Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .270 Win. Using RL-17

Guys,

I plan to load 57.0 - 57.5 gr. under a 110 gr. TTSX with Fed. 215 primer for hunting. However, for mid-range practice (possibly using the Sierra PSP of the same weight), could anyone recommend a starting load with this powder? I was thinking in the neighborhood of 50 gr. but load data is skimpy as the powder is apparently pretty new.

Thanks.

forepaw

Your guesstimated max load is probably pretty close, given the Alliant max of 59 grains with a 100-grain bullet, but one good rule for slow-burning powders is to start no more than 5-6% below max. They work better with the case pretty full. Plus, the light TSX's generate less pressure than other bullets of the same weight. I'd start at around 53 grains.

Mule Deer,

Good info, thanks. I have loaded right now, 55, 56, and 57 gr. but plan to drop back at some point, in order to do a lot of mid-range practice. I am leery of dropping too far, as I recall the curious pressure spikes reported years ago with light loads of slow-burning powder. Don't want to push it with something as untested as RL-17 - esp. in a non-mag. case.

forepaw

FWIW
My R77 in 270 Win shoots 130 SBs very well with 55gr of R17 at a little under 3000fps.
Tim

Never had much luck with RL17 in any .270WCF.

Low velocity. Like the under 3000 with a 130 mentioned by Michigan.

If you want speed and accuracy pick up some Magpro. 64gr under any number of 130's and you'll be in or very near the 3200's.

RL22 and 110 grs bullet in a 06 class case works just dandy.

Swifty

Not to throw confusion in here but my factory barreled Model 70 shoots 5/8" @ 100 with 48grains of RL15 and 110grain TTSX loaded at 3.30"....

RL22 ranks just behind Magpro for -06 based cartridges IMO.
Great powder RL22 but Magpro meters so nicely it gets the nod most from me.

I guess if you need 200 more fps, use 9 grains more of MagPro than of RL17.
I was happy around 3000. It kills stuff.
jmho
To each his own. I was looking to get optimization between function and amount of powder consumed.
Tim

More like 250 fps.

And if your criteria is 3000 fps with the least grains of powder you should look at N150. 52 gr will get you over 3000.

I shoot 57.5g of R#17 with a fed 215 primer with the 110g Tipped tripple shock, Sierra 110g Spt, and 110g Hornady HP, velocity is 3300 fps out of the well worn barrel and higher on a new Rem 700 barrel.

Accuracy at 300 yards is simply outstanding with this load.

I use 56.5 gr R-17 under 90gr Sierra's. Recoil is minimal, accuracy outstanding.
There was another accuracy node around 59gr, but my load grouped a little tighter and it kicks like a 243.
Can shoot these all day long, and coyotes think it is fast enough.

Dude, N150 in my neck of the woods is kinda pricey just to try. The 270 case is 68 grs water 25.06 case is 66 take a 115 gr 25.06 load add 2% and work up. A 110 will give a little more velocity. Have found as MD has stated, the 06 class case works best about the 95 to 98% load density range.
RL22 is a powder thats not too slow but not too fast, gives excellent case fill and velocity for powder charge used. Doesnt meter as well as a ball powder, but I still have not found one better for the 06 case family. JMO

Swifty

Swifty, that N150 recommendation was just me being a Richard head.

My goal with all my loading is to get maximum velocity with acceptable accuracy. I'm a velocity whore and I readily admit that. If I'm running a 22" .270 I'll try my damndest to get 3200 with a 130. If I'm running a 24" .270 (my marked preference) I won't stop until I'm in the mid 3200's.
22 is a great powder in that cartridge and often nets me the velocity I'm after. I just prefer Magpro because I'm a throw and go reloader and Magpro meter so darn well.

I normally look for best velocity and accuracy when working up loads.
My R77 270Win is almost 40 years old, has fired probably somewhere near 4000 rounds (if I added up my records) and has killed quite a lot of things with 130s and 150s.
It is getting tired and has lost a step or two in the velocity catagory, but it is still accurate and kills stuff.

My 130SB/R17 load is used to kill MI whitetails (oh, and a WY mulie last year).

As with ANY rifle, you have to shoot it to know for sure what a load will do for you.
Tim

Michigan, I apologize for being a Richard head.

There is certainly more than a little attachment one feels towards a rifle they've had for nearly forty years and 4000 rounds. That would tend to make a guy trust the rifle completely.
I'm glad you're still using it to kill stuff.

a 130 at 3000 will definitely do the trick. As you've proven.

This is one of the best "spit take" lines EVER !!!!!!!!!!!

Kinda like getting married to the best girl you can find that is not too ugly that will accept a $200 ring.

And so life goes on.
FWIW-- have been with my wife longer than with my 270. We are getting a little "tired" also. But still going.

In my experience RL17 seems to work better in some cases (wizzums, 284Win) and with heavy for caliber bullets. Also works pretty well with 30-06 family of cases.
jmho
No harm, no foul.

So, forepaw. Let us know how things work out.
Tim

53.5 grs Re-17 shoots tiny cloverleaf groups and its fast too. 3050 fps using Nosler BT's

While working up this load I was also trying H4831 up to 60 grs. It sure felt like the h4831 recoiled more even tho the speed was 50 fps slower