Well Im a year behind in getting started with my reloading due to a change in residences and finally organizing my basement. I bought the reloading tools and my bench is built and Im anxious to get going but had a question.

I am starting off reloading for my bolt action .270 and was hoping someone could recommend a load for me to try. I have done quite a bit of looking through the archives and found a lot of good info but some of it is a bit dated and I wasnt sure if there has been significant changes in the components the last couple of years. I do have the speer#13 book and have read it completely. The archives probably listed a half dozen different powders that folks use for the .270. I suppose everyone develops confidence in one type.

Also about the only local source for reloading components is Gander Mountain and their selection of powders, primers, bullets, etc, might be limited. I use the .270 for whitetails, antelope and next year hopefully Idaho Mule deer. Any help you can offer on a beginner load would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Mike

My favorite load is a 130gr Sierra SP powered by IMR4831 and a CCI primer.

Mike27, welcome to the forum, As for the .270 Win. there are A number of powders that work, IMR 4831,H4831,RL#22 RL#19 IMR4350,H4350. + more. In the .270 Win. that I have it likes 54.8gr. of H 4350, with 56.0 max. in the Speer manual, and A 130gr. Speer BTSP, and A fed. 210 primer. The other powders shot well, but not as good as this, FPS. was 2940 out of A 22" BBL. What part of mid Michigan Mike, I live in the thumb. Hope this will help.

6.5 SWEDE.

Any of the 4831 powders is a good place to start looking. R22 is another excellent choice in my experiance. Where about in Michigan are you? There are a few good places to shop depending on where you are. I hit Jays in Clare everytime I go near there, and Williams in Davison, Guns Galore in Fenton, ect all have a fair selection of components.
Shopping on the web is another option you shouldn`t over look. Try Midway USA, Grafs, Midsouth, all have good prices and are good companies to deal with.

My two .270 Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbines liked 55.5 grains of IMR 4350 and the 130-grain Nosler Partiton or Sierra PSPBT, and 53.5 grains of that same powder with the 150-grain Nosler Partition or Sierra PSPBT bullets best of all. I discovered these two IMR 4350 loads after using H4831 with those same bullets for a couple of years. The H4831 loads were faster by 100 FPS or so, but the IMR 4350 loads were more accurate.

If I were going to buy only one powder to try in a 270, it would be H4831SC -- relatively temperature insensitive, meters well, and has been a favorite of many for decades. If I were going to add a second powder, it would be RL 22.

Good luck!

Al

If I had it to do all over again I would skip all the experimentation with 130 grain bullets and go directly to the 150 grain Speer or Hornady pointed bullets. Any of the 4350's or 4831's will deliver good loads.

H4831 is hard to beat in the 270 with 130s, 140s, and 150s.

R22 is great as well and will usually give a good bit more speed than H4831.

Good Luck

Reloader

Have to agree with the H-4831. With 130s, start at about 57gr and work toward a max of 60gr. I love the speer 130 pointed boattail bullet.

Ol Joe Im over in Bay City. I just returned from Gander Mountain in Saginaw but their bullet selection was rather limited but they did have a box of 130 grain Sierra Pro Hunters that would probably have worked. I decided to head to Jay's in Clare on Saturday to see whay they have. I appreciate everyones advise. I will let you know what I come up with and how my first reloads work out.

Another question I had was regarding tools. I dont have the 3 tools listed below but I have read a lot about them.

Decapping Dies
Case Trimmer
Vibratory Case Cleaner

Do I really need these items? I can purchase them if needed. I wasnt sure about the best method for cleaning the fired cases. It sounds like not everyone uses the machine to clean the brass. I have a couple hundred once fired .270 brass to get started. Mike

Mike a tumbler works fastest,I would rather tumble if possible, or you can simply polish them by hand if you`ve time. A piece of OOOO steel wool or a green chore pad will shine them.

A case trimmer is a must at some point. I`d get one and have it when needed. Decapping dies are nice but you can get by with your resizeing die doing double duty and knocking the primers out that way.

The Gander Mountain down here isn`t the best place for components either. They did have a fair selection the last time I was in there a couple weeks ago though. I think anymore they stock up just before hunting season and then forget us reloaders until the next year.

Try shopping the web for bullets and other components. I don`t have trouble finding powders around here and save on haz mat fees that way but bullets are usually quite cheap on line compared to local sources. tooling is easier to come by also in my experiance. I stock up when ordering and try to buy only when what I want is on sale which if you check the various sites seems to occure a time or two a year.
Try these, some one should have something you want.....

www.midwayusa.com/

www.grafs.com/

www.lockstock.com/

www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/

www.wideners.com/

I have a bunch of Cabelas points and a couple of gift certificates. Any suggestions on a brand/model of case trimmer???

I have a Lyman case trimmer that came in the kit when I bought my press. I have been happy with it. I have not used other brands so I can make no further comment.

When reloading pistol ammunition a tumbler is a must.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike27:
Another question I had was regarding tools. I dont have the 3 tools listed below but I have read a lot about them.

Decapping Dies
Case Trimmer
Vibratory Case Cleaner

Do I really need these items? I can purchase them if needed. I wasnt sure about the best method for cleaning the fired cases. It sounds like not everyone uses the machine to clean the brass. I have a couple hundred once fired .270 brass to get started. Mike

The only one of those three that is MANDATORY is the case trimmer. .270 cases "grow" alot, and it is essential to keep them within specs. The other two items are definitely in the "nice to have" category. I have been reloading for 53 years now, and have yet to acquire a case cleaner of any sort. I just don't let my empties get filthy...... I have both a Lyman and a Forster case trimmer. Both are good. I like the Forster a little better, as it is very simple to operate.....

quote:

Originally posted by Mike27:
I have a bunch of Cabelas points and a couple of gift certificates. Any suggestions on a brand/model of case trimmer???

I have a RCBS and find the simple "LEE" trimmers to be as fast and accurate to use. If I was watching my $$ starting out this is the tool I`d pick up first. They run under $10 and are cartridge specific, so you will need one for each cartridge you load for.
The easiest way I`ve found to use them is with a cordless drill as a power source. Be sure to wear a glove as the cases will "burn" your fingers if the cutter grabs. I am not a big Lee fan but these little cutters and their Collet Dies are worth while tools IMO.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1187...catalog/casecon.html

Can I clean the cases adequately by shining the exterior with steel wool and taking a brush to the inside? I thought that if I did not use a vibratory cleaner I would have to wash the cases in detergent.

Thanks for the comments. You all have been very helpful. Mike

The steel wool, it will work . But I don't know if you want to do A lot of cases like that. But it dose work. Mike, call Franks in Linwood they may have some reloading things. I'am not to far from you, Vassar.


6.5 SWEDE.

Last night I took a drive over to Jay's in Clare and they had a very good selection of powders, bullets, etc. To get me started I bought a pound of IMR 4831, a box of Speer 130 grain spitzer boat tails, and a box of CCI 200 primers. In the future I will do a bit of comparison shopping with the mail order companies to see if I can save a few bucks. I would guess the prices would be about 25% less that way but then you have to figure hazmatfees too. I will check Franks on my next drive up north. Thanks. Mike

My .270 likes IMR-4350 and H-1000 powders with 130gr bullets.

Sounds like you`re on your way. I`ve had good luck with ~ 57gr IMR4831 and a 130 gr Hornady in my 270, excellent accuracy! Be sure to work up.
Powder & primers on line is a bit pricey if you don`t buy large amounts. I can usually get within $1.50- $2.00 / lb of web prices on them around here if I shop. Taxes add a buck more. I bought a brick of Rem 9 1/2 primers this summer at Jays for $21.99 + Uncle Sams cut, Midway also lists them at $21.99 and they`re a Haz Mat item and need shipping. I grabbed a can of IMR4007 this week for $22.50 that Grafs sells for 19.79 + Haz Mat and a FIXED $3.95 shipping.

Bullets brass, tooling, ect, normally is a much better deal on line.