270 Hornady American Whitetail Review: The Buck Stops Here

Hunting season is open all across the U.S., and the vast majority of us are after whitetail. Growing up, my Dad always hunted with his Savage 110 with iron sights. We have a lot of great memories of sitting in tree stands waiting for that perfect buck to walk by.

Now, whether you want a trophy or you’re simply trying to stock the freezer, you’re looking into ammunition that will bring home deer meat. To do that, you may need a little more than iron sights (no judgment here) and ammo that performs well.

Hornady ammunition has been around for a long time. Overall, any of the company’s ammo, from handgun ammunition to rifle ammo, is reliable and high-quality. However, there are so many variations of each that it can be challenging to make an informed decision. You can pick up a few boxes of 270 Hornady American Whitetail ammo HERE. Otherwise, keep reading my review.

270 Hornady American Whitetail Overview

Hornady American Whitetail hit the scene about a decade ago, and remains one of the best ammo lines featuring InterLock bullets that Hornady offers. It’s midrange hunting ammunition: not incredibly expensive, yet highly effective.

Hornady designed this ammunition to shoot straight and inflict deep wound channels that quickly anchors medium game. The Nebraskan manufacturer offers this deer hunting ammo in all the most popular cartridges, including like 308 Win, 300 Winchester Magnum, 243 Winchester, and 270 Win.

The Hornady American Whitetail 270 is popular because it has the power to take down medium and large game without the recoil of heavier cartridges like the 7mm Rem Mag or 300 Win Mag. It has a narrower bullet than other large game cartridges, but also has recoil and accuracy comparable to the 6.5 Creedmoor (a round revered for its flat trajectory and superb shot groups). Hornady used its state-of-the-art InterLock bullet, high-quality powder, premium primer and brass, and expert craftsmanship to create a 270 deer cartridge that truly excels under all circumstances.

Hornady pulled out all the stops with this 270 whitetail ammo. You can choose the variant loaded with speedy 130 grain bullets, or the heavier (and slower) 140 grain alternative. Either way, you will benefit from Hornady's InterLock: a soft point bullet with a secant ogive design that minimizes aerodynamic drag, as well as a grooved, tapered jacket which promotes faster and wider expansion.

One common issue we see in hunting ammo is that it expands too quickly after impact. This causes penetration issues, resulting in less lethal terminal ballistics. Hornady addressed this issue by giving the InterLock bullet's jacket a raised ring that is embedded within the underlying alloyed lead core. The InterLock's signature ring mechanically binds its core and jacket togehter, thus promoting higher weight retention and deeper penetration.

Hornady American Whitetail ammunition is reliable and dependable. Moreover, it’s a bit cheaper than other popular hunting ammo like Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond or even Hornady Superformance SST. The ammunition is manufactured right here in the USA, yet it’s also within a comfortable price point.

Our 270 Hornaday American Whitetail Review

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the 270 for hunting. Hornady American Whitetail ammo paired with InterLock bullets is a decent setup for deer season. I’ve used American Whitetail ammunition for quite some time. It shoots straight and decreases my chances of having to track blood trails through thick brush.

This rifle ammo has great ballistics, expansion, and penetration. It’s reliable and dependable, and has a pretty high muzzle velocity. It also has an excellent ballistic coefficient and effective range. Furthermore, you could use it for big game like elk – a testament to the 270's outstanding versatility.

I’ve never had a problem with American Whitetail ammunition. I get tight shot groups, and I’m confident the bullet’s design will create a deep wound channel that helps me avoid having to trail a wounded deer on a cold morning.

The 140 grain InterLock bullet is my go-to for hunting with American Whitetail ammunition. It’s fast and accurate, and also has excellent weight retention. With it I can take down any buck within 300 yards. It has a muzzle velocity of 2,940 fps and muzzle energy of 2,687 ft-lbs. Hornady also produces 130 grain American Whitetail ammunition for the 270 Win – a great option if you want a higher-velocity alternative to 140 grains.

Another thing I love about Hornady Whitetail ammo is that it’s perfect for reloading. It has brass cases loaded with Boxer primers, which even novice reloaders know is ideal for handloading. As mentioned earlier, this ammo is a bit cheaper than other options, but it’s still a worthy investment – especially if you handload rifle ammo.

What Is It Best for?

Hornady American Whitetail bullets are great for deer hunting (clearly). However, they also work well for wild hogs, antelope, and other medium game. You could possibly take down big game like elk within short-range distances.

Some hunters like to push the limits of this ammo's range. Realistically, American Whitetail ammo will expand at velocities above 1,900 fps, which translates to about 500 yards. Unfortunately, that’s a tad unrealistic based on my experience. This ammo works best within 200-300-yard ranges. It isn’t long-range hunting ammunition, but it’s perfect for hunting within the distances most Americans harvest deer within.

Disadvantages

Hornady American Whitetail ammunition is great for hunting, but it’s priced a bit high for target practice. Naturally, you’ll want to take the ammo to the range to see how your rifle performs with it. This ammunition isn’t cheap enough to spend an entire day at the range without some buyer’s remorse.

If you want something a bit cheaper to practice with, try the Winchester Power-Point ammo line. It also has brass cases, Boxer primers, and high-quality powder. It still performs well, but it’s less painful to the wallet on range day.

Pros and Cons

As much as we love Hornady American Whitetail 270 ammo, there are some cons to go with the pros that we compiled below.

Pros

• Affordable
• Accessibile
• Great for hunting
• Reloadable
• Accurate
• Excellent expansion and penetration

Cons

• Not great for long-range hunting
• Hunting big game like elk is questionable

Specifications

Here is a spec chart for Hornady American Whitetail ammo for your enjoyment.

Variant Review

I mentioned earlier that Hornady offers two variantss of American Whitetail 270 ammunition. Let's take a look at both to help you choose which is better for you this season.

Hornady American Whitetail 270 130 Grain Review

Hornady American Whitetail 270 Win 130 grain bullets shoot fast and have a flat trajectory. They can certainly take down deer, hogs, and antelope. You can trust them to perform when it matters most, thanks to Hornady’s stringent quality standards.

Many hunters prefer the 130 grain variant over the 140 grain option because of the higher 3,060 fps muzzle velocity. However, the felt recoil feels a bit snappier to me, so it may not be for everyone.

Hornady American Whitetail 270 140 Grain Review

Hornady American Whitetail 270 Win 140 grain bullets are a bit slower than the 130 grain alternative, but that doesn’t mean they won’t perform equally well. The 2,940 fps muzzle velocity is nothing to scoff at, as it’s still pretty fast and shoots flat.

However, it has slightly less felt recoil in my hands, which should help novice shooters with accuracy. Either variant will take down a deer at 300 yards – assuming, of course, that you’re a good enough shot.

Hornady American Whitetail Ballistics

Below is a ballistics chart for Hornady American Whitetail 270 Win ammo.

Parting Shots

We only get so many chances in our lifetimes to take home a deer. The ammo you choose can spell the difference between bragging to your friends or sulking in the corner.

Hornady ammo is excellent, and 270 Win is an excellent hunting round. Hornady American Whitetail 270 Win ammo is flat shooting and designed to deliver terminal expansion. Although it isn’t long-range ammo (or even big game ammo, for that matter), it’s cost-efficient and effective enough to stock the freezer.

Overall, I love Hornady American Whitetail, and I’m confident you will too. Make sure you check out what we have in stock and pick up a box HERE.

FAQ

We wouldn’t leave you without answering more questions you may have about Hornady’s American Whitetail 270 Win ammo.

Is 270 Hornady American Whitetail ammo worth buying?

Absolutely! Assuming you want to shoot deer or other medium game within 300 yards, it is an excellent buy.

What is the range of 270 Hornady American Whitetail ammo?

Realistically, the maximum range of this ammunition is 300 yards. However, you can push it all the way to 500 yards, but that’s risky.

What makes 270 Winchester Hornady InterLock ammo special?

Hornady InterLock bullets utilize a mechanical ring to ensure the jacket and lead core stay together on impact and throughout expansion. This allows for better weight retention and deeper wound channels.

Is there a cheaper option for 270 hunting ammo?

Choosing your favorite rifle ammunition for hunting season isn’t easy, but there are many centerfire hunting cartridges that vary in price and bullet type HERE.

Are Hornady InterLock bullets as accurate as Remington Core-Lokt?

The two bullets can be equally accurate depending on the shooter and the rifle. The only way you’ll know for sure is to get to the range.

Are Hornady InterLock bullets considered soft points?

Yes. The InterLock bullet has a soft lead core, which is surrounded by a copper-alloy jacket with the exception of its tip.