Hello,

I have a good friend who recently inherited a Browning BAR in .270 Win and he wanted to help me make some handloads for him. I already own a couple of .270s, so I have a set of dies.

Any tricks or tips for handloading a semi-auto? All my other rifles are bolt guns, so anything that a guy needs to do differently?

Thanks.

I would advice NOT to just neck size that brass! I always "full-length" size any brass for a semi-auto. This way you will not be apt to have sticking brass after a shot or prior to the shot.

What kind of ranges and what kinds of critters?

Dober

i have a small base rcbs die i use for sizing in autos never had a fail to chamber

46 grains of IMR 4064, sierra or speer 130's, and Fed210 primers.

The 270 BAR's are picky, but this load has shot in every 270 BAR that I've tried it in.

My friend uses this rifle for deer hunting, shots under 250 yards. Thanks for the advice so far. I have been full length resizing everything I reload, so I guess that won't be a change.

I have 2 BAR's; 7mm mag and 270, and I use small base dies for both.
I tried different powders; 4831, RL19, RL22, 4350, in the .270 and the only load that produced 1" or better groups was 46 grains of IMR 4064 w/130 bullet. If you find any other load that shoots better please PM me so I can give it a try.

Slim,

Any idea what that load chronos?

My BAR likes 59g H4831sc and a 130TTSX. Good luck.

You should get right around 2850fps with that load.
IMR4064 burn rate may seem a little fast but you are shooting a auto not a bolt.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Looking forward to hearing your results.

Mailman,

What kind of velocity are you getting with this load.....I've never tried H4831sc.

I loaded some 150NBTs over H4831 in FLS R+P brass for a 270 BAR several years ago. Shot just fine.

Back when I had a .270 BAR I used H4831. Can't remember the exact load (I only used 150 Ptn's since the gun was used for moose). As ususal you will have to experiment to find out what your gun likes.

Jim

Slim Sr....as i recall it was right around 3k

I'll have to give it a try.

Family has used BAR's in 270, 30/06, and 7 Mag since the 60's, no brass has ever needed the small base sizer. Then again, we don't ever shoot range brass or military brass. Before you get into loading for your friend's 270, have your friend try a box of Winchester 130g Power points...they are unreal accurate in my brother's BAR.

Duckster, hard to advise you when you don't know what you and friend are hunting and at what distances.

Bar's are usually more accurate than anyone would believe, but a bitch to clean, be careful with the muzzle and the Bars's copper foul and loose their best accuracy, so keep the copper out...we use Montana Extreme Copper killer(50 BMG).

Probably spent $200 on components trying to get a bar 270 to shoot. Even sent it back to browning and they recrowned it. I tried almost every 270 bullet and the hands down winner was the hornaday 140 btsp. H4831 is the powder it liked best and if i remember it was a couple grains below max. Lee crimp dies are your friend with a blr or bar, sometimes cutting groups in half.

ymmv, Fred