looking for new deer ammo

yotehunter57

yotehunter57

New member
I am looking for a new deer load (factory load) for my 270 win.
Since Winchester has discontinued the old reliable 130gr Silvertips I tried their Powerpoints with less than satisfactory results.
I am considering the Win Deer Season XP 130gr and the Federal Nosler Partition 130 gr.
I DO like large exit holes.
Anybody have experience with these, or any suggestions on other deer ammo?

Shayne
 
Hard to pick a bad .270 Winchester deer load. What was the problem with the Power Point?
 
Im not sure if you can get them factory loaded but if you like large exit holes where they dont run far barnes 130gr t tsx they will put a wallop on them. Dad hit one running last year did hit shoulder bone and it put a almost baseball size hole on the other side lol.. that may have been fluke that time but every deer has a sizable exit.
 
It is hard to beat the Partition... but I don't normally get "huge exit holes" from Partitions. Usually that shank portion punches about a double caliber hole. Hit bone and that exit is probably is going to be bigger. Great interior between the ribs damage, nearly always exits, adequate exit hole diameter, average accuracy, consistent and reliable... that describes my Partition experience. Yeah, think if my gun would group them that'd be an excellent first choice.

I use to have a Winchester M70 Featherweight .270 Winchester. I've killed deer with the 130 gr. Partition, Core-Lokt, Interlock and the Game King. Used the 140 gr. Interlock. Also in the woods I used the 150 gr. round nose Core-Lokt. They ALL killed deer just fine. Haven't had a .270 around here for quite a few years now. I should probably do something about that...
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Originally Posted By: GCHard to pick a bad .270 Winchester deer load. What was the problem with the Power Point?

With the old fashioned Silvertips I never recovered a slug from any deer. This year with the Power Points I shot a 6 point twice and recovered both slugs. Both slugs had come apart, even the second shot that was a neck shot to finish him off at 150 yards. I got used to nice exit holes with the Silvertips.
I have my gun shop/gun show friend looking for Silvertips for me(he also gets the 25wssm ammo for the wifes rifle). I'm just getting prepared in case no Silvertips can be found. I thought the Partition might hold together good. Thanks guys.

Shayne
 
The Silver Tip was built to be a tougher bullet than the Power Point. The Partition will give you an exit on broadside and decent quartering shots. If it's accurate in your rifle its a good choice.
 
Several companies load the 130 grain ballistic tip, same bullet as silver tip. Federal and Black hills are the first that come to mind. Might also try federal Fusion, or Sierra gamekings. Hornady SST has a large following as well. Tons of options in the .270 , the new Winchester Deer Season Xt loads feature a polymer tip bullet that will likely produce very similar results as the old Silvertip.
 
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CoreLokt has been a winner on deer and elk for our family over 60 years. One shot and shows over. Interesting that they shoot well in nearly every rifle.
 
It seems like for deer the bullet choice breaks down to one of two designs...either you want a bullet that expands in a controlled way or you want one that disintegrates when it hits. The Partition or Speer's Grand Slam are both considered the top of the line in controlled expansion, but I would not forget the good old Core-Lokt as above. I think these type bullets are better for big stuff, like elk or bear or moose. They generally will penetrate much deeper which is not really needed for deer. These type bullets, especially at 270 velocity will pass thru and not expend all their energy on the game.
I have had great results with Hornady's SST bullet on deer, if you like the ones that blow up. Whitetails are tough, they are hard to just drop. I use the bullets that expand violently because they seem to produce maximum shock on deer sized game. I want all of the energy the bullet carries to be expended on the animal, not in the tree behind it.
Nosler partitions are not particularly know for their ability to group, but in a hunting bullet terminal performance is more important. So don't get too tied up in one hole accuracy if what you really need is to flatline a deer.
As already posted, one of the things that makes the 270 such a great hunting cartridge is it's ability to make dramatic instant kills on game. When you run a bullet with that much speed bullet choice is not as important. One disadvantage of the rapid expansion bullets is that they do inflict a lot of damage and typically ruin the shoulder they expand on.
 
I've been testing a few factory loads at the range lately for my 270 and nothing even gets close to the groups from the Hornady Whitetail 130 grain.
 
I have used the 130 grain hit day interlocks for years! Ton of shots and they perform awesome every time. Sub moa groups out both mine and my wife's guns. Killed a ton of both deer and elk! At cabelas it is labelled the whitetail ammo from Hornady and if you look you can usually find it for around $22 to $26 a box.
 
Originally Posted By: rtaylorI've been testing a few factory loads at the range lately for my 270 and nothing even gets close to the groups from the Hornady Whitetail 130 grain.

I have shot this ammo since before they called it white tail! Almost 10 years now and in 3 different guns it still shoots better than anything else and usually for $10 less a box!
 
Originally Posted By: Spurred HunterSeveral companies load the 130 grain ballistic tip, same bullet as silver tip. Federal and Black hills are the first that come to mind. Might also try federal Fusion, or Sierra gamekings. Hornady SST has a large following as well. Tons of options in the .270 , the new Winchester Deer Season Xt loads feature a polymer tip bullet that will likely produce very similar results as the old Silvertip.

Que? The Ballistic tip is nothing like the old Silvertips.

Shayne
 
Maybe I'm confused, the Ballistic Silvertip is the same bullet as Nosler Ballistic Tip hunting bullet, with Lubalox coating. Maybe there is some other bullet you are referring to? Should be able to find something that performs in the 270 the way you want, lots and lots of options. Maybe an Accubond or Powermax Bonded? My brother and I have shot a lot of deer with 140 grain Ballistic tips with good results. Generally all full pass thrus, with heavy expansion.
 
I had the same results with power points. Blew up on an antelope shoulder and was reduced to pieces with nothing exiting. That was a 270 150 grainer at 250 yards! Would not want to rely on it for elk.

OTOH, 150 grain partitions and 150 Core Lokts have been sudden death on deer, elk, antelope and large hogs
 


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