I thought I had "the load" for my .270 Winchester. I was using 55 grains of IMR 4350 and the Federal 210 primer, in a Winchester case. Oh yeah, the bullet was the 130 grain Sierra Gameking. This load shot fairly consistent MOA and better (the norm was 3/4 MOA, with occasional 1/2 MOA groups). I would have the occasional vertical flyer, which I blamed on the rifle's lack of being free floated (the recoil lug is tightly glass bedded)...

Anyway, I had bought a can of H4831 to use in my .243 Winchester loads. On a whim (I almost talked myself out of trying it) I loaded some of the 130 grain Sierra Gamekings for my .270 with 60.0 grains of H4831. I loaded a few with WLR primers, and a few with CCI 200's.

Range results were incredible, bordering on unbelievable.

The WLR primed loads shot a nicely rounded 5 shot group of about 3/4 MOA. Three of these shots were touching, and two were vertical flyers, which opened up what would have been a nice 1/4 MOA group. I didn't suspect the primers as being the cause of the flyers.

The recoil of this load was noticeably stiffer than my previous 55 grain IMR 4350 load. And that steel butt plate on the pre-64 wasn't making it any better ...

Enter the CCI 200 primed cartridges, and VOILA! A four shot 1/4" group at 100 yards, with a fifth shot a called flyer, about 3/8" to the right.

I still had two more loads of the CCI primed recipe, and I put them in another group, touching at 100 yards.

I have a new powder and recipe for my .270. IMR 4350 was good, but not *this* good...

green 788

4831 speed powders usually work well in most .270's. I personally like RL22, but that's because it meters though my powder measure quite well.

Testing is difficult. I hope it's the powder but you may find it's the fact that you tightened the guard screws or the way you cleaned the barrel.

Maybe it's the primer or the fact that your primer pockets are "high" as you have not bottom reamed them and the WW primers are a lower primer?

But maybe it's that the 4831 matches your barrel's vibration pattern. I have used kegs of 4831 (surplus) and it's one of my favorite powders. When the rest of this keg is gone I will be looking for a bulk substiute. It's a little early to shop for it yet but I am have my ears open.

But I bet that in many of my rifles I could go back to imr 4350 or imr 4831 and get similar groups. I have been using the very hot Federal 215 primers with 4831. My groups are no better than yours.

Don,

Thanks for the post. You're of course right that I might have simply had a good day at the range, and next trip I'll find that the H4831 isn't as good as I may have thought.

That said, the old Model 70 shot the tightest group I ever got from it with the 60 grain H4831 load. I'm hoping that'll be an indication of how future groups will go, I'll just have to see. I was experiencing vertical flyers (about 1/2" above the groups) with the IMR 4350 load, and was also seeing this with the Winchester Power Point factory loads (excellent factory load, BTW). I'm not seeing this as of yet with the 60 grain H4831 charge. The Hodgdon powder is also temperature stable, which will be a plus if I decide to varmint hunt with the .270 in the warmer months...

I don't seem to ever have as tight a group using Winchester's WLR primers as I do with, say Federal 210's or CCI 200's. I don't know if the WLR's are as well regulated as other primers are. But the Winchester Super-X factory loads seem to be excellent performers, and it appears that they use the WLR's, so maybe I've just not given them a good chance. So far the norm has been a 50% reduction in group size by switching from the WLR's to either Federal or CCI primers.

Take care,

green 788

I use CCI-250's, and Federal 210's in the .270 I can get really excellent groups with either.

I have had excellent success with H4831 also. In a number of bolt action 270s such as Smith & Wesson 1500, Sako AIV walunt stock and now in a Sako 75 SS this powder has worked well.

I mainly use 150 gr. Nosler Partitions with 57 gr. H4831, WW case and CCI standard primer l usually get sub MOA groups. My last trip to the range to sight in a new scope for the Sako 75 l shot a 5 shot group measuring just under .6". Not bad for just a hunting rifle.

I was planning to try H4350 based on reading some good reports but didn't get around to it and l may just leave well enough alone as a sub MOA rifle is really all one needs for practical big game hunting accuracy.

Thanks for the post.

270's love 4831. I thought everyone knew this! In fact, you just named my standard load for my 270.

Interesting, I just tried exactly the came load, same bullet in my 270 to replace exactly the same 4350 load!. I do not see any change in accuracy they are both top drawer, but I did gain 175 f/s velocity. I consider this the classic deer loading for any condition I encounter and a perfect fit for my M70 Winlite.

BR

When the rest of this keg is gone I will be looking for a bulk substiute. It's a little early to shop for it yet but I am have my ears open.

Don: When your keg of 4831 is gone, you'll be depending on something other than your ears to locate anything.

My keg's not used up yet, but I stopped being able to hear it thunder 40 pounds ago.

60gr of H-4831 130gr Hornady SST
is absolutely the ticket.
Will be trying 61-62gr of H-4831 and 130gr XLC in the near future.

If you gained 175fps. with H4831 it is because the 4831 load is hotter. I have 2 pre64 Wins. in 270. I shoot 57grs of IMR 4350 behind a 130 Hornady or Nosler part. for 3145fps. in the standard weight with a 24in. barrel. About 75ft. less in the featherweight with a 22in. barrel. 2 grains less would account for the 175fps.

In the 270 I have a 60 gr load of SC4831 and 130 Sierra Gameking is too hot - 58 gr with 140 too hot and 57 with 150 too hot (primers fall out after two reloads) - so - have any of you noticed a difference between the SC version and the H version of 4831. I'm ready to go to RL22.

DAMN, I thought 60/4831 behind a 130 gr bullet was "my little secret."

It's my standard 270 load and my rifle loves it too. (Except I am using IMR4831 with same results.)

I grew up using 4831 and when I'm gone I hope someone will sprinkle a little of this fine old powder on my grave.

Talk about secrets! This thread confirms all my observations about the wonderful two seventy. My load is 60 g's of H4831, WW case, CCI large rifle primer and the excellent Remington Core Lokt. Muzzle gee whiz clocks at 3140 fps in my pre war Winchester with 24" tube. I've used fifty eight grains behind Nosler one fifties for close to 3000 fps. This rifle shoots so well, if I do my part, it grops at times into ragged cloverleafs at 100 yds.

When I am gone, I hope to take pounds of H4831 and my beloved rifle with me.

I just started to reload last year.First thing I did was order 130 gn Hornady SST's and worked up to 56.1 gn of IMR4831 (1 lb came with my reloading equiptment I got (used)) in 1/2 gn increments.I got great results as the load increased but want to try H4831.I understand it's great with the 270 Win.This stuff is addicting!