other bullets for 270 Win

[dmax1800]

I'm reloading for a Winchester model 70 featherweight in 270 Win with Norma brass and Federal 210 primers. The rifle has had the lugs lapped, the barrel hand lapped and the action trued. The barrel is free floating and I've played with the torque on the receiver screws. I've double checked the scope base screws and the scope ring screws. I've heard a few times that the factory barrel on a featherweight doesn't shoot very well. I've found that the barrel shoots A LOT BETTER warm than cold.

I've tried Barnes 130 grain TTSX, Nosler 130 grain Partitions and Nosler 130 grain Accubonds. I've tried H4831SC, H4350 and IMR 4350 powders. The groups are usually 1" to 1 3/4", sometimes as small as 5/8", but not consistently.

Any suggestions on which bullets to try next??? I want to use the rifle for whitetail hunting, so terminal performance is important along with accuracy. I'd like to find something that would shoot 3/4" or less at 100 yards.

 

[Dr. Vette]

Still in the factory wood stock?
And after all the work you've done is the action or at least recoil lug bedded?

 

[Derek M.]

If not already, I'd say the rifle needs some more bedding work as you didn't mention that. Try re-crowning it too.

A proven load for me in more than 4 rifles in 270 is 57.0 grains of Reloder 19, WW brass, Fed 210M primer, and 130 Barnes TSX seated 30-40 thousandths off the lands.

Also, the 130 Swift Scirocco over the same powder but I can't remember how much, maybe 58.0 grains.

For the past 6-7 years, maybe more, my brother has been piling up the deer with the 110 TSX over a mere 56.0 IMR 4350. We've since bumped that to 58.0 grains. Pretty awesome watching what that does to deer and antelope under 350 yards. His barrel is 25.5" PacNor.

 

[Derek M.]

The two loads I'm taking to SC in a week for my 270 are the 130 Nosler E-tip over 59.0 gr H4831SC, WW brass, 210M primer, and a 150 Berger VLD over 57.0 gr H4831SC, same brass and primer. The 150s are going 3050 fps.

 

[dmax1800]

Still in the factory wood stock?
And after all the work you've done is the action or at least recoil lug bedded?

Still in the factory wood stock. The recoil lug is still factory bedded.
Derek,
I've tried the Barnes at 30 thou, 50, 70, 85, 90, 95, 110 and 130 thou off the lands. I've tried the Accubonds at 20, 30 and 40 off the lands. I've heard that the Bergers are like hand grenades going off on impact. One guy said he was forever picking copper out of the backstraps. I know they may be very accurate, but I'm a little reluctant because of them being like grenades. The gunsmith who lapped the barrel would have noticed if the crown needed work.

 

[azsugarbear]

Some featherweight rifles have "pencil" barrels that are so thin, that barrel whip can become an issue. Try folding some paper or thin cardboard and placing it between the barrel and stock near the end of the forearm to create just the slightest bit of pressure. This runs contrary to a free-floating barrel, but sometimes fixes the problem by dampening the harmonics of a thin barrel. If it helps, remove the temporary paper and use a blob of epoxy to make it permanent. If not, just remove the paper - no harm, no foul. Good luck.

 

[CogburnR]

Try the 140g Sierra HPBT Gameking and 53g of IMR4350.

Great terminal performance on deer and an accurate bullet.

 

[dmax1800]

Try folding some paper or thin cardboard and placing it between the barrel and stock near the end of the forearm to create just the slightest bit of pressure.

That's a thought. But with a wood stock, won't temperature and humidity changes tend to warp the stock and put different amounts of pressure on the barrel resulting in either different point of impact or group sizes? And in a hunting situation, I wouldn't know exactly what the difference might be???

 

[Shortmagman]

I would try some 140 or 150 grain bullets. I bought a Vanguard 270 Win this past year and it just did not like 130 grain bullets.I tried TSX's, Accubonds, Hornady.s etc. and none shot under 1 inch.. I loaded 140 grain Accubonds and the guns loves them. It will shoot them under 1/2 inch.

 

[R-WEST]

Originally Posted by azsugarbear View Post
Try folding some paper or thin cardboard and placing it between the barrel and stock near the end of the forearm to create just the slightest bit of pressure.

That's a thought. But with a wood stock, won't temperature and humidity changes tend to warp the stock and put different amounts of pressure on the barrel resulting in either different point of impact or group sizes? And in a hunting situation, I wouldn't know exactly what the difference might be???

For years I've done the same thing, but with layers of electrical tape (Scotch 33+ is what I use). Assuming the stock is properly sealed, you shouldn't have any problems with warpage. It's turned a number of wood stocked M70 Fwts (270, 284, 7x57) and 700 Mtn Rifles into consistently (no POI change on the range at temp's from 30 to 70 degrees/varying humidity conditions) decent shooters. It works with non-wood stocks, too.

Most barrels, especially light ones, like some 'up' pressure.

Works for me!!

 

[Dr. Vette]

I would try some 140 or 150 grain bullets. I bought a Vanguard 270 Win this past year and it just did not like 130 grain bullets.I tried TSX's, Accubonds, Hornady.s etc. and none shot under 1 inch.. I loaded 140 grain Accubonds and the guns loves them. It will shoot them under 1/2 inch.

What's your load?
I've been trying the 140 ABs in my Vanguard and have yet to be consistent with the results.

 

[wbm]

Sometimes a rifle just does not shoot well. No matter how many "thou" your projectiles are off the lands or what kind of "pills" you shoot. With all the work you have put into this one perhaps it is time to call it a day, use the factory ammunition it does best with and go hunting. Just sayin.

 

[dmax1800]

Sometimes a rifle just does not shoot well. No matter how many "thou" your projectiles are off the lands or what kind of "pills" you shoot. With all the work you have put into this one perhaps it is time to call it a day, use the factory ammunition it does best with and go hunting. Just sayin.

I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet! Plus I will only shoot a hunting rifle if I know it will consistently and accurately shoot where I'm aiming. I'm NOT going to shoot a rifle that might only wound an animal.

I'm going to try putting something between the barrel and the forearm to put some up pressure on the barrel. Mike at Nosler suggested shooting at 200 yards to see if the bullets will "go to sleep" by 200 yards and get consistent groups. Since I'm getting a few good groups at 100 yards and some bad groups, Ty at Barnes thought it might be a bedding problem. So I'm going to look into having the recoil lug and the receiver bedded by my gunsmith.

Even though this is a featherweight, its a new model 70. These are known for shooting well. I just have to figure out what's going on and fix it. Hopefully with all the experience and expertise on this forum, I can figure it out.

 

[wbm]

Have a friend that has the same rifle as yours. It shoots ok but he has done nothing to it and it shoots about like yours. Best of luck though.