The Best 270 Win Ammo for Hunting

By Wes Littlefield

Last Updated: Dec 29, 2025

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Wes Littlefield

Guns have fascinated Wes since pulling the trigger on his BB gun as a kid. He built a private gun range over a decade ago to keep his skills sharp. He loves breaking down complex ideas into understandable pieces for readers, with expertise in hunting and all aspects of shooting.

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Wes Littlefield, "Best 270 Win Ammo for Hunting Recommended by Experts at Ammo.com"
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The .270 Winchester (which is not to be confused with the .270 Winchester Short Magnum, or WSM), is used primarily for deer hunting. It is also popular big game hunting, such as for elk.

The best .270 Win ammo is Hornady Superformance 140 Grain SST. It has enough knockdown power for most hunting situations, is very reliable, and is trusted by many hunters. It's also expensive. If you're in the market for a 270 round that's a little cheaper but offers similar performance, keep reading. We have many more options in stock at Ammo.com!

Best .270 Ammo Overall

Hornady Superformance 270 Win 140 Grain SST

Hornady Superformance 270 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 140 Grain SST Ammunition

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$40.99

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Specs

• Bullet Weight: 140 grains
• Case: Brass
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,090 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,968 ft-lbs

Pros

• Trusted brand
• High muzzle velocity
• High muzzle energy
• Versatile bullet weight

Cons

• Expensive

Why We Chose It

Hornady is a brand trusted by shooters and hunters for the last several decades. Hornady ammunition always exhibits extremely high quality, so you know it will fire when you pull the trigger and cycle just as reliably.

This round's ballistic peformance is exactly what you should expect from its middleweight 140 grain bullet. It doesn't have the flattest trajectory. It doesn't hit the hardest, either. It's just a good, solid, balanced bullet which possesses none of the advantages or shortcomings of a lighter or heavier alternative.

The 140 grain bullet is excellent for pronghorn, whitetail deer, and mule deer hunting. It's a little bit light for elk hunting, although a well-placed shot will capably handle any Rocky Mountain or Roosevelt.

You will pay a higher price for premium ammunition like Hornady Superformance 140 Grain SST, but it's well worth the investment in a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. (To be sure, every hunt is a once-in-a-lifetime hunt.)

Honorable Mentions

The Despite being expensive, Black Hills Gold 270 Win 130 Grain TSX showcases a unique bullet. In addition to being lead-free, the TSX is extremely accurate – and extremely deadly once penetration causes it to extend four razor-sharp cutting petals.

If you're looking for a less expensive round, consider Remington 270 Win 130 Grain PSP. The pointed soft point's low-drag profile benefits its long-range performance, and its terminal expansion will reliably anchor any deer. These rounds are still on the pricier end of the spectrum, but I don't advise ruining a whole hunt because you decided to save a few bucks on less reliable ammo.

Best 270 Win Ammo for Elk Hunting

Federal Vital-Shok 270 Win 150 Grain Nosler Partition

Federal Vital-Shok 270 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 150 Grain Nosler Partition Ammunition

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Specs

• Bullet Weight: 150 grains
• Case: Brass
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,830 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,667 ft-lbs

Pros

• Trusted brand
• Packs more punch than several other 150gr loads
• One of the best big-game hunting bullets ever made

Cons

• Expensive

Why We Chose It

Federal is one of the top ammunition manufacturers. They have made reliable ammunition for decades, including 270 Win.

The 150gr Nosler Partition bullet loaded by Federal Premium carries enough energy to ethically harvest big game, such as elk, from a few hundred yards away.

Despite being a heavier 270 bullet, it's fast out of the muzzle. The worst parts about these rounds are their price, but they are well worth it.

If you plan to take your 270 bolt-action rifle elk hunting, grab a couple of boxes of Federal Vital-Shok to give you the best chance of bringing home some elk meat!

Honorable Mentions

For a less expensive round, check out the Sellier & Bellot 150 Grain SP. Its accuracy and capacity for terminal expansion aren't on par with the Partition load's, but it offers elk hunters a cheaper and still effective alternative with the same bullet weight.

Federal Power-Shok 270 Win 150 Grain SP offers slightly better ballistics than the Sellier & Bellot for a higher price, although it's still not as expensive as the Federal Vital-Shok.

Federal lowers this round's price tag by loading simple soft points. They are effective hunting bullets, albeit the lest technologically sophisticated.

Best 270 Ammo for Deer Hunting

Winchester Deer Season XP 270 Win 130 Grain Extreme Point

Winchester Deer Season XP 270 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 130 Grain Polymer Tipped Ammunition

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$35.99

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Specs

• Bullet Weight: 130
• Casing Type: Brass
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,060 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,702 ft-lbs

Pros

• Crafted specifically for deer hunting
• Fast
• Lightweight bullet still packs a punch

Cons

• Not ideal for game larger than deer

Why We Chose It

Winchester Deer Season XP offers hunters everything they need to fill their freezers with deer meat this season. After all, who knows how to load 270 Winchester ammunition better than the very same company that invented it?

Deer are medium game. Harvesting one ethically doesn't require a very large bullet. The 130 grain polymer-tipped Extreme Point proves as much.

The Extreme Point's giant polymer tip helps it conserve more velocity and momentum in flight. It also accelerates terminal expansion, and releases crippling energy on impact to quickly anchor the quarry.

This ammo's not extravagantly priced. It's not free, but you won't have to get a second job as a world-famous supermodel in order to afford it.

Bear in mind that 130 grain bullets are too light to harvest anything larger than mule deer. If deer or varmint hunting is all you do, then Winchester Deer Season XP 130 grain Extreme Point ammo should definitely be at the top of your list.

Honorable Mention

Federal 270 Win 130 Grain SP is a slightly more expensive round that offers virtually identical ballistics.

Soft point bullets can come very close to delivering the same accuracy and deadly terminal expansion as polymer-tipped ones. My main beef with them is that they don't always feed correctly, which damages the bullet and harms its performance as a result. So long as it feeds correctly, an SP is a fine choice for deer hunting.

Best Value for 270 Win Hunting Ammo

Sellier & Bellot 270 Win 150 Grain SP

Sellier and Bellot 270 Win Ammo - 20 Rounds of 150 Grain SP Ammunition

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$23.99

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Specs

• Bullet Weight: 150 grains
• Case: Brass
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,641 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,323 ft-lbs

Pros

• Inexpensive
• High quality
• Useful for target shooting and hunting alike

Cons

• Relatively strong recoil

Why We Chose It

The Sellier & Bellot 150 grain SP is reasonably priced. You can take it out for a day at the range without worrying about going into debt buying ammo. Though it's some of the cheapest ammo, it's still reliable. You can trust the round will go off when the trigger is pulled.

The 150gr bullet is large enough to reliably take down most big game, and decent for taking out varmints as well. The bullet has a little more kick, so your shoulder might get sore after spending the day at the range.

Honorable Mention

Another inexpensive round, especially when you buy it in bulk, is the Federal 270 Win 150 Grain SP. It's suitable for hunting deer and elk, as well as shooting targets at the gun range.

Which .270 Ammo is Best for You?

The best 270 rifle ammo depends on your situation. Your circumstances, rifle, and budget should all factor into which ammo is best for you.

Circumstances

How you plan to use your 270 rifle cartridges is the most significant factor in determining which ammo is best for you.

If you plan to use them for hunting, as most .270 Win shooters do, be sure match the bullet weight and ballistics up with the animal you're targeting.

A .270 caliber bullet is typically the narrowest allowed for elk hunting. That's why I prefer to use the heaviest 150+ grain bullets available for the pursuit.

The downsides to heavier bullets are stronger recoil and trajectory that drops off more steeply. If that's of concern, consider stepping up to long-range hunting situations with a 300 Win Mag or 6.5 Creedmoor rifle.

When deer or pronghorn hunting, a smaller, faster bullet will suffice. I prefer a 140gr bullet for these situations.

A 130 grain bullet is more than capable of stopping any varmint dead in its tracks. It's nice to have increased velocity (and resultant flatter trajectory) when hunting varmints, because they're small, quick, and easy to miss.

I primarily use my 270 rifle for hunting. When I take it to the range, I use the same ammo I would while hunting. However, if you don't plan to hunt with it, then there's no sense in not availing yourself of cheaper (yet still serviceably accurate) target loads.

Rifle

My hunting rifle is picky about which cartridges it cycles. As I mentioned earlier, sometimes it doesn't correctly feed soft point bullets, which pushes me toward buying ammo loaded with pricier polymer-tipped ones.

Your ideal 270 hunting ammo depends on what your own rifle likes best. You might not have any trouble cycling any one type of round, but you might find that you're more accurate with one round over another.

Budget

Finding 270 Winchester ammo for sale within your budget is critical. Rifle cartridges quickly get expensive, so it's wise only to buy the rounds you can afford.

Unless you compete, the cheapest ammo is often the best choice for target shooting. It won't be match accurate, but at least you'll be able to fire your rifle more than you could have with expensive ammo.

How to Save Money on Ammo

If sticking to a budget is your main concern, you can take a couple of steps to help ease the financial burden of buying ammo: reloading and buying bulk. Both cost a significant price upfront, but wind up costing less in the long run.

Reload

As a handloader, dialing in the ideal specs for your rifle and goald is straightforward. In other words, handloading won't just give you ideal ammo. It'll also allow you to pay the lowest possible price for it.

If you only fire your 270 rifle occasionally, then handloading is probably impractical. Stick to factory loads and you'll get the job done.

Buy Bulk Ammo

Federal 270 Win Ammo - 200 Rounds of 150 Grain SP Ammunition

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Ammo manufacturers offer a discount to anyone who orders a large quantity of ammo. It's the economy of scale – applies to everything.

The size of the discount depends on how much you purchase. If you buy 200 rounds, you won't get as good of a deal as you would had you bought 500 rounds. Depending on how much you buy, you can save $0.10 per round or more.

You can buy in bulk and reload spent brass if you're truly dedicated to saving money. You're essentially doubling up on your savings, so you can tell your significant other that you're actually saving money when buying ammo.

Common 270 Bullets

When you purchase 270 ammo, you'll notice manufacturers use different bullets, which often affects the price.

SP and PSP Bullets

Soft point (SP) and pointed soft point (PSP) bullets are commonly found in hunting cartridges. They're inexpensive, and effective at ethically harvesting any game.

Most manufacturers load sof point or pointed soft point bullets. For examples, see Remington Core-Lokt (Remington .270 Ammunition), Winchester Power-Point, and Federal Fusion.

Nosler Partition Bullets

The Nosler Partition is also a soft point, albeit with a secret weapon: its jacket, which partitions its lead core into two separate sections. The front ensures wide terminal expansion, while the rear conserves the weight and momentum requisite for effectively deep penetration. It's a potent combo.

Polymer-Tipped Bullets

True to its name, a polymer-tipped bullet has a pointed, aerodynamic prong of polymer for a tip. In addition to streamlining the bullet's frontal profile, the polymer tip serves to catalyze faster and wider terminal expansion on impact (with some exceptions, such as the ELD Match which does not expand).

Polymer-tipped bullets' many performance advantages means they come at a higher price. If you're not hunting or shooting across relatively far distances, then they probably aren't worth it.

SST Bullets

The Super Shock Tip (SST) was created by Hornady, It is a favorite of reloaders partly due to its boat tail design, which makes it easier to seat in the case mouth.

The SST's tip flattens its trajectory, increases its striking energy, and enables it to deliver a cripplingly fast shockwave of energy on impact. It's not the cheapest bullet by a long shot, but Hornady's famously accurate and deadly bullet is worth the higher price of admission.

TTSX or TSX Bullets

Triple-Shock X (TSX) and Tipped Triple-Shock X (TTSX) are polymer-tipped bullets made by Barnes. Like the Hornady GMX, both are lead-free copper bullets designed to undergo ferocious terminal expansion. Copper's ductility also enables these bullets to conserve ample weight following impact, thereby promoting deeper overall penetration.

Parting Shots

If you have a 270 hunting rifle and plan to hunt deer, I highly recommend Winchester Deer Season XP 130gr Extreme Point. For elk hunting, you'll need the larger bullet of theFederal Vital-Shok 150 grain SP load.

Written by

Wes Littlefield