Winchester powermax

gonewest

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Mar 4, 2010
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I just bought 2 boxes of 270 130 gr. Powermax bullets. I was wondering if I could get some input on the results that anyone has had on game and on paper with them especially at longer ranges I might take these to Colorado and Alberta for whitetail.
 
No experience with powermax, but I here theyre modeled after the Federal Fusion market idea. A bonded bullet for deer hunters. I have alot of kills with Fusions on deer and bear. My cousin got a few deer and an elk with them too. We both shoot .270 WSM's. Good bullets if Powermax is like Fusion.
 
No experience but let us know what you find out. My favorite medium size game rifle is a 270 and I love the thing! Shoots under and inch from the factory with not trigger work even. I've been shooting Hornady 140gr BTSP and they work fine but I'm always looking for something that might work a little better.

Good luck
Tom
 
Thanks for the input guys. Tom I used to shoot the Hornady SPBT 140 gr. and shot alot of deer at various ranges. But they really didn't group all that well so I went to the 140 SST. THey shot a little better but I really didn't like the way they put down game. Didn't leave alot of blood trail and the deer went a ways. Never lost one though but it did seem like the Bowtails had more knockdown power. I tried the light mags and couldn't group at all. My buddy shoots a .270 and his was the same. I might try the super performance also. Righ now I am just doing alot of practing for my hunts and searching for the right load. I will have to try the fusion also. I will post how the Powermax shot. They look light a freight train looking for a wreck!!! I'm going to the cabin in a few weeks and will give them a try.
 
I just tried my first box of Win Power Max .270 130gr in my Herter's J9. I was re-zeroing the rifle at 100y and began with Win Power Points as they are 4.00 a box cheaper. After 6 shots I was 4" high above the bull with the Nikon scope and rifle tracking exactly as they should. When I switched to the Power Max 130s I immediately noticed that they shot 2.5 inches flatter, despite the ballistics chart shown on the back of both boxes which I compared before ever going to the range. So on adjusting my scope to get the Power Max shooting 3" high at 100 I shot a 1.25 group which was kind of nice.

The interesting thing was hearing the bullet strike the dirt at 305. It was more like a huge slap, indicating that the point may have expanded some as it passed thru my target material. I was shooting at a 100y and the back stop dirt piles were 305y. I was ill when I went to the range so I took no time to actually shoot at 300y which I usually do; I hope to do that next Sat to confirm my own ballistic thoughts. I'm thinking this ammo may give me better service and smaller groups than the previous 270 130btsp and 130 Superformance ammo I was testing all year. Maybe that boattail aint all its cracked up to be...

One thing I'd like to add is that 75yrs ago Jack O'Connor wrote extensively about using "Western Open Point Expanding" 130gr ammo in his 270 for everyhting from jackrabbits to elk muleys moose and sheep. New technology aside, I think the Power Max is so similar to that old Western ammo that it's a real tribute to what the old man knew and wrote about. :)
 
Maybe that boattail aint all its cracked up to be...
Yes Boat tails are not that great unless you are shooting way way way out there. Flat based bullets are always more accurate at hunting ranges. I have some boat tail loads that are very accurate at 100 yards though. But flat based are more accurate.
if 500 yards was my minimum distance and my maximum was however further out I could accurately hit, then I would choose boat tail. the boat tail is ONLY for better ballistics in the wind and wind only becomes an issue once you get out pretty far
 
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