quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
My longest shots on an eland bull was around 500 yards.

Using a wildcat 270/404 Short I built myself.

Using 150 grain Jensen bullets - similar to the Trophy Bonded Bear Claws.

Both shots were in his shoulder, within less than 6 inches of each other.

One went through, and the other we recovered under the skin on the other side.

He ran a few yards after the first shot, and took a couple of steps and dropped after the second.

He would have died with the first shot.

quote:

Originally posted by B L O'Connor:
I think we have a unanimity of opinion, but I could be wrong.

I believe nobody who has commented thinks that a 160 Nosler partition @~2950(!) is inadequate for an elk cow.

If I am wrong, I'm open to being corrected. So if there are any naysayers, please speak up.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Knight:
Sambar- I purposely sought out two '80s model 700 Classic. My first Classic was a 1982 .257 Roberts. Through the years, I have owned many, many Model 700s, but especially the "Classic" models. Every LA (standard or magnum) has had a long throat, to the best of my memory. I remember pretty good too, for 66, ha. I never had a Model 70 that was comparable. My "best" Model 70s were the ones I had "rebarreled", ha. I knew the Classics had longer throats, as a rule anyhow. I was recovering from a financial hit last two years so had only two rifles. I had found them affordable so went with (a) another 80's Mod 70 FWT Classic in 7x57 and (b) an older Ruger 77 "tanger" in 338WM. I had high hopes for both...they were both junk! Poor accuracy. I sold both one afternoon! I then purposely decided to go back to the Mod 700 Classic. I found the 1980 .270 ( this year has iron sights) first. I would have taken any long action standard round, from 25-06 to 30-06 to 35 Whelen. The .270 showed up. I then began to look for another Classic in 35 Whelen ( owned a couple through the years, really like them) but found this "new" 1987 338WM. It too has a long throat, which I knew I can get them to shoot! And they do too! So, I really like the 338WM and will hand onto it, but I will drop back in weight (those 200 NBT/NABs, and some lighter Barnes) and I am going to search for a slower 250gr load. I love having the "choice" of that 250AB/2800fps load, but I used the 250/35 Whelen Ackley going 2550 for 20 yrs...its a real killer and so would the 338WM be at same speed. And it will be a lot for "fun" to shoot! The 2800fps load, again, is not brutal, this model stock fits me very well, comes straight back and the Limbsaver pad works swell. IOW, I don't "grit my teeth" and put it in a death grip to fire off sandbags, ha. Its just like a 300WM to me, or a heavy loaded 30-06.
I like the lighter weight monos for any caliber ( got some 110TTSX ready for the .270) the 185X and 210xbt in 338/340 and 235x in .375H&H. But for cup n core, I do like the heavier bullets. I guess I got spoiled to penetration from that first 35 Whelen 700 Classic I had reamed to the Ackley. I used that 250x and later just the 200x. The 180xbt was perfection in the 300WM too. But I have also used a lot of Partitions and NBTs, love them too. So, long answer but "my experience" has shown that about 99.9% of the time I can get a Model 700 to shoot well. Rugers & Mod 70s ( I love them both) are just a roll of the dice...for me. I have used pump shotguns all my adult life ( I could only afford single shots growing up, except for one mindlessly brutal kicking 1148 12ga) but pump rifles just don't scratch my itch. I have always chosen a levergun over them. I realized I am not likely to tromp all day in the snow like I used to...so I'll just find a big spruce to sit under and see what walks by! Nah, I'll keep the 338 as I have it set up identical to the .270. Maybe a lighter scope on it some day.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Knight:
Hey Sambar, I did load the 310 Woodleigh in that 35 WAI, for 2400fps. I killed one 200# Eurasian hog with it. It was perfect, no bloodshot meat at all and made a big hole all the way through. I got a "wild hair" and had that rifle converted/rebarreled to 358 Norma Magnum. I had just got it set it when a financial swarm hit me and I had to sell of "everything" I had to fix it! Bummer. I love the Woodleighs, but not enough to try the 180 in this .270 and gamble of the 10" twist. In a 270 WSM or 270 Weatherby, yeah, I could push it fast enough to work in a slower twist, just like I did in that 16" Whelen AI. Since this rifle shoots the 160NP so well, I'm sticking with it. I just know that I'd end up leaving the 338 at home too much. I guess, somewhere along the way....I preferred the lighter/faster handling rifles stopped "enjoying" the recoil of the 338 and up! I suppose I could always have the Mauser rebored or rebarreled to the standard Whelen, but am in no hurry.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Some of you might laugh at this.

For me, the 338 caliber is useless!

If a 30 won’t do it, I would rather use a 375.

I have used rifles from 25, 27, 28, 338, 375 and 416 in Africa.

And the 338 was the one I had no use for.

Too small for the big ones, legally.

And does not offer anything over the lesser ones for planes game.

I have killed every plains game in Africa with various 270 caliber cartridges.

Including sable, zebra and eland.

No problems whatsoever.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Torres,
You can load a 270 to 7 mag velocity with like 160 gr. bullets to 3100 FPS, but both need a 26 inch barrel to do so according to my chronograph,both would be a bit over max loads btw.

The .270 are almost all 22" barrels and the 7 mags need to be 26 inches...The chronograph was my wake up call on the 7 mag, and factory ammo is week compared to your handload for sure. For that reason I prefer the fwt wt. mod 70 pre 64 to a heavy 7 mag for hunting, I like light weight guns, and 270 and 30-06 really fill that bill for me. Both the 270 and 7 mag kill well in the field and neither is a bad choice..

If I go larger its with a .338 or a 375, mostly the .338 for NA and the 375 or larger for Africa..

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Knight:
Thanks cal, but I am going to pass. As is asid, I'm in no hurry for another Whelen. If I could find another Mod 700 action I could just have my 35 WAI put back together. I still have the barrel and stock. But I also know it would just be a safe queen right now. Instead, I think I am going to try to shoot a wad of ammo through the .270 this summer/fall. I have applications on antlerless deer (2 deer) and antelope doe. Maybe I can get this rifle 'bloody" with them!
Sambar, the 310 shot well/point on but I'm sure the 2400fps helped! Again, this was a high pressure load in the Ackley chamber. I always used new, fireformed brass with hunting loads, no matter the bullet. I did realize that I was "chasing the dragon" with it so I went to more conventional case shapes. When pressure signs show up on any Ackley, one is way over on pressure. Even at a guesstimated 72K my loads were easy to extract and rounded primers. Just didn't mean anything for an Ackley, ha. I also am legally blind in my left eye...so no reason to gamble on a failed case since finding this out. ha

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Some of you might laugh at this.

For me, the 338 caliber is useless!

If a 30 won’t do it, I would rather use a 375.

I have used rifles from 25, 27, 28, 338, 375 and 416 in Africa.

And the 338 was the one I had no use for.

Too small for the big ones, legally.

And does not offer anything over the lesser ones for planes game.

I have killed every plains game in Africa with various 270 caliber cartridges.

Including sable, zebra and eland.

No problems whatsoever.