I shot a Georgia Doe at 100yrds this past weekend. After a lot of testing this was my first kill with a round I made myself. The deer was facing me and seem to be getting nervous on the edge of a powerline. I put the crosshairs on the center of her chest and sent one her way. She never took a step. I went to clean her and found the bullet had exited her stomach, reentered her ham broke the bone, and exited again and was just barely sticking out the hide. Below are the two pieces I recovered. The small piece is 28gr and the large piece is 90gr for a total of 118gr. They were attached but came apart when I cut it from the hide. My question is from the photo below is this proper bullet expansion for a Partition? I loaded them over 42gr of IMR4064. It did the trick but this is not what I expected the bullet to look like. What some of you seasoned reloaders thoughts?
Newbie .277 140gr Partition Question
- Thread starter JohnD386
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DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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First, welcome to the forum, a repository of vital and arcane knowledge, depending upon which gun crank and/or curmudgeon answers. Seriously, it is a great group of guys. Your bullet looks very good considering the amount of muscle and tissue mass it penetrated. It acted pretty much like the Partition should act. You got an 84% weight retention, which is very good. The expansion looks about right. Congratulations on your first deer with a cartridge you rolled yourself.
- Nov 4, 2004
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JohnD386
Welcome to the forum.
You got plenty of penetration
It looks to me like the bullet turned around at some point and it caused the jacket petals to point forward.
JD338
Welcome to the forum.
You got plenty of penetration
It looks to me like the bullet turned around at some point and it caused the jacket petals to point forward.
JD338
gerry
Ammo Smith
- Mar 1, 2007
- 6,919
- 1,823
The bullet definitely tumbled which can easily happen in a big game animal, no need to be concerned. You definitely got full expansion before it tumbled, funny things sometimes happen.
bullet
Handloader
- Dec 26, 2007
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Remember, don't worry about the small piece of lead that came out when you dislodged the bullet. The front part of a Partition is not bonded. For all the details you gave us concerning the flight path of that Partition, you got what a Partition delivers not only in penetration, integrity of the bullet and weight retention, but you got the usual dead animal real quick. Congrats on the deer and welcome to the forum. :grin:
CatskillCrawler
Handloader
- Jul 30, 2011
- 1,205
- 4
Your load of 42.0 gr of IMR-4064 behind a 140 Partition gives a muzzle velocity from MY 22" barrel of 2625fps. A reasonably mild load. Between the bullet tumbling and your impact velocity, I would expect high weight retention and deep penetration like you experienced. It looks like everything worked well.
That is a weird looking bullet with the petals pushed forward like that. A good testament to the malleable but not brittle jacket on this bullet. For it to be bent in both directions and not snap off is impressive to me.
That is a weird looking bullet with the petals pushed forward like that. A good testament to the malleable but not brittle jacket on this bullet. For it to be bent in both directions and not snap off is impressive to me.
- Thread starter
- #8
CatskillCrawler
Handloader
- Jul 30, 2011
- 1,205
- 4
I've worked this bullet/powder combo to 46.0gr charge weight with no pressure signs and good accuracy out of my rifle. Velocity average was 2806fps at 46.0gr.
To answer your question, you need to ask yourself what you're looking for from this round. There isn't a deer that will not die from what you have already. You can also utilize the potential of the 270Win cartridge and get more velocity easily without risk. This increase will provide a flatter trajectory, more energy and a slight increase in recoil.
There are many who will say that you have a Porsche but are driving it like family sedan. Keep in mind, there are many dead game animals that have experienced a deadly encounter from running into the family sedan, i.e. 7x57, 6.5x55, 300Savage, etc...
I would work charge weights up in half grain increments to book max. Watch for pressure signs and find the most accurate and consistent load and enjoy. If the load you have now is the winner, don't look back. Other excellent powders which have proven to be consistent performers from a .270 Win are H-4831SC, IMR-4350 and IMR-4895.
Good Luck!
edit - i was a bit dyslexic when I typed -4350...
To answer your question, you need to ask yourself what you're looking for from this round. There isn't a deer that will not die from what you have already. You can also utilize the potential of the 270Win cartridge and get more velocity easily without risk. This increase will provide a flatter trajectory, more energy and a slight increase in recoil.
There are many who will say that you have a Porsche but are driving it like family sedan. Keep in mind, there are many dead game animals that have experienced a deadly encounter from running into the family sedan, i.e. 7x57, 6.5x55, 300Savage, etc...
I would work charge weights up in half grain increments to book max. Watch for pressure signs and find the most accurate and consistent load and enjoy. If the load you have now is the winner, don't look back. Other excellent powders which have proven to be consistent performers from a .270 Win are H-4831SC, IMR-4350 and IMR-4895.
Good Luck!
edit - i was a bit dyslexic when I typed -4350...
6mm Remington
Ammo Smith
- Feb 27, 2006
- 5,258
- 646
John I have to agree with these guys, that Partition did a great job considering the "path" it took! They are really good bullets as many here will attest to. I load for a friend and had great luck in his 270 with H4831SC. IMR4350 also looked to be a good one. Welcome.
David
David
bullet
Handloader
- Dec 26, 2007
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CatskillCrawler":3ec423kw said:
Yes, extremely well said, If the load you have is a winner, don't look back. Of course who am I to say that when I have a moderate load in my 7mm-08 that shoots 140gr Accubonds at 2798fps into a .225" three inch group and .269" nine shot group. Well, I did a lot of other load work and have decided to stick with my load that is a winner which dropped one doe, a five point and a good eight point this year. CatskillCrawler has given some good advice indeed. Enjoy and good shooting. :mrgreen:
- Thread starter
- #12
Thanks for all of the great advice. My 7mm-08 X Bolt, 257 Roberts & 243 WSSM A Bolt are my next projects. I plan on running Partitions in all of them also. I am very new to reloading and it blows my mind how much more accurate the rounds I make in the garage are compared to store bought ammo that is $30 plus a box. I have been able to get 1" groups @ 100yrds and thats with some bad shooting habits i'm working on correcting. Something rewarding about harvesting a animal with a round you made yourself. Its a shame the season ended in Georgia last Sunday. Can't wait to try my next batch on some deer. Thanks for all the info fellas.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,420
- 6,290
John,
It only gets better as you shoot your own cartridges and harvest game with what you've rolled. Of course, because you're testing, you will only become more proficient as you shoot more.
It only gets better as you shoot your own cartridges and harvest game with what you've rolled. Of course, because you're testing, you will only become more proficient as you shoot more.
As said it tumble. From the small piece of lead left I bet it had full expantion and than tumbled bring the pedals back up in stead of foldded back like you would expect. If not I would expect a large hunk of lead left up front.
I bet 2800-2850 fps would be easy with a 140gr and 2900 with the right powders.
I should ask hear, I just bought V-100 to load my first 270win/140gr AB's, has anyone used this powder in the 270win yet? I have loads of fed 210M primers and thats the plan.
I bet 2800-2850 fps would be easy with a 140gr and 2900 with the right powders.
I should ask hear, I just bought V-100 to load my first 270win/140gr AB's, has anyone used this powder in the 270win yet? I have loads of fed 210M primers and thats the plan.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,420
- 6,290
tjen,
HV100 is the propellant used with 140 grain PT in my 280. I get great velocity and wonderful accuracy. I have no doubt that it would work quite well in the 270.
HV100 is the propellant used with 140 grain PT in my 280. I get great velocity and wonderful accuracy. I have no doubt that it would work quite well in the 270.
First off, congrats on your first der with your home rolled ammo. Somehow, I think that deer will taste better just because you took it with your own ammo.
I don't shoot a .270 all that much but I have a few and I've found, at least with the ones I have that the .270 has been one of the easiest carridges to find a decently accurate load quickly.
FWIW, the most accurate factory ammo that I've found, again in my rifles is the Winchester 150 gr. Power Points. That ammo shoots one inch or less in my four .270 rifles. The worst is from the Ruger #1A at one incj average and the best from a Winchester M70 XTR I picked up cheap at a gun show. I bouht a box of the above named ammo to check out if the gun was sighted in as the seller said, It was and the worst 5 shot group was .75".
"There are many who will say that you have a Porsche but are driving it like family sedan. Keep in mind, there are many dead game animals that have experienced a deadly encounter from running into the family sedan, i.e. 7x57, 6.5x55, 300Savage, etc..."
I love that quote. I have a arifle with 18.5" barrel that will only shoot one load. It's in .308 Win. and the best it will do is 2550 FPS shooting the 165 gr. Speer Hot Core. I shot a deer with it at 250 yords as it faced me and like the OP, I found the bullet lodged against a back leg bone, breaking that bone. Retained weight was 65 percent of the original weight and perfectly mushroomed. Sometimes, methinks we've put too much emphasis on the great god velocity. I admit it could be necessary on some hunts where shots are known to be on the long side, but for the average deer hunt? In 57 years of deer hunting, only two der were shot at more than 150 yards. The one just mentioned and one back in 1973 at 427 paces. THat one was also taken with a .308 Win., a Remington 660 with 20" barrel and a stiff load using H335 and a 150 gr. Sierra Spitzer flat base. They didn't call them Pro-Hunters back them. I never did find out what that load as doing. No chronographs that were affordable back then. When I moved from Nevada to Arizona the binder with all my loading notes disappeared along with some other stuff. That's 20 some odd years of reloading data I'd worked up gone.
While I have .270 rifles, for some reason I haven't used them very much. I used one for a bit in the mid 70's but not again until I did an antelope hunt in 2009. Figuring I might need to reach out to touch the "goat" I worked up a stif load with the 150 gr. Sierra Game King and called it good. My shot? After a short half mile stalk I took my animal at 75 yards. I could have taken it with a 30-30 shooting cast bullets. The rifle used was the M70 XTR.
Paul B.
I don't shoot a .270 all that much but I have a few and I've found, at least with the ones I have that the .270 has been one of the easiest carridges to find a decently accurate load quickly.
FWIW, the most accurate factory ammo that I've found, again in my rifles is the Winchester 150 gr. Power Points. That ammo shoots one inch or less in my four .270 rifles. The worst is from the Ruger #1A at one incj average and the best from a Winchester M70 XTR I picked up cheap at a gun show. I bouht a box of the above named ammo to check out if the gun was sighted in as the seller said, It was and the worst 5 shot group was .75".
"There are many who will say that you have a Porsche but are driving it like family sedan. Keep in mind, there are many dead game animals that have experienced a deadly encounter from running into the family sedan, i.e. 7x57, 6.5x55, 300Savage, etc..."
I love that quote. I have a arifle with 18.5" barrel that will only shoot one load. It's in .308 Win. and the best it will do is 2550 FPS shooting the 165 gr. Speer Hot Core. I shot a deer with it at 250 yords as it faced me and like the OP, I found the bullet lodged against a back leg bone, breaking that bone. Retained weight was 65 percent of the original weight and perfectly mushroomed. Sometimes, methinks we've put too much emphasis on the great god velocity. I admit it could be necessary on some hunts where shots are known to be on the long side, but for the average deer hunt? In 57 years of deer hunting, only two der were shot at more than 150 yards. The one just mentioned and one back in 1973 at 427 paces. THat one was also taken with a .308 Win., a Remington 660 with 20" barrel and a stiff load using H335 and a 150 gr. Sierra Spitzer flat base. They didn't call them Pro-Hunters back them. I never did find out what that load as doing. No chronographs that were affordable back then. When I moved from Nevada to Arizona the binder with all my loading notes disappeared along with some other stuff. That's 20 some odd years of reloading data I'd worked up gone.
While I have .270 rifles, for some reason I haven't used them very much. I used one for a bit in the mid 70's but not again until I did an antelope hunt in 2009. Figuring I might need to reach out to touch the "goat" I worked up a stif load with the 150 gr. Sierra Game King and called it good. My shot? After a short half mile stalk I took my animal at 75 yards. I could have taken it with a 30-30 shooting cast bullets. The rifle used was the M70 XTR.
Paul B.
bullet
Handloader
- Dec 26, 2007
- 4,975
- 18
It is very important to note that if you reach factory or standard velocities with any powder you got there because the pressures that the powder, cartridge and chamber create were very close to SAAMI specs. Don't anyone think because you are getting above standard velocities that you have some supper dupper rifle or some supper dupper powder, you don't, you are pushing pressures above specs, plain and simple whether you think you have no pressure signs or not. Remember, the best tool outside of pressure gauges that you can use to help you stay safe is a Chrony, because when you get above the standard velocities using standard hunting bullets you are above recommended SAAMI pressures for that given cartridge. A couple of friends of mine and I have proven with pressure gauges that when you get up above standard velocities you have in essence exceeded by a little and sometimes a lot the recommend pressures for that cartridge.
Now your rifle might be doing fine with the hotter loads but you are still above standard pressures for that cartridge. You want something that goes fast, has a lot of velocity in a given caliber, then purchase a rifle chambered in the cartridge for that caliber that gives you the velocities without exceeding standard pressures. In fact, over the years I have found that some where around or a little blow standard SAAMI pressures is where I have found over 95% of the time my accurate load. Have I pushed cartridges? Yes!!! Many times in my life and especially when I was younger. Do I do that now? On occasion!!! Is it the best practice? NO!!! That is why for all my rifles I have over the last two years purposely developed loads that are accurate and just at or under standard velocities for all the cartridges I use. That also includes my 358Win pushing the 225gr AccuBond and by the way, when I did I even got better accuracy. I have decided if I need more I will buy a 35 Whelen.
Now your rifle might be doing fine with the hotter loads but you are still above standard pressures for that cartridge. You want something that goes fast, has a lot of velocity in a given caliber, then purchase a rifle chambered in the cartridge for that caliber that gives you the velocities without exceeding standard pressures. In fact, over the years I have found that some where around or a little blow standard SAAMI pressures is where I have found over 95% of the time my accurate load. Have I pushed cartridges? Yes!!! Many times in my life and especially when I was younger. Do I do that now? On occasion!!! Is it the best practice? NO!!! That is why for all my rifles I have over the last two years purposely developed loads that are accurate and just at or under standard velocities for all the cartridges I use. That also includes my 358Win pushing the 225gr AccuBond and by the way, when I did I even got better accuracy. I have decided if I need more I will buy a 35 Whelen.
