270 with IMR4198, 2400, Unique

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celtgun

New member
Have these powders in stock, want to load a few 270 Winchester. Also have Hornady 130gr SP Interlock. Find the following in manuels.

From Lee Modern Reloading, 30.5/34.5gr IMR 4198, 150gr jacketed bullet. This load would be fine, I thank with 130gr as well.

Lyman #46, for 124gr cast(#2 alloy) Unique 14/16gr
2400 20/26gr
Both of these are low velocity cast loads, the jacketed could be raised some.
If you have used these powders in 270, please share info.

"An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." Jeff Cooper
 
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WCW

New member
IMR 4350 is a very good choice for the .270, and I have also found a couple excellent loads using H4831. Either one is sure to give you some great results.
 
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Shoney

New member
The loads you list with the powders you have on hand would be fine as "reduced or youth" loads.

If you could let us know your intended use for the loads, we could give you better suggestions.
 
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Hook686

New member
The OP asked if you had used the powders he referenced in a .270, NOT what powder should he use. No answers to his question yet. I'm interested.

Why do folks feel the need to reply to a question not asked ? Basic insecurity issues ?
 
J

jimbob86

Moderator
From Lee Modern Reloading, 30.5/34.5gr IMR 4198, 150gr jacketed bullet. This load would be fine, I thank with 130gr as well.
Click to expand...

Don't Do It. Do not deviate from published loads. A lighter bullet may develop sufficient pressure to keep the bullet moving along...... ..... and it might not....... .....and where will the pressure go then? Weakest spot: cartidge case head may separate. That would be a Bad Thing.

IIRC, 2400 and Unique are pistol powders..... may be OK for reduced loads (as published) but why?

What will you have gained by saving 21 bucks (for a rifle powder suitable for .270 Win) if you create bore obstruction and/or damage your $400 rifle or your priceless self jacking around with screwy loads?

I have had good success with IMR 4064 in 90, 100, and 110 grain bullet weights, H414, H4831 in 130 grain, and IMR 7828 in 150grain.....

H414 was more consistent in very cold weather when used with a magnum primer, per Speer #13 Reloading Manual.
 
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jimbob86

Moderator
The OP asked if you had used the powders he referenced in a .270, NOT what powder should he use. No answers to his question yet. I'm interested.

Why do folks feel the need to reply to a question not asked ? Basic insecurity issues ?
Click to expand...

Nope..... Nor would I use those pistol powders for .270 Win. , even if I knew I could. I know I COULD use a banana for a door stop..... that does not make it a good idea. ...... and it seems that using Unique (a fairly fast pistol powder) in a large bottle necked rifle case would be more akin to using a bucket of battery acid for a door stop. It might work, but the potential for Very Bad Things is pretty high.

Why did I comment? If I saw somone doing or contemplating doing something unsafe, I would say something, wouldn't you? If they want to persist in that activity........ well at least I did speak up.
 
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SL1

New member
OK, I'll answer the OP's question.

Lee's Modern Reloading also lists:

Code: 
130 grain jacketed bullet:

   IMR-4198  31.9 grains  2418 fps (start)
             35.5 grains  2660 fps (max)
That is a full-PRESSURE load, but well below full-POWER for a .270 Winchester.

Also, Ken Waters published some "small game loads" in the April, 1980 edition of "American Rifleman" and also in his book "Pet Loads."

These were NOT pressure-tested. They used Federal 210 primers in Federal brass. They included:

Code: 
Sierra 90 grain JHP, COL = 3.162":
   Unique      10.0 grains  1,661 fps
   IMR-4198    22.0 grains  1,827 fps

Sierra 110 grain spitzer, COL = 3.30"
   IMR-4198    21.0 grains  1,772 fps

Now for the editorial:

These are not full power loads, and these powders are not good for full power loads. Also, data listed for lead bullets should NOT be used with jacketed bullets for a variety of reasons that I won't argue here.

You would be much better off buying a powder suitable for the .270 Winchester if you intend to load it. IMR-4350 has been the "go-to" powder for that cartridge for decades, and would be a good place to start with this cartridge because there are a LOT of published, pressure-tested data for it with all sorts of combinations of bullets, primers, and cases. There are a lot of new powders that may work as well or even better than IMR-4350, but there is not anywhere near as much data for those powders, yet.

SL1
 
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LHB1

New member
Would recommend NOT using either Unique or 4198 in .270. IMO they are too fast burning for full power loads in .270. Would recommend getting either 4831 or 4350. I have used both these powders in .270 with excellent results.
 
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celtgun

New member
Thanks Guys

Thanks, I appreciate the advice. I understand the cautions. 1 problem for me is that I am an hours drive from retail powder sources. And 270 is not a "frontline" caliber for me, have 2, one is for sale. The NEF I have would be what I am loading for as youth rifle for nephews. Need a copy of ken walters book. Sounds interesting.
I am sure there are lots of folks reloading 270, super popular round. Any more advice/loads welcome.

Good Shooting!!!

"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them." - Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1796
 
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steveno

New member
just for giggles I once loaded 18 grains of Unique with a 140 grain Nosler Accubond. at 50 yards 3 shots were touching from a Ruger #1A in 270 Winchester. I didn't chronograph them but I think they would be in the 1,800 to 1,900 fps. all considering it ain't much different from using a 30-30. some of the distances that a deer would be shot along the Platte River 50 yards would be a fairly normal range for a shot. it was definitely a lot more fun to shoot than the 160 grain Nosler Partitions that I normally shot.
 
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FrankenMauser

New member
Better yet, for 130 grain loads, are IMR 4064 and H/IMR 4895. 4831 can be a bit slow, while 4350 is always harder to find. (Around here, anyway.)


If you absolutely must use one of the powders on hand, use the 4198.
However, I highly recommend picking up a powder more suitable for the .270 Win.

(4198 is not only too quick, but actually shows evidence of erratic burn rates in large-volume cartridges. Most reloading manuals don't recommend using it for anything bigger than the .243/.308 or 7x57/8x57 Mauser. {again, the loads are often full pressure, but not full power.})


So...
For 150gr loads, use 4831 or similar.
For 130gr loads, use 4350, 4895, 4064, AA3100, etc.
For the 124gr cast, Unique might be acceptable. Just keep the velocity under 1600fps if they aren't gas-checked.
 
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SL1

New member
"all considering it ain't much different from using a 30-30"

Well, yes it IS different. A .30-30 bullet is designed to EXPAND at fairly low velocites, while a 140 grain Accubond is designed to expand at higher velocities. With a muzzle velocity of only 1800 fps, the Accubond would probably not expand at all by the time it got to a deer. You might as well be shooting a FMJ. How effective do you think a FMJ would be out of a .30-30?

SL1
 
C

Colorado Redneck

New member
IMR 4831 for 270 win

4831 is my favorite powder for 130 SST. Get 3100 fps and 1" groups. Makes things die when I shoots em.

Reloader 22 will sling 130 Interbonds at 3160 fps for 1 inch groups too.
 
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