Another bullet question (.270)

[huntswnm]

So I did the whole search thing and still have a few questions. I haven't hunted with a rifle in a long time. This year my wife drew an elk tag. She will be using a .270, but I am not sure which bullet to try. I have heard that the Nosler Partition is a good choice, but there are so many out there. Anyone have any personal favorites? Also would the reduced recoil loads be an option, or not?
Thanks
Jeff


Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, weapon in one hand, calls in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

 

[ktc]

My wife will be using my 300 hopefully? If not, it will be my 270 with 130 grain Accubonds. Hope like hell they work like they claim! Yes, the partition is a great slug. They are proven themselves over and over with me.

 

[feduptwo]

I'm a huge fan of Hornady SST's and the Interbond's.
You can't go wrong with either. I've killed several elk and a couple deer and the bullets have performed flawlessly. I'd stay miles away from partitions as I've seen several separate from the jacket when driven through the shoulder, and when they don't hit bone they don't expand as they should and punch little holes with no tissue damage
I think the accubonds are very similar to the SST'S just about twice the cost.
Anything works if the shot placement is correct.

 

[mtmuley]

The Accubonds and SST's are very different. The Interbond is similar to the Accubond. Use the one that shoots best. They both work well. mtmuley

 

[redrabbit]

The 130 TSX, 150 Partition, 140 Trophy Bonded, or 140 Accubond would be good factory round choices. Whatever shoots well. I would tend to stay away from the Ballistic Tips and SSTs for elk.

Reduced loads would be great for practice, but not the best for the hunt.

Doug~RR

 

[welp45]

Personally, I would go with the Nolser partition. I have had a ton of luck with that bullet and have all kinds of faith in it. I would think anyone that has taken many animals with them would agree. Especially going after elk with a .270. I would say no ballistic tip in any configuration. I would dare say that the manufactures themselves would steer you away from ballistic tips given your elk/.270 pursuit.
I've tried other bullets and always go back to the partition. I know they are old tech and there are alot of new bullets out there. More solid bullets seem to pass right through (depending on impact area ofcourse)and I've heard plenty of horror stories with the ballistic tips. Not to say that any bullet won't do the job (ifused properly), But with a .270 win. going after Elk, I know what I'd be using. I really don't see how anyone could argue that choice. I have a .257 wby and I'd hunt anything in north america with that and a Nosler partition.
As for reduced loads. I think a 270 is marginal enough. Get a brake put on if the recoil is too much to handle. Maybe a better recoil pad. But with a .270 I would not make it any lighter. But as most people will say, it's all about bullet placement and understanding the limitations of your gun and load. Good luck.

 

[huntswnm]

Hey guys,
Thanks for the information. I am hoping to get down to the sporting goods store later this week and possibly pick up a couple of boxes of different loads and see how each shoots.
Again thanks, and keep it coming.
Jeff

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, weapon in one hand, calls in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

 

[chasendeer]

Federal premimuim 140 gr trophy bonded high energy. 3100 fps with a good bullet. Last year my gun only killed 3 elk with that load, in 4 shoots all bulls.
Jay

 

[300WBYMULES]

Excellent choice with the .270 win. I have killed three elk with a .270 Winchester and have used three different bullets. I killed one branch antlered bull at about 15 steps with the old fail safes, 130 grains from winchester quite a few days ago. He died fairly quick. I took another bull with 130 Grain handloaded Nosler Partitions, this bull was in a big open meadow at 355 yards, I hit him twice and he walked into the trees and died within 25 yards. My best bull was killed at about 20 yards with Factory loaded Hornady Light Magnums in 140 grain. This is their BTSP bullet and you are basically getting 7MM ballistics from this .270 load and it is the load I still shoot out of my .270 at this point.

For your wifes elk hunt, I would use the Light Magnums from Hornady, it is a great slug and you get great ballistics out of it, if it doesn't shoot well out of your gun, I would try the Accubonds, which is one of the bullets I would like to experiment with. Good Luck on your hunt and if your wife is able to shoot the gun straight you will have no problem at all.

 

[solitude]

I would be in the Partition camp also having never been let down by that bullet, but agree that many other bullets also work well. Depending on shot placement and bullet design the lighter constructed bullets might give more spectacular kills, but most things have to be just right, and being you just never know it's better to cover all the bases with something more stout. Sometimes the Partition is given a bad report, but it is usually a misunderstanding of that bullet's design. The front third of that bullet is engineered to come apart until it reaches the "partition". But at that point the bullet stays together and keeps driving through. It's the best of both worlds in many ways and the new toys still don't have much if anything on that bullet in my experiences. They most often group well also, but the plastic tipped bullets usually hold an edge in most rifles.

 

[chipc]

I'm not as high on Partitions as some are. I guess it comes down to what you want the bullet to do. Some guys want the bullet to stay inside the animal an leave all the energy there. others want full penetration and an exit hole - that would be me. having shot 2 bulls with partitions I can tell you that they shed the front half of the bullet rather quickly and I did not have an exit hole with either. Both were around 200 - 250 yards and no heavy [ shoulder type ] bones were hit. However, both died quickly although I shot 1 of them a second time to be sure. My last 2 bulls were killed with Barnes TSX. Great penetration 3'' exit wound, one shot kills. Trophy bonded bear claw, Accubond, the new Winchester XP3, would all be great choices. As always, the most important thing is which shoots best from her rifle. Any of the above will do a great job out of a 270 if you put it in the right place. GOOD LUCK. C.C.

 

[welp45]

The barnes does penetrate better. I use both. If I'm hunting something small (antelope) with a super fast light bullet (.257 wby 100gr.) I use the barnes. The partition will do too much damage at close range (100-150 yds). If I was going after elk with a 270 I'd use the partition especially if your not a good tracker. The stuff I've hit with a barnes does not usually know it's hit and runs off (which is good in some respect) but the things I hit with the partition go down quick. It's usually a bang/flop. It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. But I do not know how you could argue against the partition, but both will do the job. GOOD HUNTIN.

 

[smokinf15]

I think this is all good advice. My personal opinion - 150gr Nosler Partitions. Accubonds would be my second choice. Stay away from the ballistic tips - I've had a couple bad experiences on whitetails....killed them but bullet performance was less than ideal so I wouldn't dare try them on something as big as an elk.

 

[Hornhog2]

I love the Hornady light magnums with the 140 btsp. I've killed several bulls with them and never had a bad experience. I will say I've used Nosler partitions on muleys before and they made a mess. Definatly stay away from the ballistic tip bullet. I don't think they would penetrate the hide of an elk.

 

[bigmoosie]

Get the Hornady light magnums 140grains and forget all the more expensive bullets. I have killed almost every animal in North America with this bullet in a .270 or .280 which is its twin.

 

[marley]

I have shot several deer (whities and mulies) 2 elk, 2 hogs, and an aoudad with the nosler partition 150 grain out of my .280 and have never kept a bullet in an animal yet. The elk I shot this year in colorado was 557 yards when I hit him and still had a complete pass through and was on the ground for the count before I even got my scope back down on him, so penetration has not been a problem for me. Always an exit wound.