I have had at least twelve 270’s built with best quality barrels and fitted by really great rifle builders. In a 22” barrel I have never gotten to 2900 in any 22” barrel with any of the 4831’s made since 1985. I was one of the first to work with R26 and with that powder could reach 3000.
With 130’s I have had the best luck with IMR4831 over H4350, R17, R22, IMR7828ssc. I haven’t tried R16 or HUNTER yet.
I have had a 25” and a 26” built but both were cut to 23” then 22.5” then 22”. Those long barrels were quite clumsy.
Rick,
As I pointed out in my post, RL-26 is not all that temperature resistant, either in heat or cold. I will gladly give up 100 fps (or even more) for consistent POI at various temperatures--and H4831 provides that. In my Jack O'Connor Tribute, which of course is a featherweight model on the post-1990 "classic action," 58.5 grains of H4831SC averages 2916 fps from the 22" barrel--without the slightest sign of high pressure. (Can open the bolt with my little finger even at 90 degrees.)
With RL-26 the muzzle velocity is higher--but varies more with temperature. In the same rifle point-of-impact changes 1.5 inches at 100 yards when shot at 70 and zero. This change in POI may not happen in other .270s, especially those with heavier barrels, such as the typical Remington 700. But I will gladly give up 100+ fps in muzzle velocity to obtain the same POI at typical Montana hunting temperatures. This partly because I've seen too many big game animals killed very quickly with the 150 Partition at even a lowly 2800 fps--including bull elk and moose.
The O'Connor Tribute is also one of the most accurate .270s I've ever owned, out of at least a dozen. But the most accurate was my first .270, a Remington 700 ADL, which regularly shot 3-shot groups around 1/2" at 100 yards with the 150 Hornady Spire Point--and the one time I shot it at 300 yards put three in 1-1/4". It weighed 8 pounds with scope, after I slimmed the stock down a little.
