Unknown Munitions for the 270 WSM

Epi610

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Feb 27, 2020
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Yeah, the first two years I hunted with the caliber I shot 130s, and they did just fine.


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The individual rifles in this caliber also had A lot of finicky preferences in regard to bullet jump, or seating off the lands, for me at least
 

aron

WKR
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Dec 27, 2012
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North Dakota
Looks like you have a large node from 2.180" to 2.140" that are all very close to same POI if you were to overlay them. I would load up 2.190" to see if it is in the node or starts to open vertically like the 2.200". From those results, I would load close to 2.180" or slightly less. That leaves room for throat erosion but also some room on the top for tolerances.
 
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robby denning

robby denning

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Looks like you have a large node from 2.180" to 2.140" that are all very close to same POI if you were to overlay them. I would load up 2.190" to see if it is in the node or starts to open vertically like the 2.200". From those results, I would load close to 2.180" or slightly less. That leaves room for throat erosion but also some room on the top for tolerances.

Hi, we went with the 2.190. I have them back, just haven’t made time to get out and shoot. My first rifle hunt of the year isn’t until November, but I’ll get out there pretty soon. Thanks


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robby denning

robby denning

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any updates?!
sorry, not yet. Muzz season is in September this year so I had to switch over to that project https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/arrowhead-rifles-encore-45-caliber-barrel-updgrade.176842/

so it's not looking like any rifle time until late September/early October---Sorry!

but with what I"ve already seen, and knowing this gun, I'm confident I'll be MOA or less to the last hash mark in my scope which should be about 675-700. The previous year's loads did that and weren't as tight as this load from Unkown Munitions
 
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robby denning

robby denning

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any updates?!

OK, as promised I got to the range late September.

Per Jake‘s from Unknown’s instructions, I checked my zero to be about an inch high at 100 yards.

Next three shots were with center dot & 200yard with a 10 mph wind quartering in from my right.
cb89a31c01748c0e768917e69386f191.jpg

6a9f0a5a3848b6330f68bab569055012.jpg


0.8” 200 yard group. Definitely an improvement over my hand loads! That’s like less than half MOA. I was more like MOA

It was getting dark but I went ahead and shot a 300-yard group and then wrapped it up.

The first two shots in the group were tight, next one was a little low, but still MOA (almost).
761a88bb76793d70851d1387e0b3930d.jpg



fa27b9228b51410679edda5e4cc671f3.jpg



I’ll get out and test my other 3 hashmarks in the next few weeks.
And to note, this is with two bean bags and gun on my shoulder.

Nice work @Unknown Munitions


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robby denning

robby denning

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got out to test my other 3 hashmarks. Noticed that beyond 200 yards, the @Unknown Munitions shot flatter than my previous load with same Berger Bullet and powder and nearly same velocity.

d0d634ee2dac9448d5fa9872468978ed.jpg


300 yards I’m 2.5” higher

420 yards I’m 5.75” higher

323c59ebf49e0dc067422f42bef0d774.jpg


and 550 yards I’m 10” higher

I still had one hashmark to go, (my 695 yarder,) but with the flatter trajectory I decided I better call Vortex (thanks @gcronin & @ebarber8 ) and get some input.

I gave them my velocity and my new points of impact, and they had me adjust everything up about 30 yards.

then we had about two weeks of High winds.

High pressure finally set in so I got set up this morning for the longest shot with a rifle this pud has ever taken—725 yards

I made three shots. With no brake and a muddy backstop, I had no indication of any hits.

Drove over to the target and was pretty happy. 10” group and as Vortex predicted, my old 695 hashmark is now 725.

I didn’t re-shoot the previous 4 hash marks as I’d already seen they were high before I called Vortex, and they predicted to the yard where that last hashmark would hit. If you shoot Vortex, always give them a call, they’re very helpful.

7dc60f0db9de5b2f37efdb3e1144188e.jpg

dbf8d38a59c910a59a3f9b5dfbc696b7.jpg


(to note, that black dot was not my aimpoint, it’s left
of image and about dead center of group, as I had a light wind from left and got about 12” of
drift)

so my hashmarks for the 270WSM are as follows:

-Center dot 200 yards
-2nd 320 yards
-3rd 450 yards
-4th 590 yards
-5th 730 yards
(I rounded to the nearest zero)

I just made two dope cards, one for my scope bell, and a second for bad weather that’s in my Butler Creek scope cover. I can see either by just raising my head off the scope a few inches.

I’m personally happy with my groups beyond 300 as they’re around 1.4 MOA or less and this is from 7.5+lb gun shot from my shoulder (vs a Sled) with a 10x scope.

Also, that 725 hashmark is off the top of the pyramid point where the vertical crosshair tapers, not exactly a precision aiming point. With a high mag scope with more precision aim points, (and maybe a better rifleman) I’m confident all those 420+ groups would be sub- MOA too.

not really sure why these new loads shoot flatter than my handloads at nearly identical velocities., But who cares. I know this gun can shoot further than I probably ever will, and at the yardages I’m killing deer—50 yards to 450 yards—I know it’ll do everything I need it to do.

Oh yeah, and I had zero time reloading this year, ha ha. Thanks everybody for following this and thanks Jake for taking this gun to the next level.


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Thank you for the detailed write up. There is a ton of great information here. Bonus that I hunt with a 270wsm so I envisioned myself going through this process while reading. Will definitely be looking into Unknown Munitions.
Thanks!
 
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robby denning

robby denning

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Thank you for the detailed write up. There is a ton of great information here. Bonus that I hunt with a 270wsm so I envisioned myself going through this process while reading. Will definitely be looking into Unknown Munitions.
Thanks!
let us know if you end up going with them and how your results stack up.
 

308ghost

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Mar 11, 2020
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Sweet thread! I’m curious if anyone has tried RL 16 in 270 wsm or 6.8 western? I have been using it in my 300 wsm with excellent results. I imagine that a 150 ABLR and full case of RL 16 would be a hell of a deer round. I bet it would run the heavies if you as the twist as I’m pushing 190’s just fine in the 300 wsm. The other one I’d love to see tried is RL 23. These are things that keep reloaders up at night.
 

sneaky

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Sweet thread! I’m curious if anyone has tried RL 16 in 270 wsm or 6.8 western? I have been using it in my 300 wsm with excellent results. I imagine that a 150 ABLR and full case of RL 16 would be a hell of a deer round. I bet it would run the heavies if you as the twist as I’m pushing 190’s just fine in the 300 wsm. The other one I’d love to see tried is RL 23. These are things that keep reloaders up at night.
RL16 isn't one of their temp stable powders is it? I'd be concerned about pressure spikes when it's hot outside

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308ghost

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RL16 isn't one of their temp stable powders is it? I'd be concerned about pressure spikes when it's hot outside

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Yes it is. It’s very temp stable. I’ve found it to be every bit as good as h4350 or better. It’s also super clean. It’s runs great in my 6.5 creed and 300 wsm. I think it’s a great match for a 270 wsm. I haven’t tried anything heavier than a 190 in the 300wsm but it ran that great too.
 
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RL16 isn't one of their temp stable powders is it? I'd be concerned about pressure spikes when it's hot outside

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Yeah, it's basically RL17 burn rate but temp stable. Probably wont see quite RL17 velocity from it but that's a fair trade. It's probably on the faster side (burn rate) for heavier bullets in a 270 WSM.

AR Comp, RL16, RL23 are the "temp stable" alliant powders that I can recall.
 

308ghost

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Yeah, it's basically RL17 burn rate but temp stable. Probably wont see quite RL17 velocity from it but that's a fair trade. It's probably on the faster side (burn rate) for heavier bullets in a 270 WSM.

AR Comp, RL16, RL23 are the "temp stable" alliant powders that I can recall.
Sounds perfect for a 20” tube and a suppresser. RL 23 could be great too as you mentioned. These are just me theories.
 
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Mar 2, 2021
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Scottsdale, AZ
Just got my Kimber Montana 270 WSM and the process begins. Little different as I like muzzle brakes and since this is a super light rifle, it will be necessary. Hope to get results similar to yours. Thanks again for posting and letting us go along for the ride.
 
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