Autumn is fast approaching and with it comes the time-honored tradition of the deer hunt. For countless decades hunters have looked forward to the annual deer hunt perhaps more than any other. Times have certainly changed. In my youth I remember deer camps with big canvas tents, wood burning stoves, and a central fire pit where everyone gathered in the evening to tell stories of hunts gone by. Today most of those wall tents have been replaced by more convenient campers or even motel rooms. But deer hunting continues to be the biggest passion for hunters on an annual basis and 270 Win can be great for those hunters.
You’ll find deer all across the country in every imaginable habitat from the American farmland to lowland hills to the highest mountains and the hottest deserts. I’m lucky to have hunted deer since my pre-teen years and even though my hunting ventures have taken me all over the US and abroad, every fall I usually end up in my old stomping grounds of southern New Mexico in search of desert mule deer.
Best 270 Ammo for Deer Hunting
Currently, if I needed .270 Winchester ammo for my next deer hunt, I would take a look at the following:
Remington, 130gr Core Lokt Tipped
According to Remington Core-Lokt Tipped offers proven Core-Lokt terminal performance on game, match-grade accuracy, improved ballistic coefficients, and truer flight vs the traditional Core Lokt ammo. I have used this ammo in my recent hunting excursions for deer and plains game in Africa. It performed wonderfully. Why did I choose it? Because it groups less than one inch at 100 yards in MY rifle. A good starting point for any hunt.
Hornady,145gr ELD-X Precision Hunter
Hornady’s provides the following statement “Accuracy and terminal performance are the cornerstones of Hornady Precision Hunter factory loaded ammunition”. The ELD‑X bullet is designed to achieve its maximum ballistic potential. I have personally used the Hunter Precision Hunter ammo in several calibers including. 270 Winchester and have seen firsthand its effectiveness on big game.
Federal Premium, 136gr Terminal Ascent
Federal has been in the business for years and builds top quality ammo. The Terminal Ascent line of Federal Premium blends the “features of top match-style bullet designs with the industry’s best bonding technology and components to deliver any-range accuracy and reliable expansion even at low velocities”. Having used Federal ammo for years with great success, I would want explore this line when searching for an accurate load in MY rifle.
Sierra Game Changer, 140gr Tipped Game King
I relied upon this ammo in .300 Win Mag while in Africa and was impressed with its performance on large plains game, such as Eland, Roan and Sable. Sierra is known for its awesome Game King bullets and is now building ammo as well. I would give this ammo a try in your rifle.
Searching for more economical options? Check out these offerings:
Prvi Partizan, 130gr or 150gr Soft Point
I used some of this ammo in Africa and it performed well. If it shot accurately in your rifle I wouldn’t hesitate using it for big game.
Remington Core-Lokt
130 grain and also 150 grain
This iconic line from Remington has been around for decades. I have used it in multiple calibers and always test it in any new rifle I intend to hunt with.
Winchester Deer Season XP, 130gr Copper Extreme Point
Winchester has been in the gun and ammo business for over a hundred years. This round is designed specifically for deer hunting, and it’s worth a look.
How I Choose Ammo
Let’s be honest, I have not even begun to test every brand-named company’s offering of the .270 Winchester, and probably never will. I assure you all of them will take game, including deer. Are some better suited for deer? Perhaps.
We can sit for hours and discuss, stocks, actions/triggers, barrels (floated or not), and all of that can be really critical. Fact is most rifles today (and many of days gone by) of any quality will shoot a one-inch group, or less at 100 yards…depending on the ammo. What I will say is that today’s ammo is better than ever.
I could care less if you have the newest, greatest, nuclear tipped, zombie killer bullet on the planet. None of that matters if your rifle does not shoot brand x well and if you the shooter, struggle with proper shot placement.
Make no mistake, I want a quality bullet known for its ability to put big game down in the field, but just as critical is knowing the ammo I am using is accurate in my rifle and that I know my limitations on making an ethical shot…no matter the distance.
270 Versus Newer Calibers
We can discuss shooting out to 400 yards and beyond, and yes without a doubt many newer calibers are ahead of some old school cartridges when it comes to taking game beyond the 400-yard mark. I have hunted with all of the PRC cartridges 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, and 300 PRC. They are indeed impressive while having distinct advantages at distances beyond 400 yards.
What’s really most important is that you, the shooter and hunter select a flavor (brand and weight grain) of ammunition that will shoot well in your rifle, whatever make and model it be. We are assuming the scope bases, rings and the scope itself are of quality and all properly mounted to your rifle.
So, with that said, if you were to show up to my door and ask, what .270 Win ammo should I choose for deer hunting, I am going to make suggestions based upon my hunting experience.
100 Years for the .270 Winchester
As of the year I write this (2025) the .270 Winchester cartridge is 100 years old. It was first introduced under the name 270 WCF (Winchester Centerfire) and along with it the Winchester Model 54 bolt action. The Winchester company being the obvious designer.
While the .270 Winchester was not an instant success in 1925 when it first appeared (in part due to the popularity of the 30-06), it did not take long for it to rise in the big game hunting world. As time passed well known writer and big game hunter, Jack O’Conner utilized the .270 and wrote praises of the cartridge in Outdoor Life magazine. Even renowned gun writer and cartridge designer, Townsend Whelen spoke highly of the .270 Winchester cartridge.
It was immediately obvious .270 Winchester cartridge was capable of shooting flatter than the popular 30–06. With the increased usage of hunting scopes post WWII, the .270 Winchester became the go to cartridge for much of the hunting community.
The First 270 Win Factory Loads
Initial factory ammo pushed a 130-grain bullet at about 3,140 feet per second. The .270 Win was marketed from the start as a suitable cartridge for big game shooting in the 300-to-500-yard range. I can personally attest that the .270 is certainly within its ability at those distances.
Other bullet weights and designs have been introduced over time from 90 grain up to 150 grains. However, the 130-grain bullet remains the most popular option. My personal experience has been mostly with the 130 and 140 grain bullet offerings in commercial loads.
Modern 270 Win Loads
The .270 Winchester is more than suitable for hunting deer-sized game and larger. The cartridge loaded with the 130-grain bullet will retain around 1,500 ft-lb. of energy up to 400 yards. That’s in-line with what many consider the minimum suitable for elk.
I prefer to sight my rifle two inches high at 100 yards. That means a 200 yard zero giving me the ability to never worry with holding daylight over a buck out to around 300 yards. While I have certainly glassed deer at 800 yards and beyond, I elected not to take such long shots for fear of not making an ethical kill. While having taken mule deer and whitetails at less than 50 yards and up to 500 yards, the average has probably been 150 yards or less.
My Winchester Model 70 .270 Win accompanied me to Africa in 2023 and I took everything from Springbok to Kudu with it. I fired Remington’s new 130 grain, Core Lokt Tipped ammo that performed wonderfully.
Aside from that, I have taken mule deer, whitetail, black bear, elk, caribou, and bighorn sheep with this cartridge and can assure you the .270 performs well and still remains a timeless classic. In short, I like the .270 Win.
Final Thoughts
The above list is but a few of the dozens of offerings and brands for the .270 Winchester. I can attest however that I have taken big game over the years with all of these brand names.
Again, the starting point is to determine if these or any other brand of ammo will group well in YOUR rifle. Once you have done that, get out this fall and enjoy the time-honored tradition of the deer hunt.
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