What do you know about the .270 WSM?

[XC700116]

Yes it would be fine. 1000+ rounds is a LOT of hunting, just keep in mind you need to be able to practice enough to be both proficient and comfortable with it. If you're comfortable with rifle shooting in general, then it should be just a matter of finding what ammo the particular Rifle likes, zeroing it, and finding out your dope or "come-ups" for the ranges that you anticipate taking game animals at.

[CO Hugh]

There are a couple of factors, cost and reliability are probably the two big ones. The real difference comes from reloading data and shooting heavy bullets. The straight 270 does well with 130 and 140 gr bullets (for both 2700 - 3000 fps) with 52-58 gr of powder. With the 150gr bullets, performance in 270 Win drops off to 2600-2800 fps with about 50 gr of powder.

The 270 WSM will send a 150gr bullet at 2700-2950 fps, with 56-61 grains of powder. 130gr 2900-3200 fps with 61-67 grains of powder. 140gr from 2800-3100 fps with 58-64 grains of powder.

The big daddy 270 Wby will get velocities of 2900-3100 fps for 150gr bullets, using 64-69 grains of powder. 130 gr bullets 3180-3400 using 68-72 grains of powder, and 140gr from 3065-3300fps, using 66-70 grains of powder.

I used the data at http://www.barnesbullets.com/load-data/, using reloader powders to stay consistent. My friend has pointed out that the advantage of 30-06 and 308 cased cartridges is that they were originally designed to feed in machine guns, so you should not have any reliability problems. I think that is true. A 270 Win with 130 grain bullets is very versatile, say a Barnes X, and would probably put almost any animal in North American in the freezer with 1-2 shots. The differences in velocity and ballistics are probably more theoretical than practical: the elk are dead and don't know difference whether shoot with a 270 Win, Wby, or WSM. 270 Win ammo is available almost everywhere.

I don't have a 270 WSM. However there are complaints about feeding issues. Cases and ammo expense, as well as availability can be an issue. But you are also using about 10 grains more powder to pick up 200 fps. a Weatherby uses another 10 grains for again 200 fps. The trade offs will be expense, and burned up cases, as well as recoil. You can extend case life by loading below max, then your magnum cases will last longer. In my opinion the value of a magnum is to use heavy bullets that penetrate better at high speed: the Weatherby argument. For 130 gr and 140 gr the 270 Win is fine. 150gr and above go with a magnum, if you can find one go Weatherby.

Hmm and as to ultimate question going from 308 to 270 WSM, no reason to switch, a 308 does the job just knowing its limitations, same issue compared to 30-06, heavy bullets drop velocity in 308, but lighter rifle and less powder, and recoil.

[XC700116]

Just as info the load data you are showing there is conservative to the point of laughable. Probably due to it being centered around Barnes solid copper bullets that sacrifice A LOT of case capacity due to having a much longer bullet as compared to a lead bullet of same weight.

Federal lists their factory loadings at 3060 fps with 150 gr bullets, and 3300 with 130's. I've pushed the 130's past 3400 without pressure issues and the load of choice in my Rifle was a 140gr accubond running at just over 3200.

Right now my 7-300 wsm (same exact case, necked up to 7mm) is pushing 168 gr vld's at 3120.

I've noticed a trend with load data for the wsm's being focused around faster burn rates, (h4350, h4831, RL19, etc) which IMO is a big mistake it burns faster and hotter with a pretty heavily overbore cartridge, and is therefore leaving velocity on the table and being harder on the throat of the barrel. Look to powders that are slower burn rates like h1000 and you'll get higher velocity and better barrel life. You'll also notice you will most likely end up with a charge weight a bit past max in the listed data well before you see signs of pressure.