Hy, wanting to buy a new 270 and would like your opinion's on which caliber you think is better performing. I will also be reloading, any info would be appreciated. Thank's, Rick.

I think the only real world difference between the two, is that the 270 WSM seems to make a lot louder bang on the firing line --- S40

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wanting to buy a new 270 and would like your opinion's on which caliber you think is better performing. I will also be reloading, any info would be appreciated.

The WSM certainly has a little more juice but the plain old 270 Winchester will still be available at Walmart long after the WSM version is but an interesting footnote on Wikipedia.

Don't be fooled by naysayers, lots of folks poo-poo the .270WSM, but in the real world it will provide between 150 fps to 250 fps advantage over the standard .270 Win. Mine is very accurate as well. IMO, the biggest downside to the short mag is the rather high cost of factory ammo. You will be lucky to find any for less than $20 a box, and much of it is closer to $30 if you like premium bullets. I think it is still possible to get the plain old .270 Win ammo for around $15 or less on sale. Nothing wrong with the standard .270 Win, and the short mag certainly doesn't offer anything that the standard doesn't, unless you prefer a short action and a slightly lighter weight rifle. I don't believe the short mag is capable of taking any game that you could not reasonably take with the standard .270 Win. I faced the same choice a couple of years ago, went for the .270WSM and have not regretted it. It is also capable of being loaded down to 7mm-08 recoil levels and still maintain decent accuracy. Very versatile. Also can launch 90 gr HP bullets over 3600 fps for a pretty devastating long range rock chuck rifle. Like I said, the short magnum can do anything the standard can do and a little more. I like having the option available..

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The WSM certainly has a little more juice but the plain old 270 Winchester will still be available at Walmart long after the WSM version is but an interesting footnote on Wikipedia.

For an extra 150 - 250 fps, it ain't worth it!!!

The difference in trajectory is negligible, and no animal on this Earth will notice the difference.

There's a reason there aren't too many discussions about the 270Win on this forum... the cartridge simply works. No 'ifs' or 'but's'...

Those of us who own and USE one don't need to tell everybody else about it... it does the job, and does it brilliantly...

Before the Winchester factory closing announcement, I noticed some dealers offering great cost discounts on Winchester WSM rifles. The product line must not have sold as well as expected and they were clearing out these rifles.

I do not own a WSM nor do I plan to. As said before , it is reasonable that the WSM's will be a collectable round. The rifles are likely to sell at a discount if the following is true: I believe the WSM has a bigger cartridge face than the 30-06, and may be a different face than a belted mag. If this is so, and this action is a short action, conversion to a different caliber will require a new bolt. Considering the M70 just went out of production, that will going to cost $$$$.

You know, it is getting harder to find new cartridge niches. The WSM was an attempt to have a short action magnum. I cannot think of a successful one right now, but I can think of one unsuccessful one. (6mm Rem Mag) Reducing the rifle OAL by 1/2 inch and offering slightly better ballistics was not evolutionary/revolutionary enough to displace a well established cartridge. I.E. the 270 Win.

I have not handloaded this cartridge, don't know if the advertised velocities are real, or just a fast factory barrel. I have a number of 30-06’s, 308’s, it is not unusually to have one barrel that just shoots everything 50-100 fps faster, or one barrel that shoots everything slower. If you were to get the slow end WSM, and I have a high end 270 Win, there goes the velocity advantage.

If your dead set on a 270 magnum, try the Weatherby. It has been hanging around for more than a few decades and is every bit the equal of the 7m/m Remington magnum when using 150/160 grain bullets. 3350 FPS with 140 grain X bullets is nothing to sneeze at, and I'm sure the WSM couldn't do that without excessive pressures.

Shoots 200-300fps faster, hits 300-500 ft.lbs. harder, less wind drift. Also out performs the 7mm Rem mag and has a shorter action = lighter rifle than both. IMHO the 270wsm is here to stay.

I like mine alot, very accurate, routinely 200 fps faster than a vanilla .270. I doubt the demise of it, I see alot of them out there now the 7mm version seems to be languishing like the 7mm RSAUM. I have found velocities as good and a tad better than factory attainable with no problem in my rifle, no feeding problems and good case life so far. Perhaps it's not a big enough bore or a weird enough euro caliber to satisfy some around here. The .270 is nice, the .270 WSM is better with out a 4" case length, 55 dollar a box ammo or a custom rifle. It's certainly more than an AI version like a .280AI is above a .280.

Richard Wayne ----- Do not let the shooters who have not shot and reloaded the .270 WSM tell the old .270 Win is it's equal. I have loaded and shot many .270 Win over the years and have the utmost respect for it and always will, but it will not do what the WSM round will. My WSM is a Model 70 Ultimate Shadow that has not had a gunsmith hands on it. I got 3455 fps tops and 3400 average out of 130 grain North Fork bullets, without pressure and with excellent accuracy. I get an average of 3300 fps out of Barnes TSX with excellent accuracy and 3250 fps with 150 grain North Forks with excellent accuracy. Folks the old .270 will not do that any way you loads it. I also have loaded and shot extensively the .270 Wby and 7mm Wby, and the .270 WSM is so close to both that it is scary. One more thing, as good as the old 270 is and always will be, in 20 years the new rifles sold in .270 will in my opinion be the WSM round, it is just that much better. I am not saying Winchester will sell them but someone will produce the .270 WSM round and for a long time, mark my words. Yep, new chamberings will come along, but this one is here for an extended stay. You naysayers, state your experience with it before you start knocking it, if you have not shot it, go get one then talk. Good shooting.

Richard-both rounds are excellent choices.

One thing that I would look at is what your intended purposes for them are. If it is for occaisonal use and mostly at close ranges (sub 450) then I would go 270.

To the point I would take a close look at mainly at what ranges you are serious about using them at and practicing for.

Unless one is pretty darn serious about using them at long range I don't see any advantage to going with the WSM.

I take that back, it (the WSM) will help you a bit with wind drift at long range but other than that I don't see it helping much.

Same bullets just a bit faster is all, I would say on an average 100-150 fps faster. Not enough to make me want to go the WSM route.

My last 270 tube was a Lilja on my G33/40, it was cut at 23" and it would rock the 130's and the 135's at 3200 with no problemo.

So if you're not serious about long range work then I would say without hesitation go the standard 270 route.

One last thing about the long range route, IMO and IME the only way to seriously shoot at 500 and beyond is to do it via turrets on your scope and or dotz like the you can get put in from Premier reticles.

I've got 2 rifles set up with Premier dotz (a 6/06 and a 7 Mashburn Super) and the dotz are to 700 and it does make hitting at range a world of a lot easier.

Of course I shoot them both more than a bit so that helps a lot as well.

Lets just say that if I was over in the Mid East, and a bad guy started poking shots at me from 700. And lets just say that only his beaner was showing he would not be long for this world!

Mark D

The 270 Winchester is a superb classic round, the 270 WSM shoots the same bullets about 200fps faster.
The best advice is to buy a rifle you like in either caliber and you will be just fine.
I would suggest that you compare the same rifle from a given manufacturer in both calibers i.e. a Kimber 8400 and a Kimber 8400 LA or Sako Finnlite etc.. There is a difference in the way these two brands handle in the respective calibers. Buy the one that fits you best.............DJ

dj-brings up an excellent idea, go for fit and feel and you'll not go wrong.

Mark D

DJ is right on. I have a safe full of 270 wins that shoot. I bought a 270 wsm primarily because fo the rifle kimber 8400. I t is a dream, easy 150ft. per sec faster. I haven't had any loads that haven't shot into less than 1 in. the best are less than 1/2. I wouldn't give up my 270wins but I like thewsm well enough that I bought anotherkimber in 300wsm it shoots 1/2 in also but is a little more finiky They both are very easy to load for. And those 2 choices will be around for the grand kids to shoot.

Thank's guy's. i really apreciate the info. I know the 270 win. round has been a stapple round for a lot of year's and i was just curious how the 270 wsm. stood up against it. To try and answer some of your question's on what i am using it for , here goe's. I am 56 yrs. old and hunted all my life, i own a ruger 44 mag. deerslayer. a savage .308 99-c. and a Sako .300 rum 75 s.s. I use these gun's to hunt moose, deer and bear. Where i live i can't use these gun's, i have to be 50 mile's north of where i live. My area only allow's me to use up to 275 cal. That's where the 270 come's in, i want it for coyote,s and maybe use it for game up north(just another excuse to tell the old lady i need another rifle).I really apreciate your info again and thank's to this wonderful site, Accurate reloading, Rick,

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Originally posted by Richard Wayne:
Hy, wanting to buy a new 270 and would like your opinion's on which caliber you think is better performing. I will also be reloading, any info would be appreciated. Thank's, Rick.

What I liked about the original is slick feeding. Then Layne Simpson stated, after trying a Browning, it was a smooth feeder. Well a friend tried it out and yup! The damn thing feeds slicker than goose s**t on a tin roof!!
I, for one, was impressed with the pushfeed! I still can't believe that I'm singing the praises of a ( uugh!) pushfeed.

I like the 270 win alot.
I would probaly like the 270 wsm alot too, but for deer hunting the .270 is all the power you need. And If you want to go elk hunting, I supose the added power of the wsm might help, but I would choose a bigger bullet for elk.
Both will work for elk but neither is on my list. It seems to me some guys think that if they get a fast shooting round and by the right scope, thats the same as being a good shot.
I like them both , but for my purposes I prfer the .270 win...tj3006

Hi Richard:

I have way to many rifles, and I never owned a 270 Winchester. But when I bought and shot my 270 WSM, with factory ammo no less, it shoots sub MOA. It also hits like the Hammer of Thor.

It has become my favorite deer cartridge bar none. I just bought a 270 wsm Sako Finnlite last year also, my first is the Winchester Classic with a custom lammie stock.. Love the caliber.

Regards... Jim P.

The 270 WSM is pretty much better in every category, especially if you plan on reloading for it. I believe every major rifle company out there chambers this cartridge, just like the rest of the WSM series. For a cartridge that ain't predicted to last around long, they sure do sell well.

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Originally posted by Moose-Hunter:
The 270 WSM is pretty much better in every category, especially if you plan on reloading for it.

Why not go for the .270 Weatherby then?????

I can't help but jump on this one but....
Firt of all, I don't own any WSM nor have I shot one. I have had & still use a .270 Win. for sheep, caribou and like size game and use 150 gr Partitions.
My load is 57 gr. of Rldr-22 and I get 2937 fps with the chrono. The rifle is a reworked pre-64 Mod. 70 and I can get 1" groups or less when I do my part.
According to the Nosler #5 manual, the highest listed velocity for the WSM is 3007 fps with 60.5 grs. of Rldr-19.
Therefore, other than rifle weight, how is that significantly different than a .270 Win. Simple, it's not! The .270 is gonna be here virtually forever and cases are easily made from .30-06 brass if necessary. I don't see the point of the the WSM line except for the possiblity of saving weight for mountain hunting, etc.
I'd still go for the .270 Win. Just my humble opinion. Bear in Fairbanks

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The best advice is to buy a rifle you like in either caliber and you will be just fine.

The best advice.

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Why not go for the .270 Weatherby then?????

because it's a Weatherby. Belts? I don't need no stinkin belts.


I am a huge 270 fan, own 5 currently and have owned many more.

But I just bought a 270 WSM. The primary reason is the rifle.... CZ Model 3. Those rifles fit me really well. I bought the chrome blue, and the stocks are the best production rifle stocks I have seen. I even own one in 300WSM.

Whoever said you would need a different bolt for a conversion from WSM to regular magnum doesn't have his facts straight. The RUM's and WSM's have the same rim dimension and that is the same as the the belted mags. It's possible that converting it to a short belted mag might have rounds popping out of the magazine at inoportune times, I have never heard of anyone converting a WSM to belted mag, I think it would be a waste of time. I have a .300 WSM and like it very much. It won't match the .300 WINMAG with heavier bullets but it will up to 168 gr. Were they something the shooting public needed, perhaps not. Are they a good alternative to other cartridges, yes. Some of the older, more knowledgeable gunscribes always complained that the belted case was a solution to a non-existant problem and that a non-belted case like the .30 Newton would be just the ticket for everybody. Well, REMCHESTER did it and now a lot of shooters are bad mouthing it. I don't think anyone can truthfully say that the RUM's/WSM's are bad, poor shooting or a waste of effort. Do you NEED one? Possibly not. Do you want one? By all means, buy one. You'll probably like it.

Bear in Fairbanks ----- You broke the rule I set, stating that if you have not loaded and shot the .270 WSM, don't knock it until you have. The book speeds are funny papers as you well know. My 150 grain North Fork load chronographs at an average of 3250 fps. That is considerably more than your load as you state it at 2937, if my math is correct. Once again, and all my comments here are in fun and games and for knowledge only, you simply must shoot the .270 WSM round to really appreciate it. Speed is not everything but a 150 grain .277 caliber bullet at 3250 fps and with pin point accuracy is something to consider for the buyer looking at both rounds from the outside. Good shooting.

Have to get in here...

I, too, am one of those that love the .270 Winchester. My 22" barreled BDL pushes a Speer 130 GS out the muzzle at a clocked 3150. Now, having said that, I have to wonder exactly how much more energy is in a 150 at 100 fps faster... It might give you another 30 yards before the bullet falls off the table, but that is about it.

Seyfried wrote about his "wildcat" 270 WSM right after he was sent a prototype 300 Short to try. He raved about the round, and I respect Ross's experience and opinions a lot. But I will hasten to add this: the development of the short and super shorts, and the short ultras, was all to do one thing: bolster rifle sales. It did that for a bit, but let's face it: if you can't do it with a .270, a 7RM, an '06 or one of the .30 mags, you aren't going to be able to do it with one of the new cartridges, either.

Just my $.02...

Doubtless ----- Your 130 grain .277 bullet at 3150 fps is a formidable load and always will be, my WSM 130 grain North Fork averages 3400 fps with pin point accuracy, how good is it. My 140 grain Barnes TSX averages 3300, with .5 MOA, how good is it. I will admit I like speed and the old .270 Win had it when others did not for a long time, it now has competition with speed galore, with rifles that are not premium priced like the Weatherbys, etc. Good shooting.

I never jumped on the wsm band wagon, but of all the wsm's, the 270 makes the most sense. It offers 270 weatherby performance in a short action, light weight, quick handling rifle. The extra 200 fps it generates over the 270 win will definitely translate into more energy at longer ranges. Probably won't matter too much for deer, but something to think about for longish shots on elk. True, you may not always be able to walk into wally world and pick up a box of ammo, but then again that's what reloading is for!

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Originally posted by SDhunter:

because it's a Weatherby. Belts? I don't need no stinkin belts.[/QUOTE]

Sound so belt shy I'm suprised you can keep your pants up.

I've relaoded for a half dozen or so 270 Winchesters and 4 or so 270 WSM's. Simply put, I've loaded the same bullets and powders from the same boxes and kegs into both in rifles of identical length barrels. The 270 WSM is right at 200fps faster in the two bullet weights I tried in both.
There ain't no flies on the WIN but the WSM is about 200fps faster if you load them both equivelantly.........................DJ

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Originally posted by rugeruser:

There's a reason there aren't too many discussions about the 270Win on this forum... the cartridge simply works. No 'ifs' or 'but's'...

Those of us who own and USE one don't need to tell everybody else about it... it does the job, and does it brilliantly...

...well, that pretty much sums it up for me too. If you plan on shooting beyond 450 yards on a regular basis, I can't see any incredible advantage. I own 3 270s for a reason. They kill just fine.

My bro has done an excellent job of using less bullet too. He's dropping deer left and right with a 110 TSX from his 270 (and a few antelope).

If his load will tumble a 180lb buck at 275 with a shoulder shot, what more can you get from the WSM?

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I can't see any incredible advantage. I own 3 270s for a reason.

Is that possibly because you have never owned a WSM ???

Nothing wrong with either cartridge, but until you own both I dont see how its possible to make subjective comparisons.

If I was looking for a cartridge around these performance levels I would also be looking at the 284 win, 280 rem, 7mm rem mag and 7mm WSM.

I would go 7mm every time simply because of the fantastic bullet range avaliable, some with extremely high BC making them excellent for long range work.

My choice would be the 7mm WSM without doubt.

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Originally posted by Tumbo:

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I can't see any incredible advantage. I own 3 270s for a reason.

Is that possibly because you have never owned a WSM ???

Nothing wrong with either cartridge, but until you own both I dont see how its possible to make subjective comparisons.

I disagree. You do not have to own both at all. I've shot plenty of 270wsm rounds. Just wasn't my gun. I like the cartridge, but I also have a 7mag, so I don't want the wsm. So I do have first hand subjective/objective results and the differences on kills is unremarkable. Trajectory was noticeable but not to any degree worth the extra powder, boom, and costs.

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Sound so belt shy I'm suprised you can keep your pants up

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Originally posted by vapodog:

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The WSM certainly has a little more juice but the plain old 270 Winchester will still be available at Walmart long after the WSM version is but an interesting footnote on Wikipedia.

I don't own a 270 Win or a 270 WSM and I don't think that I ever will. But I do enjoy a good

The powder company websites say the max speeds for a 150 grain bullet are:

................270 WSM..........270 Win
IMR...........2952 fps.........2850 fps
Hodgdon...3071 fps.........2831 fps
Accurate....3136 fps.........3000 fps

It looks like 100-150 fps to me

Fjold ----- If you reload you also know the powder company web sites are funny papers as well as the manuals, that simply give you starting points. ----- Don Slater -- My Walmart no longer sells guns. A shooting range manager reported here on AR that picked up spent brass indicate the .270 WSM most popular at his range. Good shooting.

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Originally posted by phurley5:
Fjold ----- If you reload you also know the powder company web sites are funny papers as well as the manuals, that simply give you starting points. ----- Don Slater -- My Walmart no longer sells guns. A shooting range manager reported here on AR that picked up spent brass indicate the .270 WSM most popular at his range. Good shooting.

Yep, and if you can get another 100 fps out of the WSM, you can probably get another 100 fps out of the Win.

I've a .257 Roberts that smacks deer at 275 with a 100TSX, why a .277" bore at all? Funny how a BBS that raves the .375 H&H is the only gun one needs for everything on the planet, gets all squirrly over a short fat case when the long fat case with ugly belt is the ultimate.

It happens to fit my needs almost perfectly for bullets available- really someone said bullet selection was a reason to NOT select the .270WSM? What more does one need than partitions, TSX's, Ballistic tips, accubonds, Grand Slams, Interbonds and a slew of regular bullets? Run the numbers the 7mm has no great advantage in sd or bc in hunting weight bullets, true there are some match types the .270 doesn't have, then who is shooting these at game?

Fjold ----- I am making my comparisons after shooting several thousand rounds with the .270 Win and 200 plus from the new .270 WSM. The case capacity of an extra 6 grains of powder is very revealing here. Once again, you can argue all you want too, if you qualify that with loading and shooting both with chronograph. The powder company sites and manuals are good information, but until you experience the real performance all is conjecture. Good shooting