270 WSM Lethality Question?

MarkA

MarkA

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270 WSM Lethality Question?

It is Sporting Clays season in West Texas and that means EVERYBODY wins a rifle or shotgun. My wife won a Model 70 in 7 mm WSM Saturday. My buddy won a Tikka T3 Lite in 270 WSM. I was thinking we had both won Elk rifles. Some of his coworkers advised him that a 270 WSM does not pack the lethality for Elk.

We are not Big Game guys. Is the 270 WSM an Elk gun? If not, what pray tell is it for, surely not itty bitty White Tails!
 
MarkA,

There have been more elk killed with the original 270 Win. than you or I will see in a lifetime and the 270 WSM is its equivalent except in a short action. It will certainly be sufficient for elk if shot placement is good and the right bullet is chosen (130 + grainers). Just my .02.

BoomSplat
 
MarkA,

With a "premium bullet" the 270wsm is more than adequate for Elk. The bore diameter is .277 the 7mm is .284 the .30 is .308, The size of the wound channel is dicated by the expansion of the bullet and very little by the bullet diameter. Th difference of .007 between the .277 and .284
will have no effect on wound channel size, the quality of bullet used for the size of the animal will.

The added velcity of the 270WSM insures additional bullet expansion regardless of the range of impact for maximum bullet expansion and therefore wound channel size.

Premium bullets are a wise choice for this caliber due to the size of the Elk and the penitration required.
 

One of the carpenters, that worked on my house, took his
270 WSM, on his first elk hunt, and shot his, Bang Flop,
and finished off a wounded elk, shot with a 300 WM, by an
elderly hunting partner that had poor shot placement.
The wounded elk went Bang Flop, when the 270 WSM spoke, too.
I think Gene was using a 150 gr. deep penetration bullet,
if my memory serves me correctly. So there is two examples
of where a 270 WSM is an elk rifle. I guess I can't see
where a 7mm WSM is an elk rifle, and .270 WSM would not be.
The difference in bullet diameter is .007"! And there
are deep penetration bullets available in both .277 cal(.270),
and .284 cal(7mm). Saying 7mm is an elk rifle, and 270 is
not, sounds like a silly statement to me./ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Squeeze
 
My .270 Win with handload 160 grain Partitions launched at 2840 fps will kill any bull on the mountain. Shot placement is everything. The .270 WSM is more of a good thing.

Listening to people talk about elk (the ones that have never hunted them) you'd think the creator started "up-armoring" them a decade or so ago.

Match the bullet construction to the game, and you'll do fine. I like heavy for caliber Partitions and A-Frames.

Mike
 
I know sometimes I sound like a broken record, but: stick a Barnes Triple Shock in 130gr or 140gr on it, and go kill an elk (with proper shot placement, of course).
 
Don't listen to these guys. Both the caliber and rifle are poor at best. Send it to me and I will take the headache off your hands /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Seriously though,I have the same rifle (Tikka) and it is one of my favorites. liteweight,smooth action and accurate. You will be happy with it....If not my offer still stands /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Shot placement is what kills, not recoil. If a 100gr. Muzzy will kill an Elk, a 150gr. 270WSM will do it's part if you do yours. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Quote:
Shot placement is what kills, not recoil. If a 100gr. Muzzy will kill an Elk, a 150gr. 270WSM will


Bullet and arrows kill in 2 different ways. Shot placement is a given no matter how big or small a cal. you shot.
 
I have taken 2 elk with my Tikka T3 LS 270WSM with 140gr Accubonds. Distances were 100metres to 225 metres-one shot kills.

My fatherinlaw and my wife both have taken elk with a similar rifle/caliber with same results.

Just make your shot placement.
My wife took her bull moose this season with her T3 LS 270WSM @ 325metres- first shot was a double lung pass thru but I told her to shoot again as I did not want the bull to make it to the timber. Second shot was identical to the first, and the bull dropped 20 metres fro the first shot.

I was a non believer at first with the 270WSM with 140gr Accubonds, but NOW I BELIEVE!! I still prefer my Sako m75SS 300WM with 180gr Accubonds, but have no problem using the 270WSM now
 
I've personally seen the 270 WSM do major damage to elk, so yes it is a good elk gun. The Accubond is a great bullet for this caliber too.

I would avoid the Failsafes and Partitions for lighter game (antelope and whitetails) because the velocity of this round will blow the bullets right through before they really expand, unless you hit big bone.
 
An old man I know in Montana has killed more Elk than most folks have even seen. His preferred caliber is .243. Go figure!
 
The .270 has killed many elk & wounded many too just as all calibers have. If I had won a .270 WSM and had no other, it would instantly be my elk gun. My experience makes me prefer the Sako or Sig .300 Win Mag though. Practice, pick a good bullet and put it where it belongs.
 


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