270 Winchester

[OldMan]

What would you do? I want a good 130 grain BT load and came up with the best group so far with 59 grains of RL-22. The problem is it chrono's only 2977 fps with a 22 inch barrel, no pressure signs, but this is over Nosler's maximum listed load. IMR-4350 went 3065 fps(55 gr.), H-4831 went 3045 fps (60 gr.), but the RL-22 has the best groups. Do you think I have a slow lot of powder and could jump up a half grain at a time or just stop here? I have a 5 lb can of this powder so it should last for a while before changing again if I find a good load.

 

[JD338]

I will take accuracy over speed every time.
What speeds and accuracy are you referring to?

JD338

 

[onesonek]

I will take accuracy over speed every time.
What speeds and accuracy are you referring to?

JD338

I was going to say the same,,,,accuracy first.

 

[OldMan]

I would like to see at least 3000 and under 1 m.o.a., but this gun is really finicky. I can't see settling for for over an inch at 100 yds with a 270!

 

[cloverleaf]

I will take accuracy over speed every time.
What speeds and accuracy are you referring to?

JD338

Whatever criter you are after wont know the difference between the velocoities you list and i doubt the difference in drift will be noticable. CL

 

[sask boy]

What is your moa with the RL22 if it is under 1" then I would stick at the 59gr.
You advised that your rifle was a little finicky so for 70fps I won't change it.
Accuracy is always first in my loads.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Oldtrader3]

My .270 Win with 130 Partitions and a 24 inch barrel gets about 3060 fps with 55 grs of IMR 4350. We are pretty close in velocity and I have killed many deer with this sub MOA load. Sounds like a pretty normal load to me. Just my $.02.

 

[sask boy]

Oldtrader3 that is my go to load. I have shot that for years out of both my BDL & CDL.
My speed is around 3050fps but .5 at a hundred.

Great load
Blessings,
Dan

 

[Oldtrader3]

Dan, I got that load out of a Col. Nonte book, I think, too many moons ago. Never saw any reason to change except to BR2 primers.
Charlie

 

[Bruce Mc]

You have a good load with moderate velocity and no pressure signs. Reloder 22 can vary a bit from lot to lot. Reloder 22 is also a tad temperature sensative. That 2976 fps could become 3050 fps on a hot day. I've experienced these variations with my 7mm rem. I tried Reloder 22 with 130gr bullets and could never get a good load, same trouble as you're having. Ho Hum velocity. BUT! Reloder 22 smokes with a 150 gr bullet and its my go to load with a 150 BT and a muzzle velocity of 2950 fps out of a 22" model 700. And to answer your question, I'd try a modest increase in powder just to see what happens. If you're worried about the load being over the 59 gr max for the load listing you were going from, I believe a quick load that was posted on the site a while ago showed the max of Reloder 22 to be a bit higher than 59 grs. I'd just be very observant of pressure signs and go slowly. But I like to squeeze every bit of velocity I can get out of my hunting rifles. I want a load that shoots small groups and is as fast as the rifle/cartridge combo is capable of shooting.

 

[SJB358]

You have a good load with moderate velocity and no pressure signs. Reloder 22 can vary a bit from lot to lot. Reloder 22 is also a tad temperature sensative. That 2976 fps could become 3050 fps on a hot day. I've experienced these variations with my 7mm rem. I tried Reloder 22 with 130gr bullets and could never get a good load, same trouble as you're having. Ho Hum velocity. BUT! Reloder 22 smokes with a 150 gr bullet and its my go to load with a 150 BT and a muzzle velocity of 2950 fps out of a 22" model 700. And to answer your question, I'd try a modest increase in powder just to see what happens. If you're worried about the load being over the 59 gr max for the load listing you were going from, I believe a quick load that was posted on the site a while ago showed the max of Reloder 22 to be a bit higher than 59 grs. I'd just be very observant of pressure signs and go slowly. But I like to squeeze every bit of velocity I can get out of my hunting rifles. I want a load that shoots small groups and is as fast as the rifle/cartridge combo is capable of shooting.

I am with Bruce on this one. Loading carefully will maximize it for you. Then again, your speeds could just be the way the Chrono is set up too. I am a fan of RL22. Works really well with the heavier bullets as well.

 

[ROVERT]

If you're not comfortable going over book max, then I certainly see no need to do it. You're getting adequate velocity and if the accuracy is there you should be fine. That said, the book maxes are really an approximation, usually a conservative one. I use a Hornady manual primarily and I believe the max for RL-22 and a 130 is about 61.2 grains (that's from memory, so it would have to be confirmed). If you know how to watch carefully for any pressure signs, you can safely stray a bit from the book. Some people have been kind enough to run QuickLoad for me on a few occasions and it has proven to be a very valuable tool. I really do need to invest in it one of these days.

RL-22 is launching 130 BTs at a very good velocity from my 24" 270. I am closer to the Hornady max, though.

 

[1Shot]

For around 25 years of hand loading and hunting I did not know the velocity of any load that I was shooting because I did not have a chrno. Thing is all the game I shot and killed did not know the velocity either and it seemed not to matter to them because they were DEAD. 50 fps or is not going to make one hill of beans difference. Like has been said your chrno could be off by that much depending on how it is set up the conditions of the clouds etc. The temperature you were shooting in could make that much difference. If you use another lot # of powder it could change your velocity. If you are shooting bug holes don't worry about it. Just go hunting. :mrgreen:

 

[Oldtrader3]

Me also, I was mostly shooting somewhat in the dark until two year ago when I finally bought a Pro Chrony F-1, at least that was the case with large expansion ratio magnum cases. The Chrony changed the game on my handloads for these magnum calibers and lead me to the solutions which I needed.

I must say that the standard cartridges which I shoot did nto benefit as much from the Chrony, except the .280 Rem A-bolt with which I was able to develop a 160 gr Partition load yielding 3000 fps from a 22 inch barreled Browning Medallion (my grandson's rifle now). The other (.30-06, .270 etc, .243 stc.) were loads which I have used for nearly 50 years.

The 7mm Rem Mag and the .340 Weatherby were the two magnum calibers which were most benefitted by using the Chrony data backing up final load development. This testing certainly more than justified the expense and grouping tests of all those 160gr (.284) and 225 gr (.338) Partitions to give me consistant loads that are outstandingly accurate. Give credit where it is due.

 

[PJGunner]

For around 25 years of hand loading and hunting I did not know the velocity of any load that I was shooting because I did not have a chrno. Thing is all the game I shot and killed did not know the velocity either and it seemed not to matter to them because they were DEAD. 50 fps or is not going to make one hill of beans difference. Like has been said your chrno could be off by that much depending on how it is set up the conditions of the clouds etc. The temperature you were shooting in could make that much difference. If you use another lot # of powder it could change your velocity. If you are shooting bug holes don't worry about it. Just go hunting. :mrgreen:

Spot on. I was loading ammo a lot longer than 25 years before I bought a chronograph. Animals died anyway. One of my deadliest rifles is a Ruger M77 RSI with 18.5" barrel. it only shoots one load accurately, that is if one calls 1.5" accurate. :shock: Nothing else will come close and it took me two years to find that load. velocity? A whole whopping 2550 FPS with a 165 gr. bullet from a .308 Winchester. Every deer I've shot with that rifle regardless if he ws 35 feet from the muzzle or 250 yards which was the longest shot taken with that rifle has simply laid down and died.
My point being, you do not need sub-MOA accuracy to kill deer. Bragging rights yes but necessary for big game? Hell no! I have some rifles that shoot tiny groups but they'e not the end all, be all for hunting deer and elk. hen I first started hunting, a two inch rifle was something to tell about in song and atory. Now we don't even consider them worth for anything.
My pet load for the .270 is the 150 gr. Sierra Game King or Nosler Partition depending on what I'm hunting. Velocity is 2930 FPS using a now long discontinued powder. I haven't a clue what that rifle will do with 130 gr. bullets as I do not use them. The maangle up too much good eating meat.
Paul B.

 

[pre6422hornet]

I know it isn't the powder you have on hand, but my go to 130 anything load is 49.5 of IMR 4064. Jack O'Connor claimed this load was accurate in any .270 he ever put it through, and I have to agree that any .270 with any 130 gr bullet in this combo has been sub MOA. Whether it was a Partition or a BT. Flat shooting. I have no idea of speed as I have never shot through a chrono, but he claimed it was around 3000. I have cases going on their 11 or 12th reloading with this combo ( neck size only).

I also had very good results with IMR 4831 with 130's as well, but I don't know that one off the top of my head.

 

[OldMan]

Thanks all, I chrongraphed all the loads listed at the same time and the 4350 seemed a little high, the 4831 right on and the RL-22 a little slow. Oehler 35 at 60 degrees F. The H-4831SC is the extreme stuff and is a wierd green-brown color, is that normal? All of my H-4831 from years past was black!

 

[gerry]

Thanks all, I chrongraphed all the loads listed at the same time and the 4350 seemed a little high, the 4831 right on and the RL-22 a little slow. Oehler 35 at 60 degrees F. The H-4831SC is the extreme stuff and is a wierd green-brown color, is that normal? All of my H-4831 from years past was black!

My Hodgdon powders look the same so you should be just fine.

 

[tjen]

Hodgdon's stick powders are greenish I suspect because they do not use graphite to control the burn rate. I use H322, Benchmark, H4895, Varget and they are very clean to boot. Lilgun is black as is AA1680, AA2230, AA2495, V-100 and TAC.

I need to load my 270win work up loads I choose Hodgdons V100 hybred.Its sits between H4350 & H4831 With a 140gr PT/AB I am hoping for 2900fps from my 22" barrel, but an accurate 2850fps will work fine. I will take accuracy, velocity ant much good if the bullet misses the mark. And case life is nice to have as well.

 

[tecumseh]

I will take accuracy over speed every time.
What speeds and accuracy are you referring to?

JD338

What he said!