GUNWRITER JACK O’CONNOR (1902-1978) was the .270 Winchester’s best-known and most outspoken proponent, almost to a fault. It’s nearly forgotten that the professor had other lifelong favorites: 7x57mm, .30-’06 Springfield, and .375 H&H Magnum. Nor is it widely remembered that he wasn’t shy about using big guns for extra-big game. He owned .416s, a .400 Jeffery double, and a .450 Watts, forerunner to the .458 Lott.
Also nearly lost to history is that his wife, Eleanor, was an accomplished hunter. Lions and tigers and bears (“oh my!”), along with some big rams. Neither O’Connor liked recoil, and Mrs. O’Connor hated it. She used her husband’s .270s, but she was more a 7x57 girl. She took her big cats and elephant with the .30-’06, which she considered a cannon. Professor O’Connor…