What Is the Best .270 Winchester Zero for Elk?
Zero at 250 yards for elk: 2.6" high at 100, dead-on hold to 315.
Zero a .270 Winchester for elk at 250 yards. With a 140gr bullet at 2,940 fps and a scope 1.5" over the bore, a 250-yard zero puts the bullet 2.6" high at 100, peaks 3" at 141 yards, sits 3.6" low at 300 and holds inside a 10" elk vital zone from the muzzle to 315 yards with a centre-of-chest hold. A 200-yard zero is the safer choice if the same rifle hunts deer or if your shots are inside 250; a 300-yard zero reaches 354 yards but carries a 5" peak through the middle distances. Whichever you choose, at 300 yards the 140gr bullet is still doing about 2,390 fps and carrying 1,770 ft-lb.
Figures on this page: Hornady American Whitetail .270 Win 140gr InterLock, 140gr G1 .486 at 2,940 fps, Bolt action, standard scope rings, 1.5" over bore, standard conditions. Source: Hornady published velocity (24" test barrel) and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
Side-by-Side Comparison
140gr G1 .486 at 2,940 fps, 1.5" over bore (bolt action, standard scope rings).
| 200-yd zero | 250-yd zero | 300-yd zero | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near zero | 34 yd | 27 yd | 22 yd |
| Far zero | 200 yd | 250 yd | 300 yd |
| Max ordinate | +1.6" | +3.1" | +4.9" |
| Max ordinate distance | 118 yd | 141 yd | 165 yd |
| Hold-dead-on window (10" vital zone, ±5") | 0–279 yd | 0–315 yd | 0–354 yd |
| Sight in at 100 yd | +1.6" (+1.5 MOA) | +2.7" (+2.5 MOA) | +3.9" (+3.7 MOA) |
| Drop at 300 yd | -6.9" | -3.6" | +0.0" |
| Drop at 400 yd | -19.9" | -15.5" | -10.7" |
| Energy at 300 yd | 1,770 ft-lb | 1,770 ft-lb | 1,770 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 10" vital zone, ±5" 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.
Want the longest single hold rather than a round number? Maximum Point Blank Range for the .270 Winchester solves the zero that keeps this cartridge inside a vital zone the furthest.
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.
The 200-Yard Zero
How it performs
Hornady American Whitetail .270 Win 140gr InterLock zeroed at 200 yards with 1.5" of sight height crosses the line of sight at 34 and 200 yards, peaks +1.6" at 118 yards, and stays inside a 10" vital zone (±5") from 0 to 279 yards. At 300 yards it is -6.9". At 400 yards it is -19.9".
| 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 | 2,940 | 2,688 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.3" | -1.25 | -0.36 | 2,891 | 2,598 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +0.6" | +1.09 | +0.32 | 2,842 | 2,512 | 0.2 |
| 75 | +1.2" | +1.53 | +0.45 | 2,795 | 2,428 | 0.4 |
| 100 | +1.6" | +1.49 | +0.43 | 2,747 | 2,347 | 0.7 |
| 125 | +1.6" | +1.24 | +0.36 | 2,700 | 2,267 | 1.0 |
| 150 | +1.4" | +0.89 | +0.26 | 2,654 | 2,190 | 1.5 |
| 175 | +0.9" | +0.47 | +0.14 | 2,608 | 2,115 | 2.0 |
| 200 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,563 | 2,042 | 2.6 |
| 225 | -1.2" | -0.51 | -0.15 | 2,518 | 1,971 | 3.3 |
| 250 | -2.7" | -1.04 | -0.30 | 2,473 | 1,902 | 4.1 |
| 275 | -4.6" | -1.60 | -0.47 | 2,429 | 1,835 | 5.0 |
| 300 | -6.9" | -2.18 | -0.64 | 2,386 | 1,770 | 6.0 |
| 325 | -9.5" | -2.79 | -0.81 | 2,342 | 1,706 | 7.1 |
| 350 | -12.5" | -3.42 | -0.99 | 2,300 | 1,644 | 8.3 |
| 375 | -16.0" | -4.07 | -1.18 | 2,257 | 1,584 | 9.6 |
| 400 | -19.9" | -4.74 | -1.38 | 2,215 | 1,526 | 11.0 |
| 425 | -24.2" | -5.43 | -1.58 | 2,174 | 1,470 | 12.5 |
| 450 | -28.9" | -6.14 | -1.79 | 2,133 | 1,415 | 14.2 |
| 475 | -34.2" | -6.87 | -2.00 | 2,092 | 1,361 | 15.9 |
| 500 | -39.9" | -7.62 | -2.22 | 2,052 | 1,310 | 17.8 |
140gr G1 .486 at 2,940 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. Source: Hornady published velocity (24" test barrel) and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
Who it's for
The elk hunter who also hunts deer with the same rifle, or who hunts timber where shots are under 250 yards. A 140gr .270 zeroed at 200 with a 1.5" scope peaks 1.6" at 118 yards, is 6.9" low at 300, and stays inside a 10" elk vital zone from the muzzle to 279 yards with a centre hold. The low peak means it doubles as a deer zero without shooting over anything.
The 250-Yard Zero
How it performs
Hornady American Whitetail .270 Win 140gr InterLock zeroed at 250 yards with 1.5" of sight height crosses the line of sight at 27 and 250 yards, peaks +3.1" at 141 yards, and stays inside a 10" vital zone (±5") from 0 to 315 yards. At 300 yards it is -3.6". At 400 yards it is -15.5".
| 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 | 2,940 | 2,688 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.1" | -0.21 | -0.06 | 2,891 | 2,598 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +1.1" | +2.13 | +0.62 | 2,842 | 2,512 | 0.2 |
| 75 | +2.0" | +2.57 | +0.75 | 2,795 | 2,428 | 0.4 |
| 100 | +2.7" | +2.52 | +0.73 | 2,747 | 2,347 | 0.7 |
| 125 | +3.0" | +2.28 | +0.66 | 2,700 | 2,267 | 1.0 |
| 150 | +3.0" | +1.93 | +0.56 | 2,654 | 2,190 | 1.5 |
| 175 | +2.8" | +1.50 | +0.44 | 2,608 | 2,115 | 2.0 |
| 200 | +2.2" | +1.04 | +0.30 | 2,563 | 2,042 | 2.6 |
| 225 | +1.3" | +0.53 | +0.15 | 2,518 | 1,971 | 3.3 |
| 250 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,473 | 1,902 | 4.1 |
| 275 | -1.6" | -0.56 | -0.16 | 2,429 | 1,835 | 5.0 |
| 300 | -3.6" | -1.15 | -0.33 | 2,386 | 1,770 | 6.0 |
| 325 | -6.0" | -1.75 | -0.51 | 2,342 | 1,706 | 7.1 |
| 350 | -8.7" | -2.38 | -0.69 | 2,300 | 1,644 | 8.3 |
| 375 | -11.9" | -3.03 | -0.88 | 2,257 | 1,584 | 9.6 |
| 400 | -15.5" | -3.70 | -1.08 | 2,215 | 1,526 | 11.0 |
| 425 | -19.5" | -4.39 | -1.28 | 2,174 | 1,470 | 12.5 |
| 450 | -24.0" | -5.10 | -1.48 | 2,133 | 1,415 | 14.2 |
| 475 | -29.0" | -5.83 | -1.70 | 2,092 | 1,361 | 15.9 |
| 500 | -34.5" | -6.58 | -1.92 | 2,052 | 1,310 | 17.8 |
140gr G1 .486 at 2,940 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. Source: Hornady published velocity (24" test barrel) and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
Who it's for
The open-country elk hunter who wants one hold to 300 and beyond without a turret. Zeroed at 250 the bullet is 2.6" high at 100, peaks 3" at 141 yards, is 3.6" low at 300 and 15.5" low at 400, and holds inside a 10" zone all the way to 315 yards. On an elk's chest a 3" peak is nothing; that is the trade the 200-yard zero refuses to make.
It is also within a few yards of the maximum point blank range zero for a 10" zone, which is 303 yards for this load; 250 is simply the round number that most ranges can confirm.
The 300-Yard Zero
How it performs
Hornady American Whitetail .270 Win 140gr InterLock zeroed at 300 yards with 1.5" of sight height crosses the line of sight at 22 and 300 yards, peaks +4.9" at 165 yards, and stays inside a 10" vital zone (±5") from 0 to 354 yards. At 300 yards it is +0.0". At 400 yards it is -10.7".
| 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 | 2,940 | 2,688 | 0.0 |
| 25 | +0.3" | +0.94 | +0.27 | 2,891 | 2,598 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +1.7" | +3.28 | +0.95 | 2,842 | 2,512 | 0.2 |
| 75 | +2.9" | +3.72 | +1.08 | 2,795 | 2,428 | 0.4 |
| 100 | +3.9" | +3.68 | +1.07 | 2,747 | 2,347 | 0.7 |
| 125 | +4.5" | +3.43 | +1.00 | 2,700 | 2,267 | 1.0 |
| 150 | +4.8" | +3.08 | +0.90 | 2,654 | 2,190 | 1.5 |
| 175 | +4.9" | +2.66 | +0.77 | 2,608 | 2,115 | 2.0 |
| 200 | +4.6" | +2.19 | +0.64 | 2,563 | 2,042 | 2.6 |
| 225 | +4.0" | +1.69 | +0.49 | 2,518 | 1,971 | 3.3 |
| 250 | +3.0" | +1.15 | +0.33 | 2,473 | 1,902 | 4.1 |
| 275 | +1.7" | +0.59 | +0.17 | 2,429 | 1,835 | 5.0 |
| 300 | +0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 2,386 | 1,770 | 6.0 |
| 325 | -2.0" | -0.60 | -0.17 | 2,342 | 1,706 | 7.1 |
| 350 | -4.5" | -1.23 | -0.36 | 2,300 | 1,644 | 8.3 |
| 375 | -7.4" | -1.88 | -0.55 | 2,257 | 1,584 | 9.6 |
| 400 | -10.7" | -2.55 | -0.74 | 2,215 | 1,526 | 11.0 |
| 425 | -14.4" | -3.24 | -0.94 | 2,174 | 1,470 | 12.5 |
| 450 | -18.6" | -3.95 | -1.15 | 2,133 | 1,415 | 14.2 |
| 475 | -23.3" | -4.68 | -1.36 | 2,092 | 1,361 | 15.9 |
| 500 | -28.5" | -5.43 | -1.58 | 2,052 | 1,310 | 17.8 |
140gr G1 .486 at 2,940 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. Source: Hornady published velocity (24" test barrel) and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
Who it's for
Hunters who never take a shot under 150 yards and range everything. Zeroed at 300 the .270 is 3.9" high at 100, 4.8" high at 150, 4.6" high at 200, dead-on at 300 and 10.7" low at 400. The 10" window reaches 354 yards, but the whole middle of the trajectory sits 4" to 5" above the crosshair, which is fine on a bull at 200 and a problem on a cow calf at 120.
Why Sight Height Changes the Answer
Elk rifles wear big scopes, and a 50 mm objective often means high rings at 1.75" over the bore rather than 1.5". The table below shows that it does not change the elk answer: at 1.75" the 250-yard zero peaks 2.9" instead of 3", the near zero moves from 27 yards to 31, and the 10" window gains one yard. The 300-yard zero's peak falls from 4.9" to 4.8". Choose rings that clear the objective and let you get a cheek weld; the trajectory will not notice.
The reason is the same one that makes the .270 a good elk cartridge: a 140gr bullet leaving at 2,940 fps with a high ballistic coefficient needs a small launch angle to reach any of these zeros, and a quarter inch of sight height changes that angle by a fraction of a minute. Compare that with the 5.56 pages, where a 2.6" AR sight turns a 50-yard zero into a 245-yard far zero, and you can see why sight height dominates one conversation and barely enters this one.
| Zero | Sight height | Near zero | Far zero | Max ordinate | Inside the 10" zone (±5") to | Drop at 300 | Drop at 400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 yd | 1.5" — Bolt action, standard scope rings | 34 yd | 200 yd | +1.6" at 118 | 279 yd | -6.9" | -19.9" |
| 200 yd | 1.75" — Bolt action, high rings or large objective | 39 yd | 200 yd | +1.6" at 121 | 281 yd | -6.7" | -19.6" |
| 250 yd | 1.5" — Bolt action, standard scope rings | 27 yd | 250 yd | +3.1" at 141 | 315 yd | -3.6" | -15.5" |
| 250 yd | 1.75" — Bolt action, high rings or large objective | 31 yd | 250 yd | +3.0" at 143 | 316 yd | -3.5" | -15.3" |
| 300 yd | 1.5" — Bolt action, standard scope rings | 22 yd | 300 yd | +4.9" at 165 | 354 yd | +0.0" | -10.7" |
| 300 yd | 1.75" — Bolt action, high rings or large objective | 25 yd | 300 yd | +4.8" at 167 | 354 yd | +0.0" | -10.6" |
How Barrel Length Changes This
The 2,940 fps figure is Hornady's from a 24" barrel; a 22" mountain rifle gives up roughly 50 fps and a 20" carbine 100 or so. At 20" the 250-yard zero's drop at 300 grows from 3.6" to about 4" and the 10" window shortens by a few yards. If you have a chronograph number, the calculator below will solve your rifle's window.
Which Zero Is Wrong for You
The 300-yard zero is wrong for a rifle that hunts deer or that takes shots inside 150 yards. Between 100 and 250 yards the bullet is 4" to 5" above the crosshair, which is the difference between a lung shot and a spine shot on a deer, and it is high enough to miss a small animal cleanly. It is a zero for a specialist rifle in open country.
The 200-yard zero is wrong if you are hoping to hold dead-on to 300 on a bull. It is 6.9" low at 300 and falls out of a 10" zone at 279 yards; past that you are holding over or dialing, which is exactly what the 250-yard zero avoids.
Any zero is wrong if it lets you skip the rangefinder past 300 yards. At 400 the 140gr bullet is 15.5" low on the 250-yard zero, 10.7" on the 300, and drifting 11" in a 10 mph wind. MPBR gives you one hold to 315 yards; it does not give you 400.
Try It With Your Load
Prefilled with the load above. Change anything and the full calculator solves your trajectory; pick your own sight height from the list.
Loads Used on This Page
- Hornady American Whitetail .270 Winchester 140gr InterLock Ammo — 140gr, 2940 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.486
- Sig Sauer Elite Hunter .270 Winchester 140gr Tipped Ammo — 140gr, 2950 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.508
- Federal Fusion .270 Winchester 130gr Fusion Ammo — 130gr, 3050 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.4
- Federal Power-Shok .270 Winchester 130gr SP Ammo — 130gr, 3060 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.372
Frequently Asked Questions
How far can a .270 Winchester hold dead-on for elk?
About 315 yards with a 250-yard zero and a 10" vital zone, or 356 yards at the maximum point blank range zero of 303 yards, with a 140gr bullet at 2,940 fps and a 1.5" scope height.
How high should a .270 be at 100 yards for elk?
About 2.6" high for a 250-yard zero, 1.6" high for a 200-yard zero, and 3.9" high for a 300-yard zero, with a 140gr load.
Does a .270 have enough energy for elk at 300 yards?
A 140gr bullet at 2,940 fps carries about 1,770 ft-lb at 300 yards and is still doing 2,390 fps, which is above the expansion threshold of common bonded and cup-and-core hunting bullets. Shot placement matters more than the number.
Should I zero differently for a 130gr or 150gr .270 load?
The 250-yard zero works for all three. A 130gr load at 3,050 fps holds inside 10" a little further (its MPBR zero is 306 yards); a 150gr at 2,800 fps a little less (288 yards). Confirm your zero with the load you hunt with.