270 WSM Loads

[Coltdriver]

Today I went to the range with a couple of bullet powder combinations for my 270 WSM.

One was using Retumbo which I have read from several places gives great results. I used 140 grain Berger VLD's.

The other was using RL 22 and 130 Grain Partitions.

I ran the Retumbo loads up from 70 grains to a max load of 72 grains. They nearly all delivered ~3150 +/- 15 pfs. Just strange. Looks like a consistent amount burned and probably anything over that got sent down the barrel. None of them grouped well.

The surprise of the day was the RL 22. I use Lymans 48th load data for a similar shaped bullet. The max load was 68 grains. I started in the 66 grain range. At my starting load the FPS was over 3200! By the time I got into the 67 grain range the bullet made 3398 FPS! I stopped. No signs of over pressure that I could see. Two of the rounds at 3250 were within a quarter sized hole at 200 yards. So I am going to reload in that area and try again next weekend.

I will take a good look at the brass later. If the primer pockets have gone soft or the lower base is distorted I will just back off from those levels. The bolt never got sticky or hard to open. The primers just look normal, no cratering and no excessive flattening either. Just normal smooth firing pin indents. And all very consistent looking from round to round regardless of the load.

I have an excellent 130 grain Berger round worked up for this rifle from two years ago. But this year it looks like I will be using Partitions on my speed goat hunts.

 

[SwaneeSR]

I worked up a load last Winter for my buddy's .270 Weatherby. The published load for the Barnes TTSX 130gr bullet allows 68 - 72 grains of Reloder 22. This yielded a velocity of about 3250fps using 70 grains of R22.

I was so impressed with the powder, I bought more for some other applications.


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[Coltdriver]

I measured and deprimed the brass from both loads last night.

In the Retumbo loads they were all very consistent and the brass appears no worse for wear.

In the RL22 loads the only thing I could detect was that with the load that produced 3398 FPS it was easier to put a new primer in place.

There was one other measurement that was interesting. The diameter at the web of the new brass is .553

After FL sizing the Retumbo rounds all returned to .553. The first four rounds of the RL 22 loads also returned to .553. But the next two returned to .554 and the last two, including the 3398 FPS round, returned to .555

So there was some stretching/stressing of the brass that was excessive.

I'm using Norma brass and the primer pockets were all pretty tight on the new brass, it took a good amount of pressure to get the primers seated when the brass was new.

After I deprimed and FL sized the brass I put primers in the RL 22 brass. The first four were all really tight and while not quite as tight as the unfired brass they still took a good amount of pressure to seat the primers. When I got to the hotter loads it became a tad easier to seat the primers, not close to loose but about (by my calibrated thumb) two thirds of the pressure needed to seat the new brass.

So those hot but under max rounds were producing enough pressure to accelerate the wear on the brass.

The two that went into the quarter sized hole at 200 yards still had plenty of resistance and the brass returned to the new brass size after the FL sizing.

I think a 3250 FPS Partition round will be plenty for antelope. I took my first antelope with an 85 grain Partition from a .243.

Next weekend I will load in 1/10th grain increments before and after the two loads that grouped up and see if that reproduces itself.

 

[SwaneeSR]

I guess it does make sense that one should expect shorter brass life with even "standard" magnum caliber loads. My local Fleet Farm store actually sells .270 WSM brass which makes it more appealing to me than the Weatherby. Don't get me wrong, my buddies Weatherby is a nice rifle. But the only brass is from shooting Weatherby factory ammunition.

Sounds like you will not be getting 8-9 reloads out of your brass. Maybe 1/2 that?

I have only been reloading rifle for a few years. Although I will say that the hottest load is not always the most accurate. It is true in my ABolt .30-06 though.


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[Coltdriver]

I did some digging around and the Nosler site shows an RL22 load under a 130 grain Partition at 3396FPS. I was kind of relieved and surprised at the same time. Just did not expect that kind of velocity. In any case I am one grain of RL22 higher than the Nosler data for the 3398FPS load that I tested.

Tonight I loaded up ten rounds in tenth grain increments thru the two sweet spots in the 65 grain range. They were running about 3250 but were grouping nicely. I did load a few extras up at a level that gets 3300FPS just to see if they are stable.

SwaneeSR I think you are right on the expectation. Since this is a once a year hunting rifle only five reloads will take me out a few years.

 

[SwaneeSR]

Well you could shoot it a little in the off-season for fun.

I was at an outdoor range last Fall and there was a guy with a Browning XBolt in 270WSM. We struck up a conversation being the only two at the range. He had me shoot it. It was impressive. Nice rifle.

Sounds like you are ready for the hunt Coltdriver.


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[Coltdriver]

I went back to the range today with 10 rounds loaded from 65.4 up to 66.3 in 10th grain increments.

Turns out that the 65.6 and 65.7 rounds were the ones to group up nicely. Thats a 130 grain Partition running at 3230 fps.

Now I need to make up 10 to take hunting.

So nice to go out hunting with custom made ammo that is dialed in to your rifle. All I have to do is my part and we will have speed goat this winter