270 winchester loads?

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overanalytical

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I am getting ready to order my components for 270 deer loads, and I wanted to run my thoughts by you guys. I am thinking the sierra gameking 150 grain and 4831 powder. Thoughts and suggestions would be really appreciated. I'll be shooting a Winchester model 70 stainless with a boss cr system.

Thanks!!
 
I haven't loaded 270 in many, many years, but I just bought components myself and I went with H4831SC and 130 grain Sierras. They have listings for both H and IMR and 150 grains in their 5th edition. They do list RL22 as the accuracy and hunting loads for their 150 grain bullets... But many others have suggested 4831 as a go to powder for 270.
 
cwall64, thanks for your reply! Have you had much experience with the game king? I have always been leery about tip deformation using a soft point bullet. For the price they look pretty good and it's hard to justify $.50 a bullet for some of the polymer tipped bullets out there.
 
Too be honest with you I cannot remember what I used 20 - 30 years ago when that was the only rifle I had and hunted a lot. I am pretty sure it was similar in design, boat tail with soft tip and it always seemed to knock the deer down and was damn accurate! It had to be either a Nosler, Sierra, or Speer as those are the 3 ancient reloading manuals I have on the shelf...

I am pretty much starting from scratch with the old Savage 110 (left handed) as the old targets that I had folded up in the manuals are so faded I cannot see the powder charge or bullet used, but 3 holes are touching on all of them at 100 yards. I guess I'll keep digital records this time!
 
I split the difference between the typical 130 and 150gr loads by using the Hornady 140 gr Interlock spire points. I usually use H4831 but I have also had good results with Rx22.

These loads are used in a Savage 110.
 
I am pretty sure its Federal Premium that uses the sierra gameking 130's, I dont shoot 270 but my friend does and he really likes the Gamekings. He doesnt reload but I did load some for him using 4831 but he has yet to shoot any of my handloads to test for accuracy.
 
I use a .270 for Metallic Silhouette matches. My load is 53 gr. IMR 4831 and Berger 140 gr. VLD Hunting bullet. (Berger doesn't make Match Grade bullets for the .270.) This load shoots 2-3/4" five round groups at 500 meters off a bench sand bag rest. I have used the same load and gun for hunting and it has yet to disappoint me.

I have been loading the .270 for 20+ years in various rifles (Parker Hale, Ruger, Tikka and Weatherby), all have done very well with IMR 4831 and 130 gr. and 140 gr. bullets.
If I couldn't or didn't want to use the Berger bullet, my second choice would be the Sierra Game King with the Hornady 129/140 gr. SP running a very close third.

I hope this is helpful.
 
Have two .270's: a pre-64 Model 70 and a 80's vintage 700 BDL. Both love 130 grain spire points, with the Winchester eating up 4831 and the Remington 4064.
 
150s are not necessary for deer (or even elk).

Run 130s, maybe 140s, and be happy. The cartridge was designed around 130 grain bullets, and that's where it's in its prime.

If you've already ordered the 150s, then go ahead and use them. But don't get under impression that it's a necessity. Don't think that 4831 is a necessity, either. Most of the 4831 .270 Win loads that are so popular were developed in the 1940s and 1950s. We have many more powders today, and quite a few are much better suited to the job than 4831.


Personally, I run 140 gr Partitions over 55.0 gr of RL-19, for my "go-to" load. It's a "mild" load with an unimpressive muzzle velocity of 2,790 fps, but it's also a very accurate load that has never let me down. There's room for more velocity, but I haven't found it necessary, since accuracy is fantastic.
I'd actually prefer a 130 gr Partition, but load development started with 140s and resulted in great performance. So, I'm hesitant to change things. ;)
 
It has been years for me as well but in the day I read that the .270 was designed for the 130 gr bullet. I have noted a marked difference with different bullets. Mine hates boattails. The 130 with R-15 was a nail driver. Literally, I would shot at nail heads in a 2x4.

The nice thing about 130 is they are not too too big for prairie dogs. Which are way way more fun than paper.
 
130 gn Sierra GK's are sub MOA for me through 400 yards. I load the a in front of a near max charge of IMR 4064. These are my white tail rounds and I have taken two nice 8 points at 250+ the last two years. If I feel under gunned for the game at hand I move up to 140 gn Barnes TTSX and IMR 4350.
 
I'm a big fan of the .270 & I have 3 deer rifles in that caliber. I agree that the 130gr bullets are ideal for this as a deer cartridge & may even be over-kill (i.e. meat damage) for the smaller deer with some bullets. I've experiment with the more expensive monolithic bullets & premium polymer tipped bullets & eventually went back to regular jacketed bullets. My favorite is the Speer 130gr SP flat base. Never had a deer complain! I've tried many powders over the years & I've found that 4831 usually comes out on top so that is what I usually start with. For bullets under 130gr I try 4350. My tack-driver load is Sierra's 115gr with 4350.

I believe that like most people, I make up my mind with small sample sets of information. I'd love to tell you I've shot dozens of deer each with this or that bullet to compare & concluded the 130gr Speer was best. I love Sierras & their superb accuracy, but I found them excessively destructive on deer, at least on a couple of deer. Early Silvertip bullets had all kinds of unpredictable performance...LOL. I found early partitioned Nosler bullets opened up very little on deer so I gave up on them & their high price pretty quickly. Speer Grand-Slams seem overly destructive on a few deer. I like how easy BT bullets load, but on the few bullets recovered I am of the opinion that the BT promotes separation of jacket & core at least on non-bonded bullets. I've shot several dozens of deer from 5yds to 450yds with the Speer 130gr SP & there is my recommendation.

FWIW
 
My first experience with the .270 was back in 1973. I tried various 130 gr. bullets and frankly was not happy with some of the meat distr. ion. Back then with a wife and four kids, our yearly deer hunt was kind of on a semi-subsistant basis. Btw my wife and two oldest kids we could take four deer a year and that went a long way toward helping out with the food bills. Was visiting with one of my hunting parents and naturally things turned to guns, ammo and bullets. My buddy's dad suggested I switch to 150 gr. bullet. I did and haven't looked back. I never really used the .270 all that much, I know probably a serious error in judgement but the few times I've used it it worked and worked very well.
Last hunt where I actually shot game was in 2009 on an antelope hunt. The stalk got me to 75 yards of the animal and the 150 gr. Sierra game King punched about a half inch entrance wound and about 1.5" at the exit, bullet hitting at the short ribs and exciting behind the right shoulder. Only bones hit were a rib going in and a rib going out. The stomach was nicked but no contents spilled. Three years ago, my hunting partner got a shot at a cow elk at IIRC about 110 yards. Shot hit behind the front leg and exited about 4" back of the off leg. One inch entrance and about a 4" exit as I recall. Rifle was chambered to the .270 WSM. Insides were pretty much messed up.
Hat bullet is very accurate in three .270s I own. I took it on an elk hunt two years ago but didn't get a shot while I had it On the last day of the hunt I hung it up and took my .35 Whelen lucky elk rifle and bagged my elk with it. Hunt's are only three days on the ranch I hunt and as my buddies had all tagged out it was do or die. I've always considered that rifle as my lucky elk gun and it proved that it was once again.
I'll bed taking that .35 with me for another elk hunt as back up and will try the .270 once more on the first day but the .35 will do the last three days. Due told age and the body ills that accompany it, this old carcass figure this will be his last elk hunt. Bad knees,and other problems just make doing it every year no longer possible if I want to survive. Damn near died on the hunt last year thanks to a VA doctor's screw up so will have an understanding with the guide on what may need to be done to retrieve my elk should I shoot one.
Paul B.
 
I am thinking the sierra gameking 150 grain and 4831 powder.
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I use that bullet for deer, and tried H4831 with it. I got better velocity and smaller SD with a IMR7828 load.

I've heard good things about RL22, wanted to try it, but never got around to it.....


Like others, I went to the 150 from the 130 after dealing with a lot of bloodshot (rib and shoulder) meat at close ranges .....

I really like the #1840SGK..... works well at ranges from 15 feet to "way out past Ft. Mudge".
 
Personally, I run 140 gr Partitions over 55.0 gr of RL-19, for my "go-to" load.
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Pick your shots. If the animal is facing you, a partition will be through his boiler room and into the nastyness.
 
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