Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Rl-22 and the 270WSM

Thoughts, experiences, loads? Just got some to try out... Bullets from 140-165 grains. Thanks all.

I like RL 22 for some magnums and buy it in the 5# size. Now of course there is some new WSM power RL 17 so I tried that!

Of late the 270 WSM is loaded with RL 22. On the last shoot it put two 150gr SST's into 1/2"" at 100Y from its cold fouled barrel. The primers were 215s. Norma brass.

The next group from a warm fouled barrel with a couple grains more put two into 3/4" at 100Y. Then a grain more put two into 1/2" at 100Y.

The last group with a hot fouled barrel put three into 1.5" at 200Y.

The wind was 10-15 from 2 o'clock.

The rifle is an early Montana that I have shimmed the bedding on, done the trigger and polished its crown. The scope is a Leu 4.5-14.

Accuracy was good with all loads as I worked from what I saw as "light" loads to as far as I went. Since the published data varies and runs higher that what I would shoot I am not listing my charges for RL22 with 150's in the 270 WSM. However Nosler #6 starts at 57 gr.

Thanks. Anyone else also using it?

Tanner:
I know you asked specifically about 140-165 gr. bullets but here's the hard info I have with chrono'd velocities in my .270 WSM with RLDR-22. These are all with a 130 Sierra and the velocities are taken 5 yds. from the muzzle.

63.5 gr = 3045 fps
64.5 gr. = 3168 fps
65.5 gr. = 3229 fps
66.5 gr. = 3280 fps
67.5 gr. = 3339 fps
I have tried Rldr-22 with a 150 gr. Sierra but only have guesstimated velocities which I suspectcd were in the high 2900 fps area.
My usual load for my .270 WSM is with a 150 Northfork and 68.0 (I think offhand - should be 2 grs. under max.) grains of Retumbo. Velocity is 3120 with that load. The reason I have the 130 gr. load info is that I am looking for a load with more velocity for a 130 gr. bullet for sheep & caribou. So far, RLDR-25 seems to be fair but I'm gonna try some others aas well. Good luck, dunno if this'll help or not.
Bear in Fairbanks

Thanks again Bear!

My favorite load in my Model 70 Winchester chambered for the 270 WSM is as follows:

Winchester case
Fed 215M primer
66 grains RL 22
140 grain Nosler partition

This load gives consistant speeds of 3200 fps and groups of 3/4 inch or less.

Good stuff, I have 3 loaded with 66gr and a 140SST to try, among others. Thanks!

Bummer... '22 did NOT work for me...

Yes sir, I worked up to it...

In response to Savage 99:

I think I got that load for the 270 WSM out of Rifle or Handloader magazine, not sure.

Yes, it is a good deal over maximum according to Nosler, but it has worked well for me. I reloaded some cases last week that have been fired 6 times with that load and the primer pockets are still snug.

If you look a little furthur you will find it is not that much out of line with several current manuals. The listed maximum loads when using RL 22 with 140 grain bullets are as follows in these manuals:

Barnes 64.5
Sierra 64.9
Speer 65.0
Swift 66.0

And yes, I should have warned to work up to this load. Any one who takes a load off the internet should cross reference it and work up to it.

Well, not to start a fight on the board here, I found a 66.0 gr. charge of Rldr-22 & a 140 gr. bullet on "Steve's Pages". It's listed as a max load tho.
Just for kicks, I ran the info thru my copy of Quickload and came up with a predicted velocity of 3139 fps at 58865 PSI.
QL lists Pmax. for the .270 WSM at 63817 PSI and recommends not loading over 90% of that value. A 90% pressure load should be 65.5 gr. and a velocity of 3115 fps.
Just throwing this in for kicks. I don't fully trust QL's values and only use it as a guide in conjunction with data from the loading manuals. Enjoy.
Bear in Fairbanks

What I have found is simple...

What works for me in my rifle...
Example 25-06 Improved. Slow powders like R22/25, 7828 etc should be best with 100gr and up but in my 22" Sako H4350 gave better velocity with same or better accuracy...
Same gun and 75vmax, 3031 is a mostly forgotten powder but works better than R15 in it and several other light bullet applications..

Search for what works for you is how I roll on EVERYTHING in life!

Not uncommon to see this differences in max loads...it's barrels and throats mostly but bullets can matter,too.

Yep, my data came from Quickload, and I started well under their max too.

My 77 MkII likes H4831SC and the 130NAB.

66 gr RL-22 and a 130 tsx or NAB = 3,275 fps in my gun.

This is not a max load in my gun. I stopped @ 66 gr grain b/c of the little bug size groups.

Every rifle is different and my Winchester M70 Laminated Classic .270WSM doesn't like RL22 all that much.

I much prefer H1000 with 130gn pills and H1000 & Retumbo with 140gn bullets.

Here's some chronographed 130gn loads I did 10 years ago when I first got my rifle.

67.0gns H4831sc..........3065fps
61.0gns W760............3120fps
62.0gns H4350.............3166fps
72.0gns H1000.............3175fps
53.0gns Varget.............3003fps
66.0gns WXR (RE22)....3103fps
67.0gns WMR..............3017fps
66.0gns IMR7828.........3061fps
64.5gns IMR4831.........3201fps

By the way,Winchester factory ammo loaded with 130gn Ballistic Silvertips produced 3228fps.

Good info, thanks Dingo.