I have a hard time buying into the "but everyone else has one" line. The 270 has earned its place in the shooting world for good reason. Its one of the not so many that have withstood the test of time and still performs with the best around.

Before the 280 came around it filled a nessesary niche and the introduction of the similar performing Johnny come latleys has not made it any less effective. Its hard to go wrong with one of the all time greats.

Sorry to take so long in giving my two-cents worth but, for some reason, I had trouble logging on. Anyway, as a long time .270 user, I have read these posts with a great deal of interest. I am reminded of something that Jack O'Connor wrote in a December, 1943 article published in Outdoor Life. The story, entitled "The .270 Can Do Big Things," started as follows: "Assuming that a cartridge can make its way on merit alone, that cartridge is the .270 W.C.F. In its early years it sat in the corner, dressed in sackcloth and covered with ashes, while few riflemen suspected that underneath it had a figger like Miss America, a disposition like an angel, and that it could bake pies like Mother used to make." That statement sort of fits right in with the oft repeated comment here that it just works.

I got my first .270 in, I believe, 1961. At the present time, there are four in my rack. In the forty-one years between these two periods, I suppose another twenty or so have passed through my rack. I can't recall a single rifle in that caliber that I've owned that wasn't a shooter. I can only recall one that was the least bit fussy.

Over the years, I have taken game with the .270 ranging from European roe deer weighing probably 50-55 lbs. on the hoof at the small end of the scale, to a fully mature Alaska/Yukon bull moose that weighted somewhere in the vicinity of 1500 lbs. at the big end. While I'm not recommending a .270 as ideal moose medicine, it worked just fine.

Most .270 users use them because, as already stated, they work for them. I know that is the reason that I use mine. There is no doubt that the .280 Remington is a fine cartridge. For all practical purposes, it is identical to the .270. What one will do, so will the other. About the only criticism I've heard about the .280 is that some have had difficulty in getting one to shoot well. I know two well-known custom makers that won't take an order for a rifle chambered for the .280 for that precise reason. My personal experience with it is very limited and I hesitate to even comment other than to say that I have one rifle so chambered. It is accurate, handy, and a fine rifle. I have used it on just one hunt, only because I am so accustomed to using my .270's that there was/is no need to do so. On the one hunt that I did use it, it worked just fine.

For bigcountry, of course there are angles in the outdoor press just as with any other profession dealing with the public. However, the differences between the philosophies of Elmer and Jack were far greater than just a big hat! I think both are worth listening to as they each took more game than we will probably see in our lifetimes. The experiences they shared with the public are well worth listening to, biases and all. I tend to agree more with O'Connor's recommendations because in my experience, although certainly pale when compared to his, I have found what he wrote to agree more with what I have learned in the field, and for no other reason.

By the way, a little known fact is that Jack's last rifle, in Al Biesen's shop being worked over when Jack died, was not a .30-'06 or .270 or 7x57 - it was, of all things, a .280 Remington!

Tom

I don't own a .270 but have a few hunting partners that use them. If someone told me I was limited to one for the rest of my life I would load it up, head out, and never worry about it.

Jeff

Oh man, Tsquare, this is what I am talking about. Its a free country and all, you can do what you like, but looking up to any other man with such admiration doesn't make sense unless its your maker. He put his pants on just like me one leg at a time. If I study all of O'connors writings over and over, will I kill more game? No, I don't think so. Will it entertain me. Yea, probably. Might I learn something? Yea, probably. Will it change my life? Absolutely not.

I am not knocking you either. I just learned alot on a recent hunt up in Newfoundland. Don't overthink the situation. This was the moral of my moose hunt. The guys up there killed thier moose with 300Win Mags just as good as the guys with the .270 Wins. I also love talking rifles and all. And I love all bottleneck rounds, but as long as its accurate, and hit the mark, you are going to be successful with whatever bottleneck. You know what my guide uses to kill moose every year? A .243. That right. I couldn't believe it either. But he always comes home with a moose.

Tsquare,

Not only was JOC's last rifle that he had built a .280, but he had 2 .280s built before that. And he never had another .270 built after he had that first .280 made. Maybe it's a coincidence, but interesting none the less.

Bob

Big Country - I have no argument with you. I don't particularly admire O'Connor as a person. He could be pretty hard to take at times. I do admire his writing ability though and I found his experiences as he reported them to most closely correlate with what I found to be true in mine. I do not think of him as a God, far from it. He was very human with plenty of warts. Still, I can't dispute his recommendations as I agree with them. By the way, I'm originally from Estill County, KY.

For bobvthunter, I'm aware of the other two .280's. One was a Mauser that Tom Burgess did the metalwork on and Earl Milliron stocked. The other was a Brno Mauser and also stocked by Milliron. I don't believe that he ever hunted with either of them though. The final .280 was completed after his death so as far as I've been able to determine, he hunted with none of his .280's.

Tom

Hey BBB, It's just a question for thought? As far as the "being able to get ammo anywhere", I have NEVER gone on a hunt anywhere in the world & lost/forgot my ammo. Besides. I really don't think that is the criteria for selecting any rifle round. IF so, we should probably all hunt w/ a .223 or .308 & trash the rest?

GSF, I was thinking more about world wide access. Again, I have never seen this as reason for choosing one caliber over another.

I would have to say..."Why not the .270?" Everyone has their favorite "whizz-bang" cartridge and why it is the best round, but I just can't see why it's a problem using a "boring old round" like the .270. Bottom line is that it works...certainly for ANYTHING in my area of the world. So again I say..."Why not?"

Because anyone who has ever used one in the game fields likes them. that is because they work, they are every bit as good a killing rifle as the 7 mm Mag, 06, even the 300's.....

I used one for many years but have not used one in the last decade or two, I just got bored with everything working right all the time...kinda like ole Chas. Askins and the 06, it just bored him to death with its postive results time and time again....

I agree with the comments posted from Atkinson and others who say that the 270 works with boring consistency.

To keep things even simpler l have settled on handloads with 150 gr. Nosler Partition bullets for all my hunting. I have not had any problems taking bear, deer and moose with the 270.

Good luck.

My .270 is boring, predictable and accurate.

Been thinking about getting a fussy, stubborn rifle just for a change of pace.

ZM

Well put, Ray. The /06 and 270 are probably the most boring rifles on the planet. Damn little they won't do that really needs doing.

Everytime I get a "fussy rifle" that requires me to kiss it's butt plate to make it do anything right, I start thinking how wonderful the 270 and /06 really are.

I shot mostly 30 calibers for years and still like them but in 1993 I bought my first 270 Winchester simply because I just thought a guy should try one and see just why Jack O loved them. Well I have had a love affair with my 270 ever since I got it. It has not only done everything that I have asked of it but has done it extremely well. It is extremely accurate out to 400 yards and is the only rifle I own that has a perfect record for shot's and downed animals. They are easy to shoot, easy to load for, and will consisantly put a whitetail down out to 400 yards. I guess all I'm saying is that it's a true Clasic Caliber and deserves allot of respect.

I've got several rifles chambered in a plethora of calibers, each one serving a niche it seems.

A heavy barrel 22-250 for varmints, enought said.

My .243 is an predator & antelope rifle. Yes, I know, .243 do kill much larger animals regularly but I have more confidence using "enough gun".

My whitetail slayer is a .270 simply because they work. My current rifle, a M70 Fwt, however unlike most .270s I've owned, it has been the most fussy about what it will shoot accurately. I finally found that it really likes a medium hot 150 gr load. So much for speedy 130s .

I also have a 7mm Rem Mag. It get's loaded with 160 or 175 grainers, using 140s in a magnum never made sense to me, but that's just my opinion. The 7mm is reserved for long pokes at mulies and elk; heavier bullets for heavier animals at possibly longer ranges(especially mulies).

My thumper is a .45-70 loaded "heavy & warm". Bear & moose. Enough said.

If, heaven forbid, I was only stuck with one choice (the horror !), it would be the .270.... just because it can.... .

[ 11-12-2002, 08:38: Message edited by: BlackHawk1 ]

The 270 win .
put it this way it has and always will be the most used gun it will take any game that is in NORTH AMERICA and it has for a long long time.
the 270 winchester is very accurate easy to shot good for long shots.I have own a few guns in my time 25-06,7mm-08,7mm rem. mag.and 300 win mag.
and a 338 win mag.& a 270 which are ALL GOOD GUNS. the only one now i use is my rem.model 700BDL with a 6-18-50 AO swarovski scope. with inmind takeing a 186 lb.field dress whitetail 11 point buck @ 367 yards one shot kills.the 270 win. is a good rifle.And allways will be.just remember just one shot will do it if you put it in the right spot.only shoot at what you know you are shooting at.and know what your limits are when shooting at any game.

one shot kills when you hit the mark-----> (+)

Idaho Bob

I simply love the 270 win. I can remember when I bought my first one and wondered after I hunted with it why did I wait so long to buy one. The 270 is just simply a caliber that does allot of thing very well. I have never had to shoot any game more than once with it, it has low recoil is flat shooting, and does everything that I ask of it very well. It just doesn't get much better than that.