270WSM on Elk

eship · Nov 10, 2009

I went elk hunting for the first time in eastern oregon and was lucky enough to harvest a 6X6 bull elk. I shot the elk at a range of 250 yds and hit him four times. Once in the shoulder and three times in the lungs. That bull showed no sign of being hit at all. The shot to the shoulder never even penetrated the bone! I hate to think of what might have happened if I had not gotten the other shots off. I know that a 270WSM is on the lower scale of calibers used for elk, but I have great confidence in the rifle and my ability to place a good shot. I do not like the recoil of the bigger magnums. I was using a 150grn berger bullet shooting at 3040fps. I now realize that the berger was the wrong choice for such a tough animal. I would like to know what bullets those of you shooting the 270WSM are using for elk? Thanks.

sageadvice · Nov 10, 2009

I believe after the first shot or two, that bull was dead, just didn't know it. It's always hard to place blame of quick killing on a particular loading or cartridge. Some guys have had instant kills on big elk with much smaller cartridges and others, have had difficulty putting a particular animal down with the heaviest of loadings in the "big Boy" calibers. It happens!

If i were to hunt Elk with my 270WSM, i'd either look to Barnes or Nosler Accubond or Partitions.

Joey

Boskee · Nov 10, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Nov-10-09 AT 01:30PM (MST)[p]+1 on sages advice and I'll add one more bullet. The trophy bonded bullet will do the job too. You had enough gun it's just that some critters are harder to put down than others and if they're excited it adds to the drama.

BIGJOHNT · Nov 10, 2009

I have used barnes for years and have been very heppy with them.
Sometimes funny thing happen ,Maybe that first round hit a branch or someting ? People always seem to blame there bullet without finding the real problem. Just a thought ?
I hope this doesn't start another barnes versus berger bash .
Thanks for sharing your hunt and bullet performance with us !

jgiles · Nov 10, 2009

Kinda sounds like my story. I shot my bull with a .270 hit him in the side just a little high and he didnt flinch. Found him a little ways further and ended up putting 2 more in him. I think the first one would of killed him but would of taken awhile. I was using the nossler accubond.

Ed · Nov 10, 2009

My wife shot a nice bull in AZ last year with a 270WSM with almost the exact results. On the first shot @ 320 yards the bull humped up and never moved. He never took a step and stood there like a statue. Three more shots and he went down.

wysako · Nov 10, 2009

2 years ago I shot an elk at 300yds w/ a 300 wthby 200 grn accu bnd, same story, elk dropped got up took a 2nd shot dropped and got up third time!! All were in the boiler except the last was on the neck. This year i used a 300 ultra 200 accu bnd shot an elk through shoulder and stood for a while finally put the second shot and dropped him, very hard animal to put down with one shot. Oh by the way my buddy has shot several elk w/ bergers and pretty much same results as the accu bnds.

sheephunter · Nov 10, 2009

I shot a 340 type bull in area 2 here in Colo this year with my Kimber 8400 270 WSM using Barnes 130 gr Triple Shocks. The first shot quartering toward me at 250 knocked him right on his ass. Had to use one more because he was thrashing around on the ground a bit but probably didn't need to.

REDDOG · Nov 10, 2009

I think sage is spot on. I like bergers, use them in my 7 wby, but they aint a bone crushing bullet. I am not a bit supprise one didnt make it through a shoulder from what I've seen out of them. but you get the best of the west crowd fired up talking about such things!

If you want to drive it stem to stern taking out everything, Barnes or Nosler e-tip's are you huckleberry.the various bonded bullets or the partition does a nice job also.

Muley_73 · Nov 10, 2009

My son shot an elk at 408 yards last year with 150 grain Federal soft points. High shoulder shot that broke the shoulder and exited on the off side just behind the shouler. He never took a step. The Berger bullets are better suited for behind the shoulder or maybe if you are hunting paper. Unless you are talking to the Best of the West crew.

gunguy · Nov 10, 2009

I have a good friend with a 270wsm that I load for, he likes to use the lighter bullet weights so I went with the 130 gr. nosler partition to use for everything. that combo works good on blacktails or mulies. 2 years ago up by diamond lk, he shot a big spike elk on the shoulder at about 100yds, it hit bone and stopped inside nearside lung. he ran about 80yrds, stiffened up,and fell over. I think a 150gr is a better choice, partition, barnes, or speer grand slam.

bingo · Nov 10, 2009

my vote is for the accubond in either 140 or 150 grain with the 270WSM

silverlake176 · Nov 10, 2009

This year I shot a spike in NE Oregon. I shot the elk 4 times with a .270 (250 grain Nosler Partions) and the elk never acted like he was hit. I just thought I missed the bull. (this was in the afternoon and looked for the bull for 2 hours that evening until dark settled) I didn't find the elk until the next morning when I was walking out. All four shots were complete pass throughs. They are deffently tough animals

watchingU · Nov 11, 2009

My dad always wanted to kill a bull with his 240 wby mag, he'd killed a couple of cows with it, so last year he got his chance and all it took was one shot of course through the lungs.

pea shooters or cannons it's all about placement

c3 · Nov 11, 2009

My buddy put a 200 grain 338 win mag factory round into a spike's shoulder and it went 200 yards up over a hill and dissappeared. Found most of the bullet in the shattered leg bone. The one front quarter was a complete train wreck when we cut him up!

Those elk are just tough critters and it often takes a few rounds with any 270 caliber to get the job done IMHO.

Cheers,
Pete

1FastGambler · Nov 11, 2009

In my opinion the .270 WSM is an outstanding caliber for elk & my boys and I have had great results. We are loading 140 grain Sierra Game Kings.

The first elk we took with a .270WSM was a cow taken by my youngest son at about 50 yards. She was facing him dead on and she dropped like she was hit by Thor's hammer. Shot placed dead center.

2nd elk was a 300 class 5x6 taken by my oldest son. This bull took two shots thru the shoulder broadside. When we skinned the bull both bullets almost had full penetration (dug them out of the skin on off side) and were only 1" apart. I didn't weight them, but the expansion was text book perfect.

The 3rd elk was a cow I shot in the head at about 80 yards. Same results as elk #1.

Dead is dead.

Although I have never tried Berger bullets, from reading your post about your results I don't think I ever will.

Congratulations on your bull! I hope the pack trip out was down hill from the kill site! I know how hard it is to carry a heavy pack up a steep hill in slippery snow!

"Windage & Elevation Pilgrim, Windage & Elevation"

Silentstalker · Nov 11, 2009

Congrats on your bull! Good advice given here! Choose a better constructed bullet and good placement will kill any elk. They are tough to kill instantly. Great job!!

Chad

eship · Nov 11, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Nov-11-09 AT 05:16PM (MST)[p]Thanks for all of your posts. I'm going to try both the Sierra King and Barnes bullets and see which the rifle likes best. I tried the Nosler Accubonds earlier in the year and just couldn't get the rifle to group well.

The pack was down hill 1FastGambler, but I had to cross an icy cold creek that was waist level three times!

It was a great first elk hunt and I can't wait for the next one!

bulls1 · Nov 11, 2009

I would try the barnes first. I have had the sierras come completly apart. If you push them very fast, at the closer ranges they will not hold together. I sent pics of the remaining copper jacket to sierra and they told me I had them going to fast at 3100 fps. I told them I would be switching bullets in that case.

completesportsman · Nov 11, 2009

In that cartridge I would also try the 150gr Nosler / Combined Technology Ballistic Silvertip. The Accubond isn't available in 150gr.

____________________________________________________________________
Success is failure that tried one more time

LeosRedFox · Nov 15, 2009

I've used 140g bullets out of my 270WSM since the caliber was first released. I've used the Barnes 140g TSX since Barnes started shipping the TSX. I think it's a great bullet and a great caliber for elk.

AntlerKing · Nov 19, 2009

I've taken 7 spike bull elk and one big Bull Moose with my Browning .270 (and many deer), on the elk I used 140gr and a 150gr on my moose. They all went down on the first shot, a few of the animals went 20 yards, but they all went down. Most guys like their howitzer's for big game, I don't think you need them on most North American Big Game. It's all about shot placement. Your 270 WSM will treat you well

TurkeyHuntin · Nov 19, 2009

I don't shoot a wsm but my .270 and Federal 150gr. nosler partitians work wonders on Elk even over 300 Yards.

257Tony · Nov 19, 2009

"I was using a 150grn berger bullet shooting at 3040fps."

I think you've figured out the problem already....Next year try a Barnes, Nosler, Swift, etc...

flea_bitten · Nov 19, 2009

I shoot 140 grain accubonds behind 63 grns of r-22, and they shoot real well out of my gun. I shoot this load for everything, it preforms well for me.

ishootaRUM300 · Nov 19, 2009

My group has had some problems with the E-tip so I was thinking about switching to the Swift Scirocco 180gr. Does anyone know will or does this bullet hold up on a shoulder shot?

BPKHunter · Nov 21, 2009

So far I have killed 1 elk and 3 mule deer with Berger Bullets, 1 deer/1 elk with my 7mm using 168 grainers and 2 with my 25-06 using 115 grainers.

The 7mm has worked great, just as advertised. Bullet goes in 4-6 inches and basically denoates. Not much left of the bullet except fragments but went through shoulder and spine without blowing up.

25-06 has been mixed results. Two deer shot at and two deer dead, but the problem is that I had 3 rounds go through the rib cage like practice arrows, no expansion, no detonation, just clean through. They never hit bone and the lungs/internal organs were not enough to do the trick. One deer was shot at 88 yards and the other 425.

Before chasing higher BC bullets as I try and ethically stretch my effective range, I used Accubonds exclusively and never had a problem so I may run more loads for the 25-06 with those for next year and see how the terminal effect is.

My son shoots a 270 win with 140 grain accubonds with great success and excellent accuracy and terminal performance. I'd say on the 12 animals my family and our good friend has shot with the Accubonds, 70% have have found the bullet on the offside hide with about 60% weight retention.