270 Weatherby loads

[Guest]

Having just acquired a Mark V in 270Wby, I am curious as to what powders and bullets have performed well as per other's experience. I am considering 130, 140, and 150gr pills, and have so far looked into IMR7828, RL22, RL25, and VihtaN560. Anybody have any experience with these or other suggestions? And for someone who has never loaded a Weatherby case before, is there anything I really need to know before I run the first brass through? The rifle will be used mainly for whitetails, but also for a few trips out west over the next few years, to include pronghorn, muleys, and possibly elk. Looking forward to hearing what works for y'all. (As I am new here, let me also say that I have been loading for some while, about 15 years, and have a pretty good handle on working up loads. I just have no experience with Weatherby rifles or calibers, so any help would be appreciated.)

 

[340boy]

I have a new MarkV in 270 weatherby. So far, I have had the best results with the Barnes TSX in 140 grains with RL22 and Fed 215 primers. Best 3 shot group of 0.45 inches at 3220fps. Not yet tried partitions or accubonds but will soon!
I have loaded many rounds for my 340 and 338-378 weatherby MarkVs, however. The only thing I feel is different from loading a standard caliber is the fact that the weatherby freebore makes OAL somewhat less critical. MY K.I.S.S approach is simply load as long as possible and still feed from the magazine. Hope this helps, and good shooting with your new 270WBY!

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the info. Yeah, my rifle's freebore is enormous, but I understand that that is the Weatherby way. I have a couple of other rifles where mag length dictates COL, so I am used to the idea.

What charge weight are you using with the 140 Barnes? And how is the copper fouling? I have used some previously, but found only the XLC is worth the trouble, as far as shooting much goes, because of the fouling issue.

I am considering the 140gr AccuBond, as well as the 130gr Interbond from Hornady, and the 130gr Scirocco, although with the price increase, they probably will be a last resort. For larger game, I am looking into 150gr and 160gr Partitions.

 

[340boy]

My charge weight for the 140 TSX is 70.0 grains RL22. Although the velocity is not fantastic, the accuracy shows some potential!
Copper fouling is not as bad as the XLCs I have tried.
I am in the process of working up a load with IMR7828 for the 150 grain Partition, but don't have any conclusive results as of yet.
I may also try the 140 grain AccuBond at some point as well.

 

[FOTIS]

I have had great luck with 7828 in the past. :wink:

 

[REDGREEN]

I was loading 7828 in my mark 5 and would always get a flier or two from the bench. With the Ruger #1 I was getting 3400 fps with the 140 grain hornady boattail and it was extremely accurate. My accumark prefers reloader 22 and no fouling shot is needed. It will keep them well under an inch with a clean or a fouled bore. My current charge for the accumark is 71 grains of reloader 22 behind a hornady 140 grain boattail that chrono's at 3200 fps. My second choice is the 130 grain speer hotcore with 76 grains of re 22 behind it at 3400 fps. Choice 3 is the 150 grain Partition with 70 grains of re 22.

 

[FOTIS]

If I currently had a 270 "bee" I would definately try the 140 AB.

 

[madman]

If I currently had a 270 "bee" I would definately try the 140 AB.

I did

They kill very well. Much more forgiving than the BT (shooter error/bad shot placement).

I shot a muley and my first antelope with the 140AB last year. While I was expecting the "pop" that the BTs make, the kills were clean. They also shoot the same as the BTs in my "bees". The goat was shot in the left shoulder, and the AB pulverized the bone, and all the pieces did a good job of taking out the lungs. The exit was about the size of a quarter.

--md

 

[madman]

Oh, I forgot to mention... I have been using 7828, but switched to 7828SSC. The load chronographs at about 3450 from my ULW.

--md

 

[Guest]

Did you have to adjust your charge when moving from 7828 to 7828SSC? I know the only difference is kernel size, but it does mean more surface area, so pressure curves might change. Notice anything? Also, IMR indicates some loads get greater velocity with SSC than long grain, your experience?

Thanks for the information. It appears that my first thought, which was to buy a can each of 7828, RL22, and N560 may still be the best choice. Anybody have experience with the Vihtavouri powders? The Nosler manual says it is highly accurate with this cartridge.

 

[FOTIS]

Switching from H4831 to H4831sc no diff for me.

 

[madman]

Did you have to adjust your charge when moving from 7828 to 7828SSC?

I did drop a grain initially, but it turns out the same charge worked great. I DO notice a slight increase in pressure signs when changing to the AB vs the BT. Both bullets shoot .5 inches at 100yrds all day long.

--md

 

[340boy]

Cool!
I am learning some cool stuff on this site! I am glad some other folks are shooting 270 "bees" and having some luck. I think I will try some 140 grain accubonds and the new 7828SC in my Ultralightweight! Sweet!

 

[Guest]

So, madman, you're getting 3450 out of a 140AB over 7828SSC? That sounds like a sterling endorsement to me. What charge weight did you start with, and how far up were you able to work? Thanks for the info.

 

[340boy]

I 2nd dubyam's last post! 3450 from a 140 grain pill is very nice!

 

[madman]

I don't recall the exact charge. I'll have to check my load book tonight. I'm thinking it's something like 74.5grs. Don't quote me on that YET.

It's much faster than the factory ammo (at least 100fps), and both my "bees" shoot this load better than factory. Pressure is high, but not excessive. Please be careful! I've been using this same load for the past five years, and hunting with it for the past four. SSC gives me a bit more room in the case, but I'm not gonna try to put anymore powder in it.

I think I started out at about 70 grains, and worked up from there.

The one place that SSC REALLY made a difference is in my 257wby. I'm getting 3800fps with the 85gr BT. SSC gave me room in the case that regular 7828 doesn't. I think the 7828 load is compressed too. SSC isn't compressed.

--md

 

[Guest]

Obviously, my results may vary, but I am anxiously awaiting the information on this load. I bought the 270Wby because I found it on a great deal, but I actually started out looking for a 257Wby because I wanted a long range deer/pronghorn rifle to take out west sometime in the next few years. In looking at the ballistics, nothing beats a 100gr doing about 3650-3700fps from a 26" barrel. Gives a point-blank range of about 325-350yds, depending on the bullet's BC. But now I find myself thinking about Elk with this 270, so I want heavier than 130gr bullet, but I still want flat and straight, as we all do, I suspect. Your load appears to come mighty close. dig it out for me, and I will start low and work up. IMR recommends a max charge of 73.5gr of 7828 in their data, so I will approach with extreme caution, as is prudent. Looking forward to getting a chrono under some of these, though. Bought a box of 140AB's today.

 

[340boy]

I also am interested in optimum performance for the heavier(140,150 gr) bullets. I have a 270 win and wsm if I want to sling 130 grain deer bullets!
Of course, I can understand madman's reluctance to share his exact load data. I am seeing 3200fps out of a 140 grain Barnes TSX which is good, but I would like to see 3300-3350 with good accuracy. I think it is possible, I will be out at the range this coming weekend to see if it is doable.
I will let this forum know how it goes!! :wink:

 

[Guest]

If you are getting 3200 from the Barnes, you will likely be able to best that by about 100fps using conventional lead core bullets, according to my reading and experience. I have seen similar gains from other rifles, and in reading through the manuals, it appears to be a consistent theme, in both the Barnes data, as well as the Lyman manual, Hodgdon online data, and other sources with Barnes bullets. Let me know how everything works out.

It sounds like Madman's data should be right on the money, as IMR lists 73.5gr as the max charge for 140gr pills for 7828 in their data, and they achieve 3325 through a 26" barrel. You should be able to work it up similarly, unless you have an exceptionally maximum spec chamber. You are using RL22 to get that 3200 with the Barnes? That is about right, it appears, as the Alliant data shows 71gr of RL22 giving 3280fps out of their 26" test barrel. Is your Barnes load at max pressure for your gun, or is that just best accuracy without too much loss of velocity?

 

[340boy]

That 3200 fps is using 70. 0 grains RL22, no pressure signs(that I can detect) I was trying to get barnes to give me some TSX specific data,but no luck there, so I just went with the data for the conventional barnes X bullet. I am seeing outstanding accuracy(0.4-0.5 inches 3 shot group) and this is out of my ultralightweight markV. I think that I can go up 0.5 to 1.0 grains and see what happens. I want to do some work with the 140 grain AccuBond and IMR7828, but have not had the chance yet. I have a draw mule deer hunt coming up in several weeks(lots of long shots possible) and would like to be ready for it. :grin: