Downloading the .270 Winchester; which powder?

Status
Not open for further replies.

J-Bar

Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2010
Messages
4,963
Location
Springfield, MO
As a result of good advice in another thread, I have decided to begin hand loading for my .270 Winchester with the goal of reducing recoil while still producing ammo suitable for taking whitetails out to about 250 yards.

Several powders have been mentioned. Published reloading data that I have in my library seems to favor 4350, 4831. Another mentioned in my previous thread was 4895. I don't have any of these on hand and will have to buy a powder I have never used before.

So, which powder would you pick to push 110 grain bullets to about 2800 fps?

Thanks for any information you can share.
 
I am not sure that a 110 gr would be a good choice. That is a varmint bullet. Even at 2800 fps it is likely to explode or crater on a bone. My Lyman book list a couple of powders for a 130 gr. I have never used or heard of these powders but it listed SR-4759 and 5744. Using a slow powder like 4350 and 4831 is not recommended for reduced loads in any of my manuals and I have a bunch of them. My first Lyman manual that I bought back in the 70's had reduced loads in it with the powders of the time. Unfortunately I loaned that to a friend and have never seen it since.
 
So, which powder would you pick to push 110 grain bullets to about 2800 fps?
I would likely run with IMR 4064 at about 42.0 grains but running a 270 Winchester with a 110 grain bullet at about 2800 FPS is also at the bottom of standard loads, hardly a reduced load. The actual recoil energy is always going to be a function of the powder weight, the projectile weight, the velocity and the rifle weight. Those four factors give the actual recoil energy. You can actually download the 270 Winchester using a powder like H 4895. Hodgdon Powder Company has found that H4895 can be loaded to reduced levels. So you can safely take a start load of H 4895 and reduce it according to the link, just make sure any powder you choose is safe for reduced loads.Just remember as the recoil goes down so goes the velocity.

I also agree with the above in that for deer sized game I always liked a heavier bullet than a 110 grain but that is your call.

Ron
 
Reduced loads may cause brass to become shorter, head to datum. Using the same brass, later for full pressure loadings, may cause cases to stretch. To much stretching may cause case separations.

I noticed the shorter head to datum in 30-06 , using IMR 4895 (not H) reduced loading using the Hodgdon youth load formula..

Chamber and dies, if close to same dimensions, would be less of a problem.
 
Last edited:
4895 either Hodgdon or IMR have been recommended for years for reduced loads. Hodgdons youth loads shows 36.2grs of 4895 with a 110gr bullet at 2600fps. They state that any load data using 4895 can be reduced all the way down to a 60% load of the max load. In the other thread I stated I had reduced 30-06 and 7-08 loads and both are using IMR 4895 powder.

I mentioned the Sierra 110gr Pro Hunter bullet. Here is the scoop on that bullet. They say at reduced velocities it is a suitable bullet for medium sized game. It says it is not suitable for handgun speeds. It is too tough for the lower velocities those guns produce.

https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1810/277-dia-110-gr-SPT
 
4895 or 5744

As for bullets, ask around for what people are using for deer hunting with a 6.8 spc. That’s about the same velocity your looking for. I would recommend a 130 grain ballistic tip. They reliably expand even well below 2000 FPS impact speed. A 130 gr at 2500 should be pretty similar in recoil to a 7.62x39, but flatter shooting. Should feel like a pop gun in comparison to a full power 270
 
Hoddon has reduced loads for H-4895. It's a good place to start.

If you want to go lighter than that try AA 5744 or the older SR-4759.

Super light? Trailboss
 
If you are going to go that light in a bullet, I would pick a premium hunting bullet designed for the 6.8SPC. You will be pushing them a bit faster than the SPC round, hence the need for a premium bullet. A quick search turned up a Hornady Mono GMX bullet, a Nosler Mono E-tip and 2 Nosler Accubonds in 110 or 100 gr. I would load one of these with a start load of IMR 4064 (this powder will also work with full power 130 gr "standard" .270 loads if you up your recoil tolerance as time goes by). I've found I can reduce this powder somewhat below starting loads and maintain accuracy and uniformity in the rounds in which I've tried it. I load a lot of obsolete military metrics that I like to shoot on the mild side due to replacement parts being expensive or nonexistent. Use Winchester primers for reduced loads, you will get more consistent ignition.
 
Several years ago I loaded 36.1 grns of IMR 4895 with 100gr Hornady Sp's so my 12 yr old daughter could hunt with my TC Pro hunter 270. She took several deer with that load. But I wouldn't shoot farther than 200 Yds with that load.
 
Last edited:
The Hodgdon H4895 reduced load formula puts a charge of 28.5gr H4895 under a 110gr bullet as a tested load. You can adjust it slightly up or down for accuracy and velocity.

Under a 100gr bullet the charge is 30.0gr.

The 60% data is tested and safe.
 
Just going from a 130 to a 110 will make a bigger difference than the powder used.
I agree that h4895 is a good choice.
I used imr4064, but ran full velocity.
 
The Hodgdon H4895 reduced load formula puts a charge of 28.5gr H4895 under a 110gr bullet as a tested load. You can adjust it slightly up or down for accuracy and velocity.

Under a 100gr bullet the charge is 30.0gr.

The 60% data is tested and safe.

Do you have a link or source for “Hodgdon H4895 load formula? I have not been able to find any reduced loads in their online data. Thanks.
 
H4895 and Hornady 120gr SST bullet is fantastic! The 120gr is meant for the 6.8spc, but works great in downloaded 270 also. The bullet will just not be seated as deep in the 270. I got great accuracy and at 2600-2700fps, that bullet will be poison for deer!
 
I just found my notes on the reduced loads. It's 31.0gr of H4895 with 120gr SST bullet. I didn't chrono the load, but it was what shot the best out of my previous Browning A-Bolt.
 
H4895 and Hornady 120gr SST bullet is fantastic! The 120gr is meant for the 6.8spc, but works great in downloaded 270 also. The bullet will just not be seated as deep in the 270. I got great accuracy and at 2600-2700fps, that bullet will be poison for deer!

I do not have a chronograph. Can you please tell me how much 4895 gave you the 2600-2700 FPS MV?

Thanks much!
 
I do not have a chronograph. Can you please tell me how much 4895 gave you the 2600-2700 FPS MV?

Thanks much!
This really will change rifle to rifle but using H4895 (NOT IMR 4895) about 42.0 grains will get you about 2800 FPS in a 24 inch barrel all subject to things like the primer used. Then 45.0 grains is the maximum load which can be downloaded based on the data link I posted earlier in the thread. This is all based on a 120 grain bullet. I have no idea what performance your rifle will yield.

Ron
 
This really will change rifle to rifle but using H4895 (NOT IMR 4895) about 42.0 grains will get you about 2800 FPS in a 24 inch barrel all subject to things like the primer used. Then 45.0 grains is the maximum load which can be downloaded based on the data link I posted earlier in the thread. This is all based on a 120 grain bullet. I have no idea what performance your rifle will yield.

Ron

I understand we are ballparking!

Thanks.
 
I mention a couple of things here because someone new to this subject may also be reading this... you just never know.

Here I'm bringing up Jack O'Connor again... I recall he said you can take five identical barrels and shoot the same load and they'll give you five different velocities. I don't know of that changing in the last 50 years.

If 45grs is the max charge, my understanding is that you'd start with at least 10% less... more like 40-40.5grs... work up kinda slow and easy. This suggestion of a 120gr with these charge weights sound to me like something that ought not bust up a shoulder right from the start.
 
I'd agree with those suggesting H4895. I was able to do what you are attempting, difference being I used a 30-06 and a 125gr bullet.
I found acceptable accuracy and recoil at about 83% of max. Not anywhere near the 60% possible but much more comfortable using less powder and a smaller grain bullet.

-Jeff
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top