Newbie Handloader .270 Win

[Vitals]

Can anyone make some recommendations on where to start with developing a load for my .270 win? Like the title says, I'm a newbie at reloading and this will be a load im trying to come up with to give me around 400-500 yard accuracy for CA blacktails and black bear. It will be shot out of an old Ruger M77 which will hopefully soon have some stock and bedding work done to it to complement that sort of range. I'm beginning the search for my primers, powders, bullet tips and I'd like some promising direction. Thanks in advance

 

[Broz]

Will you be hunting in no lead zones in CA?

Jeff

 

[Sam Millard]

Will you be hunting in no lead zones in CA?

Jeff

Good question! If not, I have a lot of data I can share. I've been loading for a couple of 270s for 20+ years. I had a Ruger like yours for a long time that shot very well!

 

[Vitals]

I will NOT be in a lead feee zone. Thanks for asking.

 

[5MilesBack]

I thought all of CA was lead-free these days.

 

[Sam Millard]

My rifles (Ruger 77 and Wthby Accumark) both liked H4831 and H4831sc pushing 130 grain pills the best. WW brass, WLR or CCI 200 primers, Nosler B tips and Partitions, Hornady SPs and SSTs, Sierra GKs all shot well with 59-61 grains of H4831. RL22 shot well, but has some temp sensitivity (40-50 fps from 35 degrees to 90 degrees). You should be able to get 3000-3050 from H4831 with low ES.

I ran my Ruger for a while with a Jack O'Connor load of 64 grains of H4831 pushing 130 grain soft points. Shot 1/2 moa out to 400 yards with 3150 fps velocity, but killed primer pockets in the WW brass with one shot WAY over book max....

Edit to add: If I were taking up my 270 now, I would most certainly try some 130 grain Bergers through it. I have no doubt they would shoot well and kill spectacularly. Having said that, the plain jane Hornady soft point Interlocks @ $13 per 100 killed whitetails like lightning for me!

 

[Timberninja]

A friend of mine just helped me load some Barnes TTSX for my .270. Even though I hunt lead zones, I thought it would be good to have a copper option and "future proof" the load. Long story short, they shot really good, sub moa and I'm by no means a great shooter. I'll ask him for load data in case you're interested.

 

[Shrek]

Sam , what's your feelings about Berger 150gr vld's and some H1000 ? I concur with the H4831 and 130gr pills .

 

[Broz]

I may go a bit heavier on the bullet weight but would agree H-4831 would be a go to powder for my 270. If the rifle will shoot groups under 1" for the first 3 at 100 yards it should be a 5" or less rifle at your proposed distance of 500 yards. Should be a great deer rifle to these distances. A Fed 210 Primer would be a good choice and if you hunt in temps below zero often a Fed 215M could be a good choice as well.

Edit to add: My above post was in reference to lead core bullets of 130 grains and more. I would also look hard at the 140 and 150's as I tend to like a lot of SD. But if solid copper bullets have to be used then I would go with lighter offerings and keep velocity at a maximum. My experience with solid coppers have not been good at all as they slow with long distances.

Jeff

 

[Sam Millard]

Sam , what's your feelings about Berger 150gr vld's and some H1000 ? I concur with the H4831 and 130gr pills .

I have never tried a really slow powder with 150s. It just always seemed like a 270 with 130s was like peanut butter and jelly

I could never get the 150s to shoot fast enough to give an advantage over the 130s. I've shot animals with both and couldn't tell any difference. In the end, the 130s always shot faster, better, and more consistently in my rifles.

I might fool around with some Bergers this summer in my Accumark if I ever get done loading ammo for Twinkie

 

[gulicemo]

All of CA will be lead free no later than 2019. Go for Barnes bullets now.

 

[Shrek]

All of CA will be lead free no later than 2019. Go for Barnes bullets now.

Five more years of better bullets at half the cost sound's like a better idea. Berger all the way ! Or at least some Sierra Game Kings.

 

[Vitals]

Id love to see the data if your buddy doesn't mind. Thanks Timber

A friend of mine just helped me load some Barnes TTSX for my .270. Even though I hunt lead zones, I thought it would be good to have a copper option and "future proof" the load. Long story short, they shot really good, sub moa and I'm by no means a great shooter. I'll ask him for load data in case you're interested.

 

[16Bore]

Barnes 129 LRX at 3k with H4831SC is hard to beat. At 500 yds you're looking at 19" of drift and 46" drop w/ 100 yard zero. 140 Accubonds will give you about the same drop with a little less drift and a tad more ass. I messed with the ABLR's and they went under 2 1/2" at 500, but I'm a little uncertain about the construction. Evidently they are quite soft and perform best around 400. I ain't planning on backing up. .625 BC is money though...