We share some of our top ammo picks if you’re looking to take a 270 Winchester out for an elk hunt.
What’s the best .270 Winchester ammo for elk? While the .270 Winchester is considered relatively small, it’s a fast, accurate, and effective deer-hunting cartridge. It’s also a surprisingly potent elk-hunting round. In this article, we’ll go over the top ammunition choices for converting your deer-dropping .270 rifle into an elk-harvesting long-range tool.
Ron Spomer, a popular writer, hunter, conservationist, and storyteller, tells a fascinating story (among many) of a whitetail hunt that became an elk adventure. Spomer, touting a rifle chambered for .270 Winchester, was ready for the switch.
As he tells it, he was preparing for a deer hunt on a private ranch in the western United States. The property owner said that if they are coming in for whitetail, grab an elk tag, as they run heavy and thick through the area.
Sure enough, as the two were scouring the ranch for deer, over the hillside came a massive herd of elk, “hundreds of elk,” according to the storyteller. He and his partner wondered if their .270 would be enough for elk, but, knowing the ballistic profile of the cartridge, once they came in range they were able to drop a trophy bull.
So while some may feel it’s too small for elk, we can confidently say that with accurate shooting and the right bullet selection, the .270 Winchester is a fully capable elk-hunting round.
Top .270 Winchester Ammo for Elk
- 140-grain InterLock SP American Whitetail (Hornady)
- 150-grain Expedition Big Game (Winchester)
- 156-grain Vulkan (Norma)
.270 Ammo for Elk: Top Options
140-grain InterLock SP American Whitetail (Hornady)
Energy at 400 yards: 1,526 ft-lbs
With “whitetail” in the name, we might assume that this cartridge is only for deer. And while the 140-grain round is perfect for harvesting a corn-fed Midwest buck, the round has enough power, speed, and penetration for hearty Rocky Mountain elk.
The InterLock bullet, a projectile designed by the experts at Hornady, uses a raised ring inside the jacket embedded in the lead core, locking the two together for better weight retention. The result is deep penetration into the vitals.
150-grain Expedition Big Game (Winchester)
Energy at 400 yards: 1,761 ft-lbs
Ammo manufacturers often put the intended use right on the packaging. If a box of shotgun shells has a duck on the box, it’s likely a good waterfowl option. If there is a prairie dog on your rimfire packaging, it’s likely a varmint load. This ammunition has a moose on the box!
Whether or not the .270 is enough for moose is a separate discussion, but the packaging hints at a basic fact: this is one of the most powerful .270 Winchester products you can find. It starts at 2,801 ft-lbs of energy, and at 500 yards still has 1,556 ft-lbs. With a bonded lead core, the high-powered impact results in deep penetration and expansion.
156-grain Vulkan (Norma)
Energy at 400 yards: N/A
This one is tough to find and from what we have seen, this is the heaviest .270 Winchester cartridge available. With a 156-grain projectile, this hunting round brings excellent power and terminal performance to your elk hunt.
This is a reliable hunting cartridge that ensures fast, consistent mushrooming thanks to a thin jacket and high energy. The jacket itself is folded at the tip, which helps reduce recoil damage while the bullet sits in the magazine, while the heavier bullet ensures deep penetration.
Is the .270 Winchester Enough for Elk?
One of the most common questions for elk hunting, especially from new hunters, is what cartridge do you need? Frankly, the answer is simple: whichever cartridge you have and are most comfortable with. Of course, this must be within reason; a .22 Long Rifle is not an elk round no matter how good you are. But powerful cartridges like a .338 Winchester Magnum, with nearly 4,000 ft-lbs of muzzle energy, is not necessary.
A .243 Winchester or even a .223 Remington, while not considered elk rounds, will kill a bugling bull with the right range, shot placement, and ammo selection.
The more powerful .270 Winchester, therefore, is a fine option. In fact, if you are familiar with the cartridge and have used it for years of whitetail hunting, it’s probably the best choice. Why? Because it’s the one with which you are most comfortable, proficient, and accurate. It’s a fast, powerful cartridge that has enough energy, in most cases, to harvest elk at 400 yards or more.
So while you won’t find it on most lists of the “top elk rounds,” your trusted .270 is a great option. No need to purchase a new rifle, spending hours becoming familiar with a high-powered cartridge. Simply grab your .270 Winchester and head for the mountains. (Of course, don’t forget the elk tag!)
Energy Profile for the .270 Winchester
Energy is an imperfect measurement for terminal performance. But it’s useful. While we should not assume that energy is the sole determining factor for ballistic performance, it gives us a starting point, a way to register a cartridge’s performance once it hits the target.
The traditional minimum energy for elk hunting, a rule of thumb if you will, is 1,500 ft-lbs. If you strike an elk in the vitals with 1,000 ft-lbs, it will drop. But 1,500 ft-lbs is generally the accepted power for tough, rugged elk.
Most elk cartridges are well above this range for hundreds of yards. The .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield, as examples, maintain this mark to about 300 or 400 yards, depending on the ammo selection.
The .270, thanks to high speeds and moderate-size bullets, can deliver this level of energy to 500 yards. Winchester’s 150-grain Expedition Big Game cartridge is the perfect example. This round, which is one of the heaviest .270 rounds available, starts with 2,801 ft-lbs of energy, a high but manageable start. At 500 yards, it’s still cruising with 1,556 ft-lbs of energy and has only slowed to 2,162 ft-lbs. If you are skilled enough to place a shot at the vitals, this cartridge will kill an elk at 500 yards.
What to Look for from a .270 Winchester for Elk?
There are many variables to consider, but when you are searching for an effective .270 round for elk hunting, start with bullet size. The .270 Winchester runs from about 100 to 150 grains, but elk hunters should focus on 130 grains or higher. At this weight, you’ll have greater performance, especially downrange.
Bullet design, of course, matters as well. For elk, penetration is essential, so all-copper and bonded bullets, which maintain weight and drive deep to the vitals, are critical.
In summary, a .270 cartridge with a 130-grain to 150-grain bonded or all-copper bullet, often with a polymer tip, will work wonders on a bull elk.
Your Source for the Best .270 Ammo on the Market
The .270 Winchester may be the most versatile cartridge you can find. Useful for varmint, coyote, whitetail, and elk, a rifle chambered for the .270 can be your companion on nearly any hunt.
Whether you are heading to the mountains for elk or the back pasture for coyote, stock up on affordable .270 ammunition today. Visit our site and you’ll find a wide range of options from leading ammo companies like Federal, Winchester, Hornady, Nosler, and more!
