Hi Folks,

Got down to the range this afternoon and did some load testing with Reloader 25 in the .270 Winchester. The local gun emporium was out of stock on 150 grain .277 bullets so I used what I had on hand for the tests. My loads were constructed with 130 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and the140 grain Sierra BTSP. I used once fired Remington brass and Federal 215 Magnum Match Grade primers.

I discovered why there is not any data for this powder in the various manuals. It seems to be too slow and often delivers wide-ranging, sometimes erratic results. I have listed my findings below and would very much appreciate any input or insights.

Thanks,
HBB


My test rifles were a SIG SHR 970 with a 22 1/8 inch barrel and a Bausch and Lomb Elite 3000 3x9x40 scope in Burris rings and a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight (push feed) with a 22 inch barrel and 1.5x6 Simmons Whitetail Expedition scope in Leupold mounts.


CAUTION: THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS SAFE IN THE TEST RIFLES I USED. HOWEVER, IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE THIS DATA BE SURE TO FOLLOW SAFE AND ACCEPTED RELOADING PROCEDURES AND CAREFULLY WATCH FOR SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE PRESSURE OR OTHER UNSAFE OCCURENCES.


LOAD #1: 57.0 GRAINS RELOADER 25
130 GRAIN NOSLER BALLISTIC TIP
REMINGTON CASE
FEDERAL 215 MAGNUM MATCH PRIMER


SIG SHR 970
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,702 FPS
ACCURACY: 0.555IN. 3 SHOTS @ 100YDS

WINCHESTER M-70 FTWT
AVERAGE VELOCITY: 2,695 FPS
ACCURACY: 0.705 IN. 3 SHOTS @ 100 YARDS

COMMENTS: STARTING LOAD MILD RECOIL


LOAD #2: 59.0 GRAINS OF RELOADER 25
130 GRAIN NOSLER BALLISTIC TIP
REMINGTON CASE
FEDERAL 215 MAGNUM MATCH PRIMER

SIG SHR 970
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,798 FPS
ACCURACY: 0.555 IN. 3 SHOTS @100 YDS


WINCHESTER M-70 FTWT
AVERAGE VELOCITY: 2,774 FPS
ACCURACY: 0.795 IN. 3 SHOTS @100YDS.

COMMENTS: MILD LOAD, VERY CONSISTENT

LOAD #3: 61.0 GRAINS RELOADER 25
130 GRAIN NOSLER BALLISTIC TIP
REMINGTON CASE
FEDERAL 215 MAGNUM MATCH PRIMER


SIG SHR 970
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,871 FPS
ACCURACY: 0.580 IN. 3 SHOTS @ 100YDS.

WINCHESTER M-70 FTWT
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2, 808 FPS
ACCURACY: 1.127 IN. 3 SHOTS @100 YDS.

COMMENTS: POWDER CAME TO THE BASE OF CASE NECK. VERY LIGHT COMPRESSION WHEN BULLET WAS SEATED. THIS IS NEAR MAXIMUM WITH THIS POWDER. TO INCREASE CHARGE WEIGHT YOU WILL NEED TO USE A DROP TUBE AND BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE COMPRESSION.


LOAD #4: 55.0 GRAINS OF RELOADER 25
140 GRAIN SIERRA BTSP
REMINGTON CASE
FEDERAL 215 MAGNUM MATCH PRIMER

SIG SHR 970
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,377 FPS
ACCURACY: 2.011 IN. 3 SHOTS @ 100YDS

WINCHESTER M-70 FTWT
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,400 FPS
ACCURACY: 2.268 IN. 3 SHOTS @ 100YDS

COMMENTS: VERY ERRATIC VELOCITIES. SHOTS VARIED AS MUCH AS 300 FPS IN THE SIG AND AS MUCH AS 225 FPS IN THE WINCHESTER. MODERATE MUZZLE FLASH TOO.


LOAD #5: 57.0 GRAINS OF RELOADER 25
140 GRAIN SIERRA BTSP
REMINGTON CASE
FEDERAL 215 MAGNUM MATCH PRIMER


SIG SHR 970
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,631 FPS
ACCURACY: 1.146 IN. 3 SHOTS @ 100YDS.

WINCHESTER M-70 FTWT
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,637 FPS
ACCURACY: 0.725 IN. 3 SHOTS @ 100 YARDS

COMMENTS: A MORE CONSISTENT AND ACCURATE LOAD THAN THE PREVIOUS ONE. HOWEVER, VELOCITIES STILL VARIED AS MUCH AS 225 FPS BETWEEN SHOTS IN THE SIG AND AS MUCH AS 115 FPS BETWEEN SHOTS IN THE WINCHESTER.


LOAD #6: 59.0 GRAINS OF RELOADER 25
140 GRAIN SIERRA BTSP
REMINGTON CASE
FEDERAL 215 MATCH GRADE PRIMER

SIG SHR 970
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,735 FPS
ACCURACY: 1.843 3 SHOTS @100 YDS


WINCHESTER M-70 FTWT
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,734 FPS
ACCURACY: 1.283 IN. 3 SHOTS @ 100 YARDS

COMMENTS: POWDER CAME TO NEAR THE BASE OF THE CASE NECK. WHEN SEATED THE BULLET NEARLY BEGAN COMPRESSING THE POWDER CHARGE, TO INCREASE THE CHARGE WEIGHT YOU NEED A DROP TUBE AND ARE NEARING MAXIMUM. VELOCITIES WERE STILL ERRATIC WITH AS MUCH AS 223 FPS IN THE VARIANCE BETWEEN SHOTS IN THE SIG AND AS MUCH AS 129 FPS VARIANCE BETWEEN SHOTS IN THE WINCHESTER.

One of my favorite loads was 61 gr of RL22 and the 130 BT. Barely broke 3000 fps....so since 25 is slower I would start from there (in my gun) and work up!