Bullet choices for 270

g0cherr

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Dec 21, 2009
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Hermiston, Oregon
I have recently acquired a Remington 700 BDL in 270. I have learned from Remington it was manufactured in July of 1974 and that's all the history I have on it. I am trying to develop a load in the 145-150 grain bullet range. I want to give it to my grandson for deer and elk hunting. I know this rifle has a 22" barrel with a 1-10 twist. I like the 4831 powder and thought I had found a load using 145 ELD X. After going thru powder charges and seating depth I got a 5/8 group with 2936 FPS. Loaded up a bunch and took it out to sight in and couldn't get under 2" groups. I would get 2 touching then a flyer. Try another group and same results. I wouldn't think I would need a faster twist rate for that bullet but apparently the gun doesn't like that bullet. I recently read some rifles just don't like boat tails so I am asking for what some of you may have found successful with this rifle in the 150 grain range. I am not opposed to the 130 grain but really want to go heavier.
Thanks
 
Thanks, no I am not set on the ELDX, I have had great success with an ELDX load for my 300 WSM with a 1-10 twist barrel, so I figured I would find the same success with the 270 but haven't so I am looking for other options. I will add the 140 to my list of options.
 
Don't forget about the Hornady SST....great hunting bullet. For practical hunting distance of the .270 the 140 SST starting out at 3005fps gives 2200fps+ and 1500ftlbs out to 500 at 2000ft elevation. Put that up at Elk elevation and gain a little performance. There is a 150gr version, but might be iffy in the 1/10 twist?
 
The answer is, of course, to shoot the bullet your gun "likes the best." I have 5 270's in various makes. (I am an unabashed gunaphile) Each gun has its own "best" bullet and load. The 270 is famous for what it does with the 130grain. All of my 270's (1:10 twist) like 130's; they like flat base more than boat tails. Meaning that as a group they are easier to dial in with flat-based bullets, but they all will absolutely shoot boat tails-it just takes longer to find the sweet spot. I am a reloader so I can play with seating depths, powders, and a whole range of little things that the retail shooter cannot. I have shot a lot of different 140's and a few 150's, again, easier to dial in 140's compared to 150's. RL22 shoots well for me, so does H4831. "I love the smell of R22 in the morning, etc..."
 
Thanks guys. I was wondering if the 1-10 twist was too slow for the heavier bullets. With the flyers I am getting it immediately reminded me of a similar issue I had with a 22-250 and 65 grn bullets and a 1-12 twist.
I will be honest I haven't even looked at the 140s. Thanks for the ideas.
 
Thanks guys. I was wondering if the 1-10 twist was too slow for the heavier bullets. With the flyers I am getting it immediately reminded me of a similar issue I had with a 22-250 and 65 grn bullets and a 1-12 twist.
I will be honest I haven't even looked at the 140s. Thanks for the ideas.
It's not so much about the weight but the length of the projectiles where the issue can start.

I've shot 70gr speer semi spitzers out of my 1:14 twist 22-250 no problem but could not get 55gr GMX mono's to stabilize.

If I get to or 3 touching then a flyer I normally start playing with the seating depth.
 
I was having a similar issue with my Weatherby in 270 Win.
It likes the 140 Accubond over 58.0 of H4831 with a CCI 200. Groups started opening up again at 58.5, similar to how they were at 57.5.

I'm sure you probably already have, but it might be worth checking to make sure your barrel isn't bound in the stock. Same Weatherby mentioned above, the action had to raise 5/32" before the barrel floated. Shot horrible until that was fixed, now it shoots like a dream with the above load.
 
Appreciate you sharing your load. One of the first things I did when I received this rifle was a full bedding and free floated the barrel but it's worth checking to make sure I don't have contact somewhere.
 
I have recently acquired a Remington 700 BDL in 270. I have learned from Remington it was manufactured in July of 1974 and that's all the history I have on it. I am trying to develop a load in the 145-150 grain bullet range. I want to give it to my grandson for deer and elk hunting. I know this rifle has a 22" barrel with a 1-10 twist. I like the 4831 powder and thought I had found a load using 145 ELD X. After going thru powder charges and seating depth I got a 5/8 group with 2936 FPS. Loaded up a bunch and took it out to sight in and couldn't get under 2" groups. I would get 2 touching then a flyer. Try another group and same results. I wouldn't think I would need a faster twist rate for that bullet but apparently the gun doesn't like that bullet. I recently read some rifles just don't like boat tails so I am asking for what some of you may have found successful with this rifle in the 150 grain range. I am not opposed to the 130 grain but really want to go heavier.
Thanks

hey! Big 270 fan here, that and a 300 win mag do all my hunting with me. Mine also has a 22 inch barrel, they all have 10 twists unless it's custom built

You're not the first person to find eld x bullets hit and miss in a given caliber. People and their rifles love them or hate them.
I've had very good accuracy and terminal performance with plain vanilla hornady interlock bullets, 130 and 150 flat base, 140 btsp.

question: where abouts do you live and hunt? If it's in a place that doesn't experience huge differences in temperature between seasons I must recommend Rl22 powder. Max possible velocity, accurate, BUT it is very sensitive. I've stopped using it for that reason. I live in northern Saskatchewan (just had a decent snowstorm here) and worked up a load that showed no pressure signs in January at -25 celcius or something typical like that, 140 btsp at 3080 FPS, and in June at around+25celcius it seized my bolt and was over 3200. currently planning to try rl23 soon!
 
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