Light Bullets in the .270 Winchester

Q: I’ve been thinking about loading some 90, 100 and 110gn in my Model 70 Winchester .270. But the range officer at my local range told me that a rifle in .270 with a 1:10″ twist won’t shoot them accurately, whereas a barrel with a 1:12 twist will. What do you think?
Robert Patton
A: I think the guy who told you that is full of prunes. I’ve owned a number of .270 rifles and worn out 8 or 9 barrels with the standard 1:10 twist and they would all shoot tight groups with light bullets. Overstabilizing bullets never has the detrimental effect that understabilzing them does. My old Ruger M77 with 1:10 twist would shoot five Hornady 110 gn spitzers into groups averaging less than one MoA all day. Ask that savant at your range how many .270 rifles he’s owned and how many thousand light bullets he’s shot through them. I’ll bet he’s never owned one!

Nick Harvey

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The late Nick Harvey (1931-2024) was one of the world's most experienced and knowledgeable gun writers, a true legend of the business. He wrote about firearms and hunting for about 70 years, published many books and uncounted articles, and travelled the world to hunt and shoot. His reloading manuals are highly sought after, and his knowledge of the subject was unmatched. He was Sporting Shooter's Technical Editor for almost 50 years. His work lives on here as part of his legacy to us all.