My favorite load using 130 gr bullets -- Sierra or Speer flat base or boattail, or Hornady flat base -- in my .270 consists of 59 grains of IMR 4831, in Winchester cases with Winchester WLR or Federal 210 primers. I load to an overall length of 3.35 inches -- that's significantly longer than most loading manuals recommend but it works in my rifle. This load gives me good accuracy, usually producing sub-moa groups. It is, however, a hot load, and case life is short, meaning that I don't get a lot of reloadings from cases.
My 270 is a Remington 700 Mountain Rifle, with a 22 inch barrel. It seems to have a slow barrel, because I barely get 3000 f.p.s. with this load, while some claim to get 3000 f.p.s. using 150 gr. bullets in their 270s with 22 inch barrels. But my 700 Mountain Rifle is accurate, lightweight, and handy, although its trigger is a bit creepy.
Posts: 5883 | Location: People's Republic of Maryland | Registered: 11 March 2001
What I shoot the most of is 53.5 gr H414 with a 130gr Nosler old style solid base boat tail. It makes 3100fps in my 24" barrel, is very accurate and shoots great in semiauto's!
Posts: 3097 | Location: Louisiana | Registered: 28 November 2001
quote:Originally posted by GSF1200: What I shoot the most of is 53.5 gr H414 with a 130gr Nosler old style solid base boat tail. It makes 3100fps in my 24" barrel, is very accurate and shoots great in semiauto's!
I have a one-pound plastic can of H414 that I bought more than ten years ago, and that still has a few ounces left in it. Over those years I've tried it in a 6mm Remington, a 260 Remington, a 270, several 30/06s, and a 375 H&H, and possibly several other rifles that I've forgotten about. In no instance did I get good accuracy from it. That powder may be great in something, but it never has been so for me, at least so far.
Posts: 5883 | Location: People's Republic of Maryland | Registered: 11 March 2001
quote:Originally posted by Zeke: Currently testing the Hornady 140gr BTSP using 54gr of IMR-4350. Speeds are around 2900fps. Anyone else using this load?
I have no experience with the 140 gr. Hornady, but I have tried the 140 gr. Sierra BTSP. In my rifle the results were disappointing, but in my friend's Browning (the older one with the heavy bolt with 9 locking lugs -- it looks a bit like a Weatherby Mark 5), this gave excellent accuracy. 58 gr. of H 4831, Winchester case, WLR primer, 3.35" o.a.l.
Posts: 5883 | Location: People's Republic of Maryland | Registered: 11 March 2001
I bought 6 boxes of the Hornady BTSP 140 gr and have loaded several using WC852. The load seems to work OK, though I have not done much experimentation with them and have not taken any game with them. I did shoot several deer this year with 117 gr Hornady BTSP in 25-06. The last one was shot somewhere around 100 yards broadside. The bullet entered the chest cavity low, through the heart and ended up in pieces in the opposite side front leg. I was disappointed that the core and jacket separated like that. I sent a question to Hornady regarding the bullet and have not received a reply after two weeks. The bullet should work well and I hope it does! Would be interested in other's experiences.
Posts: 67 | Location: Boise, ID USA | Registered: 09 January 2002
I know this is late on this post, but have been moving - doing a remodeling job in denver.
I did receive a response from Hornady. It turned into several emails back and forth. The customer rep was courteous and I thought pretty forthright. I intend to try the 140 hornady btsp on deer next year. BTW the rep said the bullet should be fine at all 270 speeds for animals including elk.
Dale
Posts: 67 | Location: Boise, ID USA | Registered: 09 January 2002
I was getting good accuracy with 130gr SST's and IMR4350, but at a pretty tame velocity of 2800fps. I ran out of 4350, so I tried some IMR 4831 since I had read so many favorable posts about it. Not nearly as good as 4350.
Posts: 648 | Location: Huskerville | Registered: 22 December 2001
Another vote for IMR 4350. I use 55.0 grains behind the 130's in my old Model 70. I have tested this load using Federal and Winchester brass, and it doesn't seem to matter toward the MOA accuaracy. I use Federal primers (usually the GM's), but CCI's group tight with the 55 grain IMR 4350 charge as well. This is a really resilient load, being able to tolerate brass changes and even primer changes and still hit the same POI at 100 yards.
As someone mentioned above by someone else, the CCI 250 Mag primer looks promising. I tested those with the same charge yesterday and was able to keep five shots sub 1" at 100 yards. Normally I get a flyer in a five shot group which opens it up to 1.5" or so. I'm going to test the CCI Mags again...
If you want a truly incredible factory 270 load, check out the Winchester Super X power point 130's. They cost around 11 dollars a box at Walmart. They shoot sub MOA in four different 270's I'm familiar with. I just wish I could figure out what that powder is--and if it's available to the public. It's 59.2 grains of some kind of medium ball powder. It's grayish in color, and the balls all look a little flattened. Good powder for the 270, whatever it is...
I worked up a load using winchester brass and primers,58 grains AR2213SC/ 130gn Hornady SP. Managed to shoot a 3/4moa group and was very pleased to say the least. I think AR2213SC is the same as H4831SC
[This message has been edited by milosmate (edited 05-02-2002).]
58 gr. IMR 4831 Hornady 140 gr. BTSP Interlock CCI 200 Rem Brass
I have used this load for some 20 years on deer and elk, both long range and short with excellent results. 5 shots under 1'' @ 100 yards with 2995 fps muzzle velocity. Shrubber
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Posts: 20 | Location: Chester, CA | Registered: 16 March 2002
I've never looked at H450, so I'll check it out. I realize that factories often use bulk powders that aren't available to the general public, but I think more often than not there will be a commercial powder that fairly well duplicates it.
The 59.2 grain charge of whatever the powder is *exactly* fills the 4.0 cc Lee dipper, if you have one of those available.
Anyway, if you've got a 270, you owe it to yourself to try the Winchester factory load. It's a sub MOA shooter in more rifles than just mine.
Dan, I could never get X bullet to shoot very well. I gave up on them, the .270 is a deer rifle, and all bullet have worked fine, although my favorite is the discontinued Nosler Solid Base.
Posts: 3097 | Location: Louisiana | Registered: 28 November 2001
Rem or Win brass, 130gr Nosler Partition, CCI large Rifle primers, and 54.5grs of IMR-4350, seated .010" off the lands. I got .75" best last time out usually around 1.0" with 55.0grs...3,000 fps out of a 22" Remington barrel. Killed many whitetails very dead.
Mike
Posts: 324 | Location: GA, USA | Registered: 20 April 2002
I used to use nothing but 130 gr. Nosler Partitions and had good luck with everything from deer to moose. I read a book by Bob Hagel who recommended that 270 users should try the 150 gr. bullets. He advised that the bullet drop was not that great for practical hunting purposes and it allowed one to use a heavier bullet.
Doing some load development l found a good accurate load for the 150 Partition in my 270 which consists of H4831, CCI standard primer loaded in WW case. It produces consistent 1/2 MOA to 3/4 MOA for 5 shot groups and this load is all l use now.
Good luck with your 270 loading. Exvellent caliber!!!!
Posts: 104 | Location: Western Canada | Registered: 12 March 2002
