Hi, I will leave to eastern Poland next week for red stag hunting; my first idea was to carry a Tikka 695 cal 300 WM, but lately I have found my new Tikka T3 Lite cal. 270 WSM so accurate and pleasant to carry; it is zeroed with Hornady Interlock 130 gr. bullets, V/0 930 m/s. Since it's my first (and probably my last) red stag hunting, do you believe that the 270 WSM could be adequate, or should I use the 300 WM?

I shot my last one with a .243 at 250 yards, but I would prefer my .308 at that distance.
I"d class the 300 WM as more gun than neccessary. the .270 win is an ideal calibre, so if the SM version is similar the it will be perfect(and a lot nicer to carry!)

Ballistically, there should be nothing wrong with your .270 WSM for Red Deer. I might prefer a 150 grain bullet, but the 130 Hornady will certainly do the job.

My concern would be some of the inherent physical problems with the WSMs. The short, fat body with a fairly sharp shoulder feeds poorly in many magazines, and some magazines can only accept two cartridges without jamming. IF your Tikka has proven reliable in feeding, then there would be no reason not to use it.

My preference would be the .300 WM, but if you're more comfortable with the WSM then by all means use it.

quote:

Originally posted by wildboar:
Hi, I will leave to eastern Poland next week for red stag hunting; my first idea was to carry a Tikka 695 cal 300 WM, but lately I have found my new Tikka T3 Lite cal. 270 WSM so accurate and pleasant to carry; it is zeroed with Hornady Interlock 130 gr. bullets, V/0 930 m/s. Since it's my first (and probably my last) red stag hunting, do you believe that the 270 WSM could be adequate, or should I use the 300 WM?

as Stonecreek said, I would prefer a heavier bullet, thou I think 130 gr would be OK if you do your part ...

Forgive me if I am rude, but why would it be your last red deer hunt ?

If you are going to use the 270 then go with a tsx or partition or similar bullet. Don't use the Hornady in such a light caliber. I have killed many stags with a 270 Win and it works fine but I would suggest that your .300 is better for this especially if you will be hunting in forests.

quote:

Originally posted by Afrikaander:
Forgive me if I am rude, but why would it be your last red deer hunt ?

Only because it's quite costly

wildboar, question is quite academic one - IMO use the one you like, just stay away from ANY obsticles on bullet path and a stag will not know the difference - have a good hunt - weidmannsheil

on the feeding issue I have a Sako 75 stainless synthetic in .270WSM and it feeds silky and sure with 1 or 3 in the magazine. In fact every WSM I've had the chance to shoot, Sakos, Winchesters and Brownings all feed just fine.

The 270 should be perfect. Like the rest of the guys, I would want a heavier bullet than the 130 gr Hornady.

The stags of Eastern Poland will not be like those of Scotland, say, with which most people here may have experience. The Polish stag will be a good deal heavier, and in particular if hunted in the rut, also might be pretty impervious to bullet shock.

It is obviously impossible to say in what kind of terrain you'll be hunting, but more likely than not, you'll be hunting in the forest, and long shots will not be the order of the day. Naturally, there is always the exception - e.g. such as shooting in cuts or across wide open fields.

The .270 will kill a red stag, although if it was me, I'd not go with the 130 grs Interlock. You might just need a exit wound pretty badly (God forbid). In comparison, a .300 Win Mag will produce the larger exit wound, and simply offer more of everything to put your stag on the ground - in particular if loaded with a premium 200 or 220 grs bullet. The .270 will work, but the .300 is the better choice for the kind of animal you hope to find in Poland. If you shoot either rifle equally well, bring the larger gun, regardles of the weight of the gun. If you are in the forest, you'd wish you had a 9.3 or a .375...

Make sure you bring a scope suited for low light shooting - first class optics, heavy reticle and large objecticve lens. Chances may materialize at very first or last shooting light, and it would be a pity if you could not take advantage of any such because of the gear chosen.

Good luck and Weidmannsheil - mike

wildboar,

Mike's advice is sage. I'd prefer the 300 WM just because but shoot straight with either and a magnificent Stag will die.

Waidmannsheil!

The velocity that a 270 WSM gives a 130 gr cup and core type bullet is way too high for reliable use on game even as big as heavy deer. I have yet to see a 140 Ballistic tip from that cartridge penetrate thru a large whitetail broadside.

I would use a premium bullet. In sailing they ask when to reef? You reef the first time that you think about it. Thats when to do it. You asked what bullet to use. Use a bullet that will penetrate deep.

I'll second mho. Continental reds are a lot heavier than Scottish ones. I'm using either the .300 Win or 9,3x62, depending on the expected shooting distance.

Hi

For the heavy European reds avoid the small, super high velocity light bullets unless they are bonded or solid copper like Barnes or naturalis. A raking shot with a brittle light bullet wont leave a good entrance wound of any size and possibly not exit making dog tracking very difficult in dense woodland.
Since you have a 300 WM go for a 220gn bullet at moderate velocity, it does not need to be super premium, there wont be any long range shooting so zero at 100 yds.

Mark

I have seen a few deer killed with a 270, i know someone who has a 270WSM and uses 140gr accubonds, seems to do the job just fine! just make sure u keep the energy above 1000 foot pounds.

I have shot a few deer with the old 303 with 150gr sierra pro hunters out to 200yards with great success, the never seem to get away very far and they are only doing 2300FPS! on the other hand i joined my brother in a hunt and it took 4 shots with gamekings with his 308 at shots under 20 yards. the stag was roaring well and was pretty wound up! in my area the stags are large body sized but head size the lack alot.

I do also double the meaning of mho..... and I do speak from my own experience

Red stag in the rut are sometimes like bulletproof.

Altough a 270 WSM may do the job without bigger problems, 130 grs. is not really much for a big red stag in the rut. I would without hesitating switch to the trusted 300 WM.
You might also take into consideration, that this hunt will be the last one this way as you stated above and it costs you a lot of money, so I would not risk anything at all. Go with the 300 Win. and the job will be done superbly

Good luck and Waidmannsheil - Gerry

I used my 375 H&H when hunting red stag during the rut in Slovakia. The deer I shot (one good hit) still managed to bolt and tumble about 80-100 meters down a mountainside. Felt good to see plenty of blood when we tracked him. I'd choose the 300.

I too will shortly be stalking for red stag in this case in the SW of England.

A good red stag might weigh 400lb. Shot opportunities will be rare. I will be less fussy re shot angles than normal so my choice of 7x57 and 140gr accubonds is potentialy a little light.... I have a 30-06 and will try to work up a 165gr partition load.

I shot a big Red in forestry in Donegal about five years ago. He was a switch, with a body like a Limousin bullock. We new he was there for a few years but were unable to catch up with him. He walked across my front at about 25 yards in a ride one November morning. I dropped him with one shot. Although I was using my 270, calibre was irrelevant, as I necked him. He weighed 348 pounds in the larder, with his head on, but guts out. The guys reckoned he was 400-420 pounds (c185kg) on the hoof. I have actually seen one or two taken in Donegal which were bigger than that.

Biggest anything I have ever shot.