270 Winchester
The .270 Winchester (or 6.9x64mm) was developed by Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1923 and unveiled in 1925 as a chambering for their bolt-action Model 54. The cartridge is a necked down .30-03.
When loaded with a bullet that expands rapidly or fragments in tissue, this cartridge delivers devastating terminal performance.
Suggested Use
- Predators
- Small Game
- Varmint
- Deer
- Black Bear
Performance
Loads are commonly available from 6.5 to 10.4 grams (100 to 160 gr), sizes with 8.4-and-9.7-gram (130 and 150 gr) loads being by far the most popular. Handloaders have a larger range of options with the availability of bullets in a number of weights from 5.8 to 11.7 grams (90 to 180 gr). Common bullet weight recommendations for shooting different game are as follows:
5.8 to 7.1 grams (90 to 110 gr) bullets: animals smaller than coyote.
8.4 grams (130 gr) bullets: antelope or other animals up to the size of mule deer.
9.1 to 10.4 grams (140 to 160 gr) bullets: deer, elk, moose and some larger animals.
Recent introductions of low-drag bullets suited to the 270 Winchester such as the Nosler Accubond Long-Range and Matrix long range bullets are promoting renewed interest in the cartridge among long range hunters.
While it is true that a .270 Winchester case can be formed from a 30-06 Springfield case, the case length of a 30-06 is 63.3 millimetres (2.494 in) while the case length of a .270 is 64.5 millimetres (2.540 in), the same as a .30-03 Springfield. It is recommended that .270 Winchester brass be formed from .35 Whelen or .280 Remington cases
