Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Help with .270 Win loads - beginner

I'm dipping my toe into reloading. I'm very much a data driven guy. Here's my data:

- '05 production Ruger MKII M77 stainless, sporter, 22"
- seeking load/component recommendations for 130gr hunting round
- unsure of bbl twist (1/10?)
- fewer than 100 rds through this rifle. Hasn't been used in years.
- Nosler partition BT 130gr loads suck
- Federal blue box 130gr and 150gr did well enough

I have about 80 pieces of once-fired federal brass. I plan on hunting whitetail out to 700 yards (a guy can dream...). I'm used to killing deer with .308 and .243 so a .270 is probably overkill.

I understand that a .270 is finicky depending on the rifle/bullet/twist/bbl/powder

I'm especially curious in hearing from guys with the same/similar rifle.

Thanks all!!

700 yards, probably will want to try some Bergers, or maybe the new Hornady ELD-x 145 grain. I'm getting great results with the Berger 140 grain VLD in my Browning A Bolt. My original load was 58 grains H4831 for 2,850 fps. But now I'm using 61.2 grains RL26 for 3100 fps. Great accuracy with both loads, but I never tried them beyond 300 yards.

Welcome to reloading. I've been doing it for a mere 59 yrs. First of all the .270 is not known as a finicky to load cartridge. What's more, loading data is found every where. So, just follow the basic reloading steps, and you'll do fine.
There are a few things you really need to avoid. First and for most, do not start with any listed maximum load, even if you are using identical components. I've ignored this rule twice, and had the primers blown right out of the cartridge case..... I've seen worse, BTW.
Second, rifles are individuals. No two rifles will perform quite the same with the same ammo. They may, for instance, be nearly as accurate with the same load, but the velocity will not be the same. Or vice versa. One of the cool things about reloading is that we can tailor out ammo to get the best performance from our rifles.
What I do when working up loads for a new hunting rifle is look and see which powders give me the best velocities with a given bullet. BTW, what work best with one bullet may or may not do the same with a different bullet of the same weight.
Then I get an average from several sources as to what they consider to be the maximum charge for that weight bullet. I then start at least 5%, even 10% under that charge weight. In something like the .270, I will load four rounds with the starting charge, and then add one grain to another four rounds and so on until I'm at, or near the maximum listed for that bullet. If I'm using cases that are heavier than those listed for the data I'm using, I stop one to two grains under the listed maximum charge.
If I'm getting good groups at or near the maximum charge, I then load some test round at one grain intervals up to the point where I get some sort of pressure indications on a warm, 85 degree or warmer, day. Anything at all in the way of pressure signs means I must stay at least 5%, or more below that point.
Last of all, I test to see how my ammo flies down range compared to factory loads. If it does at least as well, and it's accurate, I hunt that load. E

Like Oheremicus said the 270 is not known to be a finicky loader. Do you have any components yet? I would check out the data on Hodgdon's site, Nosler's and most of the other bullet and powder manufacturer's site. Always double check loads you read on the internet against manufactures load data, there are typo's, forgotten and best memory of what the loads worked and misunderstanding of what cartridge is being discussed etc not to mention stupid people.

The most common load you will here for the 270 is the classic 60 grains of H4831 with a 130 grain bullet. I have had a little better luck with 54-55 grains of IMR 4350 with 130 grain bullets. This ended up being one of the "loads that work" in John Barnes (Mule Deer) articles about loads that work in a variety of rifles for various cartridges. With many new powders that are out now IMR 4350 is being outperfomed by similar burn rated newer powders. My suggestion would be the 130 Barnes ttsx but for whitetail most any 130 grain bullet will work great. Western Powder's Hunter I believe is the one close to 4350 and would work great with it if you can find it. The 140 grain accubond is a bullet that is very popular for the 270 as well.

Since you mentioned long range performance check out Alliant's RL26 and 150 grain bullets. 60 grains of this (working up to it like the above post described) gets alot of performance out of the 150 grain bullets pushing them close to 3100 fps. I think the powder would work well for the 140 class bullets like the mentioned Berger and the new Hornady eldx.

Another option is trying the 110 TTSX or maybe the accubond version, they shoot fast and flat with less recoil and will still work out great for whitetails. My son was shooting them over a close to max load of Varget out of his Tikka.

Slim
Good info above.
When starting out handloading, I recommend picking up a couple different old (cheap) reloading books at gun shows.
Read them and you will learn some things you should know and different makers will have different points they
focus on.
My R77 tanger in 270 shoots 130s and 150s to similar poi.
You may want to float the barrel. You can do this simply by placing a credit card shim under the action and making
sure the barrel does not touch the for end stock anywhere.
I currently and using RL 17 for 130s and RL 22 for 150s.
Been through the IMRs and Hodgens and ended up happy with RL powders.

If your gun won't shoot 150BTs with 55.5 grains of RL22 well, you have a problem.
Just my two cents.
Tim

I really appreciate the input, gentlemen.

Frankly, 270 seems a bit overkill for deer, but I want to make use of this gun and it's what I have available to hunt around here. The reason I was thinking 130gr is that my other hunting rifle is a .308 that pushes a 155gr Lapua scenar 2870 fps with great consistency (another member here helped me cook up the load and I'm forever in his debt.) Loading up a 150gr or larger in .270 with similar velocity (and slightly better BC) seems like needless duplication. Figured I'd aim for a lighter faster bullet with my 270 because I'm already working with a smaller diameter projectile and more powder than my .308 load.

I've come across a few guys here and there claiming incredible velocity using RL26 behind a 160gr. Is it safe/wise to use RL26 with 130 to 145gr?

Recently got to shoot a 257 Wby Mag loaded with 100gr TTSX averaging 3,950 FPS. Gee whiz was that fun. Recoil was very manageable. I wonder what the .270 would be like with a 110gr. Any concerns?

Last Question first I use RL26 mostly with 150gr Nosler Partitions, but it also works for me with 140gr Accubonds. I use RL23, and Norma MRP with my 140gr loads. RL22 is also great. I,d try RL17 also.
It was the most accurate powder with TTSX in my rifle, with 130gr bullets.

I shot some 110 accubonds out of my .270 with pretty fast velocity. Would have to go back several years in my cookbook to get the recipe. I believe IMR 4064 AND H4895 were the powders. For 130 to 150 gr bullets you might find IMR 7828 works. It worked for me with good velocity and good accuracy. My bullets were 130 and 140 SST and 150 Winchester Power Points. I don't believe the .270 is overkill if your .308 wasn't. I shoot a .30-06 now mostly but that choice is because it is a good foul weather rifle, a stainless Weatherby Vanguard in a synthetic stock. It groups beautifully also, but in my limited experience the difference in "power" is negligible. I just use a good bullet and try to stay within my capabilities. For accuracy I bought a gauge from Hornady that lets me measure the cartridge overall length when the particular bullet contacts the rifling. Then if the magazine length will allow it I load the cartridge within 10/1000 or less of that and try that for accuracy. This often really improves accuracy.

FWIW, I'm hearing RL16 is better with the 130s from a few I know vs. RL 26 with 130s. I've not been able to play with both enough to say for myself.

Hand loads or factory ammo?

130 gr with H4831 or H 4831SC +/- 60 grains usually works good in 270. Could also try H4350, RS Magnum or MagPro.

Hornady IL either 130 or 150 gr, Nosler AB 140 gr, are also a good options

.

Start with the classic .270 Win load, 60gr H4831 behind a 130gr NBT.

If it won't shoot well with this, chances are the gun won't shoot. It's not overkill for deer, it perfect for deer.

I'm a loading newby. I'm going to use H4831sc and 140 BT's. Nosler brass. Does the primer matter? All I have now is CCI. I can get Federal if it matters.

I use CCI primers all the time with that load. No issues.

CCI primers have worked fine for me in 270 loads. Hopefully your Nosler brass is new production. I had some early stuff and it was heavy and soft.

No idea, It's once fired that I bought last year to test the gun. I also have Hornady, Winchester,and Remington brass that I have saved for years.

Here's my son's buck he got with his 270 shooting the 110tsx over the max varget load. One shot around 200 yards. Worked like a charm.

The 140's are also great. IMO CCI 200's are the best primer with this combo. I've had great luck with 57 grain.

Thanks for that info and confirmation. I went 140's because I happened to try some factory 140 BT's loaded by Nosler and they shot impressively small groups from this early Forbes I bought at the end of last season. I had several 3 shot groups all touching at 100 yards. I put a new Swaro Z5 3.5-18X44 with a BT and 4w reticle on it. Loving this combo. I just hope I can get my reloads to shoot as well as that factory ammo was shooting.

I use H4831 SC 57 gr's with a 130 BT. I've watched my nephew kill 20 deer and close to 100 hogs he puts it in the vitals 1 big boar made it 100 yds .

With the exception of some Winchester Supreme 780 powder many years ago, I've used nothing but H4831. To be more specific, 60.0 grains and the Sierra 130 grain GameKIng bullet, with CCI primers. Good accuracy, good killing power, couldn't ask for more. Other powders will work, and all rifles are different, so experiment. That's the fun of reloading, in trying to work up a specific load for a specific rifle. For example, I reload for 4 different 243's, and could use one load in all of them with very good results, but I don't. I have a certain bullet/powder combination for each rifle, because that's the fun of it.