Title says it all. In particular, though, I'm wondering how a 140 gr. Bear Claw will perform in average whitetails, when fired from a .270 WCF?

I'm not getting good accuracy anymore (???) from my 140 gr. Accubond (maybe I wasn't getting that good of accuracy in the first place?), to the point where I'm not confident with the Accubond load at 200 yards (4"++ groups under ideal conditions).

I have a stockpile of 140 gr. Federal Premium Bear Claws (which I bought because they were cheap, accurate in my gun, and am hoping for a moose/elk trip with my kids when they get older).

These Bear Claws shot well in my gun a number of years ago, and, viola! Sub 2" vertical group at 215 yards, with less than 1/2" horizontal displacement.

I shot a small doe years ago with one of these bear claws, but it was already wounded by another hunter. That bullet zipped through the lungs with little expansion, seemingly (Though the deer did leave a lot of blood in the snow from lung expiration).

So, what say you? Shoot the bear claws? I have my mojo back because of them (I was really doubting myself), so maybe I just aim for the shoulder, hope to break bone & get better expansion?

Comments welcom & invited! Thanks!

friar

i've used 165gr out of my 30-06 to take several deer in montana. never had a problem. i'm sure the tbbc wll do all you want out of a 270 win. good hunting.

You should be getting better groups than 4" and while I have had certain bullets not work great in my guns they still stayed under 2". I would also look at other variables to tighten up those groups.

You did not specify what type of gun so I will throw out the usual suspects. Have you checked your mounts and bases to see if they are still tight? Check the scope to make sure it is functioning properly. If you have another try swapping them to check the gun with a second scope. Is the barrel free floated? If not consider a bedding job. If it is free floated is the stock twisting and touching the barrel when discharged. Inspect the crown on the muzzle and make sure it is free from damage.

You might consider having a gunsmith inspect the chamber and rifling. It takes a lot of shooting to wear a barrel out but they will get pitted and scarred also so it's worth checking. As for a good hunting bullet I would highly recommend the Barnes TTSX. I get oustanding accuracy in all my guns with them. They will expand and they will penetrate better than most any other expanding bullet. I hope you find the culprit for the loss in accuracy because I know how frustrating it can be. Best of luck.

Sid, the gun shoots well with the Trophy Bonded, and also pretty well with A-frames. I suspect, sadly, that I'll have to do some major tweaking with the load if I want to use the 140 gr. Accubonds - which is really a shame because they have about the best b.c. of any .277 bullet.

The good news of running out of them (the Accubonds) is that I can start experimenting again. The bad news is that experimenting costs time & $$$, both of which are a little short for me at present.

The bright side of all this, however, is that the $$ I paid for the stock to be floated, bedded, & pillared seems to be worth it, at least for the Trophy Bonded load.

Thanks for the suggestions - happily the gun itself is in very good shape, so I'm basically certain it just doesn't like the load.

friar

I load a 55gr TBBC in a 223 for my hunting partner. I also load a 100gr Swift A-Frame for his 25-06. We hunt dense thickets and hardwoods so we want a bullet that we can shoot basically at any angle and have an exit wound for a blood trail. I wouldn't hesitate to use the TBBC's in a 270.

I've shot plenty of deer sized animals with a TBBC, all with very satisfactory results. But, based on past experience, the moderators are going to strike my response because the TBBC's that I've used weighed a minimum of 400 grains. Stellar performance -- and on bigger game as well.

400 grains works for me. I would prefer to use my 416 Rem on such dangerous beasts.

140-grain .280 Rem. Texas whitetail chest shot through right hip perfect mushroom under skin 80 yards
300 grain .375 Wby RSA warthog shoulder shot perfect mushroom 50 yards

Several deer with a 165 in an 06. Lots of plains game in Africa in all sizes with 180 grains in a 300 Win and 300 grain 375s.

I've killed a couple deer with a 270 TBBC. I dont remember the grain bullet but it was Federal factory stuff from a while back. About all I can say is it killed the deer, but I switched to a different ammo in my 270 because I thought they were a little tougher bullet than needed on a deer.

I would not lose any sleep knowing I had tbbcs in my rifle.

TBBC - The best premium bullet $ can buy.PERIOD

I have shot a butt load of game across the world with the TBBC. Love them!

With a 308 I have shot several deer and wild pigs with the 165gr Federal factory TBBC.
I have also shot turkeys, coyotes and bobcats as close as 25 to 30 yards.
The Federal 165gr TBBC [this is the older TBBC not the newer plastic tip TBBC I have not used it], again the older TBBC is one of the best if not the best bullet for the 308 on the Planet. The Wife used it in Zim on plains game with excellent results.

IF I was limited to one load for the 308 I would be perfectly happy with the [old again I have not used the new] 165 TBBC for ANY game suitable for the 308.

I have not used it much, being a Nosler-Swift kinda guy, but, I did shoot two small Blacktail bucks on Vancouver Island with the old style ones. This, was with my Dakota-76-.338WM and they were 225 grs. and worked perfectly, bang-flop and minimal meat loss at close range.

I would love to get some of the original type designed by Jack Carter for my .308Win. rifles ans for "deer loads" in my many .338WM rifles.

I have shot a number of Plainsgame in Africa and a few elk and mule deer with them..they worked good and are a good bullet for those that don't like a lot of bloodshot animal as they are tough bullets and don't give those instant kills as a rule..

On the other hand I like the Woodleighs, Noslers, GS Customs and North Forks just as well and really have no gripe with Sierras, Speers regular bullets, or Hornadys for deer size game. The TBs are pretty expensive and not needed on such game IMO.

I really like the TBBC in .375 and above, but for deer size game, my preference is the Speer Spitzer. They might not hold as tight a group as some of the others, but their expansion performance is fantastic. I've never owned a rifle that did not shoot that bullet well, boattail or not.

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Of course, my main problem is that time is short!

I may purchase a box of factory ammo more appropriate (expansive) for deer than the TBBCs are. But then again, I'd be rolling the dice as to $$ vs. accuracy.

Maybe I'll try to pick up some of the new Federal/Speer fusions. They might do the trick...hmmm, I'll have to ruminate on that...this is maybe too complicated already - maybe I'll just shoot shoulders and be patient if tracking is needed...

Thanks for the perspectives!

friar

Back about 10 plus years ago I bought a couple of boxes of Federal 270 Win 140gr TBBC's. Shot a bunch of deer with those boxes and nothing strikes as remarkable, positive or negative about them. They worked, never recovered any.

I wish they still made the original TBBC.

The last animal I shot with one was a 375lb black bear with the 165gr in a .308. It wasn't a long shot, only about 30yrds, bullet placement was right at the base of the skull. Needless to say the bear never moved, but I was surprised the bullet didn't exit. Typically never found one in a deer though.

Also the wife has shot wildebest, zebra and other African plains game with the older, not the plastic tip Trophy Bonded Bearclaw, with excellent results.

friarmeier,

I have shot deer and coyotes with the 223 TBBC, 165 grain 308, 165 high energy federal tbbc (30-06 velocity), and the 115 grain 25-06 tbbc.

I have seen antelope shot with the 140 grain 270 winchester.

the original (not speer) tbbc was one of best hunting or tactical bullets ever made.

my brother made 5 one shot kills with his 308 and the fedreal he 165 grain tbbc on plains game.

I suspect your experience with the small doe was not typical performance, perhaps because she was worked up already. I have shot above mentioned critters from all angles, and that is one of its best characteristics. There are more destructive bullets for a broadside shot but the NF and TBBC allow you to take most any angle.

I would certainly recomned you use the ammo you have and think you will be sorry when it is all gone!

Andy

Have shot a bunch of deer with the Federal 140gr TBBC in 6.5X55 great results(that load is no longer made) also shot a doe whitetail with a 180gr TBBC in Federal's high energy load, rifle was set up for an Alaskan hunt, she went about 75yds down hill all left good blood trails. Last buck i shot(with the 6.5x55 TBBC) was a devestating shot, took off the top of the heart and the buck sprayed blood every where,he only went 45yds.

Sorry that 180gr load was in an 30-06

Mr G. of the euro forums shoots nothing but 180gr TBBC from his 30.06.

He has shot everything from a 10lb Muntjac to 1500lb moose with it.

I was there for his muntjac and there was a calibre sized entry and exit with soup in between.

Hopefully he'll chime in but as far I'm concerned that's good enough for me.

My own experience of shooting sub 150lb game with hard bullets ( barnes TSX, hornady 180grain interlocks, MFS flatpoint bonded) is that they run a litte further than Sierras,Speers etc but that the meat damage is less (Unless you hit bone) and they die just as dead from a well placed shot.

I almost hesitate to say this but the softer bullets make bad shots more debilitating.

Thanks everyone for the replies! I'm about to do the last shooting session before the Nebraska & Wisconsin seasons, and I'm encouraged by your comments.

Originally I bought the rounds for elk & moose, especially thinking that as my kids get older, things would be easier if all of us were shooting .270s. That's still my plan; and for deer hunting in future years, I'll work up a softer bullet more appropriate for deer.

In the meantime, I won't baulk at the great accuracy this load gives in my rifle!

Many thanks and God bless - best wishes for your fall hunts!

friar

In shooting my 270's, the 140 grain TBBC is my FAVORITE load!

This will probably get deleted by the moderators, but yes, I have shot deer with TBBC's with great results. They were 400 gn. TBBC out of a 416. Worked great.