The 270 WSM: Compact Power for Hunting

The 270 WSM: Compact Power for Hunting

The .270 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM) caliber has established itself as a popular choice for many hunters in France. Its ingenious design, combining power and compactness, makes it a valuable asset in the field. Let's explore the history, characteristics, and performance of this unique caliber.

History of the Caliber 270 WSM: A Challenge to Tradition

The 270 WSM was introduced in 2002 , the result of Winchester's work. It is part of a wave of "Short Magnum" cartridges developed at the beginning of the 21st century, aiming to offer similar, or even superior, ballistic performance to traditional magnum calibers, but in shorter cases.

It is part of the WSM family: 270 WSM / 7mm WSM / 300 WSM / 325 WSM.
It is by far the most popular Winchester short magnum caliber in France.

Its appearance was aimed directly at competing with established and popular calibers among hunters, notably the 270 Winchester, extremely popular in the United States , from which it takes its bullet diameter, but also more powerful calibers like the 7mm Remington Magnum and the 300 Winchester Magnum , by offering a more compact and potentially more pleasant alternative to shoot in certain weapon configurations.

Features of the 270 WSM Caliber: The "Short Action" Advantage

The main feature of the 270 WSM lies in its "Short Magnum" design. This means that it offers a powder capacity comparable to standard magnum calibers, but in a shorter and more compact case.

Typical dimensions of 270 WSM cartridges:

- Total cartridge length (OAL): approximately 72.6 mm
- Case length: approximately 53.3 mm
- Bullet diameter: 7.04 mm (.277 inches)

The major advantage of this design is its compatibility with short actions . Short actions allow for lighter, stiffer rifles with a faster bolt cycle, which can be a significant benefit for handling and speed of fire when hunting. This compactness does not significantly sacrifice powder capacity compared to the .270 Winchester, allowing it to achieve high muzzle velocities.

Ballistic Comparison: The 270 WSM Against the Competition

Let's compare the theoretical performance of the .270 WSM with other popular hunting calibers (data may vary slightly depending on loads and barrel lengths; therefore, we compared the performance figures from a single manufacturer to ensure a consistent caliber performance rather than comparing different manufacturers). All load examples presented are Hornady ELD-X ammunition fired from a 24" barrel, as shown on the Hornady website: https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/#!/

This table compares the trajectory up to 500 meters

This table compares the residual energy up to 500 meters

Analysis for hunting:

- The 270 WSM is positioned as a caliber offering higher initial velocity and impact energy than the 270 Winchester, giving it an advantage in terms of range and stopping power, while remaining in a short action.

Compared to the 6.5 PRC , the 270 WSM can offer slightly higher muzzle energy with bullets of comparable weight, although the 6.5 PRC is renowned for its excellent ballistic coefficient and therefore better velocity retention and a flatter trajectory at long range with specific bullets. At short range (under 500 meters, the 270 WSM is the better of the two).

- Compared to "magnums" like the 300 WM and the 7mm RM , the 270 WSM offers less power, but remains quite sufficient for the majority of European game, with the advantage of potentially more manageable recoil in a lighter rifle.

In summary, the 270 WSM offers an excellent compromise between power, flat trajectory and compactness, making it very versatile for hunting medium and large game.

Commercially Available Ammunition and Their Prices

The .270 WSM is a relatively popular caliber, and you'll therefore find several ammunition options on the French market. Prices can vary considerably depending on the brand, projectile type, and retailer. Here are some examples of common brands and links to online gun shops where you can find ammunition (prices are indicative and subject to change):

- Common brands: Winchester, Norma, Sako, Federal, Remington, Hornady.

- Projectile types: Polymer point bullets (for rapid expansion), soft point bullets, lead-free bullets, controlled expansion bullets (for big game).

Here are some links to ammunition sellers in France:

- Decathlon: Search for "270 WSM ammunition" on the Decathlon website
- Gilles Armory: https://www.armurerie-gilles.com/
- Auxerre Armory: https://www.armurerie-auxerre.com/ 

Indicative prices: Expect to pay between €40 and €80 for a box of 20 cartridges , or even more for high-performance ammunition or premium brands. It is advisable to compare prices between different retailers.

Reloading the 270 WSM: A More Limited Choice

Reloading 270 WSM is an interesting option for shooters and hunters wishing to customize their ammunition to suit their weapon and needs.

- Case manufacturers: You'll find new cases mainly from manufacturers like Winchester and Norma; it's possible to convert Lapua .300 WSM cases to .270 WSM. Availability may vary.

- Projectile selection: Although the bullet diameter (.277 inches) is common to the .270 Winchester, the selection of projectiles specifically designed for the .270 WSM may be smaller than for more popular calibers like 6.5mm (.264 inches) or 7mm (.284 inches). Nevertheless, you will find options in various weights and profiles from major bullet manufacturers (Sierra, Hornady, Nosler, etc.) suitable for hunting.

Pay attention to the rifling twist rate of your firearm! Most .270 WSM rifles have a 1:10" twist rate, allowing them to fire projectiles up to 145 grains. For heavier projectiles, you'll need custom barrels with a 1:8" or 1:9" twist rate.

Reloading allows for optimization of the accuracy and performance of the 270 WSM, but it is important to note that the variety of dedicated projectiles is not as extensive as for some other widely used calibers.

In what situations does the 270 WSM shine particularly brightly?

The 270 WSM excels particularly in the following hunting situations:

- Hunting medium-sized game at long range: Its flat trajectory and energy on impact allow for precise and effective shots on animals such as deer, roe deer or wild boar at respectable distances.

- Hunting in the mountains or in difficult terrain : The compactness of short-action rifles chambered in 270 WSM makes them lighter and more maneuverable, a significant advantage during long walks or in cluttered environments.

- Hunting requiring a good compromise between power and recoil : It offers more power than the 270 Winchester with recoil often perceived as more manageable than that of more powerful magnums like the 300 WM.

- For hunters who prefer a light and responsive rifle : The short action contributes to a more balanced weapon that is quicker to shoulder.

In conclusion, the .270 WSM is a modern and high-performing caliber that has found its place among French hunters. Its combination of power, trajectory, and compact size makes it a versatile and effective choice for many hunting situations.