Hello all,

first post from a newb....

I am loading up 150 grain partitions with H4831 for my .270 Win.

On the Hodgdon site, the reloading data says the max load 55 grains of H4831. In the Nosler manual, I think it says max load is 59 grains of H4831. I don't own the Nosler manual so I could be wrong.

I am sure there are a couple folks on this board that have loaded that exact setup. For those who have, what did you find your max load to be with the 150 Partition, H4831, for the .270 Win?

Thanks in advance!

A Boone

I threw my Nosler manual away years ago as I found it contained loads I couldn't duplicate without pressure signs.

Hodgdon's data has always been reliable for me...

Hornady data has been good over the years too!

The Hornady manual has 57.3 grains as the max load and 50.5 as the minimum. I would start somewhere around 53 grains and work your way up until you start to see signs of pressure.

Hey! Welcome Aboard!

A 270 Winchester load with H4831SC & 150 grain Nosler Partitions is a right smart combination IMO. It shoots very well in my rifle.

From some older loading resources for this cartridge there are some real stout loads floating about. You ought to ensure what your rifle likes, will digest and check several resources (which apparently you have already) with this powder/bullet before proceeding with some of these old-timey "favorite" loads that were bantered about many years ago. By today's more enlightened measuring methods they tend to the "pretty hot" lot.

The 270 Winchester earned much of it's reputation with it's flat shooting 130 gr. bullet loads which is a good place to be. The 140 and 150 grain bullets for sure have their place in the 270 Winchester Grand-Scheme-of-Things. I was fortunate to quickly develop good 130 & 150 grain loads so I have options with both. The 150 grain Noslers did shoot very well from the get-go.

I couldn't tell you what the "maximum" load with this combination could be as the initial load I tried was accurate (very) enough for my tastes so I simply stopped right there. My custom Ruger #1 really enjoys getting fed 56.5 grains of H4831SC with the 150 grain Nosler Partitions. I'd drop back at least acouple of grains to 54.5 to begin with.

Have fun with your 270 Winchester and keep us informed of how you're getting along with this powder/bullet combo.

quote:

I am sure there are a couple folks on this board that have loaded that exact setup. For those who have, what did you find your max load to be with the 150 Partition, H4831, for the .270 Win?

Unfortunately, there's no single answer to your question. It depends on your particular rifle, the particular lot of powder, the particular bullet, your bullet seating depth, your brass, and possibly some other variables.

Be aware that there was an older version of H4831 that was a military surplus powder. It was slower burning than present-day H4831, so listed top loads for that older powder (in older loading manuals) were significantly heavier than the listed top loads for the more recent version of H4831.

Be aware also that Winchester brass tends to be thinner-walled than Remington brass, so you can often get away with using a grain or even two more powder in Winchester brass than in Remington.

Older Hodgdon loading data for H4831 with 150 gr. bullets in the .270 Winchester gives a top load that is several grains heavier than current Hodgdon data.

The solution -- as always -- is to start low and work up. If you begin to see signs of excessive pressure, you've gone too far.

I fully support the feelings stated by others on this forum that you are asking for big trouble if you exceed the maximums listed in the published reloading manuals. Having said that, it is also true that maximum load recommendations are subject to change as time goes by. A case in point is my experience in reloading for my 270 Win with H4831 and 150 grain Noslers.

When I worked up my reload for this rifle, I relied on data in a 47 page paperbacked manual published by Hodgon titled Basic Reloaders Manual, 1996. They listed a maximum load of 58 grains of H4831 with a 150 grain bullet weight. Following their guide, I reduced the load by 10% and gradually worked up to the maximum using 150 grain Nosler Partition bullets. The load has produced consistent sub-minute of angle accuracy without any signs of excess pressure (cratered primers, difficult bolt lift or extraction, short case life, etc), in my rifle.

Three years later, Hodgon published another paperbacked manual titled Basic Reloaders Manual, 1999. In that manual, they listed a maximum load of 55.7 grains of H4831 with a 150 grain bullet weight. At the time I called Hodgon’s technical people and inquired as to the reasons for the changed. They replied that they probably used somewhat different components (bullet, and/or primer, and/or case) when testing between their 1996 and their 1999 publications. They did not make any reference to liability concerns, but in that time span liability considerations were beginning to assume a more important role in manufacturing. In retrospect, I probably was lucky that my load development using the 1996 manual turned out OK in my rifle.

Because the load has given me outstanding performance without any signs of excess pressure in my rifle, I have successfully used it for the past 19 years and have taken dozens of big game animals ranging in size from 125 pound antelope to 550 pound Kudu, and 1000 pound moose. In spite of this performance, I would never recommend this load to anyone else. Further, in any new load development I do now for any of my firearms I strictly observe the loading manual guidelines. To do anything else is foolish.

Your efforts will be far more productive if you concentrate on developing an accurate load rather than trying to squeeze out the last possible foot per second! If you insist on hotrodding, take the advice provided to you so far---either pick the STARTING load from a manual that lists the EXACT SAME bullet you intend to use and carefully work up OR take the maximum load, for that same bullet and reduce it by 10% and work up from there! BE SAFE! More often than not, the most accurate load will be below the maximum listed load.

Nice, thanks for the replies so far.

I started working it up from 53 grains of H4831 and I am currently ok at 55 grains. I just notice a huge discrepancy between what hodgdon and nosler say about max loads. I am pretty new to reloading so I am trying to be cautious and start at the bottom. I am not overly concerned about getting the most velocity, I'd rather have accuracy. I am loading 140g TSX for the same rifle and while it is fine at max load 58.5 grains H4831, it really likes 58 grains better. It goes from being dead on with 58 grains to being 1-2 inch groups if I add .5 grains more.

I was am just trying to get a ballpark on what everyone else maxed out on...59 grains seemed a little much for the 150 Partition. Had to ask!

Thanks again!

quote:

Originally posted by LE270:

quote:

I am sure there are a couple folks on this board that have loaded that exact setup. For those who have, what did you find your max load to be with the 150 Partition, H4831, for the .270 Win?

Unfortunately, there's no single answer to your question. It depends on your particular rifle, the particular lot of powder, the particular bullet, your bullet seating depth, your brass, and possibly some other variables.

Be aware that there was an older version of H4831 that was a military surplus powder. It was slower burning than present-day H4831, so listed top loads for that older powder (in older loading manuals) were significantly heavier than the listed top loads for the more recent version of H4831.

Be aware also that Winchester brass tends to be thinner-walled than Remington brass, so you can often get away with using a grain or even two more powder in Winchester brass than in Remington.

Older Hodgdon loading data for H4831 with 150 gr. bullets in the .270 Winchester gives a top load that is several grains heavier than current Hodgdon data.

The solution -- as always -- is to start low and work up. If you begin to see signs of excessive pressure, you've gone too far.

Great advice!!!!

In the past I've always had a .270 but as our sons left some of the .270's also left with them!!!!

As stated above your shooter is unique when compared to other shooters. I've seen the same load shot in different rifles produce widely differing results as to velocity and accuracy.

I used the 130 grain Nosler Partition for a while and then the Balistic tip with great results on deer, antelope and elk. My last .270 that left the house is residing in Montana and taking large mule deer and nice bull elk from the pictures I get back. I agree with the Winchester brass useage as this would give you a few extra grains of capacity and this H4831 and 130 grain combo has been made famous. Loads up to 62.0 grains have been used with the 130grain set up.

As always work up the load that your shooter likes as far as accuracy and see how the velocity stacks up with your expectations. I would think that the 150 grain set up would require dialing the powder load back and as stated some of the older loading manuals did provide for some hotter loads. Some folks will say that the powders have changed their burn rates and others will say the attorneys became more involved.

Good luck on you.

You have received some great advice from others, her is my .02 cents. The new data that Hogden publishes is compiled with powder that is out there now. Older reloading manuals that have higher charge weights were made with older lots of powder that may or may not reflect what is current. Look for your most accurate load not the hottest or fastest. You will be much happier given the confidence of " I know where that's going to hit". Rather than this load is going 3200fps. DW