Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Best powder for the 270 Win??

I have done a good bit of reloading but the 270 Win is relatively new to me. Which would be the best powder to start with? I have thought of using the Barnes 130 gr TSX but the more I use Speer bullets the more I like them (would be using the 130 gr BTSP).

Also has anyone used RL-15 in the 270 and had good results?

H-4831, any of the 4350s, RL 19 or 22, even H-1000 and IMR-7828.

MagPro gives top velocities per their data with a 150 gr bullet, but I haven't tried it.

Would think that RL15 is not well matched to a 130 gr bullet in the 270. Calif Hunter provides a pretty good list. I am having very good luck with the short cut version of H4831, top notch velocity & great accuracy.
The Speer bullets will do just fine, tho' the TSX is an impressively accurate bullet in both of my 270's.

You do know the BTSP Speers are not Hot Cores and are pretty soft, right?

With 130 grain bullets 55 gr. IMR4350 and 60 gr. H4831 are classics. Of course work up carefully, you know the drill.

WyoJoe-a best doesn't exist IMO but there are some really good choices that continually float to the top of the heap. R22, H4831 and either IMR4350 or H4350.

As for the question about R15 I'd use it with the 90's-110's but most likely not for the 130's.

Good luck to ya

Dober

H4831 and RL 22 are also tops in my book.

H4831 (and SC) or H4350 will get you where you want to be. R22 works but took me longer to get a good load. There is a lot of collective experience to draw from with the 4831 and 4350 to get you up and running quick.

H4831 is the classic load with close to 60 grains for 130s but I had better results with 54gr of imr 4350. I think that is the charge but better check it. I also remember maybe Mule Deer writing that that was a load winchester used in their factory loads for quite some time.

55.5 of H4831 and a Sierra 150 BTSP was 2700fps and shot way less than an inch .

H4831SC is the first powder I grab for .270. Never felt the need to look elsewhere.

Looks like H4831 is where I start.

Joe:
I use 57 gr. of Rldr-22 in my .270 Win. but this is with 150 Partitions. Afraid I don't use 130's in it. Maybe this'll give you something to think about tho.
Bear in Fairbanks

Ramshot hunter also works good.

I'm running 140 gr AB's over 57.5 gr of 4831

for 130 grain bullets H4831SC or RL22. Near Max on RL22 59.5 grains works best for my gun, 57 IIRC on the H4831SC. I see RL15 as more of a .308 winchester powder.

H4831 has always given me the best accuracy from 270 Wins. R22 has given the best velocity and descent accuracy as well.

Good Luck

loder

I use them in my .243 (85 gr for deer & prairie dogs) & my .375 (270 gr for deer & antelope). I am quite pleased with them so far.

Good deal. My father popped a lot of deer with the .308" Speer boat tails, 150 grains from a 30-06 and 165 grains from a 300 Winchester. He pretty much used those and their Sierra counterparts for a long stretch and never needed more than one per deer.

That was my last antelope. Took her in the chest as she was looking at me from about 300 yards. Hit her with the 270 gr in the .375. Bang, flop!

I think H4831 is generally considered "The .270 Powder". R-22, R-19, N160, N165, H4350, etc, etc.

Beretta Mato 270 Winchester 200yds:




Sako Finnlite 270 Winchester ( 20 7/8" barrel) 300 yds:






Several powders work well with the 270 winchester. H4831 is certainly the "classic" powder but I've been having great luck with RL-22 and prefer it to several others I've tried............................DJ

RL15 will work very well if you want very low recoil and about 2850 or so with the 130 grain bullets. It works very well with the new 110's. For highest velocity with the 130's go with H4831sc Extreme first and then try RL22. I prefer the temperature stability of H4831sc Extreme Series so it is always my first choice. It also works well with the 140's and 150's.

+1

Altho H4831
Winchester casings
CCI 200's or Winchester 120's
and Speer, Hornady or Sierra flatbase 130's always worked well when first exploring a load and and new-rifle accuracy-potential.

I later learned to really like Nosler and Hornady 140's as an all-around weight.

BTW, Nosler 150-Partitions penetrate every bit as well as .30 cal 180-Partitions - for elk!

Magpro gave me 3200 fps using a 130 TSX or Sierra GK and a couple of one hole three shot groups.

OK here is someone else that mentions RL22 and temperature stability! I have a great max load of RL22 + 130 Nosler AB load but was worried about temp stability! Regards the 110 grain bullet and RL15, I cannot see the advantage in that load.

Prdator did a test with RL-22 and temperature stability. It was as stable as any other powder in his test. Early lots of RL-22 were slightly more energetic also. I think that they tweaked the powder and made it more temp stable. I wouldn't worry about it............................DJ

I use RL22 and H4831(standard). If a 270 does not shoot with one of those,the rifle is unlikely to do well with much of anything IME.Other powders that have done very well are 7828 and RL25.Magpro was accurate as well.

The RL 15 load is a good and very useable if a guy is into making the 270 a 7x57 or 7/08,or wants 2900-3000 fps with a 130 and less muzzle blast.

IIRC,Jack O'Connor's early hunting with the 270(including moose and grizzly) was done with 49.5 of 4064 and 130 gr bullets.RL 15 gives similar results,no doubt.

I have had excellent results with H-1000. H-1000 has given very very consistent loads in the 270, 300 Win, and 338 Lapua

Good choice, propably won't have to look any farther ..

Bill

H4831 is synonymous with the .270W, like bread and butter! Bacon and eggs!

But go with the shortcut version (H4831SC), as it meters quite well!

I have gotten a little better velocity and accuracy with 130s with IMR 4831 in the .270s I have loaded for over than H4831 or the either of the 4350s. But they are all well suited to the cartridge.

280, No doubt they are the classics for the venerable round.But there are others up to the task.

I've been burning H4895 (on my 3rd 8lb jug) in one of my rifles.

IMR 4064 has been a top performer in the accuracy dept. in another.

I have used IMR4831 but the pressure jumped when I used it at 90 degrees on an antelope hunt so I dc'd it. Same with RL22. You can load H4831 sc E to the max and not have to worry if it is hot outside. The RL15/4895 load is great for youngsters and others who don't like recoil. Good option for those who neither need nor want max vel. That load beats or equals the 257 and 7-08 and has very low recoil. When I was 12 the oldtimers used 4064 with the 130's.

Joe,

IMO, RL15 is too fast........for me, I've had best results with Norma MRP, RL22 & H4831, in that order with 130 & 150 grain bullets.

MM

Prior to the introduction of the old 4831, 4064 was the slowest powder available to the cannister trade.

It's stil a good but not common choice. As with other things in our lives 4064 has fallen to others best suited for the application.

I have a supply of the old army surplus 4831 (also know as 4350 DATA)and its the stuff that O'Connor used for those awesome velocities. Nothing today can compete with it except perhaps the new "enhanced" factory ammo....

H-4831, IMR-4831, RL-22 are all good powders and IMR-4064 is still a great powder in the .270. it is mild of recoil, muzzle blast, and vel. is right up there.

I am thinking about that 110 grain load + RL15. I guess I always thought the 130 - H4831 load was a light kicker, maybe when I am 20 years older I will change again, but man it seems like a pussycat after I shoot a light 300WSM with 180s near 2900 fps.

Ray, I remember my dad, back in the 50s, along with a couple of buddies buying the old 4831 in 100lb. lots at a time.

Slow ????? just fll an '06 case up to the mouth and go shootin'.

I will go along with the others that said H4831 (I prefer short cut) is the powder of choice for the .270. It works exceptionally well with 130s-150s and is certainly a good place to start. I have had good luck with other powders, notabley RL19, RL22, IMR 4831, Ramshot Hunter, and Accurate Magpro. Never tried RL15 as I think it is a bit fast for anything but light bullets in the .270.

Lou

I use IMR 4350 powder and a Barnes 130 bullet

The wheat found in Egyptian pyramids that is reportedly viable has nothing on this thread!

Hanco is resurrecting some old threads!

That's OK some missed it the first time maybe.

A whole pile work....from 4064 to RL25 and similar. The new slow burners raise new possibilities.

Recently I have used H 4831, 7828,and RL22...mostly because I have a lot of all three to burn through.

I like RL-22 & Norma MRP best & they are essentially interchangeable, but RL-19, 4350, 4831, 7828 & WW-780 are all very good too.

I wouldn't feel bad having to use any of them.

MM

Hunter meters really well and works for me with the 130gr TTSX. H4831sc works well with the 140gr Accubond.

Magnum

Can't go wrong with H4831...it's worked well many times. Recently RL-17 made 130s sing in my 270. IMR4451, RL23, and RL-16 all look quite promising with 130s, but I haven't been able to play with these yet.

Frankly, the 270 is generally not powder fussy.

I don't own a 270, but several friends do and I load for them.

Every time one of them waik in with a new one, I start necking down GI brass, prime them with CCI 250's, pick an accurate 130 gr boat tail, and add H4831 until I see 3100 on the Chrony. somewhere between 57 and 61 gr of powder.

Yes, I should watch the dates on posts a bit better. But then the 270 and 4831 is ageless, even if it is gay.

Pretty much the only powder I have ever tried is H4831sc.


IMR 4451 sounds like an interesting choice.

I haven't tried any of the newer powders, but 2925 fps with RL-22 and a 150 gr partition landing consistently under an inch is hard for me to wanna fudd with!

Gunner I use Rl22 and H4831 and the animals keep falling down.....

I still run H4831 in my one remaining .270, but have run Hunter and Magnum in some with fine results. My wife used Hunter with 140 TSX's when she still hunted with a NULA in .270 Winchester and it worked great, but then she switched to a NULA in .257 Roberts (it also works great with Hunter and the 100 TTSX).

Gave up on RL-22 for my own hunting here in Montana years ago because it performed so poorly in cold weather, but for hunters who don't have to deal with temperature extremes it's outstanding.

Tried IMR7977 because Hodgdon's data shows it producing somewhat more velocity with 150's in the .270, but it didn't in my rifle, and the maximum load COMPLETELY filled the case.

Am gonna try RL-26 next for the same reason, and see if it beats H4831....

Mule Deer please keep us posted on the R-26 results. I just started working with R-26 and the 140 Hornaday BTSP. Looks promising so far. I stopped at 61 grains and right at 3100 fps in a 24" barrel. If it proves to be accurate it should be a good all around deer load.

Hard to argue with H4831SC in the few I have shot. Out of that and have IMR4451 on hand in quantity. May try it with some 130 partitions. Anyone else used IMR4451 yet?

Hard, and staying down too. much to the chagrin of some campfire members, I love my 270's, they are some hard killing sob's.

I'm too old to change - H4831SC in 8# kegs - for the duration. It minimizes "powder roulette" in these times of sporadic shortages and who knows what in the future.

There is indeed A LOT to be said for simplified simplicity in uncertain times BW.


In any other case, the extra 50 fps loss or so will never be questioned by any game animal so hit, I don't think they're gonna care!

Anyone tried the new IMR 4451? I just loaded a few, but haven't had time to try them out at the range.....

Initial work with the 140 gr Sierra HPBT gave decent results but I haven't done too much experimenting with it since. I don't really want to load bullets lighter than 140 gr but I bet it works great with lighter bullets.

The Hogden site shows loads from 52.6gr to 56.0gr with IMR4451 and 130gr bullets. I loaded from 54.0 to 56.0 in .5gr increments with 3.30 OAL and 130gr TTSX and shot them with a M70FWT. MV is 15ft from the muzzle.
54.0 3005fps 1 1/2 INCH GROUP
54.5 3019fps 2"
55.0 3041fps 1 5/8"
55.5 3070fps 1 3/8" 5Sd
56.0 3075fps 2 1/4"
Not quite as good as the old H4831 in this rifle but tweaking things around 55.5gr would probably yield some accuracy improvements. The new powder didn't meter significantly better than 4831 but trickling every load is not a big deal as much as the 270 is shot.
I wouldn't think twice about loading up 55.5gr and going hunting.

H4831 for the win.

Put a fork in it.

H-4831 is darn good with 130's and 150's in my accumark. VV N-560 is fantastic with 130's

Good luck and shoot straight

Bob

I would really like to hear reloder 26 results for the .270 wwin.On paper it looks very good with the heavier bullets.I did contact Alliant for data on 25&26 and the company told me rl 26 should be more temperature stable than rl 25.150 nosler partitions3000 fps+ is interesting if it is as accurate as it is fast.Anybody?

Nosler 150gr PT
55grs H4831
W-W case
WLR primer
3.320" OAL
2829fps (24" barrel)

boomer, that looks great. Max load according to the Nosler manual. I may just have to try that with the 150gr. partitions I have on hand. I've been itching to go shooting, this may just give me an excuse!!!

Woe 8 year leap on this thread.

Anyway rl22 works best in my pre 64 fwt using 130 ttsx's

I am not a 270 guy. But have owned 2. And did kill deer with 3 different rifles. My good bud uses one regularly. So did his dad, before he passed. I load rounds for a 270 now. But don't use one.

Years ago I would have said R-22. Till he figured out when the thermometer plummeted a good bit, so did POI. Now it is 4831sc...

Since it's been bumped up, the new RL-16 looks promising. If it lives up to the velocity, temp stability, and copper fouling reduction, I would think it's tough to beat running monos.

My biggest ? is temp stability. I have a hard time accepting a RL powder as having any.

I use mostly H4831 unless I run into one of those 270's that seems to want a dose of nitro to tighten groups,in which case I use RL22. I will do that until I run out.

I have one of those 270's right now. It has a longish throat and does not like H4831 like my other ones do, but loves RL22 and 130 Nosler Partitions. I killed two bucks with it last year.

Temp stability aficionados will have to forgive me for my ambivalence since I have killed quite a few mule deer and whitetails in temps from the 70's down to 25 below zero using RL22 without a hiccup. Just lucky I guess.

I have loaded the case with RL25,7828, H4350, IMR4350 IMR4831,4064,RL15, H4831 ( WW II, Scottish stuff, and the present stuff). Which one works "best" depends on the rifle.

I wish I could say, after 40 years of loading the cartridge that any of these newer,miracle powders show any real ,material improvement over what I was using 30-40 years ago but in reality I have not seen it....other than some rifles preferring one powder over another in accuracy or a bump of 50-60 fps in velocity.

I am not afraid of the RL series since Ive killed BG animals continent wide with their products. I think some of the comments on here about RL 22 and others are pretty funny. The powder is similar to things like MRP, Norma 205,etc and I have noticed how much velocity it will lose in temp swings varies a lot depending on the cartridges.

I swear sometimes people look for problems because they read about it on places like this. I have seen more variation lot to lot with supposedly "temp stable "powders than I have temp swings but no one ever talks about that.

I like the 270 because its boring and I hate getting hung up on ballistic nuances.Just stuff it with your favorite powder, worry more about loading a decent hunting bullet, and go kill stuff.

If you miss because your powder changed your POI in the middle of a hunt, it's likely your own fault. Frankly I never heard of such a thing.

I started with IMR-4064 then tried IMR-4831.

There are several that work well,,have not tried any of the newer powders yet because the older ones that i have work.

I also have never been one to buy into the "temp. sensitive" thing much, if at all. I just know that he came to not like the R- 22 so I started loading the short cut for him instead.

My solution has always been to sight in my hunting rifles under the temps in which they will be used. Problem solved. I have been preaching that for YEARS now. I still burn plenty of R-15 and R-7 in cold temps. It has never been a problem.

It is my opinion, that if anything, IMR 4831 is more temp sensitive than R-22. But 4831 sc is better. According to ES figures on my chrony any way. Again, sight rifle in under hunting temps, and it is a non issue.

I do try to use a temp stable powder for dedicated target rigs that may be used in a variety of temps, but that is another story....

H4831 here....

Imr 4350

I've been playing with Re26 in my .280, and it's looking very promising. It makes velocity like crazy with 150 Partitions. It oughta work just as well in the .270.

It does....

I only use that because it's all I could find for a long time around here...

H4831 for me as well..

That always has and always will be a damn good 270 powder. Now that it's back on the shelves, it's time to stock up!!!!

I like the way you think!

southwind I know temp stability is important for very long range shooting but I wonder how many who complain about it are truly affected by it.

I have used RL22 in various 270, 7mm, and 30 caliber cartridges and shoot those rifles from summer heat to temps from 0-20 degrees, mostly here on my range and have not seen these problems. How much velocity are people losing in the "cold"? 50? 150? 250 fps?

OTOH last year a new lot of H1000 showed 100 fps less velocity than my old lot with the same charges. Fortunately I had some ammo still loaded with the old lot with me so checked it immediately.

Years back I noticed IMR4831 lost about 120 fps in the 7 Rem Mag with 140 gr bullets in cold temps but almost nothing in the 270 winchester. i still killed everything everywhere with that old 7 mag.

What really cracks me up are guys worrying about temp stability in going from 80 degrees in the summer to 30-40 in the fall......30-40 does not qualify as "cold" anywhere.....LOL. Thats just normal season to season transition.

I don't go outside unless it's at least 70!

I have hunted some pretty wide temperature ranges from sub zero up to 80F with no ill effects. I know that doesn't constitute a test but rather just my experience.

For the sake of discussion lets assume on the high side I get a 100 fps swing in velocity. For practical hunting situations that would be a difference of 1 1/4" @ 400 on your point of impact. I based that on a 270 load at 3000 fps using a 130 grain bullet. That's about a .30 moa difference.

The overwhelming majority of hunters will never know the difference.

Most accurate powder for me is Norma MRP. I shoot
a lot of 150gr Partitions plus 140gr Accubonds. I
tried RL26 speed was very fast but not as accurate as MRP.
Susperformance was the most accurate load with 140gr
Accubonds.

It sure looks like RL 26 is the newest/best Powder for 150's.When my shoulder heals (from surgery)I will be burning a pound or two.