Is Fast Twist 270 Win. Really Better?

Welcome back to Ron Spomer Outdoors! In today's episode, we're exploring the intriguing topic of fast twist barrels in the 270 Winchester. Many shooters are starting to turn to faster twist rates, and we're here to answer the burning question: Is a fast twist 270 Win. really better? 🤔

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Who is Ron Spomer
For 44 years I’ve had the good fortune to photograph and write about my passion – the outdoor life. Wild creatures and wild places have always stirred me – from the first flushing pheasant that frightened me out of my socks in grandpa’s cornfield to the last whitetail that dismissed me with a wag of its tail. In my attempts to connect with this natural wonder, to become an integral part of our ecosystem and capture a bit of its mystery, I’ve photographed, hiked, hunted, birded, and fished across much of this planet. I've seen the beauty that everyone should see, survived adventures that everyone should experience. I may not have climbed the highest mountains, canoed the wildest rivers, caught the largest fish or shot the biggest bucks, but I’ve tried. Perhaps you have, too. And that’s the essential thing. Being out there, an active participant in our outdoor world.

Disclaimer
All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not modify any cartridge or firearm beyond what the manufacturer recommends. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely.

[jtmachete]

The 270 will never die. Fantastic cartridge

[colinkobel]

I have been shooting a .270 for over 60 yrs. This caliber has never failed me even on elk. Although I haven’t ever shot much over 200 yds with the belief that it was the effective range. Also, that a person needs to be a good enough hunter to get within good range. So, you have gotten me pretty excited to build a gun with this faster twist barrel.

[jasonshults]

For the handloader, there are a few powders that get you over 3000 fps with 150 gr bullets in a 270 with a 22" bbl. If you've got a fast-twist 270 with a 25-26" bbl, 3000 fps with a 165 gr ABLR is safely doable. May want to run the drop and drift numbers on a .625 G1 BC at 3000 fps. Or you could shoot the 170 Berger with its. 662 G1 at slightly less than 3000 fps. A faster twist and a slightly longer barrel turns the 270 into a different animal.

[glhx]

I stumbled across a Ruger American in .270 Win about 8 years at a price I could not pass up. One of the best impulse purchases I have ever made in my life. It has never let me down.

[adambrown]

I am a .270 win fan two different rifles over the years I didn't think we could improve on perfection but there you go.

[rick]

We dearly love our .270's, the Missus' is a 1949 "WCF" in a Fajen Sportsman stock we had fitted to her (she's 4'11") and mine is a 1952 Standard. Nothing beats the feel of an old Model 70 action.

[invictus]

Nice to see the .270 Winchester can still hold it's own against more modern era cartridges. I saw them work in the late 60s and they were real thumpers on deer and elk. Thank you for sharing your comparison findings!

[tomdonaghy]

My 22" barrel and 1:10 twist is shooting 160 grain Nosler partitions out the spout at 2832 fps with accuracy. Pretty hard to improve on this in the real world.., Delighted that the skinnier and longer 270 bullets are finally getting respect, but when a bullet hits the meat, a 160 Nosler partition at these velocities and tight 100 yd groups is just fine. 56 grains of IMR 4831, CCI 200 primers. It will hit about 8" low at 300 yds and that is as far as i care to shoot. It will be carrying about 1600 ftlbs so no elk is safe. Remington 700
BDL left hand bolt.

[stevej]

Glad you came back to compare the 150 vs heavier bullets. I was thinking the 270 Winchester just didn’t have enough horsepower to gain any advantage with the heavy bullets. Those belong in the bigger cartridges. I will keep my 10 inch twist 270 and not worry about it. As an added observation, the standard 22 inch barrel very seldom achieves the listed velocity. Mine is usually 100 FPS below rated velocity for both factory ammo and reloads.

[walterwjr]

It is so nice to see you go in to great detail about the old stuff. It is amazing to see _how much more_ can be gotten from the _OLD STUFF, _ with a few changes.

[lannybackes]

Built a .270WSM on a standard length action, 27" barrel, 1:7 twist. It allows for seating the Berger 170 EOL no deeper than the neck, and with H1000 and Retumbo powders it's pushing the 170 just over 3k. Still working on loads but that .662 G1 bullet is retaining high velocity, energy and minimal drop at long range.

[dadajackyo]

The thing is, as a handloader, you don't have to shoot book OAL. If you get a barrel with a long throat, you can load that 270 much longer, use a slower powder, and push them heavy bullets fast. I loaded the 308 with a 208 A-MAX to 2650 FPS measured with my magnetospeed using RL-17, which is way too slow for most 308 loads, with amazing accuracy. I was loading at 2.930", which is also well above max OAL in the book, but it fit my rifle perfectly, with about 0.005" jump. Savage makes great rifles... :)

[jamesreese]

You nailed it on the heavier-weight bullets compared to the 150-grain loading. The thing people forget is that the job of the hunting rifle is to bring down the quarry as fast as possible. A lighter, faster bullet may be more lethal than a heavier, slower bullet. Drag and wind deflection aren't things that game is concerned about.

[BjCmeadows]

Great video Ron! I've been considering getting a faster twist barrel for my 270 Tikka but this helped me solidify the confidence that I really don't Need that for my hunting purposes

[LarryLMelton]

Ron,

I’ve shot the same rifle since the mid-1970s: Remington 700 BDL, 270 Winchester. I initially fired 130-grain bullets since that was the most recommended. However, when I learned the advantage of reloading, I found my most accurate load was pushing Nosler 150-grain ballistic tip, using 52 grains IMR 4350. Providing I do my part, I can shoot ½ MOA. I’ve never had a deer walk or run after being shot. They all drop at the spot where they were shot, and as we say in Texas, DRT – Dead Right There!

In retirement, I’ve considered hunting something as large as Elk or Moose. I am considering a new caliber if I am fortunate enough to score an Elk hunt. I am looking at the 300 PRC. Big enough to take anything on this continent and still have the reach for the occasional long-range target.

Larry from Texas

[CampbellsCoins]

The faster twist will be excellent for the new copper bullets. Seems to be negligible when comparing lead. Great video as always Ron.

[galenhisler]

I have a 270 wsm but i always go to my 270 just love that round. Great show as always thank you

[RMC]

I built a custom 6.8 Western last year running 175's at 2810fps and it's an absolute hammer!

[duck-n-cover]

Thank you for continuing to teach that lower weight copper bullets can perform as equivalent to heavier traditional lead bullets.

[davidmackee]

Cracking cartridge the 270 win had one for a number of years does the job well great video once again thank you Ron 👍👍