270 WSM for Elk?

I know there are those who have experience with the WSM on Elk.
Care to share that experience?
How does the WSM rate as an Elk gun?
Specifically, I'd like to know what a realistic maximum range is.

Thanks for the help!

Ron

I like it a lot honestly. A good 130-150 grain bullet is a bull Elk nightmare. I've used the 140 Accubonds and 150 Partitions. Both were entirely effective.

MtPockets said:

Specifically, I'd like to know what a realistic maximum range is.

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The basics of this can use calculated ballistics for simple to understand data or limitations. However, the hard part becomes 'what are your capabilities?' Not all men (hunters) are created equal, so there will be variations as to just what distances they are capable of achieving. This is then compounded by the bullet specifications and the load with which it's propelled to the target. I know it seems like this is an answer which dances around your question but this is how I see the predicament.

More to the point, I built a .270 WSM at the request of some fellow shooters who knew I was not a fan. They goaded me into it. But true to my word I built this rifle just like I build all of the rest. Originally I had intended to use something along the lines of the 140 or 150 class bullets but Berger released the 170 grain Elite Hunter so on a whim I switched over to the heavier for caliber bullet.

Given my load work up using this bullet over 3 different powders through a 24" barrel, I was able to get repeatable, accurate groups easily. At 2950 fps. approximately, the numbers I ran gave me 1,100 ft./lbs. at 1,000 yards and 1,500 ft./lbs. at 750 yards. The area we hunted allowed for uninterrupted 600 yard+ shots so we were GTG in my opinion.

The meadow we hunted was long and led to a small pothole a little over a mile away. The elk would come down to the edge of the meadow to graze then amble off through the wooded edge for water. Fate was with us as a bachelor herd came down for breakfast. There was a surprisingly large fork horn bull a little further out away from the main body. As this was a meat hunt, the hunter who owned the .270 WSM singled out the young bull and fired. He was quartering away slightly but not moving when the shot entered slightly back in the ribs but angled towards and into the heart. He hunched up, turned to walk away, took one step and fell over. The nicely mushroomed bullet took out the top chambers of the heart and wound up just in front of the opposite shoulder blade from 565 yards approximately. This hunter was very conservative and practiced field position shooting all year, just in case.

Now what are your limits? What are the parameters of the bullets you want to try? what are your loads capable of producing both for accuracy as well as velocity?

Regards.

My personal requirements for an Elk rifle are this, .25 caliber or larger, shooting a heavy for caliber bullet, and 2000 fps minimum impact velocity. Out of your gun, something like a 150 Berger should get you out quite a ways and still be deadly on Elk.

I shot a 5x5 elk in Colorado last year at 300 yards. Shooting 150 grain Nosler Partitions, 2 shots to the lungs and the elk went 5-10 yards and dropped. Get a 270 WSM and shoot away!

Thanks for the responses.
My current elk rifle is a 270 Win, just wondered if I would gain enough yardage to make the WSM worthwhile.
Also considered rebarreling one of my 270's to a 270x300 Win Mag.
Thoughts?

MtPockets said:

....My current elk rifle is a 270 Win, just wondered if I would gain enough yardage to make the WSM worthwhile .....Thoughts?.....

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Cartridge case is only one component of a system. If you change nothing but the cartridge case, I'll say you won't see a difference.

If your plan calls for changing, bullets, scope, stock, barrel-you could see a large change (depending how you're set up now).

I like heavier for caliber bullets, sable tireur does a good job with his analysis, if something like the 170 Berger appeals it's listed for a 1-8" twist, some of the mono-metals call for a 1-7" twist.

A few more fps alone is not going to improve the range much if any.

if you go too a 270 wsm from a 270 win you will notice the difference! 140 accubond at 3200 try and get even close with a 270 win! of all the wsms this is the best for filling in a niche! i shot 2 rag horn bulls with the 140s 1 at 485 through the lungs turned around through lungs again and nose dive into the snow. next 1 was 90 yards in its bed base of neck done. if you like 270s you will love the wsm.

I build quite a few 270 WSMs, one of my personal favorites running 165 Matrix or 170 Bergers. I've taken bulls out beyond 900 yards with excellent results, quite a few in the 600-800 yard range and it performed excellent. Running these heavier bullets puts it into a legit long range class elk killer!!

No doubt about it. 270wsm with the heavies is perfectly good for elk. Go for it.

I have a customer that runs a 270wsm with our 117g Hammer Hunter. If I remember correctly he is running these at 3550fps. 2 seasons ago he took a 350 class bull at 570y. One shot drt. With this little bullet it was at the top end of range for elk.

Steve

Thanks again for all the responses!
I may have found a decent deal on a Savage 270 WSM, so that is also now being considered- along with a few other options.

Thank you all for putting numbers to the discussion. I was hoping for at least 600 yard capability right off the bat, and it sounds like that will be fine.

I know the 140s will stabilize in a factory barrel, but I'm not sure about the 170s. Sounds like the Bergers will definately not work, but what about others?
Does anybody know what twist the factory Savage would have and whether it'll likely work with the bigger pills?

It really isn't a deal breaker, if it doesn't, but would be good to know going in.

All Savages have a 1-10 twist and will stabilize up to a 150 gr.

As far as elk go I cant help but I shoot the 150 VLD's from my Savage Model 16. Is has the fluted bull barrel and muzzle break. It really shoots lights out and has taking some really big hogs past 300 yards.