270 WSM for elk

muzz · Jul 17, 2007

Yay or nay?

utahheadgear · Jul 17, 2007

This could get ugly.

I'll place my vote now though....Yay!

The .270 WSM is a pleasure to shoot, very accurate, and maintains what I would consider to be modest, but sufficient energy to do the job on elk. Others may disagree, but I would take my .270 WSM on an elk hunt any day.

Prism · Jul 17, 2007

YEA! 110%

I love big calibers, but the 270WSM may just be the ultimate western caliber-next to the 300RUM

I'm more than likely going to my 270WSM on elk and moose this year......

Coloradoboy · Jul 17, 2007

I agree also I have shot alot and probably majority of my elk with a Ruger m77 in a .270 using either 130 grain swift sorrocos or just recently I went to 140 grain Accubonds and have never really had problems killing elk. I have shot everything from yearlings to 800 pound bulls from 50 to 500 yards and never really had a problem. I think people over obsess with having to shoot the largest flatest shooting caliber they can. My dad shoots a 300RUM and it does great but he too has killed alot of elk when he was younger with 30-06's 270's and a 25-06. As most of you know if you put bullet in the vitals of an elk it will die no matter the bullet weight being 100 or 500 grains. Eventhough you're shooting some 300 mag doesn't mean you can just the elk anywhere and it will die. Shot placement is key no matter the caliber so in my oppion you should find a gun that you can shoot with cofidence and make sure to shoot within your range because majority of wounded elk I see are from guys shoot beyond their range and taking shots that aren't clean ethical shots. But overall I think a 270 wsm is plenty to kill any elk that walks this planet period.

Bozeman · Jul 17, 2007

I just recently bought one as well. I currently use a 30-06 and have had no problems. As far as energy goes the 270wsm blows the doors off of my 06. I'm not worried at all.

elk_horn · Jul 17, 2007

I love my 270wsm but Ive only killed a cow elk with it!

greenhornhunter · Jul 18, 2007

You should be fine considereing i have the 270 win and killed a big bull at 300 yards with one shot and he walked ten yards and fell dead i think with the WSM you'll do just great considering it's got more power

mulleyman · Aug 1, 2007

Oh yah! I kill everything with my 270 WSM. It's all placement more then anything. However, this rifle is fast, flat, and with little loss of energy at impact.

Items Killed:
*Antelope @ 426 yards ( 1 shot ).
*Nevada Mule Deer @ 468 yards ( 1 shot ).
*New Mexico Rifle Elk @ 240 yards ( 1 shot ).
*3 Mexico Coues Deer ( 1 shot ).
*2 Mexico Mule Deer ( 1 shot ).

God Bless,

RC

old_man_of_the_hills · Aug 2, 2007

Use a good bullet and hit them in the lungs...nothing can survive that.

What they don't tell you in all of the magazines that say you need a 300 this or 338 that is the gun writers want to take about ANY shot on a bull...not my style (or probably yours) and so you shouldn't have to worry. I've killed a couple with a 7 STW (only .007 difference in bullet diameter) with no trouble. The only disadvantage I've noticed is a weaker blood trail due to the smaller bullet, but a good tracking job takes care of that.

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azscouter · Aug 2, 2007

It is more than enough for elk. Just make sure of good shot placement.

mulleyman 3 coues with 1 shot that is pretty impresive

Bulzeye · Aug 3, 2007

That's just what I was thinking Azscouter! He must have had them lined up perfectly

I've shot two dove with one shot before, but never three deer!

I shoot a .270 Weatherby mag and I'd hunt elk with it in a heart beat. I'd probably use a 140 grain, heavy constructed bullet like a partition, accubond, interbond, etc.