Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Federal Blue Box 270/130’s

I think this subject got the fat chewed out of it somewhere else on the board here.

Before Federal cut a deal for some blue ink, their color was IIRC black and silver. Called Hi-shok I think. I picked up a NIB Rem 700 mnt gun. Stainless with their cheapo plastic stock. Had the big box counter guy mount a generic scope, and grabbed a box the old Federals. Sighted the rifle in and took three elk with that combination over a 4 to 5 year span. Groups weren't photo op material, but I aint exactly a crack shot. Elk had no complaints. When the blue ink hit the shelves I stocked up for everything I have that shoots it. I'm a handloader, but factory ammo has many good products.

I shot a cow elk a couple of years ago with BB 180 .300WinMag at only 20 yards. No, the bullet didn't exit, but I ate elk meat that winter.

If you go way back, Federal had a red ink deal....
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+1 on this. I guess that's what makes us "Loonies"!

I've compared the Blue box ammo to the Green box ammo in my 270's and have noticed a BIG difference in velocity and accuracy. When I got my first 270Win. and needed ammo, I was buying the Blue box stuff at Wally World for $12/box!

It shot great, but I wanted a premium bullet so I pulled the factory bullet and seated 130gr. TTSX's. They shot under and inch at just over 3100fps.

I'd say federal blue box is one of the best values in factory ammo. It's shot well in about every rifle I've used it in.

I like to do the same when trying to get the best out of cheaper factory ammo in a good rifle. If it's more of a short/medium range meat-gun, I don't generally bother. My AR10 likes the 150gr blue box well enough, and I should have bought another 10 boxes before this latest ammo crunch. I think I got 7-8 before the madness around election time.

Yes they did. I don’t remember the black & silver print. Not saying they didn’t, I just don’t remember them.

Jerry

never had a problem with any of it 700 308 tactical loves the 150 gr

It was dark blue/silver. It was in the 90s and it was for the Hi Shok line. Federal premium was in a gold box

That's likely right. I still have some, but I can't get lost in the store room this late in the day. Came in red plastic belt carriers.

They make good ammo. Got some loaded for a trip right now. Good primers too.

Yes Mike even in 08 my B B 300 WM 180s were dark blue/silver.

As far back as my ? memory ? goes they were Red/White. Don’t know when they changed.

Jerry

The bright red boxes ended somewhere around 1990 and they switched to dark blue/silver

Okay.

Honestly, I have bought so little factory ammo I haven’t kept up.

In 07 I had my handloading packed up so I bought 2.
boxes of WW 270 Win 130 PP for the season.

In 08 I bought my Black Shadow 300 WM on
Sat. opening day of season SO I bought some
Fed B.B. 300 WM, 180s

I don’t remember when I bought factory Before 07
or Since 08.

Jerry

If I ever wonder if it is me or the rifle, I typically shoot some groups with Blue Box.

I have been around long enough to remember when hunters referred to "Federal Red Box" in the same way.

Have killed a bunch of big game with both red and blue box Federal, but oddly enough not with the 130-grain .270 load.

I had a custom 700 heavy barrel rig that shot Federal Blue box 150 grain 308 in the .2's at 100 yards and I have a tikka T3 in 243 that shoots the 100 grain into .5's. Lastly I have a Savage 99 that will do 1.0 groups at 200 yards with the 150 grain 308 blue box stuff!

Its nice to have factory ammo that you can count on

Yes. I've shot some tiny groups with Blue Box 270/130's and it used to be cheap!

And before that was the red and white box.

Yup so do I and long before the the red and white ammo boxes were the red , black with a streak of brown on it. They were good shells then same as now. Rest of Mn might have towel heads but Anoka had people who made first class ammo.
To bad they didn't leave more of their genetics floating around. Mb

Some even came packaged in the silver bonus pack, early 90's, 24 rounds!