I found a 270 Winchester in my favorite of all factory rifles, the Weatherby Mark V Super Big Game Master. The intent was to load 140 grain Ballistic Tips and 140 Partitions with RL19 until the supply of components goes back to normal ( I have alot of RL19 with not alot of use right now). Mounted a Vortex Razor 3-15x42 HD LH and shot my first ladder with 10 loads going 1.5 grains past book max. Very disappointed. My 24 inch barrel was just 15FPS faster than book max velocity with an extra 1.5 grains. Slow barrel blues. After doing inventory I decided I have more than enough RL26 to shoot a ladder. To save on primers and powder I just went pressure testing to start with 59.5 - 60.0 - 60.5 - and 61.0 grains lit with WLR primers in new W-W cases seated to 3.350" OACL. Holy smokes is this stuff fast! My goal was to get to 3100FPS. My ladder started at 3181 and ended at 3256. No extractor marks, flat primers, nothing. I loads 5 of each and find that 59.5 to 60.0 is a wide node and the ES between them is 32FPS and 60.0 has an Average velocity of 3207 with an ES of 9. Shot 5 more at 60.0 with no Magneto and shot poorly, using a rear bag and a bi-pod. Called 1 and 3 pushed and still landed at 1.1 MOA. Take out 1 and 3 and It was .4ish for 3 holes. Play the if game all day right?, but still great potential I think. I am going to try and get out and shoot this 60 grain load at 200 and 400 this weekend and see how it stretches out.
RL26 and the 270WCF...Wow
- Thread starter Quintus
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imartin
Well-Known Member
This is good to know and that's absolutely smoking velocity. That mark v (also my favorite factory action/rifle) might be able to handle some more pressure than some other actions. I currently load 56 grs H4831sc under a 160 gr partition in my Win Mod 54 in 270 Win, but looking at some data I have pulled off the web, RL 26 shows top velocity for both 150's and the 160's. Data shows 150's over 3000 fps with around 61 grs and 160's over 2900 fps with around 60 grs. Thinking I'm going to need to try it and yes, I actually have some. Not that I need the extra fps, can't remember but think my current load is around 2800 fps and it absolutely hammers. I use it for hunting here in the woods of PA and shots are relatively close. That 160 is a hammer.
The action would certainly take more pressure, but I am shooting Winchester brass and since I have gone well past the goal velocity, I am going to stick around that 60 grain mark. It was in the upper 20s when I did my shooting so far, so I want to see how this holds up as it gets warmer outside. The only other case I am shooting RL26 in is the 6.5 PRC right now, and I have not had any temp issues there. I am loading from a different lot for the 270 so I want to be sure I don't find trouble at 60 or 70 degrees.
imartin
Well-Known Member
And by the way, that velocity is terrific and you are using quality bullets to handle it. If someone told me they were getting 3200 fps with a 140 gr pill I would have guessed they were shooting a 7mm Rem Mag. The fact you are doing it with a 270 Win using 10 grs less powder is beyond impressive. Keep me posted on how things go as the temps warm up. I like to develop hunting loads in cooler weather, but never want something that is so close to the edge of safe that you can't shoot it at a coyote or groundhog in other seasons. Can't wait to see what RL 26 + the 143 gr hammer will do in my 7mm RM now in addition to the 270. Expectations are really high now.
jeremy.b
Well-Known Member
With rl26 I got 3000+ with 150gr partitions and 3200+ with 133gr shock hammers and 130gr sierra game kings out of a stock 22" tikka 270 win
But, as another data point, I got within 20-40 fps on all those bullets with Imr 7828ssc too and (at the time) it was easier to find.
But, as another data point, I got within 20-40 fps on all those bullets with Imr 7828ssc too and (at the time) it was easier to find.
That pretty much goes hand in hand with what QL shows for those 2 powders in a 270 win, in the 6.5 CM the 7828 ssc falls a bit further behind RL26 on a 143 eld-x it drops about 80 fps on the high side in a 24". Still the 7828 ssc gives impressive velocity and is very close to RL26 in velocity for its pressure. Thanks for the info.
Hard rock
Well-Known Member
The results of RL26 do not line up on the burn rate charts the chart shows it to be 03397 Retumbo 03370 and Imr 7828 sc0.3841 but everyone who uses RL26 seems to get higer velocities can anyone explain
I am not a Propellant Engineer so I could not explain that to you. It would appear that if you look at all the numbers listed in QL for different powders that Ba is not the only difference between those powders. For instance in my 26" 6,5 CM using a 143eldx 48 gr of RL26 will burn 100% where as IMR7828 even with a higher Ba using 46 gr will only burn 97.87% of the powder. There appears to be much more involved than just Ba between powders.
I do know that I have put a lot of RL26 (with 8 different brands and weight bullets) down the barrels of 3 different 6.5 CM rifles with different barrel lengths.
I have used 3 different lot numbers of powder, all 3 lots gave slight velocity changes + or - 50 fps at the 2900 fps range. After adjusting each for velocity change I could predict changes with various bullet weights using QL pretty close to results over my Magneto speed at the range. My lot of powder I am using now that I have about 16 lbs of has an adjusted Ba of .3450
As far as the other powders you mentioned my only experience with them is running the numbers on QL, I cannot relate to actual use but the others using the 7828 ssc seem to be inline with QL numbers.
I do know that I have put a lot of RL26 (with 8 different brands and weight bullets) down the barrels of 3 different 6.5 CM rifles with different barrel lengths.
I have used 3 different lot numbers of powder, all 3 lots gave slight velocity changes + or - 50 fps at the 2900 fps range. After adjusting each for velocity change I could predict changes with various bullet weights using QL pretty close to results over my Magneto speed at the range. My lot of powder I am using now that I have about 16 lbs of has an adjusted Ba of .3450
As far as the other powders you mentioned my only experience with them is running the numbers on QL, I cannot relate to actual use but the others using the 7828 ssc seem to be inline with QL numbers.
Stockbroker
Well-Known Member
Good stuff, and pushing the straight old 270 into WSM/WBY velocity territory. Last season I had heard of the RL 26 in this caliber, worked up to a safe and accurate 3200 with 140 partitions for a Tx hunt. What's not to like?
Capt RB
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I have a load with the 140 gamechanger at 3140 es is 3fps. Yesterday I ladder tested the 150 berger in my 270 . THE 150 berger didn't pressure out at 61.2 grains(my 140 load weight) I was at 3165. It looked like the node is going to be right in the same speed as the 140 load as 60.9,and 60.6 shot 3134 and 3139 with lab radar. THE incredible thing I have seen with RL26 is when you get it right which seems to be near the top it gives you everything all at once. Great accuracy incredible extreme spreads and velocity. I can usually find velocity close with other powders but not always. I have seen very good es numbers with some but not with the top speeds. Accuracy is fairly easy to find with proper testing. Finding 2 of 3 seems the norm for most powders which is why you always hear I'll take accuracy over that 100-150fps.
Ua26fitter
Well-Known Member
We had good results with RL26 in my dad's pre 64 Mod 70 270 winchester also.
Stopped at 3100 fps because it was shooting so good. We were shooting 140 Accubonds.
Maybe we should keep pushing and see what it will really do.
Kris
Stopped at 3100 fps because it was shooting so good. We were shooting 140 Accubonds.
Maybe we should keep pushing and see what it will really do.
Kris
