Jack O'Conner wrote a book, "The Hunting Rifle". He recounted making a 300 yard shot on a big bull elk in front of a gun-savvy guide in Wyoming one time. The 150gr .270 bullet entered through the ribs high on the left side, angled down through the lungs and smashed the right shoulder. He said the bull was "down and stone dead before I could get another cartridge in the chamber." After surveying the damage, the guide responded, "If anyone ever tells me the .270 isn't an elk cartridge, I'll tell him he's nuts."

I love Ron's videos on 270 ! It's my go to rifle every time. Hell, I even coyote hunt with it. Love the performance. My 270 will b buried with me when I go....

I grew up in Enterprise, OR about 85 miles from Lewiston, ID. About 1955 or '56, my father pulled me out of school (5th or 6th grade) and we visited the Speer factory and then Jack O'Connor at his home. I still have a memory of his den with all the mounts on the wall. I'm not sure how or why Dad was able to obtain this visit, but I remember it fondly.

I live in Lewiston and my young kids and I love visiting the Jack O'Connor Center. Thank you for promoting it and thank you to all the volunteers that run it. I don't get out to hunt, but I love seeing these beautiful animals close up and reminding my kids of God's handiwork.... and I love seeing Jack's favorite rifles too.

Dad liked O'Connor and the .270 Winchester. He was a marksman ,but not a very good teacher. Shooting to him was so simple he didn't understand why everyone couldn't shoot close to him ,and that also was with a recurve. I just watched and listened like many did around him . He recommended the .270 for first Elk hunt against almost everyone I talked to . I took my Bull with my .270 with 50%luck at 500yards. The other 50%was listening to dad . I just pulled the trigger 😎

I'm glad he mentioned Elmer Keith. I know Jack and Elmer didn't like each other but their diatribe was legendary

I was a fan of the great Jack O'Connor. I still am. He was the author that spurred my interest in the 270 Winchester and I have not been without one since the early 80. It's my favorite all around rifle. And may the venerable Jack O'Connor's legacy live for many years. Thank you for covering him Ron!

WOW! As a kid growing up I had a reading disability. I spent 2 years going to school year round and most of it was reading. I had to read anything and everything to improve. I read Mr. O'Connor a lot. back then they didn't call the Cops on you for reading about guns and hunting. I later became a hunter and target shooter. My next trip through Idaho I'll have to stop. I'm a better reader now because of a good teacher (Mr. Carlson) and Mr. O'Connor. That and a lot of work I was willing to do to be better.

Jack killed his first 10 grizzlies with a 3006 but his 270 was his favorite for sheep and elk. Robert Anderson wrote a book about OConner and his history and its a great extensive history and a fantastic read. I highly recommend it.

I read every Jack O'Connor article my Outdoor Life Magazine ever had in it as a kid. He was the go to article.

This is a classic video! In my late sixties being a life long hunter/shooter/loader/rifle lover, this is very special to me bringing back very special memories. My first rifle that I purchased was a .270 because of Jack. It only lasted 5 years as I gravitated to my beloved .280 then .280AI. Thanks Ron, this is special!

Back in his day, it would have been easy to have such influence. Atkins, Keith, O'Connor, they all wrote and people listened.

I started reading Jack O'Connor at age 15 in 1963. The money I earned mowing lawns paid for Outdoor Life, Sports Afield and Field and Stream magazines. Jack was my favorite writer of that magical time; started buying his books as I could afford them and today I have all his works. His writing style and others of his era was far more entertaining than what today's outdoor writers offer. His stories were beautifully framed and seasoned with practical knowledge and subtle humor. His custom rifles were my inspiration and why I still like walnut and blued steel. BTW, used these type rifles in good and lousy weather and never had a failure. Properly sealed wood is as good as anything.

I remember jack O'Connor.i read about him when I was young in gun magazines

I bought my kid a 270 years ago for his first deer rifle that was 15 years ago still uses it to date. Tried a 308 but went back to the 270 after one hunt

I bought my Ruger M77 .270 back in 1989 and I still have it. Its taken a lot of animals and can still group 3 shots in a thumb nail at 100 yards awesome rifle and caliber.

I remember watching Curt Gowdy host, The American Sportsman. I sure learned a lot from many of the old writers. It was a pleasure to see both of you communicate and interact.

The legend! 270 winchester.

When I was 16 I worked all summer building fences and hauling hay to buy my first .270 which was Jack O'Connor inspired. 57 years later it is still with me on most hunts. It's going to Utah with me this fall to help me fill my Limited Entry Bull Elk tag that I finally drew after accumulating 18 preference points.

This I’ve Got To See Ron Since The .270 Winchester Is My Go To Rifle In my Model 70 😀😮😀

We met long after he had passed, but my wife was born and raised in Lewiston and pulled trap for Jack at the Lewiston Gun Club. I had the privilege of visiting the Center last year, and it is a MUST for any shooting enthusiast. If you venture anywhere near the Lewiston area, you owe it to your self to pay a visit. The exhibits are very well done, and the rifles on display are works of art.

Outdoor Life, Jeff Cooper, Charlie Askins, Guns and Ammo, Les Bowman, Elmer Keith, Fur, Fish and Game. I was a freshman in high school in 1966. Just yesterday a clip of the Eagles at the California Jam in 1974. Please step up patriots and save the county that was.

I remember growing up reading jack O’Connor I just loved him and of course I have a 270.

Great video. I just turned 54. Grew up and still live in Tucson, Arizona chasing southern AZ Coues deer and northern AZ elk. When I was a kid, my older brother and I would run to the mailbox and fight (he always won) over who got to read Outdoor Life and Field and Stream first. I miss good quality print journalism about hunting and firearms. We live in the You Tube age, and I will say that Mr. Spomer provides what I think is the best, objective, non political and well informed shooting and hunting content. Each video reminds me of racing my brother to the mailbox for Outdoor Life. Keep up the great work, Ron, and thanks for it. P.S. I also shoot amongst many rifles I own a Savage 110 American Classic in .270. It really is an American Classic. Took my first AZ bull elk with a basic 150 grain Remington CoreLokt bullet. One shot into vitals behind shoulder, dropped after 1 step.

I've got a mossberg ATR and my dad has a Remington 700 in 270win. love round

Shot an 8 point Sat Nov 18th 2023 with my 50 yr old ruger m77 sporter with a 130 grain hornady whitetail at 107 yrds. Hit it in the right shoulder, dropped like a rock. The bullet didn't exit. Put a barrel dampener on it and greatly improved accuracy. I've shot Remington, federal and hand loads. Hornady lead tip shoots most accurate in my rifle. Tried the ballistic tip and they were all over the place. Love my 270!

I loved reading Jack O'Connor stories he was my hunting hero!!!

Ron, hey, you and Tom make a great team! Some interviewees have to be dragged along, some have to be dialed back, but you two seem to boost each other in service of the message. What a pleasure this has been!

I was a Jack O’Conner, Warren Page, Grits Gresham and Elmer Keith fan since the 60s.

Love my model 70 featherweight chambered in .270 kicks a little harder as I get older, but only at the range. When in the field it's a pleasure to carry and shoot. I would like to think Jack O'Connor had a great deal of influence on the .270 win. but after ww2 scopes became more popular and available to the public. Using a scope really brought out the best of the .270

I tell my boys (11 and 13) how blessed I was growing up in the '80s (graduated high school in 1989). I used to get much needed extra credit in science class writing papers on different gun articles. Jon Sundra, Jeff Cooper, Bob Milek, and I think Ron Spomer was getting started back then too. How can I leave out Grits and Tom Wooten

What a great writer! I own several of his books and have read them many times.

Thank you Ron and Tom for this quick tour. I can't believe that I lived only about 110 miles east of Lewiston and never made it over there to visit this Heritage center. When I was first getting started in hunting and shooting Jack O'Connor, Elmer Keith and so many writers I don't recall played a roll in my education.

I was a subscriber to Outdoor Life , Sports Afield and Field and Stream mags for many years, I still have many of those old rags. I can't bear throwing them away. When one arrived , the shooting articles were the first place I went , that and Pat McManus' stories. I learned so much from Jack O'Conner, Jim Carmichael and some writer named Spomer. Thanks Ron for all you taught me and I'm still learning from you.

O'Connor, Gresham, Gresham, and Spomer. WOW. Doesn't get much better than that.

I'm in my 70's, and I can well remember the "Impact" those articles and Editorials had! I still enjoy "Print Media"! And, to be honest? I hope it never "goes away"!

I wish I know there was a Jack O center in Lewiston. Also great to see Grits' son. I miss those writers from my youth, Jack, Elmer, Grits, Jim Carmichael to name a few. Larger than life guys.

SO good to hear the two of you talk some histery of the sport🤙

Outstanding! I like the comments on wood stocks. A little bedding and floating and they shoot just as well. I love both the 270 Winchester and 270 Weatherby Magnum.

I grew up reading all the outdoor magazines. The wait from month to month for each to arrive, then devouring it from cover to cover was a major part of my youth. Jack O'Connor was probably my favorite, although I really enjoyed Jim Carmichael as well. My grandfather traveled from Kansas to Vernal, Utah every fall for a month every year during the 1930's and early 1940's. They would fish for a week then hunt deer. This was horse packing in the mountains with the canvas tents. During those days you could harvest a deer for someone else if they had a permit, and they would fill out the tags for a couple dozen people in Vernal. I never had the chance to meet him, but he was a remarkable man cut very much from the same cloth as O'Connor. I still have his Winchester model 54 in.270. This rifle and my grandfather accounted for over 200 deer in Utah. What I found most interesting in this video was how they mentioned the conservation successes and how that generation had to travel to hunt. Back iny grandfather's time there were no deer in Kansas, and Colorado had been all but hunted out.

Man do I ever miss the times when all the people I was around talked of hunting, fishing, guns and bows. My friends and I would listen to the old timers like they told nuggets of gold with every word. I grew up in the 70’s, so I got to meet a lot of those guys, getting outdoor life, sneaking them to school in my peachy, and reading them, then day dream all day about hunting adventures, instead of school work. I’m still that way, the excitement is year around, and the images of late nights having a drink by campfire, seeing those old timers faces telling stories in the glow of the fire… it just burned in my minds eye.

Thanks again Ron for a great video, especially one on old Jack O'Conner. I am a long time follower of Jack's articles, especially the 270 Winchester. I've been re loading and load developing and shooting long distance for over 50+ years. Old Jack sold me on the 270 long ago. If there's one thing I've learned it's that the 270 loves long barrels. I truly do wish the Factories would offer something with at least a 26 inch barrel in the 270 Win. Browning did for a few years in the A-Bolt 2 Gold Medallion with a 26 inch barrel. Beautiful wood stock and deep bluing on it. Now I'm building a custom rig off the Savage 111 DBM with a 28 inch Varmint profile barrel from Criterion. I'm old school so i'm going with a wood stock on it. No fancy rigs. I'll keep you updated on the accuracy and load development with it. But I learned a long time ago that the good old 270 beats these new fangled Fad Cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmore easily. Same with the 25-06 and others. I could go on and on about these new 6.8 cartridges coming out, but when it comes down to it, ammunition availability and cost are major drivers in choosing the old War Horse over these new ones. That goes the same with the old venerable 30-06. My old Winchester model 70 270 Win shoots .315 sub moa, and my 06 shoots .329 sub moa and both with factory loads. When you can cover three shots with a dime that's a good rifle. And a good shooter. My Uncle once told me when every thing else is the same and your still shooting poorly it ain't the Firearm. It's the shooter.

As a young teen in the 60’s Jack O’Conner was my idle. I hung on his every word . He was a friend that came into the house every month. I’d sit in the chair and read Outdoor Life till the pages wore out. I also bought every book he published. I was devastated when he passed. I used to stuff all the magazines under my bed for safe keeping and good luck.

thank you! thank you! for this video..I grew up reading Jack O'Conner, and Jim Carmichael's articles in O.L. every month!... you waited to actually read the stories in anticipation, that's what it was all about, and how it all began..... As far as that legendary .270 Winchester it ended up not needing a lot of help to gain it's status, as it has remained right there in our focus beyond any one man who used it. I own one in a 700 BDL and will pass it down to my grandson when I go visit Jack!!....best regards , ..D.

Great video about an iconic writer, conservationists, and hunter. Really appreciated it, thanks for posting!

Loved this. I remember watching Grits on American Sportsman when I was a teenager, reading Jack O'Conner and all the old greats. I have always been a model 70 fan. Loved the 3 position safety.

This was truly a great video. The 270 is obviously one of the greats and was Jack O’Connor. Thank you for sharing this.

Marvelous video!! My Mother would have told you I pretty much learned to read as a young boy from Jack O'Connor articles in my Dad's monthly Outdoor Life.

The thing about Jack O'Connor was that he was a good writer.

How many years has Ron Spomer been writing and making videos? You're a living legend now and most people like to hear your opinion on guns and hunting.

I grew up reading "Shooting Times" magazine. I learned so much reading the work of legends like Skeeter Skelton, George Nonte, Dick Metcalf, P.O. Ackley, Clair Rees, Dick Eades. I miss those days!!!

.270 is such a barky beast compared to (say) a .308. Used a borrowed .270 in Scotland, and found both the bark and the kick (which is quite a jolt, rather than a push) unappealing. I returned to my .308 and latterly the super-civilised 6.5x55, with a sigh of relief.

Jack O'Conner and Outdoor Life taught me to read . my first rifle a Ruger 77 with a wood stock in .270 win. also one in 358 win.later Elmer Keith would like !! I have most of there books . Great men both .

I read Jack O]Conner first, in my copy of Outdoor Life first. I remember when Norma 205 powder was first released in the US. Jack had .270 Win loads to popularize the powder and cartridge. Of course, the Norma distribution in the US was screwed up and that powder did not stay available long. Later Jack introduced us to Reloader 22 with loads for the .270 Winchester. I believe the improvement and availability in rifle scopes made the .270 Winchester a worthwhile cartridge. Particularly in the West.

One of the best videos you have done lately, wish you would do more like it.

What a great video…more stories about the old timers is always fun to listen and watch!!

Love my 270. It's my "go-to" rifle along with my 30-30. It's just flat out accurate and loves the 150 gr rounds. Wood stock and blued barrel, it's never failed me.

In modern times we miss out on the specialty and dedication that few went through to open the door to a whole new field in the industry. I see nothing wrong with variety in the new age of internet entertainment, but for serious information we still have guys like you out here doing good work.

We're not losing anything. Now, granted people have to improve their BS filters, but the fact of decentralizing the distributors of information is not a bad thing. What it means is that a magazine can't push doctrine AND branded selling routines at a body. It means that you, Ron Spomer, your experience and valuable information won't be lost to the annals of time, and that if you produce quality content, no matter your age, you'll have a voice in this sphere. Magazines full of ads led us to 2022 where people are still willing to buy an underperforming, poorly quality controlled brand just because they bought into an advertising scheme 20 years ago. People's voices, your voice, are a more powerful, and more useful thing. I am glad that you're still using your voice to give out high quality information. I hope you keep at it.

Great video. Reliving my youth from the early and middle 1960's with all the outdoor publications. People who probably never actually read anything that Jack O'Connor wrote think he only hunted with the 270 Winchester which is far from the truth. 270, 257 Roberts, 7x57 Mauser, 30-06, 300 Weatherby ad infinitum Jack used them all, BUT, in Chapter 15 of his Complete Book of Rifles and Shotguns he wrote regarding the 375 H&H Magnum "The .375 is one of my real enthusiasms in big-game cartridges. If I were going to hunt all over the world and could use only one rifle, it would be a .375. If I could have only two, one would be a .375 and the other a .270".

Jack hunted lot's in the Yukon as well. A few years back one of his favorite guides passed on. Great video. Thanks

Every time wildcat developers took a 30-06 case and made a cartridge with it, they perform! 6mm-06, 6.5-06, .277-06, .284-06, 30-06, 8mm-08, 338-06, and many more. The 270 does not mean you are poorly armed. Quite the opposite.

My first bolt gun was a 270 Ruger 77R, from reading about Jack O Conner in outdoor life, what a legend. I love that gun, been almost 50 years, still my go to gun.

In the late 70,s I used to wait for my Outdoor life Mag to arrive each month

I miss the magazines. Growing up as a kid I read and re-read all the old American Rifleman magazines from the 60's through the 80's. I learned and lived so many of those stories along side Jack and then later Jim Shockey and many others. Dreamed that maybe one day I will make it out there. Probably never will but maybe.

I was a subscriber till the end. I was deeply saddened when Field & Stream and Outdoor Life quit sending issues. I never activated the online subscription they sent me in place of the magazines I had already paid for. I believe the .270 is a good round. It and the .30-06, along with the .308 have really laid a lot of critters down. They all three just work if you put a bullet in the engine room.

Tom Gresham!! Enjoyed seeing you both, Ron!

I like my browning x bolt in 270.win.

I probably will never make it there. Thank you Ron, for visiting Tom and showing off the museum. I feel even better about my firearms and ammunition buying now, did not know I was contributing to conservation via Pittman-Robertson.

Fantastic video Ron! Some great history there and a wonderful presentation. Thanks for giving me a great idea to take a road trip! 😀

Ron is great. As for conservation, that really is an important thing. What we have to remember is that in the 19th century many people were hunting for market. This was true of deer and ducks and other animals. I hunted on a farm owned by my ex-wife's family in central Illinois. I was at a B&B down there once (big family gathering, no room for us in the family homes). This house was still owned by the descendants of the man who built it. There was an old photograph (a d

How cool! Thanks Ron.

Another great video. Thank you.

I remember absolutely wearing out my copy of field and stream each month, and one other one besides Boy's Life, reading it over and over until the next month's edition. Those were the days!

Good show. Thank you.

Thanks for the tour and conversation, Ron. Very interesting.

Always have been a big fan, especially enjoyed the conversation 😊

😁 I loved your guest! He did a great job! 👍

A fantastic video! Very interesting!

I went hunting as a young teenager and my dad handed me a borrowed .270 Win. I then went to high school and would listen to a young man my age go on and on about how Weatherbys were the best rifles. Well, I know that the the Vanguards are really just made by Howa but Weatherby wouldn't put their name on it if it didn't meet their standards and they suite my price range. So I bought a Weatherby Vanguard chambered in .270. My wife has the same model chambered in .223 Rem.

One of your best

Thanks Ron anb Tom. Great guys.

Hello Ron, Thanks for another nice episode with your friend Tom G. Keep up the great work Mr. Spomer.

Love this episode, reminds me of those short stories in outdoor life. I loved them and looking at those old rifles. Reminded me of the time when I use to dream of sleeping in an old canvas military tents and dreaming of big bucks. Most of all spending time with family. Thank you again for this show, brought back a lot of warm childhood memories and rifles I always wanted. Thanks Ron

Great video! When I started hunting, I read everything I could get my hands on that Jack O'Conner wrote. Books and magazines!

When I was a young man, I read every single word that Jack O'Connor ever wrote about the .270 Winchester. Looking back over a 50 year hunting career, I have never regretted any knowledge I got from this man > 🙂

Love hearing all the stories, all of those guys were the true pioneers. Inspirational cheers.

Great segment!

Great video! I grew up reading Jack O'Connor introductions to hunting, cartridges, and rifles. Those articles opened a window to another world to a kid growing up on a family farm and I never looked back.

One of your best videos.

😜 I can't wait to take it to the "Next Level"! 🤣

Congratulations on your award Ron!

Awsome program gentlemen!

So true about waiting for the magazines to be delivered!! My first subscription (in my name) was Fur-Fish-Game... But I grabbed my Dad's OL, F & S and Sports Afield...

Thank you... You two are still the very best

Good stuff as always.

Ron, this is one of my favorite videos of yours. There is a lot of hunting history out there and so much to keep up on. I took notes during this video linking the various writers to their respective magazines. I know the magazines, I know the writers, but I didn’t know which belonged to which. I also paused and found the Grits Gresham Miller Lite commercials on KZfaq. Priceless! Thanks to you both!

I’m a member of the a newer generation never knew about guys like o Connor, Elmer Keith and Whelen,but this channel has really opened my eyes on older cartridges (I’ve loved older guns) but proud to say I bought a pre 64 Winchester 70 in 270

This was wonderful!🤙

i just built a 1/8.5 twist 270 that shoots 150s insanely well and it flattens deer and elk