Best .270 WSM loads for whitetail deer 23 of 23 .270 WSM factory loads carry 1,000 ft·lb and expansion velocity for whitetail deer; the best reach 850 yd (Federal 140 gr Berger Hybrid Hunter). Ranked, with the drop chart for each.
Load gr Max ethical yd MV fps 500 yd ft·lb Shoulder shot Federal 140 gr Berger Hybrid Hunter 140 850 3,200 1,698 behind the shoulder only Nosler Trophy Grade Long Range 150 gr AccuBond Long Range 150 850 3,050 1,652 yes Federal 150 gr Fusion 150 750 3,060 1,548 yes Hornady Precision Hunter 145 gr ELD-X 145 750 3,100 1,579 yes Browning 130 gr Max Point Polymer Tip 130 700 3,275 1,445 behind the shoulder only Federal 136 gr Terminal Ascent 136 700 3,240 1,504 yes Norma 140 gr Tipstrike 140 700 3,117 1,443 behind the shoulder only Winchester Deer Season XP 130 gr Extreme Point 130 700 3,275 1,445 behind the shoulder only Winchester 150 gr Ballistic Silvertip 150 700 3,120 1,521 behind the shoulder only Federal 130 gr Trophy Copper 130 650 3,280 1,402 yes Nosler Expansion Tip 130 gr E-Tip 130 650 3,200 1,393 yes Nosler Trophy Grade 140 gr AccuBond 140 650 3,100 1,375 yes Winchester 130 gr Ballistic Silvertip 130 650 3,275 1,396 behind the shoulder only Barnes VOR-TX 140 gr TTSX BT 140 600 3,135 1,257 yes Winchester Copper Impact 130 gr Copper Extreme Point 130 600 3,215 1,299 yes Federal 130 gr Power-Shok JSP 130 550 3,250 1,173 behind the shoulder only Hornady Outfitter 130 gr CX 130 500 3,150 1,196 yes Norma 130 gr Whitetail SP 130 500 3,199 1,103 behind the shoulder only Norma 150 gr Oryx 150 500 3,084 1,117 yes Remington 130 gr Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt 130 500 3,285 1,091 behind the shoulder only Winchester Power Max Bonded 130 gr Bonded Protected Hollow Point 130 500 3,275 1,098 yes Winchester 150 gr Power-Point 150 500 3,150 1,070 behind the shoulder only Norma 156 gr Vulkan 156 450 2,986 914 behind the shoulder only
The 1,000 ft·lb deer figure traces to Townsend Whelen and is the one everyone repeats; Hawks puts the floor nearer 800. An 8–10″ heart/lung zone. Legal: CO: 1,000 ft·lb at 100 yd · SD: 1,000 ft·lb at muzzle. Floor used: 1,000 ft·lb at impact plus the bullet's published expansion velocity. Orange = a target or varmint bullet (construction, not energy); red = never carries the energy. Sources: www.outdoorlife.com , www.petersenshunting.com , chuckhawks.com .
All .270 WSM loads
Figures are the maker's published BC and muzzle velocity in the maker's test barrel, solved with ZeroDope's point-mass engine at 59 °F, 29.92 inHg, sea level, 100 yd zero, 1.8″ sight height, 10 mph full-value wind. Your barrel, your chronograph and your conditions change them — the app corrects for all three, then you true it on steel. Terminal figures are energy floors from the sources on each animal, not a licence; legal minimums vary by state. © ZeroDope.