everything I need doing. But I still WANT a magnum and when I get one, it will be a .270 WSM.

 

[Laphroaig]

I agree with all the posts that like this round, because so do I. One of my sons bought a M70 featherweight last fall.

The only thing I can add is the ammo is both pricey and sporadic. Every shop seems to have a box or 2 of something, but maybe not exactly what you're looking for. He'll start handloading as soon as he accumulates enough brass which should solve both problems.

Laphroaig

 

[Arkansas Paul]

^ If I didn't handload, I wouldn't even consider it.

 

[Savage99]

I think it has a darned good case for being the best deer cartridge there is. Also it can be loaded with heavier 150 gr partitions or similar big game bullets in 270 and be adequate for anything in North America, velocity with 24" barrel would be close to 3000 fps.

dvdcrr,

You wrote:

"I think it has a darned good case for being the best deer cartridge there is. Also it can be loaded with heavier 150 gr partitions or similar big game bullets in 270 and be adequate for anything in North America, velocity with 24" barrel would be close to 3000 fps."

While the 270 WSM is a longer range cartridge for deer size game it, nor the rifles I see chambered for it, ar optimum for woods hunting.

In the forests of the N.E. I prefer my 99 Savage featherweight's. Mine are chambered for the .358 Winchester!

Also I don't consider the 270 great for "any North American game..

I really wanted a 7mm WSM but heard that it would not catch on. That's true but then I found a Kimber Montana in 7mm WSM.

 

[dvdcrr]

Well... A 270 WSM will be as effective at 75 yds as it is at 375. On the other hand that 338 is hard to take out to 375 so in my mind the wsm is better all around. And to your second point I recall a ww2 USGI training film showing an m2 ball 150 gr. 30-06 going clean through a 12" diameter tree and a steel helmet. A 150 gr. 270 will penetrate better. To think its not enough to drop a moose or bear is selling it short.
You might be surprised how light and handy the kimber wsm 8400 is.

 

[Coltdriver]

The 270 is a fantastic round. I got a 270WSM to hunt with this year and I love it because it shoots so flat. You can work up a 130 grain round that will go right out to 300 yards within a 4 inch range.

My Grandfather shot Elk all his life with a 270. I just took an Elk with my 270WSM two weeks ago.

I had a 300WSM and the recoil was brutal by comparison. The 270WSM is just not bad at all.

It is a great reason to start reloading because you really have a nice range of bullets to use.

 

[berettashotgun]

A problem with some of those rifles is that Winchester overtightened the barrels and it made the chambers out of round.
Never have heard or read that before.
Didn't think it was possible.
270 is excellent, 270WSM is excellent ---faster.

 

[Bird Dog II]

I have a 7mm WSM. I actually like it a tad better cause .284 160 grain bullets seem optimal at these velocities for medium game (although I doubt any elk would tell the difference between that and a 150 from a .270 WSM.) The problem I have with these rounds is duplicating factory performance. I believe these rounds were designed for and utilize the same propellant technology you see in today's military ball rounds and the Hornady Superperformance line. I have only used Magpro and H4350 to date, but even at near max loads, I experience a significant difference in performance from these handloads vs what I get from my Federal Premium 160gr TBBCs. I bought 4 or 5 boxes of that fodder at a great sale price a few years back as it was being discontinued. I wish I had bought 12! I find that with these high pressure, optimized factory loads, my 7mm WSM with a 24" barrel equals and probably hits slightly harder down range than a 7mm Rem Mag with a 26" barrel. Conversely, my handloads do not hit much harder than hot .30-06 offerings. It is a very noticeable difference.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

It may be a darn good round (there are many good ones), but if you can't find ammo for it, what good is it?

 

[Corn-Picker]

I just checked Midway's website. There are 26 types of 270 WSM ammo available, starting at $32.50 per box. If you buy premium (lead free) hunting ammo like I do, there's almost no price difference between 308 Winchester hunting ammo and 270 WSM hunting ammo. Of course with my 308 Winchester I can shoot cheap zinc plated steel case ammo for practice at $0.50/shot, but overall I think the ammo availability concerns with less popular calibers are severely exaggerated.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I just checked Midway's website.

Of course you can find all flavors of WSM ammo at a specialty store such as Midway. You can also buy 404 Jeffery, .458 lott, .450-400, .470NE, .500NE ETC ETC ETC from Midway.

The trick is finding a box of .270 WSM at your local Wal-Mart or mom and pop sporting goods store once you realize that you dropped your box of ammo out of the truck back home once 100 miles away on a hunting trip. Not a deal killer just something to think about with the more rare WSM offerings.

 

[giggitygiggity]

.270WSM is a great cartridge. It has a little more punch than a regular .270 and you can see why when you see how fat the case is. I would only get a WSM or WSSM if I had intentions of reloading for that caliber as the ammo is super expensive.