.270 Winchester Trajectory Calculator
See how .270 Winchester stacks up in our full caliber comparison chart — energy, drop and recoil for every rifle caliber side by side.
The .270 Winchester shoots flat and hits hard, making it a favorite among western hunters. With a 140-grain bullet at 2,950 fps and a 100-yard zero, expect about 3.1 inches of drop at 200 yards, 11.6 inches at 300 yards, and 26.4 inches at 400 yards. The cartridge retains over 1,475 ft-lbs of energy at 400 yards and still carries 1,250 ft-lbs at 500 yards—plenty for mule deer and pronghorn at extended range.
Use the calculator to match your specific load. Click "Modify Calculation" to enter your bullet weight, muzzle velocity, and ballistic coefficient. Factory loads range from 130-grain deer bullets to 150-grain options for larger game. You can also factor in wind, shooting angle, and atmospheric conditions for accurate holdover predictions.
Compare up to 5 different loads. The current caliber (.270 Winchester) is pre-selected for the first load.
.270 Winchester Trajectory Chart
.270 Winchester Ballistics Data
| Range (yd) | Elevation (in) | Elevation (MOA) | Elevation (MIL) | Windage (in) | Windage (MOA) | Windage (MIL) | Time (s) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2950.0 | 2706.0 |
| 25 | -0.72 | 2.74 | 0.796 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.026 | 2897.28 | 2610.15 |
| 50 | -0.21 | 0.39 | 0.115 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.052 | 2845.55 | 2517.77 |
| 75 | 0.04 | -0.05 | -0.014 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.079 | 2794.44 | 2428.13 |
| 100 | 0.01 | -0.01 | -0.002 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.106 | 2743.91 | 2341.11 |
| 125 | -0.31 | 0.24 | 0.07 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.133 | 2693.95 | 2256.64 |
| 150 | -0.93 | 0.59 | 0.173 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.161 | 2644.55 | 2174.64 |
| 175 | -1.86 | 1.02 | 0.296 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.19 | 2595.68 | 2095.01 |
| 200 | -3.12 | 1.49 | 0.433 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.219 | 2547.34 | 2017.7 |
| 225 | -4.7 | 2.0 | 0.58 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.249 | 2499.51 | 1942.65 |
| 250 | -6.64 | 2.53 | 0.737 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.279 | 2452.2 | 1869.81 |
| 275 | -8.94 | 3.1 | 0.902 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.31 | 2405.37 | 1799.07 |
| 300 | -11.61 | 3.69 | 1.074 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.342 | 2359.03 | 1730.42 |
| 325 | -14.67 | 4.31 | 1.253 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.374 | 2313.19 | 1663.82 |
| 350 | -18.14 | 4.95 | 1.439 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.407 | 2267.84 | 1599.23 |
| 375 | -22.03 | 5.61 | 1.631 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.44 | 2222.99 | 1536.59 |
| 400 | -26.36 | 6.29 | 1.83 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.474 | 2178.6 | 1475.84 |
| 425 | -31.14 | 7.0 | 2.035 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.509 | 2134.73 | 1417.0 |
| 450 | -36.41 | 7.72 | 2.247 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.544 | 2091.37 | 1360.02 |
| 475 | -42.17 | 8.48 | 2.465 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.581 | 2048.52 | 1304.87 |
| 500 | -48.45 | 9.25 | 2.691 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.618 | 2006.19 | 1251.49 |
Take this table to the range
The .270 Winchester reference load above as a wallet-size DOPE card: the same zero, standard conditions, holds in MOA, a 10 mph wind column, and a blank column to write in what the rifle actually does.
Download it as it is, or customize the size (turret cap, armband, index card), the columns, the wind speeds and units.
Print at 100% (“Actual size”). Laminate it or use waterproof paper for the field.
Available .270 Winchester Ammunition Ballistics
Zeroing the .270 Winchester
Every table in this section uses the same reference load as the calculator above, 140gr G1 .455 at 2,950 fps, with a 1.5" sight height over the bore, at standard conditions (59°F, sea level, no wind for drop; 10 mph crosswind for drift). A hunting rifle with a scope in standard rings sits about 1.5" over the bore; the zero you choose sets how far you can hold on hair without thinking about the range. Change the bullet, velocity or sight height in the calculator above to solve your own load.
.270 Winchester zero comparison
| 100-yd zero | 200-yd zero | |
|---|---|---|
| Near zero | 69 yd | 34 yd |
| Far zero | 100 yd | 200 yd |
| Max ordinate | +0.1" | +1.7" |
| Max ordinate distance | 85 yd | 118 yd |
| Hold-dead-on window (8" vital zone, ±4") | 0–214 yd | 0–266 yd |
| Sight in at 100 yd | +0.0" (+0.0 MOA) | +1.6" (+1.5 MOA) |
| Drop at 300 yd | -11.6" | -6.9" |
| Drop at 400 yd | -26.4" | -20.1" |
| Energy at 300 yd | 1,730 ft-lb | 1,730 ft-lb |
How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 8" vital zone, ±4" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 500 yards.
Key terms
- Near zero
- Where the bullet first climbs up through the line of sight. It starts below the sight, because the sight sits above the barrel.
- Far zero
- Where it falls back down through the line of sight. A "200-yard zero" is the far zero; the near zero comes with it.
- Max ordinate
- The highest the bullet gets above the line of sight, between the two crossings. This is what makes a zero shoot high in the middle.
- Point blank range (MPBR)
- The zero that keeps the whole arc inside a vital zone for the longest distance, so you can aim at the centre and hold dead-on.
.270 Winchester with a 100-Yard Zero
Zeroed at 100 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 140gr load first crosses the line of sight at 69 yards, peaks +0.1" at 85 yards, returns to zero at 100, and is -11.6" at 300 and -26.4" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,950 | 2,706 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.7" | -2.74 | -0.80 | 2,897 | 2,610 | 0.1 |
| 50 | -0.2" | -0.39 | -0.11 | 2,846 | 2,518 | 0.2 |
| 75 | +0.0" | +0.05 | +0.01 | 2,794 | 2,428 | 0.4 |
| 100 | +0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 2,744 | 2,341 | 0.7 |
| 125 | -0.3" | -0.24 | -0.07 | 2,694 | 2,257 | 1.1 |
| 150 | -0.9" | -0.59 | -0.17 | 2,645 | 2,175 | 1.5 |
| 175 | -1.9" | -1.02 | -0.30 | 2,596 | 2,095 | 2.1 |
| 200 | -3.1" | -1.49 | -0.43 | 2,547 | 2,018 | 2.8 |
| 225 | -4.7" | -2.00 | -0.58 | 2,500 | 1,943 | 3.5 |
| 250 | -6.6" | -2.53 | -0.74 | 2,452 | 1,870 | 4.4 |
| 275 | -8.9" | -3.10 | -0.90 | 2,405 | 1,799 | 5.3 |
| 300 | -11.6" | -3.69 | -1.07 | 2,359 | 1,730 | 6.4 |
| 325 | -14.7" | -4.31 | -1.25 | 2,313 | 1,664 | 7.6 |
| 350 | -18.1" | -4.95 | -1.44 | 2,268 | 1,599 | 8.9 |
| 375 | -22.0" | -5.61 | -1.63 | 2,223 | 1,537 | 10.3 |
| 400 | -26.4" | -6.29 | -1.83 | 2,179 | 1,476 | 11.8 |
| 425 | -31.1" | -7.00 | -2.03 | 2,135 | 1,417 | 13.5 |
| 450 | -36.4" | -7.72 | -2.25 | 2,091 | 1,360 | 15.2 |
| 475 | -42.2" | -8.48 | -2.47 | 2,049 | 1,305 | 17.1 |
| 500 | -48.5" | -9.25 | -2.69 | 2,006 | 1,251 | 19.2 |
140gr G1 .455 at 2,950 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.
.270 Winchester with a 200-Yard Zero
Zeroed at 200 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 140gr load first crosses the line of sight at 34 yards, peaks +1.6" at 118 yards, returns to zero at 200, and is -6.9" at 300 and -20.1" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,950 | 2,706 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.3" | -1.25 | -0.36 | 2,897 | 2,610 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +0.6" | +1.09 | +0.32 | 2,846 | 2,518 | 0.2 |
| 75 | +1.2" | +1.54 | +0.45 | 2,794 | 2,428 | 0.4 |
| 100 | +1.6" | +1.49 | +0.43 | 2,744 | 2,341 | 0.7 |
| 125 | +1.6" | +1.25 | +0.36 | 2,694 | 2,257 | 1.1 |
| 150 | +1.4" | +0.89 | +0.26 | 2,645 | 2,175 | 1.5 |
| 175 | +0.9" | +0.47 | +0.14 | 2,596 | 2,095 | 2.1 |
| 200 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,547 | 2,018 | 2.8 |
| 225 | -1.2" | -0.51 | -0.15 | 2,500 | 1,943 | 3.5 |
| 250 | -2.7" | -1.05 | -0.30 | 2,452 | 1,870 | 4.4 |
| 275 | -4.7" | -1.61 | -0.47 | 2,405 | 1,799 | 5.3 |
| 300 | -6.9" | -2.21 | -0.64 | 2,359 | 1,730 | 6.4 |
| 325 | -9.6" | -2.82 | -0.82 | 2,313 | 1,664 | 7.6 |
| 350 | -12.7" | -3.46 | -1.01 | 2,268 | 1,599 | 8.9 |
| 375 | -16.2" | -4.12 | -1.20 | 2,223 | 1,537 | 10.3 |
| 400 | -20.1" | -4.80 | -1.40 | 2,179 | 1,476 | 11.8 |
| 425 | -24.5" | -5.51 | -1.60 | 2,135 | 1,417 | 13.5 |
| 450 | -29.4" | -6.24 | -1.81 | 2,091 | 1,360 | 15.2 |
| 475 | -34.8" | -6.99 | -2.03 | 2,049 | 1,305 | 17.1 |
| 500 | -40.7" | -7.76 | -2.26 | 2,006 | 1,251 | 19.2 |
140gr G1 .455 at 2,950 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.
Maximum Point Blank Range for the .270 Winchester
Maximum point blank range (MPBR) is the zero that keeps the bullet inside a vital zone, never more than half its height above or below the line of sight (an 8" zone is ±4"), for as far as possible. Zero at the distance in the table and you can hold dead-on from the muzzle to the far edge of the window.
| Vital zone | Zero at | Hold dead-on from | To (MPBR) | Max ordinate | Near / far zero | CSV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8" (whitetail, pronghorn) | 277 yd | 0 yd | 325 yd | +4.0" at 154 yd | 24 / 277 yd | Download |
| 10" (elk, moose) | 302 yd | 0 yd | 354 yd | +5.0" at 166 yd | 22 / 302 yd | Download |
MPBR assumes a centred hold, a level shot and no wind; it is a ceiling, not a licence to skip ranging. The far edge of the window is where the bullet has already fallen half the vital zone.
Which Zero Should You Use for the .270 Winchester?
The .270 Winchester with a 140gr bullet is one of the flattest common hunting loads, and the tables above show it: a 200-yard zero is only 1.65" high at 118 yards and 6.9" low at 300. For a deer rifle that you hold with rather than dial, 200 is the zero. The bullet is inside an 8" vital zone from the muzzle to 266 yards, so a chest hold works everywhere you should be shooting without a rangefinder.
The 300-yard zero is the open-country option: 4.9" high at 165 yards, dead-on at 300 and 10.9" low at 400. That peak is at the edge of acceptable on a mule deer and past it on a pronghorn, so it suits hunters who range their shots and rarely take one under 200 yards. A 100-yard zero belongs on the bench; it makes the .270 11.6" low at 300, giving up the cartridge's main advantage.
For elk, use the maximum-point-blank-range zero: 302 yards for a 10" vital zone gives a hold-dead-on window to 354 yards, and the 140gr bullet is still carrying about 2,360 fps at 300. For deer the 8" zone MPBR zero is 277 yards with a window to 325. Both are more practical than the 300-yard zero because the peak is set by the animal, not by a round number.
Guidance reviewed 2026-09-13.
Similar Calibers
.270 Winchester Ballistics Comparisons
Stock Up On .270 Winchester Ammo for the Range
| PRODUCT | DEALER | QUANTITY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL PRICE | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Basin Outdoors | 500 | $638.96 | $0.00 | $638.96 |
$1.28
500 Rounds
|
|
| Black Basin Outdoors | 500 | $694.42 | $0.00 | $694.42 |
$1.39
500 Rounds
|
|
| Black Basin Outdoors | 500 | $714.41 | $0.00 | $714.41 |
$1.43
500 Rounds
|
|
| Black Basin Outdoors | 500 | $754.91 | $0.00 | $754.91 |
$1.51
500 Rounds
|
|
| Black Basin Outdoors | 200 | $361.35 | $0.00 | $361.35 |
$1.81
200 Rounds
|