Reloading question

[nzwermann]

I am about to reload some 270 cal rifle bullets. I will be using hodgdon powder h100v with a 270 win 150gr ballistic tip from horndy bullet. The book says a start load of 48 to max load 52. My question what is the best load to use? I was thinking 50. Anyone out there reload and have a favorite in the 270 win 150gr.

[luv2hunt]

I always go with the more accurate load. Has been working on everything I load.

[60 Deluxe]

That is really close to the load I use. I think mine is 50.3 or 50.6

[muddyfuzzy]

there is no best load................chambers are like women. the endeavor of reloading is the fleeting chase of futility...................you'll make crap before you find the one load. welcome to the club, start safely and have a good time. my garage is like santa's workshop.

[Dallascowboys]

To be honest each load will shoot out different in different guns. Always start on the low side and work up from there. What I did with mine was make a batch of 3 different loads take them to the range and see which shoots better. Good luck

[Jerry H]

What I do is I load 5 rounds of each charge . Shoot all of them kepping track which load is which and see which one groups the best. Not worring about hitting the bull at this point just seeing which loads group best.
Keep notes on what each load does find the one that groups best and go home to load more of that load. Go back to the range and zero rifle for that load.

[RPB]

Well, if you want to get serious then load a Ladder. 5 shots at 48, 5 shots at 48.5 then 49 and so forth up to the max. I would bet you find two that really sing out of your rifle.
Get the Hornady reloading bible, all the reloading bibles from the manufacturers are like gold. a Ton of usefull information, Once you find a powder weight then do a ladder with different seating depths. then you will have as close to a perfect round for your gun. JMO

[Okiehunter]

Consider using the “ladder” method to find the best load for your gun.

First, pick your bullet, powder, primer and case. Load (one each) in .3gr increments, starting at the minimum load and stopping at the max load. Label each load, for example 45.0 is load A, 45.3 is load B, etc. Write it all down to be used later.
Shoot at a large target at as long of a distance as you have access to, at least 200 yards, 300 or 400 is better.

Shot (and chrono if you can) one round at a time starting with lowest. Marked on paper exactly where each load hits the target.

Somewhere in the process, you will notice that bullets will begin to cluster on the target. For example, load A might be low and right 4-inches, load B will be low and left 3-inches, load C, D and E will cluster close to each other and the remaining loads will be scattered.

The loads that have clustered close together (C,D,and E) are the "sweet spots" for your barrel and load.

Now go back to the reloading bench and load three or four each in .2 gr increments starting just below the smallest sweet spot load moving up, again in .2gr increments. One of these loads will very likely give you a very, accurate and repeatable load.

Google Ladder Reloading Method for more info than you can read.

[Pearson]

I can tell you that normally but not always the choice in powder that fills the case the fullest will produce a more accurate load. But there is no magic load that works well in all rifles.

In loading your own I would always start with the most conservative load and work with different seating depths and primers with the projectiles you have chosen.

The danger in starting on the high side is quite simply a matter of safety. Load manuals are not like most things these days in the way of being way under the danger zone in order to meet liability issues.

Two rifles can come off the assembly line one behind the other same make model and cartridge. Work a max load for one and shoot it 1000 a times or forever with no danger. Then stick the same load in the other rifle and lock the action up from excessive pressure.

The things you might look for is what twist rate your barrel has. Then search for recommended bullet weights for that cartridge and twist. Once you have settled on a bullet weight load two or three in a set with your lowest recommended power charge starting 0.20 off the lands.

Check for pressure signs and if non I usually add a magnum primer and go from there. So the process is to stay at the same powder weight and load 6 at 0.20 of the lands.

Now with a clean bore shoot one for foul and then 5 for group. The next loads same powder weight go to 0.15 off the lands (note 0.05 at a time is just a suggestion you can use smaller increment but I would not use larger) . All ways checking for pressure sighs.

Start with clean bore shot one for foul and 5 for group. so on and so forth until your bullet is touching the lands. Once you determine the seating distance your rifle shoots best do the same thing all over again only keep the seating depth that preformed best and increase only the power charge by 1/10ths of grain at a time all the while checking for pressure signs.

Once you have gone as far as safely can with this you should be able to select from the data you have gathered the most accurate and highest velocity round that can be worked up with the components you have chosen in this rifle. Good Luck and feel free to PM for help if you have the need.

OH and I should say that if it is an automatic or leaver action rifle the max book COL might give the longest your cartridge can be and still work properly.

[Okiehunter]

starting 0.20 off the lands.

Are you suggesting that a fellow start at almost 1/4 inch off the lands???? I hope not, maybe .02 off by not .2. Somebody need to double check this before you go down that road.

[Okiehunter]

The below was written by Eric Stecker the Master Bulletsmith at Berger.

Load 24 rounds at the following COAL if you are a hunter (pulling a bullet out of the case with your rifling while in the field can be a hunt ending event which must be avoided) or a competition shooter who worries about pulling a bullet during a match:
1. .010 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
2. .050 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
3. .090 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
4. .130 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds

Shoot 2 (separate) 3 shot groups in fair conditions to see how they group. The remarkable reality of this test is that one of these 4 COALs will outperform the other three by a considerable margin. Once you know which one of these 4 COAL shoots best then you can tweak the COAL +/- .002 or .005. Taking the time to set this test up will pay off when you find that your rifle is capable of shooting the VLD bullets very well (even at 100 yards).

[nzwermann]

Thank you guys for the information. I know my rifle does bot shoot well with a 130gr bullet. It is must accurate with 150 gr bullet. My rifle is a stevens savage 200 - 270 win. From what data I have read the about my powder and bullet I will be loading. I think the best will be the load that is in the middle of the load chart. I will probably test a few different loads out. I am looking for knock down and accurate shots.

[Shane]

Thank you guys for the information. I know my rifle does bot shoot well with a 130gr bullet. It is must accurate with 150 gr bullet. My rifle is a stevens savage 200 - 270 win. From what data I have read the about my powder and bullet I will be loading. I think the best will be the load that is in the middle of the load chart. I will probably test a few different loads out. I am looking for knock down and accurate shots.

You won't know which load is best for sure until you try several different loads. You can load 3 rounds each from the minimum charge to the maximum charge (in 1/2 grain increments). Then shoot groups with all of them. Be sure and let your barrel cool for a few minutes between groups. You will probably see differences in the groups, and you'll be able to tell which powder charge did the best in your particular gun. You can then fine tune even further with loads somewhere between the 1/2 grain increments if you want to.

[BOHTR]

Thank you guys for the information. I know my rifle does bot shoot well with a 130gr bullet. It is must accurate with 150 gr bullet. My rifle is a stevens savage 200 - 270 win. From what data I have read the about my powder and bullet I will be loading. I think the best will be the load that is in the middle of the load chart. I will probably test a few different loads out. I am looking for knock down and accurate shots.

I could sit here and type out a novel on this subject, but there is no need. Listen to these guys.....they have given you a lot of good, solid advice. Above all, be safe. Start at the bottom and slowly work your loads up, paying close attention to signs of pressure. Every chamber is different....just arbitrarily picking a load could be disasterous.

[Pearson]

Are you suggesting that a fellow start at almost 1/4 inch off the lands???? I hope not, maybe .02 off by not .2. Somebody need to double check this before you go down that road.

Sorry 20 thousandths to start can't revise first post. And then 5 thousandths there after. Or as I said smaller increments if you prefer. Man can you tell that I have been away from the load table for a while.