Thought I would pick the forum's brains on this. I have the opportunity to pick up a used Winchester Model 70 in 270 WSM for 525.00. I think that's a great price, but I already have a 270 Win, 30-06 and 7 mag (to be rebarreled to a DGR). Is the 270 WSM worth having in the collection and are there any good wildcats that can be made from that caliber?

I've looked over the reloading books and it appears that the 270 WSM runs near 7 mag velocities. Any experience with it over the 7 mag and '06?

Thanks,
Ghostrider

ghostrider, I like the 270 WSM. Basically, I think it's a souped up 270. The one I have (had), my brother wanted it more than I, is an accurate flat shooting rifle but with moderate recoil and muzzleblast. Seems to like Reloader 22 and 140 grain accubonds very well. Kills whitetails right now but without a whole lot of damage to meat. Seems to have less recoil than a 7 mag, about like a moderate load for an '06. If you have a 270 already, I couldn't recommend it as it would only give you a bit more of what you have. I've never needed that logic to buy a new caliber as I like em all and think that it's great to work with different ones. But I think this is a good one.

I think you could get all the numbers and beat them to death. In the field you would be REAL HARD pressed to ever prove the difference in true terminal performance between the 270 WSM and the 7 Mag. It would fall more to your preferences for weight, long vs short actions, or just the specifics of the rifles themselves.

It's a great caliber and you NEED it for your arsenal. Get it, then post pics.

It will be the perfect replacement for your 7Mag when it gets rebarreled. The only advantage for the 7 is heavier bullets. But, just about anything that needs to be hunted in NA besides maybe large bears, will be served just fine with 130 and 150 gr .270 pills from the WSM. I don't plan on having a 270wsm, as I have a 7mm WSM, but unless you reload, the 270 is the better choice.

As for wildcats on the WSM case....skys the limit bud! There are reamers and dies (at least that I know of for sure) 243, 257, 264, 338, 358 (one of my favorite WSM cats) 366, 375, 416, 423, 458, 500 (as in .500) and 510.

I have had thoughts of doing a 470 WSM. The short mags become great cases for wildcats with the bigger bores, where the "efficiency" of the short case REALLY comes into effect. Case capacity is right up there with most belted mags, and with higher working pressures, some of the old classics can be met with ease. And if you ever decide to cat the WSM, you've got the best platform. M70's have a 3.1" long magazine box, which gives plenty of room for either long bullets like 264/366 or just plain BIG bullets like the heavy 40+ calibers.

+1 on it being a great replacement for your 7 mag. RL22 or Magpro under a 140gr TSX or Acubond at 3200+fps makes a fine long-range hunting load.

As mentioned above, the WSM and SAUM cased have some wonderful wildcats spawn from them. With the magazine length of that Winchester and the slightly shorter length of the SAUM cases, you can really take adavantage of some low drag pills like in the .264" arena?

quote:

I already have a 270 Win, 30-06 and 7 Mag

It's like saying you've got a 280 Remington and do you have a real role for a 7mm Mag. Or a '06 and a 300 Holland & Holland.

I don't know. I think they are too similar and the only advantage is velocity which comes at the price of reduced capacity and extra weight. Only you know whether you need that velocity in the WSM that the WCF lacks and are prepared to lose one round capacity and carry a heavier gun in the trade-off.

Advantages would be that you now have dual use of your existing stock of .277" bullets if you reload. A standard velocity 270 and, as others say, a replacement in terms of performance for your 7mm Mag.

But only at the low end of bullet weight. 150 or 160 grain tops unless you go "custom" and pay a lot for 180 .277" bullets. So you're left with having to get that '06 from the cabinet if you want to shoot a 180 grain "pill".

The only advantage I can see of a 270 WSM is that you can use "custom" bullets to drive a 180 grain "pill" at 2,800...but won't your '06 do that anyway?

Unless you going for a super velocity coyote rifle firing 100 grain "pills" at what? The standard WCF can run 3,400fps with some reloads how much velocity do you need?

The other factor is barrel length. A 22" barrel 270 WSM isn't going to do much except weigh more than a 24" barrel 270 WCF.

The other add-on costs are going to be definitely reloading dies, possibly a 'scope, etc. Cases too!

If you had said you had a 270 WCF, a '06 and a 270 WSM and were thinking of converting the WSM and replacing it with a 8mm Mag or a 338 Mag I think you'd get a different positive response.

My opinion? I'd not bother and either treat the wife or girlfriend or treat the 270 WCF or '06 to a hunt and put the money saved to both.

But let's not be too generous! Maybe $100 to the wife or girlfriend and $425 to that hunt!

Or keep it back just in case that DGR project overruns its budget!

So if it were me? It is too close to what you can duplicate in terms of bullet weight and velocity at the top end weights to your '06 and in the low end bullet weights really has no essential gain over your 270 WCF.

I own a Tikka T3 lite cal 270WSM since 2005; I'm so satisfied with it, that I'm having a previous Ruger M77/II cal. 270Win rebarreled to 25-06, since I did not use it anymore. Blasphemy?

I like the Tikka and Savage guns in .270 WSM, the single stacked magazines help feed Mr. Short-and-Stubby (not a very flattering name) a little better. I know some of the Browning and Winchester rifles weren't the smoothest operators, jarring the round up out of the magazine and actually have seen one M70 pop the round up with such force it ended up rolling off the shooters bench! Small bullets mixed with fat cases and steep shoulders make for a little more difficulty getting it to feed as smooth.

Ballistically, it'll be just a little behind the 7mm Rem Mag at the same bullet weight. Figure 100 - 150fps on the 140's, which can still be pushed to 3150 or so. Great for the deer hunter who may try for moose or elk once in a while.

You must turn all 3 of those old relics into tomato stakes and buy the 270WSM. Why? Ask Phil Shoemaker.

The .270 WSM caliber is fine but that particular rifle may give you heartburn. I bought one for my wife, it's accurate & deadly on both deer & elk. Her's is a Winchester Model 70 Super Shadow--stainless & synthetic and I think it must be the last one they made before closing down the shop. The safety was so stiff it took pliers to move it, the trigger was at 12 pounds, the recoil pad was loose---lots of minor stuff like that--all fixable. But, the big issue is the magazine. It will NOT feed a full magazine. If more than 2 rounds are placed in it the action jams. No gunsmith has ever been able to fix it. So, the rifle shoots fine but quality control was very lacking in the finished product. My gunshop won't even trade for it---at any price. Says he can't sell them because of the shoddy quality reputation.

Never had feeding problems with my Browning 300 wsm. Now I haven't had the chance to fire my 7mm WSM M70...but I've run dummy rounds through it and haven't had any problems with it at all.

Well, first of all, I'm a biased, .27 cal. slut and have never owned a 7mm anything.
I have both a .270 Win. and a .270 WSM. I handload both and use 150 gr. bullets exclusively. In my .270 Win, I get 2930 fps with a 150 Partition & Rldr-22. I've used the .270 here in Ak. for 40+ years with no problems - sheep & caribou. I wouldn't hesitate to use it on moose or grizzlies.
I've only had my WSM about 2 years and have yet to hunt with it, however, I get ~3100 fps (as I recall - have to check my notes) with a 150 Partition and Retumbo. IMHO, the WSM is a handloading proposition due to the cost of even the cheapest ammo. That of course if you want to shoot very much.
I think that you should check the rifle over thoroughly for proper function and even shoot it if possible. As to the asking price - I dunno. Might not be too bad of a deal though. Just my thoughts. Bear in Fairbanks

I like my .270 WSM.....it's a Browning A-Bolt and have never had any of the problems you can sometimes hear about these rounds.

The nice thing the .270 WSM does that the older .270 Win doesn't do as well is shoot 140's and 150's at near 130 speeds from the older .270 version.

I have shot and hunted with the .270 WSM in a Model 70 Winchester Ultimate Shadow for two years, with no issues whatsoever. The only thing I can say about the chambering is the old .270 Winny was great and the WSM variety is greater, if you like speed with accuracy. I use mine primarily for Mule Deer in Colorado and beanfield Deer at home. A 130 grain Bullet at 3450 fps, a 140 grain bullet at 3250-3300 fps and 150 grain bullet at 3225 fps, all with excellent accuracy. I just bought a second WSM in the new Model 70 Featherweight Deluxe, a real beauty with eye popping wood. Can't wait to put new glass on it and get shooting. I have shot all the 7mm's extensively and with the 270 WSM I can get near 7mm STW performance, and that is saying something. It likes RL-22 and RL-25 and lots of it, depending on bullet weight. Good shooting.

I appreciate all of your input! I think I'm going to go with it and make my 7 mag a 416 Ruger.

I have rifles in every caliber you mention, except the .270 Win., but including the .270 WSM.

The 30-06, the 7mm Rem. Mag. and the .270 WSM are all pretty much redundant, I guess - but then again, I don't care!

I already had a 25/06, 7mm-08, and 30/06, and came across a LH Model 70 Featherweight in 270WSM a few months back. Got it for under $600 with a Nikon Buckmasters scope included. Couldn't pass up the deal.
I'm working up loads for it this winter and will use it as my primary deer gun next fall.
Always nice to get a new toy. Maybe the 7mm-08 will become a 338 Federal or 358 Win.

ghostrider272,

Thats a good price if the 70 is CRF and if the chamber is round. I have a good shooting M70 Classic in 7mm WSM and if it were not so accurate I would dump it as its chamber is out of round.

Fired cases measure out of round. This has been reported about other M70 WSM's because Winchester made the barrels too tight.

Savage_99 ----- I have been considering a 7mm WSM because I have a good stash of 7mm bullets for my 7mm STW. What speeds with accuracy are you getting with yours. I have so many grandsons that will someday need a good Model 70, I am looking at hunting chamberings I can reload for them in my waning years. Good shooting.

quote:

its chamber is out of round.

Fired cases measure out of round.

interesting.....may I ask how you're measuring and how much out of round are you measuring?

What tools are you using to measure this?

quote:

Is the 270 WSM worth having in the collection and are there any good wildcats that can be made from that caliber?

IMO the .270 WSM is not going to add much to your current battery.....but it's wildcatting potential is quite high.....from .264 caliber to .416

A .375 WSM just might be the rough equivalent of the .375 Ruger et al!

Well, I put it th 270 WSM on layaway and will have it in less than 60 days. Have dies and brass on the way. Any suggestions on 140s or 150s down the tube?

Looking forward to replacing the 7 mag with it.

vapodog,

I measured the case with a Slocomb micrometer that has the tenths reading on the back.

Here are readings from one case taken 3/4" up from the base.

.5509", 5510", .5511", .5511", .5512", .5513", .5514", .5515".

This is way out of round and a reload could never be chambered without FL sizing.

the largest reading difference is still only .0006 which could be explained by any number of factors.....uneven case cooling in the chamber for example.

.0006 is about 1/6 th the diameter of a human hair....or there abouts....hardly the kind of evidence I'd use to say the chamber was "out of round".....

Exact same problem in my model 70 7mm WSM . FLS every time .
My Sako .270 WSM has a round chamber and neck sizing is all that is required .

quote:

Originally posted by ghostrider272:
Have dies and brass on the way. Any suggestions on 140s or 150s down the tube?

140 Nosler Accubonds and MagPro powder.......