.270 Weatherby Mag

huntergarret

I won this Mark V about 10 years ago and barely ever shoot it. My buddy wants me to start shooting with him...he competes locally at 500 and 1,000 yards. He shoots a custom .308. I guess my question is, I want to get a rifle sooted for 500-1,000 yards, should I start with a new rifle? Or can the .270 be souped up for the job?

Horse Plains Drifter

Well, if a 308 is doing the job at 1,000 yds, you sure don't need to soup up any WM to get there flatly and rapidly. Accuracy may be an isse in an off the shelf rifle and the .308 Win is one of the most accurate rounds alive. Are you talking power or accuracy?

huntergarret

To be honost, as much as he is pushing the 1,000 yard range, I would be happy with something accurate 300-500 yards. I am thinking of sending the Mark V to a gun smith...just didn't know if it would be worth the money, seeing some nice heavy barrel bench rifles out there for good money.

huntergarret

Any other thoughts?

vdms55

give the WM a spin. you'll need to procure the glass needed for the long range anyway and if the rifle doesn't work out what will you be out? snoop around in the ballistic tables of any reloading book and i think you will find the .277 projectile has a better number for the BC than the .308. you may want to get hold of some equipment to prepare your bullets i.e. primer pocket uniformer, flash hole deburring tool maybe even anneal the necks of the brass. i believe if you can get a 140 gr. projectile leaving the barrel at 3000 ft. + per. sec. your .270 will do everything the .308 will. have fun learning.

richbug

quote:Originally posted by vdms55
give the WM a spin. you'll need to procure the glass needed for the long range anyway and if the rifle doesn't work out what will you be out? snoop around in the ballistic tables of any reloading book and i think you will find the .277 projectile has a better number for the BC than the .308. you may want to get hold of some equipment to prepare your bullets i.e. primer pocket uniformer, flash hole deburring tool maybe even anneal the necks of the brass. i believe if you can get a 140 gr. projectile leaving the barrel at 3000 ft. + per. sec. your .270 will do everything the .308 will. have fun learning.


I agree on the glass, but wouldn't worry about messing with your brass. Weatherby factory brass is about as uniform as you will find off the shelf(made by NORMA). The big limiting factor using the 270WM at great distance is the lack of quality bullets.

XXCross

Don't waste your time with the Wby. That's a hunting gun and it will beat the hell out of you trying to shoot any kind of a "match"!
(a 223 is competitive at 1000yds and a LOT easier and cheaper to shoot!)

sandwarrior

huntergarret,

If you are just going to go out and shoot at 1k, I wouldn't go out and buy another rifle. The .270 WBY will shoot a lot flatter than the .308 ever will. I would work up a load that gives you your best accuracy at 1k with your WBY. Understand though you may never get to the point of accurate enough to reach that far and hit consistently. Most WBY's will do what they say and that is 1.5" @ 100 yds. Occasionally you get lucky and get the .5 MOA WBY. When you extend out to 1k it gets pretty hard to keep that kind of accuracy. Most custom guns built for 1k are 1/4 MOA typically or better @ 100 yds. You have a lot of environmental factors shooting at 1k and if you don't know how to account for them a rifle that shoots 6 times as wide as it should will make it a lot more difficult to correctly call shots.

If you are going to compete @1k then you should get a rifle that is accurate enough to shoot that. Many off the shelf rifles can serve this purpose until you decide you need better. I will recommend a Savage 12 F-class in 6.5-284. Or a Remington in .260 Rem or 7mm-08. In my opinion the .308 is not a very good 1k cartridge. It can get to 1k supersonic but not with most bullets. 7mms and 6.5's get to 1k supersonic with ease.

bpost

Actually; take what you have and learn from the leaders. It does not matter if you show up with a Springfield 1303A3 with iron sights, just so yo show up and compete. Your rifle is not going to win any matches. BUT; even if you shot a winning rifle you will not win either !!!!!!!!!!!!!

The equipment is a learning experience and a preference based on a lot of variables.

the 308 is great, the 6.5X284 is real popular at 1,000 yards, rounds like the 6MMBR, 300 Win mag 30-06 are also used. The only one mentioned that I don't think I agree with is the.223. It runs out of poop at about 600 yards.

huntergarret

Thanks to all...bpost1958, I think you hit the nail on the head. I shot sporting clays for years with a stock 870 and did a lot better than most. I now own a Benelli and don't regret one second with the 870. Thanks for the wisdom.

JustC

Ditch the weatherby,...I havn't seen many that could even compete at 100yds let alone 1000yds. I have seen one or two that were one-hole'rs, but not many. The money that a weatherby fan would overpay, would get you a good Remington stainless Fluted rig that with a trigger job and bedding, would put you well into the competition for factory class.

don't skimp on glass,...it NEVER pays off.