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Common uses: Hunting, Big Game
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 150gr Winchester Expedition Big Game Long Range AccuBond LR |
| Muzzle velocity | 2900 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 2801 ft-lb |
| Stored G1 ballistic coefficient (source unresolved) | 0.591 |
| Stored G7 ballistic coefficient | 0.298 |
| Case length | 64.5 mm |
| Overall length | 3.34 in |
| Listed maximum pressure | 65000 PSI |
| Common twist rate | 1:10" |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2900 | 2801 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2740 | 2500 | 0 |
| 200 | 2585 | 2225 | -3.1 |
| 300 | 2436 | 1976 | -11.5 |
| 400 | 2292 | 1749 | -25.7 |
| 500 | 2152 | 1543 | -46.6 |
At 1,000 yards, .270 Win. (150gr at 2900 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 27.3 MOA / 8.0 MIL, retaining 1528 fps (supersonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 | 2022 | Supersonic | -74.7 | 11.9 | 3.46 |
| 700 | 1892 | Supersonic | -111.5 | 15.2 | 4.43 |
| 800 | 1767 | Supersonic | -158.0 | 18.9 | 5.49 |
| 900 | 1646 | Supersonic | -215.7 | 22.9 | 6.66 |
| 1000 | 1528 | Supersonic | -286.3 | 27.3 | 7.95 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards use the CaliberAtlas G7 point-mass model — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.
Published BCs depend on a reference drag model and stated velocity conditions. A source review does not independently measure a BC. Understanding BC sources
Manufacturer item S270LR · Sources checked
Winchester lists 150 gr AccuBond LR, 2,900 fps and 2,801 ft-lb from a 24-inch test barrel. Its coefficient .591 is unlabeled. Nosler separately lists component 58836 with G1 .591, G7 .298 and sectional density .279.
Still unresolved: Winchester does not publish G7 .298 in the reviewed row. The ammunition-to-component SKU association is not explicitly established. The stored coefficient and sectional-density values remain attributed to the component comparison, not a complete factory-load verification.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .270 Winchester is a long-standing favorite for deer, pronghorn, sheep, and other medium and large game, prized for a flat trajectory and reach that suit open terrain and longer shots. Driving common 130- and 150-grain bullets at high velocity, it delivers dependable killing power on game up to elk while producing noticeably less recoil than magnum cartridges of similar reach. Factory ammunition and rifles are widely available from nearly every major maker, and its ballistics remain competitive with newer designs decades after its introduction. Its main limitations are a comparatively narrow range of bullet weights relative to the .30-06 and less bullet mass for the largest, heaviest game. For the great majority of North American big-game hunting, it remains a proven, well-balanced all-around choice.
Introduced by Winchester in 1925 as a chambering for the bolt-action Model 54, the .270 Winchester was created by necking down the .30-03 Springfield case to accept a .277-inch bullet. It was designed as a flat-shooting big-game cartridge, pairing a lighter, higher-velocity bullet with the .30-06-family case. The cartridge owes much of its lasting fame to gun writer Jack O'Connor, whose decades of praise in Outdoor Life made it a benchmark for open-country hunting and cemented its place as one of the most successful American hunting cartridges of the 20th century.
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