Bigrich954rr,
Personally I feel there is no better bullet for the 270 AM then the 169.5 gr ULD RBBT. That is so far anyway, as Lerch correctly stated, there is a 185 gr ULD RBBT that will be coming this summer hopefully. THis will offer the 270 AM true extreme range performance and also better on game performance on heavier game as well as close range impacts because of the higher sectional density of the bullet.
As the designer of the round, I feel 28" should be the min barrel length and actually prefer a 30" barrel. These are not designed to be light weight carry rifles. We can build them in 10 to 12 lb rifles ready to hunt which is not overly heavy to pack and still offer 1K performance.
I have tested bullet weights from 130 up to 169.5 gr and all perform very well. velocity wise in a 30" barrel you will be looking at the following velocities:
130 gr...........3800 fps
140 gr...........3625 fps
169.5 gr ULD.....3350 to 3400 fps
185 gr ULD.......3150 to 3200 fps "Estimated"
Bullet drop wise, I will not get into real deep numbers here. Just to give you an idea of my personal rifle. My load uses the 169.5 gr ULD RBBT loaded to 3265 fps, very mild load.
I sight it in a bit over 2" high at 100 yards and using a standard mil-dot reticle, the bottom post will basically be dead on at 1000 yards. That is with a very mild load compared to what my customers are using.
On game performance, My father took the first big game animal ever with the 270 AM. It was a painted Desert ram at less then 50 yards. This was not a large animal, about 75 lbs but there was a round caliber entrance wound and a 1.5" exit wound using the 169.5 gr ULD RBBT. these were also the open hollow point design as well so they will expand more.
At longer ranges, I would say on game performance is extremely similiar to a Ballistic Tip except that intital expansion is slightly slower. They are designed specifically for deer size game and for this game they perform exceptionally well.
Now you try to break an 800 bull elks shoulder at 50 yards you may have some issues at these velocities but at 50 yards its not a trick to take a neck shot or simply slip the bullet behind the shoulder and avoid any heavy bone.
The new 185 gr ULD RBBT will be a better Heavy game bullet. Richard also offers some heavier bonded core bullets as well which I would recommend for the purpose of hunting heavy game if your the type that likes to break shoulders.
Kirby Allen(50)
