270 Winchester loads w/ IMR3031 and 130gr TTSX

[prevail]

Hello, I am new to this forum and elk hunting. Long time deer hunter, primarily in the heavy woods but preparing for my first CO elk hunt.

I recently purchased a 270 winchester rifle and will be working up an accurate load for the rifle. Unfortunately I don't have any 4831 or RL-22 on hand and given the way things are it could be a while. I've seen a few loads online using 3031 (which I have in abundance) using various 130gr bullets but I am hoping my rifle like the 130gr TTSX. I plan to back way off on the charge as I think the TTSX will have more bearing surface than the 130gr bullets I;ve seen in other loads.

Does anyone have experience using IMR3031 in the 270?

Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[jeremy.b]

For what it's worth, reliable powder distributers have been getting powder shipments the last couple weeks. You may be able to track down something in a slower burn rate.

Also, for what it's worth the 130gr ttsx might be on the edge of stability if your 270 has the standard 1-10" twist. I had a heck of a time getting stability with longer bullets in the factory 1-10 twist barrel my 270 came with. This included 130&140 gr tsx (not ttsx) 140gr accubonds, etc. I did have good luck with 133 gr shock hammers and 150 gr partitions before swapping to a 1-7" twist barrel last year.

 

[prevail]

Thanks for the information, this is pretty much what I expected to hear. I have some lighter bullets I can load up in the mean time. I just started looking around but seems like no one has the slower powders.

For bullets I'll be looking at the 124gr hammer hunter as well. Just need to find some slower powder.

 

[Stammster]

130 TTSX is perfectly stable in a 1:10 270 Win.

3031 will work, but it's a pretty fast powder for that application. I wouldn't waste my time trying to develop a load.

There are a ton of mid to slow burn powders that will work. You mentioned 4831, which would work great. However anything in the 4350 range is also ideal, all the way up to 4064.

https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/270WinchesterForWeb.pdf

This gives you a ton of options. As mentioned, lots of powder showing up at PV, Midsouth, Midway, and your LGS.

 

[jeremy.b]

Do you have an expected max effective range you hope to hit with this load work up?

 

[Seabeeken]

3031 will be completely burned in about 8" of barrel and should max out somewhere around 48 gr and give about 2900-3000 fps from a 22" barrel. Its a very fast powder for the 270 but is a versatile powder. I had excellent accuracy in smaller cases like 243 and 250ai but never actually tried it in 270. 10 twist should stabilize the 130 gr.

 

[just_jon]

No personal experience with this combo so I ran the in QL with a 22" barrel using QL presets. Looks like 47.1 grains takes you to max pressure. If you know your actual OAL and case capacity, I can refine the data a bit.

 

[prevail]

Do you have an expected max effective range you hope to hit with this load work up?

I'm not shooting beyond 400 yards. Probably keep it closer to 350 realistically.

 

[prevail]

130 TTSX is perfectly stable in a 1:10 270 Win.

3031 will work, but it's a pretty fast powder for that application. I wouldn't waste my time trying to develop a load.

There are a ton of mid to slow burn powders that will work. You mentioned 4831, which would work great. However anything in the 4350 range is also ideal, all they say up to 4064.

https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/270WinchesterForWeb.pdf

This gives you a ton of options. As mentioned, lots of powder showing up at PV, Midsouth, Midway, and your LGS.

Thanks, I'll be putting together a list of appropriate powders tonight so I know what to be looking for.

 

[ar91599]

Watch powder valley I just bought 2lbs imr 4831 last Friday

 

[jeremy.b]

I'm not shooting beyond 400 yards. Probably keep it closer to 350 realistically.

Great, then you definitely have plenty of options for bullets, it's all about what you can find for availability.

Looks like the 130gr ttsx is widely available right now on a few sites. I also found the 150gr grand slam at grafs. I used the crap out of 165 gr grand slams for 350 and in out of an 06, so a 150 should work well out of the 270, and it is short enough to be stable out of a 1-10.

Also like you are considering, the 124gr hh is viable too, but there could be others to consider. Give Steve/brian a call if you want their thoughts on options.

 

[prevail]

Great, then you definitely have plenty of options for bullets, it's all about what you can find for availability.

Looks like the 130gr ttsx is widely available right now on a few sites. I also found the 150gr grand slam at grafs. I used the crap out of 165 gr grand slams for 350 and in out of an 06, so a 150 should work well out of the 270, and it is short enough to be stable out of a 1-10.

Also like you are considering, the 124gr hh is viable too, but there could be others to consider. Give Steve/brian a call if you want their thoughts on options.

Yeah I found the 130 TTSX online so I ordered some. I have plenty of time but I want to start getting components in hand. Plus, I like a project

 

[Stammster]

I looked back through my notes. I started developing a load a few years ago for my M70 pre-64 FWT using the 129 LRX, which is going to be pretty close to the 130 TTSX.

22" bbl
RL26 (hot lot)
Win Brass / WLR primer
0.061" jump / 3.32 COAL
60gr - 3116 fps
61gr - 3180 fps
62gr - 3233 fps
62.5 - 3255 fps
No pressure signs. Low ES. 0.7-1.1" groups. 62.5gr below 65K per QL.
I've got some loaded at different jumps that I haven't shot yet, trying to get the group size 0.5-0.6" at 100 yds.

RL26 is going to be hard to find, but it gives good velocity even with the 130s as long as you don't run out of case capacity.

The above load is also good for dinosaurs.

 

[jeremy.b]

I had good luck with imr 7828ssc. It would get within 50-100 fps of rl 26 in the 133gr SH and 150 gr partitions. So if you see it come up for sale consider it as well.