270 Deer Round

Am I splitting hairs when trying to compare 130 vs 140 grain rounds for deer?

My 243 did not perform as well as I would have liked on my last two deer. The 95 grain SST from the 243 worked, but both deer ran further than I would have like after the shot. So I took that as an excuse to buy a new rifle. I settled on a Winchester Model 70 in 270 Win. My reason for the new gun was to allow myself to use a heavier bullet. When I brought home the gun, I grabbed a box of 140 gr. SST's to go with it. I felt like since I changed calibers to be able to shoot heavier bullets, I should be shooting a heavier bullet. But, in my late night online reading, it seems the 130 gr. is a much more popular choice for deer. Most likely my shots will never be more than 250 yards. (my last two deer were a combined 20 yards away) So the slightly flatter shooting 130 gr. is not much of a selling point.

I have been shooting the gun a little lately and need to buy more ammo, so I am looking for some friendly insight before I place the order.

Let me know what you think.



Toby

I shoot a 270 as well and my furthest shots would be about 235 yards. I went back and forth on this as well and ended up going with a 130 grain because they shot a group about the size of a quarter at 100 yards. Try a box of both and see which one shoots the best. I’ve shot about 10 deer with mine and NONE of them have ran more than 40 yards and most about 40 feet.

A deer will run (majority of the time) regardless of caliber provided shot placement is the same. If you aren’t shooting to anchor, they run a short distance. It doesn’t matter if you’re shooting 62gr or 180gr bullets.

Wanna Be is exactly right. Many times a deer with it's heart and lungs destroyed will still run until it runs out of blood/oxygen.

Most bullets are going to be challenged by a 20 yd shot when driven to .243 or .270 velocities, especially a cup and core bullet. You might be better served with something like a Nosler Accubond. The tougher bullet will do a better job holding together on those close up shots and will also do very well at distance. The 140 ABs also shoot exceedingly well from my .270 but 130 grain Sierra Gamekings shoot very well also. With either the 130s or 140s you should be able to sight dead on at 200 and be point blank out to 250 so I don't see much difference for eastern whitetails.

I started reloading for my 270 but shot the sst like you did before. I didn't like the sst not the 95 in the 243 same as you and didn't like them in the 130 or 140 270, the 140s shot better but still had deer run with little to no blood. The only difference I seen in the 243 or 270 is the bigger bullet for 270 the sst just doesn't cut it for me. I went with a interlock this year and think I will do better. The remington core locks put deer down faster then the sst. I went to federal 80 grain power shocks in the 243 for my daughter and they have ran about 40 yard and pile up with blood to trail if need be and the 80 grain shot way better then the factory sst i did buy some a few years ago and reloaded some sst and got them driving tacks but the deer ran too far for my liking also.

Try a 100 grain Nosler Partition in the .243, I've had some pretty impressive kills with that round.

the deer will probably never know the difference in 10 gr

this has also been my experice

if given the shot , I shoot to anchor will gladly trade a little meat for a deer that falls where it was shot.

it Wasn't the .243's fault

It was the bullet choice and the shot Placement.

I've Taken over 60 whitetail, mul we ys and Antelope combined using a .243 and the animals simply fold up like a Dove when hit . Bullet was always either 100 gr coreloct. Or The 100gr. Federal blue box.

Follow the front leg up to the top of the shoulder and shoot. Meat loss is a pound of shoulder (who cares) Thet Drop right away.

It wasn't the Rifle

Both deer were hit in the shoulder with the intent to anchor them. And both died and were recovered, albeit not as quick as I would like.

It looks like switching to a bonded bullet my serve me better than worrying over a minor weight difference.

Indiana is fairly new to allow rifles for deer hunting, so I have limited experience in actual terminal performance. The only other deer I have killed with a rifle was with a 7mm mag, and it was instantaneous. Being colorblind, avoiding having to follow a blood trail is a bonus.

So I will get some Accubonds ordered and see how they shoot. Hopefully I do my part and the bullet does its part.

Thanks for the input

rifle, shotgun ,muzzle loader top of the shoulder yes they drop that is what I meant by glad to give up a little meat for no trailing.

The Shoulder is a big area ....top of front leg where it joins the body to absolutely fold deer.

The bullet type was only secondary to the placement

In my one .270 it loves the Sierra 130 BTSP in front of IMR 3031 powder and my other likes the 140 gr BTHP I believe they also are a Sierra bullet also possibly Hornady I like shooting both brands .

I shoot Nosler Partitions in every rifle that will shoot them well and have had EXCELLENT performance with them.

140 SST’s or Accubonds here. Just because they are as accurate as 130’s. SST’s and Accubonds will go through what you are aiming at. Learn where to hit deer to drop them and bullet choice will matter very little. 10gr. won’t matter ever. If you could somehow shoot a deer under the same conditions with both loads you’d never see an ounce of difference. I know a guide with a full trophy room of elk that were all .243 kills. It ain’t the size of the boat, it’s the motion of the ocean!

My two experiences, while at close range, were on moving deer in the brush. I did not have the luxury of waiting for a better shot. While both were hit in the shoulder, the exact placement of the shots could have been better. Growing up in and now operating a taxidermy shop I am well versed on the anatomy of deer and where to aim. Sometimes the events of the hunt don't always allow for broadside, standing shots.

I have no doubt in the ability of the 243 and I would not hesitate to take it again. This issues I witnessed became a convenient excuse to get another gun, especially since my 6 year old will be commandeering the 243 in a couple years.

Since I was getting another gun, I chose one that can handle heavier bullets and can deliver more energy. I am very much a believer in the mindset that where your bullet hits is way more significant than what bullet is actually used. The 270 seems to be more forgiving than the 243 when my shot placement is not perfect.

I've got a Ruger #1 in 270. I tried several loads with Gamekings in 130 grain, it didn't like them at all. Was told to try 150's, got a box of Gamekings and it made a world of difference. I'm a huge fan of Sierra bullets in all my rifles, and these work well on paper and on deer as well

So True!!!

When I used a 243 I shot 100 gr Corelokts they never went far 40 yards tops

Now I shoot a 270 with 150 gr corelokts they don’t go far either

Yes, you are splitting hairs.
Mine loved 150 grain Hornaday ammo.
And for what it’s worth, the three biggest elk I ever saw killed in Idaho (and I saw dozens as a guide) were taken with a 243 and 100 gr corlocks. Shot in the neck And fell like struck by lightning. But that guy practiced a lot to be that good.
I used a 257 Roberts with the same results.

Either one will kill you need to see which one your RIFLE likes. NOT people on here....