270 WSM Factory ammo?

[BlackSS]

I'm fairly new to this, so I'm taking things one step at a time. I want to get some practice in and get used to the rifle and long range shooting before I buy and start experimenting with reloading equipment.
I have on the way to me a heavy barrel savage 270 WSM. I have a 4.5-14 Zeiss scope and plan on shooting up to say 600 yards. Mostly white tail, but may shoot the occasional pig or yote as well if the mood strikes me.

What are a few factory loads I should start with?

I have a box of 130 gr XP3 already but do not have high hopes for long range accuracy. I am thinking I will probably end up having better luck with 140 or 150 gr loads.

I'm considering these:

Winchester Supreme Ammunition 270 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM) 150 Grain Ballistic Silvertip Box of 20

Winchester Supreme Ammunition 270 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM) 140 Grain Nosler AccuBond Box of 20

Federal Premium Vital-Shok Ammunition 270 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM) 140 Grain Nosler AccuBond Box of 20

Who is having good luck with 270 WSM factory loads?

 

[Shortmagman]

I love the 140 Accubonds, but I hand load them using RL-22, or IMR-4350 powder. If I were you I would buy a box each of the Winchesters and the Federals and give them a try and see which shot the best in my gun. Both may shoot very well and then you could decide on price or other issues.

My gun is a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 270WSM. The 140 Accubonds are a great deer bullet for the high velocity from the 270WSM.

 

[bigngreen]

Shooting factory loads is rough but I would find what it likes, the 140 Accubond is excellent out of the 270 WSM and has about as good a BC as is available, I hand load this bullet for mine and really like it.
Also try to at least give the HSM long range ammo a try, it's loaded with 130 gr Bergers some like it some don't.

I shoot a heavy barreled Savage and LOVE this chambering in it, smokes deer!!

If it is a factory Savage it will most likely have a 1-11 twist which is marginal on 150 class bullets so keep the twist rate in mind.

 

[BlackSS]

Yes, it is a factory savage, but a lefty so it is coming out of their customs shop.
It will be their standard twist rate I'm sure.

 

[bigngreen]

Ya, your going to have a 1-11 twist most likely so I would concentrate on the 130-140 gr offerings, it may shoot the 150's but just so a guy knows they may not.

 

[winmag]

My 270wsm loves 140gr Accubonds over 62gr of RL-19. But for factory ammo Id look real hard at Federal Fusions. Great boattail bonded bullet. Not to mention theyre alot less expensive than some other premium ammo. Ive killed Elk, Deer, and Bear with em' and they group well out of my Model-70 Win. Feather wt.
If you dont mind the extra price, and want to shoot ''factory'' ammo, Nosler Custom Ammo offers the 140 accubond in 270wsm now. Nosler is about 15 min from my house, so I get to go down and b.s. with em every now and then. The reviews on thier ammo is pretty darn good.

 

[BlackSS]

Good to hear there may be a cheaper option. I was wondering about the Fusions. Do they make a 140?

 

[Dr. Vette]

Good to hear there may be a cheaper option. I was wondering about the Fusions. Do they make a 140?

No, 150 grain.

My Savage in 270WSM that I just sold was very accurate using the Federal Fusion ammunition. It absolutely hated the Winchester XP3s. I was happy because the Fusion is about 1/3 less in price. Of course, all 4 boxes went to the new owner so now he's happy instead of me.

 

[BlackSS]

Yeah I wanted to try a few different loads and the only thing the local academy had was xp3's so I figured I'd try them.
I think I'll try a 150 gr fusion and a 140 gr accu bond. Hopefully the gun will shoot well enough with one of those.

 

[Tyler75]

How far out are you guys shooting your 270wsm? I have heard mixed opinions on if they are good for long range hunting. I have considered building one because I like how they shoot. My buddy has one but he doesn't stretch it out. It seems some longrange gunsmiths try to steer you away from this calibur.

 

[BlackSS]

Never heard that, the 270 caliber bullet has been around a long time and is very well proven. This is just faster than the old 270. I think the gun will be more capable of taking a long range shot than I will.

 

[yobuck]

the 270wsm is essentially the same case as the 300wsm. powder capacity is equal. im building a 6.5 and will be using the 270 wsm case for easier neck forming.
im using an older model 11 savage lefty action, and installing a 26" 1 in 8.5 twist brux heavy sporter barrel.
ill be refinishing and glass bedding the old stock myself.
after buying the gun, new bolt face and magazine parts, plus new barrel cost, and paying to have the barrel installed and chambered, plus bolt and magazine work, i will be in the area of $850.
ill probably add a muzzel brake which will put me in the $1000 range.
this will give you an idea of what can be done with an older gun and cost for doing it.
your 270 will be a very good gun, and be even better after you start loading for it.

 

[winmag]

So far Im fully confident at 600yds, but practice alot farther. My personal ability is getting ever better, but after 600 Im not good enough at judging and corecting for wind to be fully confident. Good days I smoke 1qt oil juggs (filled with water) at 850, bad days..............I couldnt hit the jug with 10 rounds, just all around it. My rifle will do it, but my personal abiltiy hinders it. Ive played with it out past 1k for fun and was suprised how well I did. Might have been an ''on day''. hahaha
I wouldnt hesitate layin the smack down on an elk to 600 with the 270wsm. Some folks would push that number quite a bit further, especialy for deer size game.

 

[bigngreen]

How far out are you guys shooting your 270wsm? I have heard mixed opinions on if they are good for long range hunting. I have considered building one because I like how they shoot. My buddy has one but he doesn't stretch it out. It seems some longrange gunsmiths try to steer you away from this calibur.

The 270 WSM is a good mid range chambering in the 600-800 yrd range. I would not even think twice about deer in that range, I try to stay in a little more on elk. At my elevation I can push it a little farther than that.

I'm setting one up for shooting the 169.5 Wildcats and shooting a heavy for cal bullet like that it will perform very well out to and past the 1000yrd mark even on elk.

I shoot mine at 1000yrds all the time and it is very capable of delivering accuracy at that range. I push mine and it runs with the 6.5's in the ballistics department. It would really shine if we had more bullets in the 150-170 gr class.

I was surprised just how good the 270 WSM is, I think the numbers don't quite tell the whole story with the .277 cal stuff as they seem to out perform what most people think they should when looking at the numbers. I like it way better than the 300 WBY I was shooting before and have had better kills with it also.

Just my two cents