What do you think of the 270WSM for heavy game?

Question:
What is the largest game you would be comfortable taking with a 270WSM loaded with 160gr. Nosler Partitions to 2900 fps. ?

Choices:
Deer
Elk
Moose
Mountain Grizzly
Brown Bear

 

Geez, I had a problem deciding so I chose grizzly. I also wouldn't hesitate to use it on moose and in fact have taken mine on a couple of our annual treks. Haven't taken a moose with it tho. We hunt the Brooks Range for sheep and although grizzly season there starts after we leave, I'd use it on a grizzly without too much concern. Two points however. One is that I always have a partner/backup and, 2. I use either 150 gr. Partitions or 150 gr. NorthForks. I trust their performance implicitly.
Just what I do tho.
Bear in Fairbanks

I picked Deer only because I do not see Coyotes as an option.

quote:

Originally posted by DWright:
I picked Deer only because I do not see Coyotes as an option.

lol!

DWright must be Elmer Keith's grandson. He, Elmer, once described the 30-06 and the 220 Grain Sierra bullet combo as a "wonderfully flat shooting pest cartridge." What a great line of prose to express his opinion.

I should have added; back some years ago when an elephant escaped, from a circus I think, and was mashing about in an American Town, I think it was a mighty 270 that laid him low.

I voted Brown Bear because I'm just crazy enough to try it (of course, that's easy to say when you don't have the dough).

But the prudent side of me (underdeveloped as it is) remembers that even Jack O'Connor used a .375 H&H for his coastal brownies...

friar

I voted "Brown Bear" simply because a close buddy killed his 11 footer with a .270 Win using a 130 grain Remington Corelokt bullet. He put it down with the first shot and then used two more shots to keep it anchored. This was a true 11 footer at Cold Bay Alaska, an area know for big Bears. I took my 91/2 footer there with a .300 Winny. My hide was huge and I did the measuring with an expert, the 11 footer was considerably larger. The .270 WSM is a lot more per load over the original .270, with the 160 grain Partition I have no doubt it can do the job, shot placement as always being very important indeed. The largest game I have taken with my WSM is a huge Elk Cow. My grandson and I will be using the WSM for Elk this year. I am not advocating hunting Brown Bear with the .270 WSM, but once again it would do the job. After my Brown Bear expereince, I pack a .358 STA when in their country now, and will continue to do so. Good shooting.

I'm a 270 fan too but that was funny!

I went with Moose, simply because I know that it ethically can be done. Hell, the world record moose was taken with a 270 win.

quote:

Originally posted by DWright:
I picked Deer only because I do not see Coyotes as an option.

I guess I need to move my 270WSM to the side of the safe with the varmint guns, and use my 7x57 for the big bears.

Greg,

I picked deer also. Your 270WSM with the 160 NP will kill everything you mentioned but having shot those animals with the exception of the mountain grizzly I'd be inclined to take a heavier caliber with heavier bullets if I had a choice.

Your 270 is a wonderful flat shoot rifle for deer and antelope size animals but I'd recommend a 338 or equivalent for the heavier game.

Mark

Works great on Alaskan moose. Would not hesitate to use it on brown bear.

I think we tend to put too much emphasis on caliber these days..when hunting technique, bullet construction, and proper placement is the key to perfect results, within reason.

The 270 WSM is certainly capable of killing Grizzley and I know many Professional hunters including 458 Win. who posts here and has killed many Brown Bear with the 30-06 and 180 gr. Noslers, including stopping an all out short range charge..I would feel safer placing a 170 gr. 30-30 in a Brown Bears heart than a .470 N.E. in his belly...

RE: the listing of species in the poll, i voted "moose" but in my experience elk were tougher to anchor than moose...

It's capable of killing any of them but I personally stop at elk with mine.

I went with Elk also, mainly because the word "comfortable" was used and they (Elk) are not particularly known for trampling, clawing or eating their attackers. But lesser rounds have sucessfully taken all of the above.