270 WIN & 140 gr NAB

[CatskillCrawler]

I have been struggling to equal the accuracy and velocity I get from Federal's Vital-Shok 140gr NAB out of my Rem Sportsman78 with my reloads. I have used IMR-4064, IMR-4350 and H-4831SC. I started to see things improve last year with the H-4831 so played with my OAL and may have found a good length. It still doesn't equal Federal's velocity but I'm close in the accuracy department. I'm going to bump it up another gr in .3gr increments and see what I get.

I've gotten good accuracy with the IMR-4064 but only around ~2750fps. Good enough but heck, it is a .270, why shoot at 7x57 speed. :wink:

I feel comfortable hunting with the results I got from 58.0gr here, I just want another 75-100fps. Federal's load shoots at ~2925fps out of my rifle.

 

[DrMike]

Keep in mind that many ammunition manufacturers use non-canister powders. We don't have ready access to these powders. Also, their loads tend to be loaded using techniques that are somewhat labour intensive for the average hand-loader. It is difficult to match the velocities of most ammunition manufacturers today. Slowly, some of these powders find their way into the broader market. Witness RL17, LeverEvolution and SuperFormance as just a few examples.

 

[rjm158]

I haven't tried loading your exact bullet but have used 130 BT's in the .270 in conjunction with RL-17 with great results, 270 WSM too. If you're looking for extra velocity, I'd give it a try.

RON

 

[hubcap]

56 grains of IMR-4831 should get you 2900. I,d probably dump the 4064. H-4831 is pretty good as well. The H takes more powder than the IMR.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Anything equal to or slightly slower than RL 17 or IMR 4350 will work great in the .270 Winchester.

 

[bulldog4949]

I use 53.5 gr (max) imr 4831 seated to .020" off the lands with the 140 NAB. Getting right at 2900 fps. Groupings of ~.500-.800. Good enough for my hunting load.

 

[vodekz]

My velocity load with 140 AB is 62.gr H-1000 and GM215 primer 3.340 COL.
I get from 22 tube 2925-2950 fps. Max is 63 gr. It is hot load but no pressure signs.
Accuracy is good. Another load is H4831 sc. Short cut gives me additional 25 fps over regular H4831. 58-59gr H4831sc with Gm215 magnum primer. Velocity 2850-2875 fps. Very good accuracy.
I got some N560 and i plan to try it. I would like to get 2925-2950 with this powder also.
If 2900 fps can get me great accuracy and the powder will be stable. I will stay there. N560 so far has been stable in my 6.5x55 with 140 AB. I get no problem 2700 fps from 22 inch barrel and less then 1/2 of an inch at 100 yards.
140 AB its great hunting bullet but some reason my rifle shoots better 130 AB in my 270 win.
I will spend more time to test different load more when gets colder soon.

 

[SJB358]

I think RL22 would be a good one with the 140gr AB, being a longer bullet with more bearing surface. It works really well in the 270WSM, so I would have to think it should work just about as well in the regular 270 Win. Scotty

 

[hubcap]

When I loaded up 59 grains of RL-22 on ww brass and cci-200 primers the velocity came in at 2880. Then I switced to IMR-4831, 56 gr. and went abit over 2900. So far I been as high as 57 grains for 2990 in a 22 inch barrel. IMR-7828, 59 gr. only delivered 2775. H-4831 does about what RL-22 does in my rifle. IMR 4831 at 56.5 gr. is shooting tiny little clusters with 140 BT,s and accubonds. I remember last year when Army SG loaded 55.8 grains of IMR4831 for 2880 in his A-bolt with the 140 AB. That load got him a caraboo, no sweat.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Thanks for the inputs gents. I haven't used any Alliant powder yet but RL-22 seems to be viable for a few cartridges I load for. I'm not a speed freak but I do appreciate it when the accuracy is supportive. If I can eek out a tad bit more fps I will be content. Hopefully another grain of H-4831 will get me there. My velocity increase started to flatten at 58.o gr though so only trying will tell.

I have some 130gr loads with SGKs and SSTs that are very good with this rifle using IMR-4064 & 4350. My 150gr Grand Slam load uses H-4831 and it's accurate and very effective. In my eyes, the 140gr bullet just seems to be the perfect compromise with the 270Win.

Keep in mind that many ammunition manufacturers use non-canister powders. We don't have ready access to these powders. Also, their loads tend to be loaded using techniques that are somewhat labour intensive for the average hand-loader. It is difficult to match the velocities of most ammunition manufacturers today. Slowly, some of these powders find their way into the broader market. Witness RL17, LeverEvolution and SuperFormance as just a few examples.

Yeah, I don't always expect to match commercial loads in velocity. Even some of the custom ammo makers put out velocities that make my teeth itch whenever I try to figure out how they made it happen.

 

[glock3540]

My 270 loves AA3100 (56 grains) with 140gr bullets and CCI200 primers. It consistently shoots 1/2" and smaller 3 shot 100 yd groups with both 140gr SST's and Accubonds

 

[Oldtrader3]

You can get over 3050 fps with either IMR 4350 (130 gr) or 3000 fps with IMR 4831 (140 gr) with excellent accuracy. I don't know why everyone wants to use even slower magnum powders in a .30-06 based case, especially with 130 or 140 grain bullets? For .270, 150 gr bullets magnum powders make better sense. However, I am new to the .270 Winchester and have only been loading for it since 1965.

 

[hubcap]

You can get over 3050 fps with either IMR 4350 (130 gr) or 3000 fps with IMR 4831 (140 gr) with excellent accuracy. I don't know why everyone wants to use even slower magnum powders in a .30-06 based case, especially with 130 or 140 grain bullets? For .270, 150 gr bullets magnum powders make better sense. However, I am new to the .270 Winchester and have only been loading for it since 1965.

Ya nailed it. The nice thing is that IMR-4350 and IMR-4831 does anything that RL-22,H-4831 or 7828 will do with about three grains less powder. When loading AB,and BT,s which are long bullets it nice to have a little more room to seat the bullets. For coal,s less than 3.340 its tough to fill the case with slow burners and still seat the bullet down to 3.340 or less without over compressing the load. Short mag lengths are ideal for the IMR 4350 and 4831 powders.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I ran some more H4831 thru my .270Win this weekend. I re-did 58.0gr and went up to 59.5gr. I was hoping to eek out a bit more velocity. The last time I ran 58.0gr thru the chrony I got 2806-2836fps.

This time:

58.0 = 2861/2902/2916
58.5 = 2874/2894/2906
59.0 = 2861/2847/2871

I had a sticky bolt on last shot of 58.5gr string with a little bolt swipe off base of brass. Ran the 59.0gr string and got less velocity and second shot was bit sticky with same bolt swipe mark. I didn't shoot the 59.5gr load. This was from the remaining unused brass I had resized from the previous H4831 loads posted earlier. No change whatsoever but velocity was higher. Temp was within 5 degrees of last range session. Maybe a chrony will just confuse me more. :?

I got the accuracy I'm getting from the Federal Vital-Shok loads using the same 140gr NAB. I'm gonna stay with the 58.0gr load this season.

edit - pic added

 

[SJB358]

That load will work great CC. Your chrono might have been a little closer or the sun mighta messed it up a little. 2900 with the 140gr AB seems to be about the norm. Scotty

 

[Oldtrader3]

With a 22 inch bbl Model 78 at 2900 fps with 140 AB, not too bad and accurate which is the bottom line. Rifles are all individuals. You can probably squeeze a bit velocity more out of Partitions, because they are shorter bullets (less bearing surface). Your accuracy is good though, so why worry?

 

[vodekz]

Ok, I did a test with N560 powder and 140AB and the results are good.
140 AB, N560 59.5 gr and GM215 primer, Norma case. The velocity was all four shots on average 2980 FPS. Very impressive velocity. Accuracy 1.25 inch. Not bad. The temp was about 43F but windy. My next try will be 59 gr load with the same powder. I hope to get less then 1 inch accuracy. At 2950 FPS and 140AB this is a nice hunting deer load.


THIS load is good in my 22 inch Sako 85 rifle but might be too hot in other rifles.
Be careful.

Vodek

 

[hubcap]

Now that is 270 speed. Good for you.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Those are smoking Vodekz. That's approaching 7RemMag velocities.

OT3- I have 100 rds of 140 NPs I got when I found them mis-marked for $18 a box. Should have bought a dozen boxes. I have yet to try them out when I found out how well the NABs shot in that Federal load.

This Sportman 78 has shot numerous bullets moa or less. I bought it new in 1984( promotion to E-4!!) and put 60 rds through it in less than an hour on that first day. What did I know... Never introduced a copper cleaning agent to it till 5 years ago. It has harvested 1 to 4 deer a year since 1985. It ain't pretty but I have never gotten a better return on my money with any other investment.

 

[Oldtrader3]

My .270 is a Model 70, Pre 64, Winchester that I bought in about 1974. I had it restocked and have been using in since. I have probably killed 60 or so deer with it. All of them killed with 130 Partition bullet and 55.0 grains of IMR 4350 at 3060 fps. No drama there, boom-flop, one shot kills!