Rookie questions - 270 and 30-06

[bison]

Hi - am home sick today so am setting up my new Lee turret in preparation for trying my first reloads. A few questions, sorry they're so basic...

As background I shoot a Win M70 in 30-06, Tikka T-3 in 270. Shoot both for fun and to hunt (deer and hogs mostly). I'm reloading mostly for fun and to involve the kids, unlikely I'll be going for super accuracy/competition.

Powder-wise I got H414 (recommended by only local shop with supplies). I have Remington large rifle primers. With my reload kit I got new brass and these bullets: 30-06: 168 gr Hornady Match BTHP, 270: 115 gr Sierra Matchking HPBT.

First question is powder charges. The book I have (Lee) and Hodgdon site say start with 53 grains for the 30-06. Easy enough. However, they don't list anything for the .270 115 gr bullets, they only have for 110 (51 grains) and 120 (49 grains, and this is for Bar XFB bullets, whatever these are). What should I use?

It appears that the charges for both calibers are too big for the Lee Auto-Disk, even with the double disk kit, so I figure I'll just charge twice at half the load unless there's a better way.

Once I figure my starting load I need to know how deep to seat the bullet. With the 30-06, the max is 3.34 and min is 3.23, and I understand that every gun is different and thus the need to "tune" this. Any tips on where to start?

If I understand correctly, the idea is to get the COL right for a particular gun by using the minimum powder charge, then tweak the charge. Correct?

When I set up the Lee Turret it wasn't clear how far to screw in the rifle charging die. If I screwed it in just enough for the lever to go all the way down it was barely threaded on, so I screwed it further in. This seems fine, but means that I have to stop pushing down the lever when I feel pressure or I may crush something. Is this OK?

Finally, any tips on how much to crimp in the final step (using the factory crimp die).

THANKS for help on this... any info and helpful tips greatly appreciated!

 

[rcmodel]

Correct OAL for the 168 Hornady BTHP is 3.230".
53.0 grains H414 is the starting load.

No need to start "tweaking" anything except the powder charge at this point.
Leave the OAL / land contact -.010" + .003" BS to the big boys to play with. It won't make any difference at all until you learn everything else you need to learn about reloading.

The Barnes XFB is a Solid copper bullet and is another can of worms.

I don't have data right handy for a 115 grain Sierra, but somebody will be along shortly that will.

You do not need to crimp either one for use in a bolt-action rifle.
You will very likely get better results if you don't crimp.

rc

 

[JimKirk]

Hornady #7 manual gives from Start 45.8 grs to MAX 58.3 grs of H414 in 30/06 with a COL of 3.240 " for 168 gr BTHP.

No data for 115 gr .270 bullet, sorry.

You really would need to check those double throw charges with a scale, you do have a scale?

I let the Lee masters come along and help with the Lee products.

I would not crimp for either of those guns, there is no need to.

Jimmy K

 

[NCsmitty]

Welcome to THR, bison.

First, double charging your Lee Auto-disk will only be accurate if you scale each load. An investment in a good full range measure would be a good step.
For the 270 powder charge, use the start load for the 130gr Hornady, and that should be a very safe load to work from. Email Sierra for info or perhaps someone has the data from a Sierra manual.
Crimping the cases is not necessary.
COAL can be a subjective number, and you can start at 3.300 for the '06 and see if the bullet is not touching the rifling by smoking the bullet and look for marks on it.

When I set up the Lee Turret it wasn't clear how far to screw in the rifle charging die. If I screwed it in just enough for the lever to go all the way down it was barely threaded on, so I screwed it further in. This seems fine, but means that I have to stop pushing down the lever when I feel pressure or I may crush something. Is this OK?

I'm not sure what your asking here. Are you talking about the sizing die?

I'd like to add that you might get better results with H414/Win 760 ball powder by using magnum primers, if you have them.



NCsmitty

 

[bison]

Thanks!

OK - I called Sierra and got that the charge for 115 gr for the .270 should be 50-54 gr with COL of 3.29 so that's done.

I do have a scale and did note that double throwing the half charge led to quite a bit of variation. Looks like I need a separate measure that can handle rifle loads.

#4 - not sizing, when I'm throwing powder.

I loaded a few primers and noticed that they came out slightly dented - is this normal? I'm not forcing the handle much.

Thanks -

 

[NCsmitty]

I loaded a few primers and noticed that they came out slightly dented - is this normal?

Using the press priming unit, there's a lot of leverage. I would recommend a hand held priming unit.

#4 - not sizing, when I'm throwing powder.

With a stand mounted measure, you'll not need that station.



NCsmitty