Second Range Test, Downloaded .270 Winchester

[J-Bar]

For those who have not been following my posts, I wanted to download my Ruger #1A Light Sporter (20" barrel) .270 Winchester because factory loads have become painful in my arthritic/bursitic shoulder.

The discussion about which powder to use:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/downloading-the-270-winchester-which-powder.842334/

The discussion surrounding the first reloads:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/first-target-downloaded-270-winchester.842552/

Today I tested some downloaded cartridges for group size. I followed the spirit if not the letter of Olympus's suggested outline.

Hodgdon's online data gives a maximum powder charge of 47.5 grains of H4895 under a 110 grain Hornady bullet. The reduced loading minimum guideline for H4895 is 60% of the maximum charge, which in this case would be 28.5 grains of H4895.

I started at 29.0 grains, and loaded three cartridges each in half-grain increments (rather than the 0.3 increments Olympus recommended.). My test ran from 29.0 to 32.5 grains, and gave me the information I need.

I am quite proud that at 74 years of age, with early cataracts in both eyes, using a Ruger #1 with factory trigger and a Leupold 4 power scope, firing hand loads made with a cheap Lee Loader handheld tool, that I could produce these results. My best group was 0.513 inches at 100 yards, produced by the 29.5 grain powder charge. The second best group was 0.675 inches using 32.0 grains of H4895, which was only slightly better than the 0.859 group fired with the 30.0 grain charge. The recoil felt like a light load in a .410 shotgun; absolutely delightful! There is no way I could have endured that many rounds of factory ammo, but I can shoot these all day long.

Hodgdon's 2018 Reloading Annual Manual shows a load for the 6.8 Remington SPC for the Hornady VMax .277 bullet, the same one I used, that produces a muzzle velocity of 2550 FPS with 29 grains of H4895. So I think my loads will be playing in this same ballpark; 2600 FPS thereabouts.

My next step is to load up 20 or so of the 29.5 grain loads, get the scope adjusted to about 2 inches high at 100 yards, and then see what it does on a whitetail.

Edit/Disclaimer: I assume no responsibility for any adverse results if you choose to use my loads in your firearms. Please do your own due diligence.

Thanks for helping me get this far.

 

[horsey300]

For those who have not been following my posts, I wanted to download my Ruger #1A Light Sporter (20" barrel) .270 Winchester because factory loads have become painful in my arthritic/bursitic shoulder.

The discussion about which powder to use:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/downloading-the-270-winchester-which-powder.842334/

The discussion surrounding the first reloads:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/first-target-downloaded-270-winchester.842552/

Today I tested some downloaded cartridges for group size. I followed the spirit if not the letter of Olympus's suggested outline.

Hodgdon's online data gives a maximum powder charge of 47.5 grains of H4895 under a 110 grain Hornady bullet. The reduced loading minimum guideline for H4895 is 60% of the maximum charge, which in this case would be 28.5 grains of H4895.

I started at 29.0 grains, and loaded three cartridges each in half-grain increments (rather than the 0.3 increments Olympus recommended.). My test ran from 29.0 to 32.5 grains, and gave me the information I need.

I am quite proud that at 74 years of age, with early cataracts in both eyes, using a Ruger #1 with factory trigger and a Leupold 4 power scope, firing hand loads made with a cheap Lee Loader handheld tool, that I could produce these results. My best group was 0.513 inches at 100 yards, produced by the 29.5 grain powder charge. The second best group was 0.675 inches using 32.0 grains of H4895, which was only slightly better than the 0.859 group fired with the 30.0 grain charge. The recoil felt like a light load in a .410 shotgun; absolutely delightful! There is no way I could have endured that many rounds of factory ammo, but I can shoot these all day long.

Hodgdon's 2018 Reloading Annual Manual shows a load for the 6.8 Remington SPC for the Hornady VMax .277 bullet, the same one I used, that produces a muzzle velocity of 2550 FPS with 29 grains of H4895. So I think my loads will be playing in this same ballpark; 2600 FPS thereabouts.

My next step is to load up 20 or so of the 29.5 grain loads, get the scope adjusted to about 2 inches high at 100 yards, and then see what it does on a whitetail.

Thanks for helping me get this far.

View attachment 808373

I didn't see the other threads, so my apologies if this has been addressed already, but for deer, you might swap to an accubond or a prohunter for better game performance than the vmax. That being said, congratulations on the new loads working out so well and double congratulations on the excellent shooting!

 

[J-Bar]

I didn't see the other threads, so my apologies if this has been addressed already, but for deer, you might swap to an accubond or a prohunter for better game performance than the vmax. That being said, congratulations on the new loads working out so well and double congratulations on the excellent shooting!

I chose the 110 grain in order to get a significant reduction in bullet weight, trying to reduce recoil, and chose the Hornady because well DUH it’s a Hornady! I know it’s a varmint bullet but the online reviews mentioned that others had successfully taken deer with it, so I bought a box. I’ll give it one season. Now that I know I can tolerate these reduced loads, if the 110 grain V Max misbehaves, I will make a change. Could be more posts in the future!

 

[Grumulkin]

I am quite proud that at 74 years of age, with early cataracts in both eyes, using a Ruger #1 with factory trigger and a Leupold 4 power scope, firing hand loads made with a cheap Lee Loader handheld tool, that I could produce these results. My best group was 0.513 inches at 100 yards, produced by the 29.5 grain powder charge. The second best group was 0.675 inches using 32.0 grains of H4895, which was only slightly better than the 0.859 group fired with the 30.0 grain charge. The recoil felt like a light load in a .410 shotgun; absolutely delightful! There is no way I could have endured that many rounds of factory ammo, but I can shoot these all day long.

You have every reason to be proud. As one who has taken a dear with a heavy (i.e., 45 grain bullet) at over 250 yards with a 204 Ruger, I think 110 grain bullets out of your 270 Winchester should do fine on deer.

 

[horsey300]

I chose the 110 grain in order to get a significant reduction in bullet weight, trying to reduce recoil, and chose the Hornady because well DUH it’s a Hornady! I know it’s a varmint bullet but the online reviews mentioned that others had successfully taken deer with it, so I bought a box. I’ll give it one season. Now that I know I can tolerate these reduced loads, if the 110 grain V Max misbehaves, I will make a change. Could be more posts in the future!

Just a heads up, the aforementioned game bullets are made 100 (accubond) and 110 (ab and ph) for spc hunters. I do look forward to hearing your results!
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....ameter-110-grain-spitzer-pro-hunter-100-count
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....-diameter-110-grain-spitzer-accubond-50-count

 

[mustanger98]

I chose the 110 grain in order to get a significant reduction in bullet weight, trying to reduce recoil, and chose the Hornady because well DUH it’s a Hornady! I know it’s a varmint bullet but the online reviews mentioned that others had successfully taken deer with it, so I bought a box. I’ll give it one season. Now that I know I can tolerate these reduced loads, if the 110 grain V Max misbehaves, I will make a change. Could be more posts in the future!

I was remembering that, in the previous thread, Olympus mentioned this...
"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'm thinking both approaches have a lot of potential, depending on who's rifle we're talking about. Y'all notice both bullets are Hornady's. Ten grains of bullet don't sound like a lot of difference, but how are they constructed? That 110gr V-MAX may be all that's needed. If the 120gr SST gets a try, while I would check data first, it would appear to me that it's within the margin for the same charge of H4895. I wouldn't expect an appreciable increase in recoil, but accuracy testing starts over.

 

[J-Bar]

More fun!!

 

[Nature Boy]

Nice shooting! I bet it’s pleasant to shoot as well

 

[J-Bar]

Nice shooting! I bet it’s pleasant to shoot as well

Yes it is, and thanks for your comments.

 

[horsey300]

More fun!!

Something go wrong?

 

[J-Bar]

Something go wrong?

Nope. Sorry for any confusion; I just meant that If the VMax doesn't work well this season and I have to try yours (and others) alternatives, it will just be more fun on the range!

 

[Legionnaire]

Outstanding results; congratulations! I'd be proud, too! Thanks for taking the time for a detailed report.

 

[Random 8]

Please do not use that V-max on deer. The only positive results I found in an admittedly quick search were head or neck shots. You might be confusing the Hornady A-max match bullet which many have successfully used for long range on deer sized game.

My experience with the V-max bullet is in .223 rem 60gr and .280 rem 120 grain. They are a fine bullet for coyotes. At closer ranges, the .223 will not exit on a shoulder shot coyote. At longer ranges it's about 50/50. In the .280 Rem, it gets messy on coyotes and did not exit a medium sized (roughly 100lb) Timber wolf. I would not want to eat an animal shot with this bullet, and I highly suspect anything other than a head, spine or clean behind the shoulder shot would result in a wounded animal. I highly doubt this bullet would successfully penetrate heavy bone and/or muscle, and if it did, it's gonna be a mess. Your particular bullet was designed for the 6.8SPC velocities, to expand violently for shock effect on varmints and to limit danger of ricochet.

 

[J-Bar]

I understand your concern. I will be selective in taking shots. I agree shot placement is paramount . If a long range shot is necessary, I will have a couple of factory 150 grain rounds available.

 

[mustanger98]

Ummm... Is your 100yd zero the same for both loads?

 

[red rick]

Nice shooting and good work at your reloading bench .

 

[J-Bar]

Ummm... Is your 100yd zero the same for both loads?

Don’t worry, I know where they hit.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I have used AMAX and VMAX on deer with good results.
I feel most people blame the bullet instead of their willingness to take bad shots.

 

[Peakbagger46]

I understand what everyone is saying about it being a bad idea to use V-max on deer. However, using a toughly constructed big game bullet at severely reduced velocity would probably be even worse, resulting in a failure to expand.

For what it’s worth, my wife has taken several deer using a reduced load (also H4895) with her .308. The bullets I load are Hornady 130g soft points. Not sure, but I believe they were intended to be varmit bullets. At reduced velocity they have worked very well.

 

[mustanger98]

Don’t worry, I know where they hit.

Okay, good.

Post #18... Something about arrows and Indians comes to mind.

Post #19... Sounds like a good point. A varmint bullet slowed down some may well act more like a heavier bullet at a higher speed... not as explosive as usual. This could improve a .223's performance on deer with 55gr SP's? I don't know... there's a limit to everything.