For as long as I've been reloading (1974), H4831 has been THE powder for the 270 Winchester. The caliber is, by far, my favorite for deer and antelope. My standard load that I have used in three different rifles is 60g in a Winchester case. I've used Nosler Partitions, Accubonds, and the 130g Barnes TTSX. However, after looking over recent loading manuals, it appears as though my old standard is giving up a good deal of performance in the interest of habit and nostalgia. SO.....are there other 270 fans active in the Forum and have you found any loads with the newer powders that you are using?

I use rl 26 with 145 eld-x.

I'm like you, I stick with what has always worked well in my rifles.

For me it's IMR 4350.

I'm also like you or was. In the last couple years I've switched to RL26. The velocities are substantially higher than H483. Roughly 175fps. . Accuracy is spot on s well. If you're interested I can post the recipe.

RL23 is the best powder for 270 Win with 140 gr bullets.

I've used H4831 for years. I've now got RL 23 and 26 that I'm going to play with (145eldx and some old Speer 150btsp), when time permits. I'd be interested in the success of others as well.

Not to hijack the thread but GT50 how does the RL23 work with 140gr bullets? I'm curious as that's all I use with the 270. I'm having great success with RL26 and 140gr bullets.

I just got done with an article on new powders and bullets for the .270. Reloder 26 works very well with 145-150 grain bullets, but with lighter bulles Alliant lists higher velocities with RL-16 than either 23 or 26. Got superb accuracy and high velocities using RL-16 with 130-140 grain bullets. But there are several other good new powders as well.

Should also note, for traditionalists, that there have been four versions of H4831 since the mil-surp stuff ran out in the mid-1970's. If you're continuing to use H4831, it is NOT the same powder you started with way back when.

Dang, 58.5 grains of H4831SC has been my huckleberry forever with 140 grain bullets. Guess I need to at least try some RL-16 and see what happens.

Absolutely, Lagerboy, hearing your experience with RL26 and your recipe would be great.

[quote=Mule Deer]I just got done with an article on new powders and bullets for the .270. Reloder 26 works very well with 145-150 grain bullets, but with lighter bulles Alliant lists higher velocities with RL-16 than either 23 or 26. Got superb accuracy and high velocities using RL-16 with 130-140 grain bullets. But there are several other good new powders as well/quote]

Sounds like there's a few I need to try with my 270. I prefer the 130g bullets over the 150's so RL16 and 23 could be possibilities. Is anyone using the Ramshot powders? I've had really good luck with Big Game in 7-08 and Magnum in my 300WM. I tried RL26 in the 300 and was pretty disappointed. Best group was maybe 1 1/2 to 2 inches and it smoked badly.

I'm able to get over 3200 fps with RL26 and 140 gr berger classic hunters in a 26" barrel. Thats pretty close to my 7mm Rem. Mag!
My best accuracy is around 3150 fps. This is with data sent to me by berger.

Look forward to seeing that article JB. Where will it be published?

I've been playing with R26/160PT, N560/150PT; R23/150NBT; Hunter/110TTSX and since my rifle has a long throat, I can seat out the 130 Hornady really long so use 62gr/H4831SC. I also got great results with the 130 Hornady/IMR 4350 55gr favorite. I like how these newer powders obtain faster speeds with the heavier bullets the best. I get 2930/160 and 2950/150. I'm only guessing on the 110TTSX but interpolating published speeds/loads, I'm calling it over 3300fps. I don't really care, I just know its accurate and have a case full of powder!

Following the

Following, any load data.

Empty Hopper, please share the Berger data with us! I'm sure several of us would like to see their guidance.

BB here is the recipe I developed using RL26. 61.5gr RL26
CCI 250 Primers
3.295 COL
Hornady 140gr BTSP
3115 fps
I started at 57.0gr and worked up to this point. It shoots the above load into less than 1 inch groups with no pressure signs. Good luck.

Never had luck with the old standbys (4831), however I love the RL26 results I’ve gotten with 130’s and 150’s. I haven’t tried RL 16 or 23, but will be looking for JB’s article.

My go to has been 59.5gr of H4831 with 130TTSX for about 3050fps. Could go higher but that load is very accurate in my M70FWT. With RL26 I get 3136fps with 143ELD-X at 60gr also very accurate.

The image they sent me is to large to post here and I can't figure out how to make the file size smaller on my phone.

This is the data they gave for reloder 26 and 140 gr. Berger Classic Hunter
Min. 55.5 gr. 2861 fps. Max 61.5 gr. 3195 fps. 103% fill ratio

There are other powders getting impressive velocity numbers with this bullet, but this is the fastest according to their data. I killed a Wyoming antelope with this combo last year at just over 200 yards. Of course it worked wonderfully.

140gr Berger Classic, CCI BR2, and 60gr H4831SC in Norma cases gets me 3,000 fps even in the 24" barrel of my Blaser K95.

I get 6-shot groups of less than a m.o.a up to 500 meters, the furthest I have tested them.

I get the same accuracy with Nosler's 140gr BT and Sp12 (Ramshot Magnum being its US version) at 3,040 fps. and better accuracy still with Berger 130gr Classic and H4831SC at 3,130 fps . My load with the 140gr Berger's is my favourite, though, as accuracy is plenty and its BC is the best of the three.

My model 70 5 digit with factory 24 inch barrel
145gr ELD-X
60.5gr of RL 26
FED 210
R-P Cases
avg velocity 3222 F.P.S
I measure base to the ogive and its 2.750
Velocity measured with a RCBS chronograph, set up 14 feet away.

Maybe it's my cheap chrono but it seems h4831 is getting slower over the yrs.

It's not your chrono. My current lot of H4831 is much slower than the previous.

Well I have been handloading the .270 wcf since the 70's - my favorite chambering.
Imo, you cannot beat some of the newer powders, RL 26 is fantastic with heavier jacketed bullets and lighter mono's.
It meters well, doesn't use up space and produces top speeds. I don't use the 4831's any longer.

+1

+2

Ramshot Hunter is a great powder in mine. Great velocity and accuracy.

My model 70 5 digit with factory 24 inch barrel
145gr ELD-X
60.5gr of RL 26
FED 210
R-P Cases
avg velocity 3222 F.P.S
I measure base to the ogive and its 2.750
Velocity measured with a RCBS chronograph, set up 14 feet away.
[/quote

NIce load.

Guess I'm the only one who reaches for a can of IMR 4064 or IMR 4895, and a 140 grain ballistic tip...

either one has been working just fine for accuracy for 6 or 7 decades.....

I initially got into 270s back in the very early 1970's. 4064 was in common use and noted for its accuracy.
It worked pretty well with all bullet weights, and I find myself surprised that it seems to be nearly forgotten for this use in todays world. I suspect many of us just had to try new and different powders, and/or got hooked on chasing the max velocity ghost.
I went thru many pounds of of 785, 4831, and 4831SC. Also mixed in there was a gallon jug of MR 3100, and trials with many others.
My constant over most of those decades has been the 130 gr Partition. While that is the bullet I usually hunt with, I have shot up a pile of most everything else available in the marketplace.
Buried in the collection are a bunch of 145 gr AFrames, over MR3100, that are seriously accurate, and make the 270 perform on bigger game like a 300Mag.
Ready for this fall is a good supply 130 gr Partitions and Etips over 4831SC. But right next to them are some 150 gr Partitions over RL26, you know, just in case.
Rational, economical thinking has never been my strong point.

I wish I had found the RL-16 years ago. It's great with the 130TTSX!

I loaded up some 150 Speer spitzers and Nosler partitions with R23 the last time I loaded for the 270 Win.

Since I just now really started to wring out a .270, I don't have any old time favorites, not like I do the .280 ( 139sp/55gr/IMR 4831) or 30-06 ( 165 or 168 anything/58gr H or IMR 4350) plus, this current .270 is the first one I've owned that shoots the heavier jacketed bullets so accurate. So I am having a ball with these newer powders, I'm just now learning their eccentricities. I would say that 9 out of 10 .270 users I have grilled in the past 30yrs out here in Utah like the 150gr bullet. The 130 users were handloaders who used partition or Barnes. I know that the majority of the elk killed during our rifle season are cows, spikes, younger rag horns. Very few monster bulls. If you see any magnums they are going to be 7mm Rem Mag, followed by the 300WM. I've only met a handful that use 338s and up. Since my 270 shoots the 160 partition ( 60gr R26) so well, I decided to use it on my cow elk hunt. If not now, when? right?

I am planning on tying the 110 TTSX & Accubond in my 270's. After playing with various loads with my .257 Wby shooting 100 TTSX bullets and my 7mm SAUM shooting 120 TTSX & 120 BT's the past 2 yrs.....There is something to be said for these lighter wt for caliber bullets when using a TTSX or GMX and at speeds over 3375 fps. It is basically a "center of mass" hold out to 400 yds and the TTSX & GMX bullets have been very effective at those speeds from 40 yds to 225 yds so far

Nailed it brother. What the hell is wrong with us? One shot per deer per tag. Why do I have 3 different bullets over various powders loaded in quantity? Because I can I guess. Rational economical thinking does not exist here.

The Tikka really likes the 110 over 4064. Pleasant to be around and accurate too. My daughter will carry the TTSX 110 in her 270 Win for Muledeer this fall.

I’ve always used IMR 4350, but you all are making me want to try RL-26.

I was very impressed with the 110TTSX and Hunter, and R23 with the 150 NBT.

Thanks for the "heads up" on Hunter. So far it is the most accurate and obtains the highest velocity in my 7mm SAUM with the 120 gr bullets

Well I’m depressed now. The 270 is my favorite and I still have about 10 lbs of surplus h4831 in the paper packages and earlier this year an old friend died and left me about 30 more pounds in the big tin container. Surely I don’t NEED to buy more powder and chase another another 150fps, or do I?


Fred

Defiantly not , find what your gun likes and “Go for it “

Haven't had any old school H4831 in years. You lucky dog.

I've been very happy with a healthy dollop of Hunter behind a 110 gr TTSX per the Barnes website/manual. When I step up to the 140 gr Accubond I'm still using IMR 4831 but I'm sure there are better choices if you're trying to get maximum performance. I've loaded the Accubond for black bears over bait so distance is limited and I'm not overly concerned with wringing it out.

I could get by with only R17 and R26 for all my 270s with bullets from 110-160. Contrary to what many say, R26 works splendidly with 130gr bullets as well and commonly provides top velocity(even over r16 for me). I'm just not a big fan of R16, I've tried it in many loads in multiple carts and do not get near the accuracy or spreads as R17. Grain for grain R17 provides less volume and more speed than R16, so it's a no brainer. I still use IMR4350 at times, but rarely use R22 or H4831 any longer in the 270. Those oldies are still great in the cartridge, but equal accuracy can be had at much greater speed than they provide.

IMR 4451 has caught my attention.
Fast, accurate, consistent velocity, burns really clean, very little brass left in barrel.
56 grains IMR 4451, 130TTSX, WLR primers, Win brass, 3150 fps from my Kimber Montana 24 inch barrel. Chronographed via. MagnetoSpeed
I see nothing that indicates pressure signs.

140 SST, 55gr of Hunter, CCI primer, BTO 2.660", average velocity 3030 out 24" TC Venture.
I did go up and got to 3100fps. but accuracy went away.
One night I accidentally made a box of 20 with 50.5 (not 55) using the 140s and it was very light recoil and 2800 Fps.

I hear the new H4831 is faster than the old surplus stuff that O'Connor used and made a standard for the 270Win. Does anybody have an educated guess or, preferably, actual data that would compare it to a replacement with a current powder? I've never had any of the old powder so my guess would be a SWAG at best.

I still use the RL-22. I know it's not the fastest, but it is accurate and dead critters don't know the difference.

I've run the gamut on 270 loads. R22 is slick with a 215m primer and a 150 partition but I've landed at 51.5g R17, with a fed 215 primer pushing a 150NBT for an honest 2900fps. This is out of a 21 inch barrel. Scary accurate in my rig.

I have been working on a 270 through most of the spring and summer tinkering with different powders and loads while working on other guns as well, my favorite load with this particular rifle is H4831sc with 140gr AB's. only clocks 2900 fps but last group of load development put 10 shots into 1/2".....I can live with that.

surprisingly to me the 2nd best load was with RL25 and by far the worst loads were with IMR4831, I have had great success with IMR4831 in other rifles but not this one

Hey Fred- with all that H4831, its time to start shooting some barrels out of a couple .270s!

Got my load picked for this season. 130gr AB over 59grs H4831sc. Rifle is a M70 Extreme Weather.

Hmmm. Got a jug of rl22 here doing nothing. Might have a purpose now.

RL22 is one of the first powders I reach for with our 270s. Great shooting and velocity.

My 4831sc is moving at the speed of smell according to my Labradar.

I have loaded for many 270’s and have recently been using R17 for 130 grain bullets. The manufacturer’s max is 54.0. I have had the best accuracy at 52.5-53.0. Velocities are around 3100.

The older IMR 4831 gave better accuracy and velocity than I ever got from H4831.

I was one of the first to try R26 with 150’s but had a few pressure excursions and stopped. I have stopped chasing the last 100fps.

Tried R26 with 130's and 150's and got ok accuracy but nothing I'm satisfied with. I had some older 140 Sierra HPBT gamekings that I tried with H4831SC and seems to be working. Loaded up a few and been testing at 300 yds and holding right at 1 moa or less. I think I'm going to try this load, bullet combo this year.

JB's article is available online: https://www.handloadermagazine.com/270-winchester-0

I tried it too, the thing I noticed with RL26 and the 270 with 150's is the speed doesn't increase much as you put more powder in, but it creates more smoke. In a pre 64 model 70 fwt, I easily managed 3,000+ fps, but found the best accuracy at 2,950 fps... I will always pick accuracy over blazing hot speeds. Never was one to try to push the envelope too far...

As always, you have to shoot it to know what your gun will do.

Go carefully in new territory.

I’ve been using RL23 with 150’s in a Tikka. Runs right around 2980 and seems to shoot every 150 I’ve tried really well.

RL26 works great with 130 Tipped Bear Claws at 3150 in my little P64 Featherweight.

In order to get the most out of RL-26 you will need a 26" barrel. I've seen slow powders "top out" in short barrels at level where long barrels will continue to add velocity.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ and it's fast enough; along with MRP. (2975 w/150's)

When those 2 came out & all the surplus 4831 dried up, I made the switch & have never looked back.

I'll try RL-26 & it may be a tad better, but other than added temp stability, the performance gain isn't really worth a lot of effort unless you have no powder supply of something else comparable on hand, like RL-22. or MRP.

JMHO

MM

My current .270 loads are-

130 Accubond, 56.0 gr IMR 4451 3100 fps +/- depending on barrel length

140 Hornady BTSP, 53.5 gr Reloder 16, 3050 fps +/- depending on which rifle

150 Partition, 60.5 gr Reloder 26, 3040 fps