270 WINCHESTER: history and relevance

All hail Jack O’Connor! Our leader and trusted huntingGuide! I love my 270 so much that I weigh exactly 270!

Hi Desert Dog... I have used the .270 Winchester for 60 years in North America and Africa. This cartridge has taken EVERYTHING with one shot when I did my part of good bullet placement. From groundhogs to grizzlies and moose here up to 2,000 lb Eland in Africa. I really screwed up on a big waterbuk and shot a wee too far back from the lungs. A 2nd shot took care of this mistake. The eland went perhaps 20 of my long paces. Some of the large critters such as moose , eland, and kudu went down on the spot. I have faith in the .270 after 60 years and know it can do amazing thins. NO...I don't shoot elephants with a .270. The .270is more capable than most hunters realize. Shot placement is the key to success no matter what reasonable caliber one uses. I enjoy your videos. Glenn

The 270 is the best Mid-West cartridge out there. The standard cheap 130 grain soft points are the absolute best all around cost effective deer hunting round here. No cartridge is the best at all things but each one has its niche.

I would say that for what it was designed to do, that few cartridges have the sweet spot that the 270 Win has when it comes to a flat shooting, low recoil, hard hitting medium game round. It doesn’t have to apologize to the 30-06 or any other round and the people that get bent out of shape when they’re told it isn’t a versatile as the 30-06 just need to do some more reading. It’s true, the 30-06, with the 1:10 barrel can stabilize a broader range weight of bullets, making it more suitable for a broader range of animals. For deer or even varmit, I’d rather have a 270 Win over a 30-06 just because that’s the gun my dad bought for me to go deer hunting with when I was 12. It’s a damn fine cartridge.

I’ve had a 50 year fascination with Jack O’Connor. I’d recommend his books to anyone interested in guns and hunting. Thank you for your perspective.

O'Connor needed something to write about that was not already covered by other writers of his time. Most promoted their own wildcats. The observation about scopes and their availability is spot on and they brought the .270 in to it's own. Elmer Keith wrote about the excellent new Weaver optics in his classic rifle book of the era and he knew they were a game changer. By the way, the .270 benefits greatly from reloading as most factory loads fall short of their advertised velocity.

Got my first .270 at age 17, a Sako. Now 73 I still have one, a Carl Gustaf. I'm happy.....it's done everything I asked of it under all conditions. No need for Jack O'Connor. I wrote my own script. Oh yeah, that was in New Zealand way back when I started work as a Forest Service deer culler.

That is straight-up stuff, Desert Dog. Right on. I'm a second generation Jack O'Connor/Winchester Mod 70 270 cultist. For all the obvious and stated reasons, be it fact or myth, I absolutely love it. But you are dead-on... you nailed it like no other. That's just straight-up the way it is regarding the holy 270. Good stuff... !!

The intro is hilarious. Beautifully presented, as always. Can’t wait for your take on the .338 Win Mag.

I shoot a .270 because my Dad shot one, hand loaded for it, and taught me how to hand load as a result. It is my favorite white tail rifle. I also own other larger caliber rifles for elk and bear. I agree that .270 has its place and there are better calibers for game bigger than deer, antelope, and sheep. Truthfully, .3006 is a better than the .270 in many regards. I’ll still shoot deer with my .270 though. Thank you for your content regarding the .270. Always enjoy watching your content.

Man, this video is one of those you have to rewatch multiple times because of the awesome content. Any cartridge comparisons never get old. Thanks for what you do and how you do it! It’s changed my perspective

I appreciate all your videos DD, you are a straight shooter in more way than one.

That was a fantastic no BS rundown, cheers.

It seems drawing a tag is what has really become the most challenging aspect of hunting lately.

Always look forward to your videos. Thank You.

DD, excellent video! I agree with your approach and conclusions, though lacking your big game hunting experience. ( I am a clay shooter and bird hunter fundamentally, also in California.). Thank you for the research and balanced presentation. Perry P., SoCal

Good work! Thanks for putting in the effort.

In my research on the 270 win, for an anticipated purchase, I found this video. Awesome content and presentation. Thank you.

Great video. I do appreciate your opinion and the way you deliver your content. Thank you!

Great stuff as always. Love it thx

That intro was funny as hell. Thanks again for the excellent history lesson on the .270, and I especially enjoyed the talk of O'Connor. It's been many decades, but as a youth I couldn't wait to read his Outdoor Life columns. In about 1990, I bought a Savage 110E, black synthetic stock, blued barrel with iron sights. It just happened to be a mighty .270, new for only $200. I went in looking for a used 30-30 but left with what turned out to be the best whitetail rifle I could imagine. I love that .270.

Here in Ontario Canada we have caliber restrictions for hunting seasons in the southern hunting areas of the province due to proximity to populated areas. But the northern areas don’t have the same restrictions. Someone like me that hunts from the southern ends of the province to some further north areas the .270 can cover all my bases up to and including moose with a 150gr nosler partition or a barns tsx/ttsx. But for the dedicated moose hunts I bring my 300wm. For the one rifle hunter the 270 is a great choice for our hunting here in Ontario. I totally agree with everything you are saying. Great content! Cheers from Canada eh 🍻🇨🇦👍🏻

I appreciate your honest and independent thoughts on the 270. It helps me with my thoughts on proper bullet selection for the 270 for Forrest and plains.

I literally went and made myself a glass of old fashioned when you said pour yourself your favorite beverage!!! Great video. Thank you for your time.

Thank you for your realistic view on ballistics of these cartridges as well as your attitude towards ethical hunting

Thanks for the video, and thanks for not bursting my bubble of happiness with the .270 Win, you simply affirmed it to be exactly what I thought it to be best used for. I’m going to get into reloading the .270 whenever I can purchase primers and powder again. I do believe I still will be adding a 30-06 to the collection as well. The long barrel life is another factor that is supposed to be another nice factor of the 30-06 compared to other smaller caliber high energy cartridges. Best regards 😎👍

I love this channel as much as I love my 270.

Loved the history lesson. I totally agree, the .270 is an ideal deer cartridge and I took whitetails with it from 1995 thru 2008. I now use a 30 06 or a 308 just depending on which rifle I want to use. My grandson is now using my .270 and its still taking deer. Love your videos and the way you present them, thanks for your excellent content.

Your comments about the early affordable scopes is "spot on". Bill Weaver's rifle scopes dramatically changed the market for rifles. In fact, I just mounted a vintage K6 scope on my 1959 featherweight .270.

Yes........ I appreciate your straight-forward and honest explaination of hunting firearms, hunting cartridges and hunting ethics.

Love your work👍👍

Excellent run down on the .270 Win, my thoughts exactly. I have killed bull Elk with mine but I much prefer my .338 Win Mag for that job. It is the perfect deer cartridge with good shot placement. The .270 is easy to shoot well and to load for that is why I will always have one.

The more I watch your videos, the more I love my 30-06.

awesome vid thank you for your time and hard work !! you are da man ! long live the 30 06 !

I like your videos and really like your point of view i dont always fall in line with what you are saying but i am glad someone is putting it out there keep up the good work. I will leave on a quote if everyone in a room is agreeing then you have a room full of people that one person is thinking and everyone else is following

Excellent informative honest video! Thanks!

LOVE your channel. Was waiting for this video! I am about to buy a .270 for a dedicated deer rifle.

Excellent take on the .270. I like the reason you gave for it Zoom to popularity in 1947 as I had never thought of it in that way. The chart comparison at the end was excellent, eye opening.

Two thumbs way up Great content as usual

Truly like your channel and your content. I also am in California. The Barnes bullets are fantastic

Another great video DD! I have not owned a 270 in bout 12 years, but it was as great a deer cartridge ive ever used. Would be great if you could do a video on the great old 9.3x62 mauser one day. One of the most respected African calibers of all time, and I know you could make a great video on it. Thanks for a trip down memory lane though with the old 270 win.

There were economic conditions that led to the rise in Model 70 sales in 1947, as well. My two Uncles were a few years clear of WW2, had started a successful plumbing business and could just then afford a Model 70. Prior to that, it was whatever hand me down rifle they managed to hold onto during the Depression, or a .06 military rifle. I have one of those Model 70 rifles in .270 Win. It's never had a scope. Here in SD ranch Country, it was pretty much Model 70 and Savage 99 rifles through the middle part of the century. I took a nice 6 by 6 whitetail with that open sight rifle just a month ago on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. My guide took his with his Savage 99 in .300 Savage, equipped with Weaver K4.

Great Information Here, Nice Job Dude!

Excellent as always

Several years ago I met a hunter who lived and hunted on Kodiak Island for 25 years. His go-to load for everything was a 150 grain Nosler Partition in his 270 Winchester.

Great video. I bought my Ruger M77 in 270WIN back in 1993 and started loading for it then. 130 grain Nosler Partitions. That combination has taken many Mule and Black Tail deer. It has 1 cow elk to its credit also. I did succumb to the early Nosler Ballistic Tip craze with poor hunting results. They were fantastically accurate but failed me in the field. I've been unable to hunt the past few years for health and family reasons but hope to get back into it with my son in law. I told him to get a 30-06 but he got a 308 which will be fine. Thanks again for your honest insights.

I really enjoyed this video. I’ll always respect a person who speaks from the heart, even if it’s unpopular. A lot of my buddies hunt moose with the 270 and they swear by it, personally I think a 30-06 is a much better choice for the bigger stuff.

I like your take on this. I have always wanted a Model 70 in 270 Winchester. I just got one a few days ago and I love it. I also have a 6.5 PRC with as many modern things as you can imagine on it. But for the classics I am a fan of the 270 Winchester for history and for deer size game and down. I think any old school just hunting fans are fans of this combo. Thank you for the video this is a great way to look at it. Use the 270 win to do what it is designed to do.

Awesome video my man. Would LOVE to see you do another one for the .308 and it’s uses. I’m a 7mm-08 fanatic for deer and black bear and would like to know if I should purchase a CZ 550 in .308 as my moose rifle. You and GunBlue are the best there is on KZhead. Keep it up.

Nicely done!

Congrats for your 10K suscribers!!! Cheers from Mexico!!

The Chuck Hawks reference was hilarious. Seemed so important back then.

Great video! You should do a 35 Whelen video the same way. I already have on my wish list a model 70 Super Grade 270 and a custom model 70 in 35 Whelen. I really think those two cartridges would make a great North American hunting pair. I also really love your Model 70 video. I have a FN US produced Featherweight in 308. I absolutely love it!

The wood on that model 70 is beautiful

Terrific presentation. Please do one on the .243!

I agree, and I own a 270 Win too. It’s not my favorite, but I still use it for the right applications. Great video.👍🏼👍🏼

30-06 truly is more versatile. But the recoil is my personal limit

I have read many of his books and as you said he shot many calibers . My dad bought a Savage 99 in 250-3000 shot alot of deer and a moose with then in 1950's he bought a sears and roebuck bolt action 270 shot lots of deer with and just loved it. I whent to buy a 250 -3000 but the local gun store only had one in 243 so i got it with money i saved from summer jobs at 16 again i shot many deer with then i bought me a remington 700 xcr in 300wsm shot lots of deer and 3 moose with. And now I have the 270 bug when I bought a 1950 winchester model 70 270 shoots like a dream .many might have bought it because of o'connor and many because dad did .

You just described my hunting buddies. It is a cult!!

Excellent video DD. 270 is a remarkable cartridge as is the ‘06 and 280. 270 and a 150 partition is an effective solution for moose 300 yards and in, I’ve witnessed this first hand. Each cartridge has their niche I believe. Hunters who have the luxury of multiple caliber/rifles are good evidence of this. Myself as an example, I have a 30-30 Marlin, a 7mm08, and a 35 Whelen. I match caliber to game being hunter and let terrain dictate what rifle I’m going to carry. It’s shot placement once the game is found at ethical distances. Keep them coming!

Before the 270WCF came out, the 256 Newton was the earliest adaptation of the 30-06 that I can think of, a 264 caliber rifle developed only seven years after the 1906 birth of the gold-standard 30-06. For anything under 300lbs, the 270Win has held level to any of the newer rounds that have come out after it was released. That being said, the 30-06 has held up to all of the follow up wildcat rounds, and that would include the 270Win. The 270Win is a great round but the 30-06 is a better, more versatile, overall round. Great video, enjoyed it!

A much younger version of me took many an elk with a .270 Featherweight and 140gr Hornady bullets in Wyomings backcountry. I followed O’Connor’s advice and only took the best shot, I was rarely disappointed.

I have some 270a and love them. I find the 30’06 a little more. It’s a little more versatile abs can punch higher. I love the 270 as a good solid cartridge with moderate recoil. They’re all good an similar. I love the 7mm’08 too.

Another great video D.D., thanks for posting it. When you were talking about Jack O'Connor and the .270 I had a chuckle. Kind of took me back to my youth and the Jack O'Connor vs. Elmer Keith "feud", man those two could sell a lot of magazines. Have a great day and be safe!

My .270 favorite was a Parker Hale given to me by my Dad for my 16th birthday in 1970. Love it!!!

I own and love both the 270 Win and the 30-06. I only deer hunt, so both are fantastic for deer.

hell of an intro! 🤣 you're right though about how the fans are...

This is a perfect video on the .270 Winchester. I agree with you that a .270 should be your additional rifle and for versatility a .30-06 is the best rifle to have if you have just one. Placement is most important though and I have heard stories of Hunting big deer Like a Sambhar in India (before Hunting was banned in 1972) were taken in one shot on the shoulder. Good that you mentioned the 7X57 as well but just a bit. The 7X57 is a great cartridge for hitting power and knocking down a Wild Boar or even a Big Deer at distances below 100 Yards better than even the .30-06

I agree with you. I started reading O’Connor back in the 60s. I never felt that he over extolled the .270. He was one to use the best caliber for the game he was hunting. I always enjoyed the give and take between him and Elmer Keith.

Very entertaining vid! Great one, I really appreciate and enjoyed this one. My father has a Winchester Model 70 chambered for the 270 Winchester. I've seen what his ironsighted 270 can do. He left his Rem700 30'06, and took his 270 for fall 99 moose hunt. I loaded 50 160 grain Nosler Partition bullets. The moose was taken at about 20 yards, he aimed for a minute then, boom! I watched the moose drop right there. Perfect headshot, 160 grain Partition did a huge number to the head. My dad didn't care for the antlers and said "You going to eat the antlers? So what we got meat." 😂, taking clean headshots is what I was taught, no adrenaline taste in the meat😁

Great video

Really good video DDO. I'm an old dog but new to the civilian shooting world. However, I have to agree with you on the 270's sweet spot role as a good dear hunting round when I compare the powers of the rounds above and below it in calibre. These days there are too many different calibres in my opinion compared to the variety in weight of game. To me, my selection (except for dealing with very small vermin - I would use traps and/or a pellet gun) to acquire a North American 'inventory' of hunting calibre firearms would be 30-06 or .308, a .300WM, and a .375 H&H.

Well, I did like your video. I have used the 30/06, .270 wcf and the 25/06 for over 50 years. I think a hunter needs all three. I have taken mature bull elk and Moose with all three. At one time, are only choice was the Nosler Partition and the bullet never failed me. I use quite alot of Alliant powders now with my .270's Reloder 26 will get you the highest velocities with the 150's and 160's . Reloder 16 with the lighter bullets and it is very temp stable. Jack would approve. Cheers

Great video DD! You're making me feel bad about getting a 6.5 creed for my first rifle.

You are one of a few I trust there opinion even if sometime I disagree ( different point of view since I learn hunting in Africa before I come and live in US ) !

Great video, what’s your thoughts on the 270wsm desert dog? I agree with you that the 270 is medium game round, got my trusty 30-06 for everything else above. Thanks

I remember reading an article by Les Bowman, who had Jack as a client on an elk hunt. He was using a .270. I believe it was Jacks first crack at a big bull. He said Jack was taki g aim and was really cautious for quite a while before finally pulling the trigger. He got the bull though.

You would be hard put to go wrong with a switch barrel gun that ran only O6 based cartridges. Particularly if it could include the 9.3x62 in the bolt face. Plus, you could also run any 308 based cartridges like the 243.

I’ve been loading 129 gr. Barnes LRX with 60.5 grains of H4831SC. Velocity of 3080 ft/sec, SD 4 & ES 9. This load was specifically tailored for hogs at 200 to 250 yards. H4831 is only advantageous in rifles with a long throat. If not, H4350 is best. DD, I wish you’d share a little more of your load data.

solid information

I own a 270 i use it for mostly coyotes and ground squirrels. My favorite all around cartridge is 7mm08 110 to 168 grain bullets

I once had a relative tell me the 270 was the best cartridge ever and when I asked him why he said "cause Jack O'Connor said it was". After watching this I have a much better understanding of his favorite cartridge than he does and I'm more likely to own one now.

Like the 308 and 7x57 the 270 is one of the most used cartridges in South africa. They are the work horses, farm and culling rifles. The 308 and 7mm are great bushveld rifles and 270 great open plain rifle

When I hear about versatility...kinda yes you can load your 3006 or 270 with those tiny little varmint bullets plinking load it makes me smile...if someone does it it's certainly not common :) and there is much better choice... Anyway love the video and your work!

You really do it up right and at 76 and 30 years airborne service I have seen a lot :0)

That’s why I just love the 30-06 and 25-06

I believe the 270 is at its best with 130 grainers, just as the 280 is at its best with 140’s, the 7MM Rem Mag is at its best with 160’s, the 30.06 is at its best with 165’s and the 300 WM is at its best with 180’s. It’s best to play to each cartridges strength and the 270 and 280 are both at their best for mulies and pronghorn while the others I’ve mentioned are really great all around cartridges.

Good video. I shoot .270 win . Good to learn some relevant history. I have taken one elk with the .270. My preference would be a 7mm or a .30 cal

Best sales job on the 30-06 ever. Didn't expect the 1" difference in drop at 350 yards 30 over 270.

Perfect

I have owned three 270's Winchesters, and one 270 Weatherby Magnum, I swore by them for years also, but in the end, I went back to the 06, what I did notice with the 270, standing shot's at goats, which were large bodied goats, with very shaggy coats, that I hunted in the 90's would drop in their tracks, but if they were moving at all slowly, or at a brisk pace, they never went down like they did when standing still, the shot's seemed ok at the time. But with the 06, it seemed as though, they were hit, a lot harder. I have haven't used a 270 for a long time now.

As much as I love O'Connor, I dont know why we still need to bring him up every time the .270 win comes up. By now it stands on its own feet. After about a dozen moose, a few elk, and about 100 deer, split about evenly between the '06 and the .270 here's my take: The '06 is amazing, with heavy bullets it runs with the most potent of bush rounds, with lighter bullets its no slouch at longer range, but... a .270 loaded with a good 150 grain bullet does everything the '06 does, without needing multiple loads.

I will take an experts advise on this topic like I would take the advise from the PH in Africa. for forty years I have read much about gun/ammo/hunting and I will take your advise to trump any previous input as your experience, knowledge and logic seems unmatched. Thanks for another outstanding video.Funny how the back lash from the overly promoted 6.5 Creedmoor has created 270 people to attack 6.5 owners.. I just bought a new model 70 in 6.5 CM and although part of the reason is for shooting long distance targets. However for years I planned to buy a pair of 70's, one in 270 & the other in 243. Times are a changing, when the Win/m70 drops more classic cartridges like possibly the 243, in favor of the 6mm creedmoor it will be a sad day for us sentimental folks :-(

Old video I know, but it was enjoyable. I own mutiple rifles but I will say that I have killed several big Maine bucks with it and my rifle has dropped 6 Maine moose and only 2 of them needed a second shot. One moose was 450 yards out the others were between 150 and 200 yards. All ended up in the freezer. All were shot with my reloads. Shot one moose with 130 Nosler accubond, 1 with a 130 combinded tech ballistic silver tip and four with 150 Nosler partitions....never felt under gunned with it!

Excuse me if my English is not very good, since I cannot enter the whole video. I have been using 270 for many years, since my pocket didn't give me to buy 270 bull barrel, I also have a 30/06 bull barrel. It was honestly not worth it, it overheats as much as the 270 and kicks a lot more. The 270 is more forgiving to the lack of practice. I haven't fired in 1 year and you could bet I'll be gonging a cake plate 8 inches at 450 yards, or 200 from standing, and it's a very light and comfortable rifle. I honestly don't think O'Conor has anything to do with the cartridge's popularity among non-American hunters, I just tried the 270 and it was a perfect fit, this one and it's going to continue to be on the shelves for being a very good cartridge. To my liking more suitable for most hunters than 308 and 30/06

Would be interesting to hear your opinion about 45-70 and its relevance today.

Yes! , I believe your Theory on the upswing in popularity of the 270 in 1947 is A good one .There is A huge element to your Theory that is probably as important as the 2 mentioned. That is post WW2, Economy that started Booming in those post War Years, like Everything in life Timing is everything. and it is like Chemistry. when the right ingredients are amalgamated KABOOM!!

for the guy that can afford to own 4 or 5 different rifles absolutely own a 270 but if your one of those guy's that can only afford one used rifle I agree that the 30 06 is the most versatile.

We share the same opinions on this one. 270 is my deer caliber 👍. Wish I had tried h4350 before committing to imr 4064. The load seems pretty good though at least.

I agree with your assessment on the 270 and the 30-06. I live in Eastern Maryland and we have big dear but nothing the 25-06 can't handle . So I'm really trying to decide between the 25-06 and the 270. If I lived out west I would definitely go 30-06 for elk and mule deer. If you don't mind me asking a personal question? What do you do for a living? Thanks for sharing your opinion with facts to back it up.