I'm still doing research, dreaming, for my rifle project and in doing so I've studied the 6.5 rem mag, 264 win mag, 270 weatherby, 284 win, 280 rem and the 7mm rem mag. I've narrow it down to the 7mm and the .270wby. For a one gun hunter, from Antelope to, Mule Deer, Caribou, Whitetail Deer and Elk, which one would you choose? And why?

I like the .270wby, why, just because I like it. But I'm worried about accuracy with it being freebored and finding ammo in remote locations. The 7mm, welllllllll is a little plain. But you could find ammo almost anywhere. Whats your thoughts?

That's a really old cartridge. Time has passed it's features by except for the .277 bore. Most pass on freebore, belts and "venturi" shoulder radius's.

However you like it so make it work.

I like the .270 WSM in that class. But what the heck.

Eigther would be a fine choice. There are some things you need to consider with the 270 though and you have adressed most of them already. Rifle selection is a little more varied with the 7mm but a re-barrel job would extend your options with the 270.

My younger brother has shot a great variety of game with a 7mm weatherby magnum using 160gr bullets including whitetail, muledeer, pronghorn, sheep, bear, elk, and moose with great results (in spite of the belt that it wears and its apparent age). There is no reason you wouldn't see the same results shooting a good 150gr bullet out of a 270 wby. My dad has also had great success with a 7mm magnum for 30yrs as well (inspite of its belt as well, imagine that). If the 270 is what you want however, I see no reason not to go with it. Especially if you handload.

Do you handload?

Chuck

P.S. I wouldn't loose to much sleep over the freebore eigther.

I went the 270 WSM route myself.
You can buy shells at a lot of stores.
Winchester Premium loads at $24.00 a box
New Brass for $15.00 per 50 $28.00 per 100
Cheap to reload for. Uses 10% less powder Than Weatherby
Short action non-belted case. Easy to resize.
Almost as much velocity. Weatherby beats the WSM by 150+/- fps for a given bullet.
Usually a lighter shorter barrled gun. 23"-24" vs 26" barrels.

If you are a fan of the 7mm The same advantages for the 7WSM or 7SAUM

Go with the 270 Wby if you like it more. That is all that matters. The game probably won't notice a bit, even elk. The 7mm Rem Mag has the advantage of factory ammo everywhere, and the ability to handle 175 gr. bullets. With todays super-bullets, a 150 gr. Barnes X would handle any elk or moose out of a 270 Wby Mag. The 270 Wby has the cool factor, and that can be important if you want to shoot something different.

mark... first-off I would not worry about ammo avaliablity to much, life is too short, and camps oftan have rifles. If however, you find this hard to overcome, might I suggest a 270 winchester with a 24"brl or if you want to feel special a 270 AI (which will fire 270 win). The 7 mag has NOTHING on a 270 in terms of performance.

Always buy the one you want, get the .270 Weatherby. These cartridges are virtually identical in performance.
I spent 6 months looking for my Browning BAR in .270 Weatherby, dealers were always trying to sell me a 7mm mag, looked at me like I was nuts for not buying one. I wanted the .270 Weath. for the sole reason that it was different and the 7mm mag. is as common as dirt.

I prefer the 7mm mag and even moreso the 7mmstw due to the slightly larger bullet diameter and heavier bullet weights.

Mark, Roll with the 270 Wby and never look back. Have fun.

B

Yes I plan on reloading either one of them.

Barrel length? I'd like to go with a 24" barrel. I'd like to use a fluted barrel, because I like the way they look and I've never owned one, and would like to keep the total weight at less than 8.5#. I use to have a winchester lt in 270win with a 24" factory barrel,in a Rimrock stock with a Leupold 3.5-10x40 scope and Warne rings it weighed 8.25#. It was a great rig and the only thing I want to change is time around is the fluted barrel and the caliber, oh yeah, I might go the stainless steel route this time. Not that there was any thing wrong with the .270win, I'm just looking for a new toy. What barrel contour is the 24" winchester lt?

[ 03-14-2003, 22:46: Message edited by: mark65x55 ]

I agree with most posters, if the 270 wby intrigues you and you really want one, get it. Don't let other folks tell you what to do or make your decisions. You'll be much happier in the end.

Jim

Just curious, why not a 7mm Wby. or 7mm Dakota mag? I would go 7mm for the same reason I bought a .280 instead of a .270, I like the little bit bigger/heavier bullets available. I also agree w/ the ammo availablity. I'm sure it will happen to me some day, but I have never lost, left behind, etc. my ammo. If you are handloading anyway, how good is "Anybrand" ammo going to be in your rifle anyway? It's your custom rifle, it should make you happy.

[ 03-14-2003, 23:27: Message edited by: fredj338 ]

I have also always liked the .270 Wthby, but never owned one. My buddy gets over 3500 FPS with 130 gr bullets in his. I may just have to get a .270 WSM, though, as being more practical and able to use a 23 or 24 inch barrel. In my opinion, you need the longer 26-inch barrel to get the most out of the Weatherby round.

If you are going to hunt Elk regularly and use it for African plaisn game, go with the 7mm. I use mine with 175gr. TBBC in Africa with great success, and 150gr. Ballistic Tips work great for Deer, Pronghorn, etc.

If you were going to hunt Elk only once or twice, I would go with the .270, although I would choose the WSM over the Weatherby.

fredj338, I had a .280rem 15 years ago in a Rem. mt. rifle. That thing would kick the snot out you, it wasn't fun to shoot at all. I took a few deer with it but soon sold it or maybe traded it off and bought a 7mm Weatherby. The weatherby weighted more and was a lot more fun to shoot. Right now I'm trying real hard not to like the .284win. Again I don't know why? Its a neat old round with a +10 cool factor, but I'm not use its what I "need". What will it do a .280rem want do? Or the 7mm want do better. You could load 120s for Antelpoe and Whitetails. The 140 for Whitetails or Mulies and the 160s for Elk.

Greg R,
No I want be hunting Elk regularly. One or two times, if that. I've looked at the .270wsm, more than once, but right now I'm taking the wait and see route with it.

Agree with Fred, go 7mm WBY. Those who say it offers no advantage over the 7mm Rem either do not have a 26" bbl, do not reload, or do not have a chronograph. 7mm offers bigger and better BC bullets and steps up to the plate on the larger game.

JoeR,
I've had 2 7mm wbys. I had something with less recoil in mind.

Get the 7mm rem mag, ammo and brass are much cheaper, and the 175gr's will easily outperform the .277 caliber on elk.

If you didn't like the recoil of the 7mmwby mag, the 270wby mag or 7mmrem mag won't be much less in the recoil department.You may not even notice the difference.

Major Caliber why would a 175gr 7mag easily out perform a 270 wby? or winchester for that matter? I guess we all a product of our own experances.

Smallfry,

I agree that the 175 gr. 7mm will outperform the .270's. A bullet of greater weight and sectional density at a similar velocity will penetrate deeper and hit harder. I've seen the effects on a lot of African plains game, and 90% of the time, either cartridge will work. I just have more confidence in the 7 Mag, based on my experience.

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
www.slatesafaris.com

7mm Rem Mag Page www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm

jrslate I think we differ on the phrase "easily outperform " The only difference I have ever "seen" between a 270 and a 300 win mag is that a 300 CAN AT TIMES penetrate better at longer ranges. Distance from where shot and length of time between death and when shot is variable but the mean seems the same IMO. Between the 7mag and 270 I just dont see any difference. But then again I am young and dumb.

Nice page BTW

[ 03-16-2003, 02:22: Message edited by: smallfry ]

WOW, jr, I thought my buddy was a 7mag. nut!!!!!
Nice page, and the 7mag is a really great round.

6.5, my .280 wieghs in about 7 1/4# & is a dream to shoot W/ 160gr NP @ just under 2900fps. It is my deer/elk, mountain game rig.
I agree w/ some of the others, recoil from any of the med. mags is going to be about the same in sim. wt. rifles. Get what you like, that's why I don't own a .277 bore!

6.5, go with the .270 Wby., I've had mine for 3 years now and shot several mule deer a well as a couple of wild pigs; mine shoots to .375", kick isn't too bad, and 7 mags are just a little boring...; the Wby does need a 26" barrel, however.
Craig