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...

R_Flowers,

In what publication did you find that load?

It exceeds the maximum load in Nosler #6 by wide margin!

It also exceeds the maximum loads in every manual that I have along with Alliants data!

Tanner,

Warning!

That load exceeds the maximum in every manual that I have read.

Have you worked up to that load?

The starting load in one manual is 57 grains!!!!

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.

Mine also did not like RL22 or RL19. H4350 and H4831SC is what she likes.

I'm finding H4350 to produce good velocities, so far. 4831sc ran the 140s at about 3100, but my accuracy wasn't as good at that speed.

FWIW I am using 66 gr of R25 with barnes 140 TSX so I thought the R22 was a misprint at first.

Speed on that load Tejano?

Haven't run it on a chronograph, best guesstimate from a couple of manuals is just under 3200 with a 24" barrel. Goal was to be hotter than the 270 winchester loads but a low pressure wsm load so it seems to meet that. Didn't like the wsm at first but now I think of it as a 270AI+ and like it.

It was a quick work up and it worked fine so haven't tinkered with it much. Still don't know what max is with R25 in this rifle.

Edit: Just checked my data and It is 69 of R25 with a mag primer and I was loading 66 of R22 before. The 25 seemed slightly more accurate. These were all with the thinner second generation Winchester cases not the heavy first run cases.

Never owned a .270WSM but both my 7WSM and 300WSM really perked on Win 760 out of the gate and to this day still run it. Great speed with good brass life and great accuracy.

Here's some more loads I chronographed back in 2004

Winchester M70 270WSM 24"bbl
140gn Nosler Accubond
CCI250M
OAL..2.850'
Winchester case

5-10 shot average.

58.0gns H4350........ .2981fps
69.0gns H1000........ .2989fps
64.0gns RL22......... .2992fps
64.0gns IMR7828.......2960fps
60.5gns IMR4350.......3068fps
70.0gns Retumbo.......2990fps
62.0gns H4831sc.......2905fps
64.0gns WMR......... ..2945fps

I recently tested 67gns W780 for a 6 shot average of 3008fps. I know velocity is down on book velocity but thats just the way it is with many cartridges. My prefered load is a 140gn Accubond and 69gns H1000. Believe me,that combination kills like lightening.

Thanks dingo. I'm just going to run my H4831sc load, 66gr produces about 3120fps, and is nicely accurate. Should kill stuff

I am running RL22 with all my 270WSM loads. Getting right at 3130 or so with the 150 PT and BT. Use WW cases, CCI250's for primers. I also ran some 150 PTG's, those shot excellent as well. I love the 270WSM. It will scream and it is accurate!













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I am running the same rig as Dingo. Works like a champ since 2004!

Solid looking groups! Very interesting how much different rifles handle powder charges. Mine showed pressure at 66gr with a 140. I would say your 150 NPT load is just about the perfect one to go ahead and slay large ungulates with, anywhere in the world!

Thank you Tanner. I started out shooting the 140 AB's in the Winchester Supreme ammo while I was stationed out at Camp Pendleton. Didn't have my reloading gear while I was there. Those factory loads are probably about as good as any handload I have ever built, and they chronoed a little over 3200 out of my rifle and were just accurate as heck. I took an elk and a few mulies with that load.





After I moved to NC, I tried my hand with some handloads and the 130 Interbonds. I used Magpro for those and had some excellent loads that ran just shy of 3400 out of my rifle and they were also accurate as any other. Shot some smallish NC deer and a couple of larger bodied deer in NY. Never recovered a bullet, and they were like a dynamite stick on deer.

Then, I started getting Nosler 2nds and ordered alot of the 150 BT's and 150 PT's and spend a little bit of time with them and RL22. I am pretty sure that is where I will stay. I haven't messed around with the 140 AB's in handloads, but that would probably be about the best of both worlds in the WSM, but I have so many 150's and they shoot well, I am not scratching to mess around much.

I did get about 150 of the 150 grain PT Golds, uncoated recently. I really like them as they shoot well, and they are some tough bullets! Their PT is moved forward just a hair and have the steel shank in the rear core. I think they would be an awesome elk bullet. They shoot the same as the regular PT's as well and run right at 3100 or so. I imagine I could bump them up a .5 or 1 grain get closer to 3150, but I am not sure it is worth the trouble.

I did some shooting out to 600 with the PT's and BT's, they shot excellent out there. Still grouping in the 4-5 inch range with the 3.5x10 VX3 on my rifle. I am not sure I could shoot much better. It does inspire alot of confidence.

Your right though, different rifles have so many different likes...

Great looking elk and mule deer, where did you find those Partition golds, I got a good deal on a couple of boxes aboout three years ago, still have one box left but would like to buy some more if I can find them.

Thank you. I found the last 3 boxes at the HSM Hunting Shack. Not sure if they have more, but I bought three boxes, and my buddy gave me a box. They shoot almost exactly like the regular 150 PT's, so I should be able to just save them for hunting. Might last a long time like that!

I checked their website, they are out of stock, They are charging way to much for a product that is no longer made, I bought three boxes from Widners, paid $18.00 per box.

H4831sc and CCI 200s is looking good.

You are right about that, but for the performance of the bullets, and the amount of time I should be able to shoot them, they are a good bargain, for me.