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 compelling choice for many hunters in France. Its ingenious design, combining power and compactness, makes it a valuable ally in the field. Let's explore the history, features, and performance of this unique caliber.

History of the Caliber 270 WSM: A Challenge to Tradition

The 270 WSM was introduced in 2002 by Winchester. It was part of a wave of "Short Magnum" cartridges developed in the early 21st century, aimed at delivering similar, or even better, ballistic performance than 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 of the Winchester short magnum calibers in France.

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

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

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

Typical dimensions of 270 WSM cartridges:

- Total cartridge length (OAL): approximately 72.6 mm
- Case length: about 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 advantage for handling and shooting speed in 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 vs. the Competition

Let's compare the theoretical performance of the 270 WSM with other popular hunting calibers (data may vary slightly depending on loadings and barrel lengths, for this we compared the performance displayed by a single manufacturer to compare the performance level of a caliber and not from one manufacturer to another. All loading cases present are HORNADY ELD-X ammunition fired in a 24” barrel readable 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 a higher muzzle 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 known for its excellent ballistic coefficient and therefore better velocity retention and a tighter 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, tight trajectory and compactness, making it very versatile for hunting medium and large game.

Commercially Available Ammunition and Its Price

The 270 WSM is a relatively popular caliber, so you'll 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 approximate 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).

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: Generally, 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 the 270 WSM is an interesting option for shooters and hunters wishing to customize their ammunition according to their weapon and their needs.

- Case manufacturers: New holsters are available primarily from manufacturers like Winchester and Norma. Lapua 300 WSMs can be converted to 270 WSMs. Availability may vary.

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

Pay attention to the rifling pitch of your weapon! Most 270 WSM weapons have rifling pitches of 1:10” which allows them to fire projectiles of up to 145 grains, beyond that you need custom barrels with pitches of 1:8” or 1:9”

Reloading helps optimize 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 popular calibers.

In what situation does the 270 WSM shine particularly well?

The 270 WSM particularly excels in the following hunting situations:

- Hunting medium-sized game at long distances: Its taut trajectory and impact energy 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 manageable, a significant advantage during long marches or in cluttered environments.

- Hunting requiring a good compromise between power and recoil : It offers greater power than the 270 Winchester with a 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 and quick-to-shoulder weapon.

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