Hi guys I have just bought my 14 year old son a Sako 75 in 270.

I have received lots of flak over buying a youngster a 270 with questions like are you trying to put him off shooting.

However I like the 270 and don't think it is too savage in the recoil stakes.

What are your favourite loads for deer I have done some load development with IMR 4895 and Speer 1459 and got good results. The rifle only has a 20" barrel so I wanted to try and stick with a fast ish powder. I also have IMR 4350 & 4831. In all my other rifles I use Nosler ballistic tips what's your experiance of BT's in the 270?

Maybe more luck, from a "Brit" viewpoint on the Stalking Directory Forum?

My experience of the 270 goes back to 1989 when I used a 22" barrel Churchill 270 with factory Winchester 130 grain "Silvertip" and took an instant dislike to the calibre!

However I've since come back to it but "taming" it by handloading. But you will still have the handicap of that 20" barrel.

My load development used Hodgdon 4831 so maybe too slow for you? But here are my results in a 24" barrel - ALL LOADS used the Hornady Interlock 140 grain bullet:

55.5 grains H4831 2856 fps
56.0 grains H4831 2867 fps
56.5 grains H4831 2892 fps
56.8 grains H4831 2905 fps

Also one load with Vihtavouri N160:

52.4 grains N160 2858 fps

With even a 24" barrel there is some flash with the H4831 which I used. I think that using a 140 grain bullet if not even a 150 grain bullet is better for here in the UK.

Indeed I have now decided to evaluate loads using ONLY 150 grain bullets and IMR 4350!

Dave,

We need more Fathers like yourself - a Sako .270 "starter" rifle - Oh, Joy!



I'd ignore "flak" concerning the .270 Winchester - it's a great cartridge for your Island Countries - one of the all time finest. As a reloader there's countless options open to you and for sure you can gin up some "starter" loads for a young Nimrod.

Practice the basics & teach him how to plunck 'em right behind the elbow on a standing broadside shot vice the risky Neck/Head shots your ilk are so prone to and he'll be on the Road to Succees in no time.

I know your great penchant for the 25-06 Remington which is also a fantastic cartridge. IMO the 270 Winchester is just more of a good thing.

I'm sure you've got some kind of "magic" can screwed on to that stubby 20" tube, too.

The .270's reputation has pretty much always been based on the flat shooting 130 grain bullet load and it is a fine one; especially with super accurate 130 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips. Today's selection of 140 & 150 grain bullets don't give up too awful much in the trajectory department and give the cartridge a whole new dimension IMO.

Funny how when you show up on The Hill in Scotland with a .270 Winchester or .30/06 Sprg. the Ghillie smiles & replies, "Perfect." Several hundred kilometers south in England the response is always "Why'd ya bring such a Cannon/Thumper?"



Right now there's three .270's in out stable and they all shoot superbly with 130 gr. Winchester Silvertips (and old stash, sadly they'll be depleted soon) & 60.0 grs. of H-4831sc which has always been a sorta Go-To powder/load combo for this cartridge. Even with a Moderator I'd suggest you can't go too far astray. Top loads using H-4895 is in the same pressure range as H-4831sc but the resulting velocities are slower. IMO not optimal for this cartridge but you'll have to be the judge of that based on your Moderator & stubby tube.

Having said all that on The Continet we look for a load to encompass Wild Boar, too and another really outstanding option for us has been 58.0 grs. of H-4831sc & 150 gr. Nosler Partitions.

Have fun with your Son & his new rifle; can't imagine a more pleasurable undertaking that getting your son, the new rifle & some loads into the "Killing Zone".

The 270 is my all time favorite cartridge, these other folks just have "cartridge envy". I shoot just two bullets through mine that has taken everything from javelina, elk, black bear and one grizzly bear.

Big game 150g Nosler Partition at 3000 fps. Rem cases, Federal 215 primers, 58.5g H4831. Work up VERY slowly as this is a max load.

Varmints: Sierra 90g HPBTs almost any powder combination works.

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:
Maybe more luck, from a "Brit" viewpoint on the Stalking Directory Forum?

Dave is a bad man, he is banned from there.

Dave, seeing as I have been accused of being a recoil adverse pussy already today, I will share my favourite 270 load.

51.5gr N160 over a 140gr Hornady Interlock, quite a mild load, and very accurate with little muzzle blast. Velocity is less than the 270 is capable off, approximates a 7x57 load.

quote:

Originally posted by DJM:
I have received lots of flak over buying a youngster a 270 with questions like are you trying to put him off shooting.

The recoil of the .270 isn't too bad but it has enough to hurt when shooting off a bench or shooting prone. Make sure that your son uses some kind of shoulder pad (in addition to the rifle's recoil pad) when shooting of the bench. I always use a Past pad when shooting on the bench. My first .270 didn't have a recoil pad at all and it hurt enough for me to develope a flinch that took a long time to get over (after I had a recoil pad installed). As far as loads I use 60gr of H4831 with 130gr bullets. In my Browning w/22" barrel it shoots 3050fps and in my old Sako w/24" barrel it shoots 3150fps. Both loads are very accurate.

The Recoil is tamed quite nicely by one of these.

http://www.aseutra.fi/jet-z-compact-suppressor

Although we live in a country with some of the most restrictive gun laws in the world we are almost forced to use moderators due to health and safety and duty of care.

In fact on a number of estates and public owned forests thet are manditory.

My light load for women and children is:

Winchester brass
140gr NBT/accubond
CCI 200 primer
57gr H4831.

For myself, It as above, but with 59gr H4831.



Another great load is 60.5gr with a 130gr BT.

As always work up, your rifle might like something different.

I've only loaded one load for my 270 Win
130g NP
56.5g Imr 4831
Fed 210
Rem case

60 grains of H4831 and a Remington bronze point. Flying hand grenade! Oh I wish I could still find those bronze points as components.

Try 47-49 grains of IMR 4064 with 130 grain bullets.
My wife's Uncle started me with this load when I bought my 270.

DJM:
Good on you and, as mentioned above, ignore the naysayers for they are heathens. I've used my .270 Win. here in ak. for 40 + years and iif it works here, it surely will work where you hunt.
The load I've settled on is a 150 Partition and 57.0 grs. of Rldr-22. This gives me consistant 1" groups and if I really do my part, under 1" groups. My velocity is 2930 fps. so is entirely adequate for sheep & caribou. I have so much confidence in it that I'd use it on moose & grizzly (with backup of course). Tho I don't load "parctice" loads for this rifle, I'd look at something with a 110 gr., inexpensive bullet to start your son off on. I really wouldn't use a high velocity, 110 gr., .270 bullet on a deer tho.
Good luck and enjoy.
Bear in Fairbanks

quote:

I really wouldn't use a high velocity, 110 gr., .270 bullet on a deer tho.

I'd consider the 110gr Nosler Accubond, but with a decent recoil pad, I suspect he'd do just fine with a mild load behind a 130-140gr bullet.

Another fan of the H4831sc. I use 56.0gr behind a 140gr Hornady SST. Extremely accurate, clocks at 2950fps and is devastating on deer.

IMR or H 4831 was a marriage made in heaven, everybody knows that...60 gr. of 4831 behind a 130 gr. bullet made the rifle famous...

That was Jack O'Connors load and he actually used 62 grs. but his 4831 was the old no longer available 4831 surplus sometimes known as 4350 Data powder..I have 40 lbs of that stuff and it still gives me an extra 200 plus FPS and less pressure than todays 4831s..

Hi Dave,

If I remember correctly IanF had a load using a 150 gr Speer BTSP ( You could use any other nice and soft bullet ) over H4895 for about 2300fps for use in Jo's heavily chopped down and moderated .270.

There is some data here for 100-110 grain bullets for the first few shots: Hogdon youth loads

For 130 grain bullets the Hogdon max load is 45 grains for ~2800 fps. 60% of this 27 grains but having had a play with quickload I would say you want to be in the 34-36 grain area.

That should give you around 2400 give or take a 100fps or so, I'm assuming you have a chronograph here, and at around 70-80% of max should give you sooted up cases.

It's a different calibre but in my 30.06 70% of the max charge of H4895 with a 150 grain bullet is just about deer legal, quieter than full power loads and has virtually no recoil.

What a nice daddy you are. Do you need any more children? I surely need a Sako 75....

You should only be worried about the gun fitting him and his not being shocked by the loudness of the blast coming from the rather short barrel. If there's no problems there, you and he are good to go.

LWD

The stock is a little long but not too bad and he will soon grow into it.

There is no blast as a sound moderator is fitted.

The rifle was a bargain for the UK it was bought as possibly shot out complete with the sound moderator for £350 ($550) but after a little load development was shooting 100m 5 round groups like this one.



1" Squares 44.0gr IMR4895 130gr Speer 1459

Gerry I can assure you he is being taught right and it is a case of you as I say not as I do.

He knows I mainly head or neck shoot but he is only allowed broadside chest shots.

Try loading some 130 gr Hornady Interlocks.

any good 130 with 54 grs. IMR 4350 or 56 grs. IMR 4831 for deer size game..


IM ALL FOR GUN CONTROL: HIT THE TARGET Y0U SHOOT AT

56.5 gr. H4831sc
150 gr. NBT
rem 9.5 mag. primer.
2925 fps

The 150's have been the most accurate bullet weight OAL and most off the shelf stuff shoots sub MOA in my 24" m70.

140g Accubond or TSX and 58grains of 4831SC for my Tikka. It'll take 59grains but it starts to spread on paper.

Well, point one is why do people give you flack for getting a 270 for a 14 y.o.?? The following young ladies, all 14 and under at the time, used a 270 with a 130 TSX:




There are a couple of more pics from this season but I didn't bother uploading.

I like 57.0 Re19 with a 130 TSX
Max charge of IMR4350 with 110 TSX and 130 TSX and 130 Btip

Lots of luck with 140 AB and H1000.

150 Berger VLD with IMR4350.

Here's my little 3 shot group with the Berger at 100 yards and 200 yards:

quote:

Well, point one is why do people give you flack for getting a 270 for a 14 y.o.??

Doc, sometimes I think there is something about this generation of "helicoptor" parents that baby their kids too much and just won't let them grow up. Everyone gets a ribbon, they stay on the parents health insurance until 26, and 14 year olds to too wimpy to shoot a .270 Win.

Maybe today's fathers are just too lazy to fit the stock to their kid, and put a decent recoil pad on the rifle. So instead they put reduced loads in a coyote gun so they won't hurt their babys with a little recoil.

Is this how we are supposed to set our up our young adults for success? Should we give them baby guns with baby loads?? IMO it's disrespectful to both them, and the game. I say give them a real gun, with a real recoil pad, and respectable loads. Make it an absolute deer killer (like a .270 Win) that will work for elk when the time is right. Maybe you move up to a heavier, stouter bullet, but beyond that, it's the same rifle they've been using to kill deer and antelope.

Doc, I'm sure you've read enough of these forums to realize alot of "hunters" just don't think things through....

Next time one of them give you guff about your daughters/granddaughters/(ect) shooting a .270, just play a little what if game with them:

It's opening day for your 14 year old daughter, and This steps out:



That's a big deer. Could he induce a little buck fever?....over grown rabbit gun, less then perfect shot...Hmmm I hate tracking.....
If the angle's not right do you really want to tell her "Sorry honey, you have to let him go, because your baby gun can't handle that shot, because daddy didn't think you could handle a real deer gun." ....yea...that would be great for her self-esteem.


On the other hand, with a 130/140gr TSX/BT/Partition/Northfork/Grandslam/Woodleigh/Scirocco/Ornx, around 3k fps, gives her those extra capbilites, and confidence, that turns "sorry" into "great job". A good .270 Win is a great way to set your young adults up for success, build their self-esteem, and create in them a love for hunting.

Shheesh. Other than suggesting you memorize the phrase "Suck it up, Nancy." when these ninnies start in about the evil .270, and point out a suirrel is more likely to lose an eye from a richocheting BB...
Okay. Here,s the truth. Despite having a wonderfully misspent youth, often grabbing a gun and heading out the door when I got home from school, I never got to shoot a .270 when I was a kid. I,m sure after a few years of therapy, I,ll be able to forgive myself, and move on. Maybe. My point is,growing up reading hunting magazines, my Dad was a hunter, my uncles, hunters, my buddies and I aspired to be, you guessed it, hunters. Feel a litte jealous of those girls, and the deer they got..

I,d also bet dollars to donuts those kids are never going to get in any trouble with guns. Grew up hunting,handling a gun safely is as natural to me as breathing. I can thank my father for that, reckon your son will be in a position to do the same one day.
Anyhoo, when I was a kid, 270, 30-06, bunch of other calibers sounded great. We had a 30-30, and a .22.
Tend to consider myself pretty recoil sensitive, but actual recoil does,nt seem to bother me much. Haveing worked with too much loud equipment over the years,and a few small explosions too close to the ears, my ears are pretty hooched.Big gun, by myself, no problem. Shootin a .22, get 9mm goin off next to me, I get a flinch real quick..
Good ear protection, teach him how to keep a gun tucked in when he shoots, let him learn how to handle recoil,he,ll be off and running.
If you go to load data,they,ve got a bunch of loads available if you can get that there..

If you want to start him out with a light load, SR 4759 is a good start, I have a 270 with a 22 inch barrel, H4350, 130 grain bullets, seems to do alright. 150, like the H4831 full load, but a slower powder.. 20 inch tube, it might even like Varget, or thereabouts.
Accurate, fun to shoot, think money spent on a rifle for a kid is a good choice.
And one other thing. Call up PETA and let em know em know somebody has to stop the unregulated hunting of clay pigeons before it,s too late..

quote:

Originally posted by Antelope Sniper:
Maybe today's fathers are just too lazy to fit the stock to their kid, and put a decent recoil pad on the rifle.

Well, I actually had that rifle built for my friend and his family with his wife and kids in mind. I sent the stock to a smith I found here on AR. He is in Utah. He shortened the stock and put a pachmyer decel pad on it. I've asked Adam (the rifle owner) if anyone has had a flinching problem or recoil issues and the answer has been no. All kills are on video. The only load that rifle has known since they've had it is with a 130 TSX. Every season I get pics of all the hog mulies killed with it. Adam's daughters are typical feminine, petite ladies and they handle the 270 very well.

I have never thought that a 243 (apparently the standard starter rifle) is the perfect choice for women and children. Take a 270 and stuff it with a 110 bullet to start if need be. I've killed my share of game with the 110 TSX and TTSX and so has my brother. Feels like shooting a BB gun, and that's with a stout charge of 4350.

In my mind, the 270 is the BEST deer caliber rifle in existence!

As for the 20" tube, I suggest 4350 or IMR4064.

My experience with Nosler Btips is 100% perfect one shot kills on dozens of deer in Alabama, South Carolina, Missouri, and few in Kentucky.

If anyone is wondering why Adam chose the 130 TSX it is because he asked me what bullet should he choose in the event they decide to fill an elk tag while mulie hunting. I recommended that bullet. If his friend can kill bull elk with a 25-06 using Btips season after season then I can't imagine a 130 TSX from a 270 not getting the job done.

56.5 grains of IMR4350 with a 130 grain Winchester power point works well in my featherweight @ 3050fps.


Cal30