Thread: .270WSM Experiences?

Everything I have pointed my 270wsm at has died on the spot from 0-600+yds, I have used a few different loads, starting with the 150LRAB doing 3280fps, the 150gr Berger VLD hunting using the exact same load and again doing 3280fps and at the moment since having the proof barrel put on it I have been using factory Norma 150gr Oryx, this is reasonably mild at 3100fps and both the deer I have shot with it have been pretty close (87yds and 10yds) but I was really impressed with the performance of the projectile at that range, even the 10 yard shot didnt exit, shot in the chest head on and it turned all the vitals to a bloody soup then exited through the ribs and found it behind the skin near back leg, perfectly mushroomed, similar story with the other deer at 87yds, couldnt ask for better than that and it just shows all the idiots that say "270s just drill holes in things" obviously never actually had a 270 or have nothing better to do than recycle some story some guy told back in 1971 about some poor deer he probably gut shot at 15yds.
I had Greg (Kiwi Greg) develop a load for it using the 145 Eldx and its pushing them along at 3300 but i am yet to use them on game. The caliber is easy to load for, brass is easy to find and the last few years has seen a good slection of 277 cal projectiles become available which has really made redundant the old gripes against the 27cal. There is a good selection of factory ammunition available for the wsm, although this can be reasonably pricey but all the wsm/magnum calibers are expensive if you want premium ammunition, the only reason I am shooting factory ammunition at the moment is because I was between houses at the time I got my rifle back from the build and didnt have access to my reloading gear, the two boxes of Norma Oryx (20 per box) cost me $108 each! ouch! but I used three shots to sight in/chrono the load, and have fired two more shots both resulting in a deer so the meat so far has paid back that cost anyhow, plus I will have some good brass to use once im done with both boxes. I wouldnt mind developing a 150gr partition load for mine to see how it goes.
I run a brake on mine (terminator t3) as its a reasonably light rifle and it makes it beautiful to shoot, but in general a 270wsm without a brake is "lively" but is not outside the shooting capabilities of the average joe with some practice, I have shot a few 300wsm and even a couple of 7mm Saum all on tikka actions/stocks and found a 270wsm in the same setup much nicer/easier to shoot, running a lighter projectile whilst still being "heavy for caliber" probably helps with this, most NZ hunters would run a brake or suppressor anyhow.