Abandon Bullet or Try Another Powder?

[MTMeatHunter]

I loaded some rounds with the 145ELDX to shoot out of my 270 Win. This rifle isn’t particularly accurate, but it will shoot five shots of two different loads into an 1”. I shot two different mid-book charges with the 145 ELDX that were a grain apart this morning and had 3” “groups”. Should I abandon the bullet altogether or try another powder? Or should I continue working the ladder with the powder I used this morning, hoping to see the groups tighten up to MOA at some unknown charge? I would need the groups to tighten to five shots into an inch for it to be worthwhile. I’m a rookie, yep! But I don’t think it’s my loading process as like I said, I have two other loads that are MOA for five shots with this particular rifles. If the 145ELDX, based on the initial load, is most likely a lost cause I’d rather not waste components and time if there’s little chance of tightening things up by a few inches.

 

[EdP]

Do you have chronograph data? It can be a huge help in load development and they are not that expensive ($100-120). I always want to have chrono data for each group I shoot. You could try loading the eldx to the same velocity as the loads that are shooting well for you, providing you can do that without running into a pressure problem. This could help accuracy a lot, especially if you have decent extreme spread and standard deviation numbers with the eldx.

On the other hand the eldx is a secant ogive bullet. Lots of folks like the secant ogive bullets for their high ballistic coeficient, but I have no luck with them.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

I don’t have a chronograph (yet) and the two loads that shoot fairly well are both 130 class bullets. Since I have the day off and I live just down the road from the range, I impatiently loaded up four more with a different powder. Cold bore was the shot on the left and the next three are touching. I guess I learned two things: a powder change can make a big difference and where I’ll start playing with this second powder. Four shot groups don’t mean much to me but it’s a better start than the 3”ers with powder #1.

 

[Formidilosus]

Should I abandon the bullet altogether or try another powder? Or should I continue working the ladder with the powder I used this morning, hoping to see the groups tighten up to MOA at some unknown charge?

Change powder or bullet. Even if you played with different seating depths and charges, if it’s shooting that bad the load will just be a finicky mistress.

 

[Bomberodevil]

I usually select the bullet I want based on the reason for shooting it (game or target), the type of game (thin or thick skinned), and the distance I’ll be shooting (whether or not BC or wind drift is an issue). Taking into account whether the twist of the barrel will stabilize the bullet weight is also a consideration.

After I've selected the bullet I want (and can obtain), I can usually get a decent reload recipe for a giving bullet. It may take a few weight charges from a few different powders, but usually a commonly used bullet in an appropriate weight can be tuned. I rarely believe that a bullet I want to use cannot be tuned with a little bit of load development.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

Appreciate the replies. With the results of the four rounds with powder number two, I’ll load up some additional charges above and below, then do a quick seating depth test to see what happens with whatever charge is best. I’m surprised that a change of powder made that big of a difference, but it was a switch from a relatively fast powder for the 270 win to a relatively slow. Lots to learn, have I.

 

[Bomberodevil]

Appreciate the replies. With the results of the four rounds with powder number two, I’ll load up some additional charges above and below, then do a quick seating depth test to see what happens with whatever charge is best. I’m surprised that a change of powder made that big of a difference, but it was a switch from a relatively fast powder for the 270 win to a relatively slow. Lots to learn, have I.

Once you narrow down your likely powder charges, you may find significant groups within 0.2-0.3 grains of powder. A quick rule of thumb, take the charges up to initial pressure signs, back down 1 grain, and do 0.1 increments 2 up and 2 down. Good luck in your development.

 

[axeforce6]

What powder are you using and what options of powder do you have?

 

[orelkaddict]

My first question is do you have a fast enough twist for that bullet?? I have yet to see an older 270 win shoot that bullet with good results

 

[MTMeatHunter]

Ha! Not much and nothing that would be a first choice. Powder number 1 with the 3” groups was StaBall 6.5, which actually even says on the label that it’s good in the 270 Win. The second powder I tried today was Magpro. 4 shots into an inch with three touching seems like it’s at least worth investigating further. And I can get more of the Magpro. I saw on a chart that it was a similar burn rate to RL26 (the holy grail for me).

 

[MTMeatHunter]

The 145ELDX is designed for the classic 10 twist. Well, as a minimum recommended twist anyway. I’ll add that the rifle is a 1992 Ruger Paddlestock. As such, I’m not expecting PRS precision. But since I’ve got two other loads with five shots into an inch, I’d like to get it there or better with this bullet because it’s cheap, available, has a decent BC, and I’ve killed quite a few critters with the ELDX and like it.

 

[Bomberodevil]

Ha! Not much and nothing that would be a first choice. Powder number 1 with the 3” groups was StaBall 6.5, which actually even says on the label that it’s good in the 270 Win. The second powder I tried today was Magpro. 4 shots into an inch with three touching seems like it’s at least worth investigating further. And I can get more of the Magpro. I saw on a chart that it was a similar burn rate to RL26 (the holy grail for me).

If you do some research on this site and some other long range hunting sites, I doubt you will find that StaBall 6.5 is a very common powder for .270 win. It’s one of the powders I tried with my Rem Mod 721 .270, with inconsistent results. I think you’ll find some powders come up frequently, including H4350, H4831, IMR4350. I don’t use the Alliant powders so I can’t make any recommendations with those.

270 Win 145 Eldx Recipe, what ya got???

Getting ready to kick the dust off my Ruger #1 80s vintage and bring it into the 21st century a little. Upgrading the fixed 4 Leupold to a V4 I've always shot the blunt nose 150 corlokt about 1.5 inch. Id like to not debate the eldx my research has found it acceptable to me. But I will consider...

www.rokslide.com

 

[CNewell]

As stated above , the 140 class bullets may be a little heavy for your rifle and twist rate. Looks like it;s going to better suited with the 130 class range.

 

[Dopedude]

Have you done cold bore tracking? Also flyers can come from a non free floated barrel. Maybe check your barrel channel after your cold bore shot? Either way, the best part about reloading is this right here. It’s about trial and error and finding that recipe, and eventually you will find exactly what you want. Good luck and be safe.

 

[rootacres]

It's hard to know without some more information. That said, out of the 3 rifles I have done load development on ELDXs didn't shoot well out of two of them. My current setup shoots ELDXs well but it's also a Proof barrel. I have had better luck shooting Bergers, Hammers and Accubonds. If other bullets are yielding similar results then you likely have other issues.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

I figured I’d let all of you know that I’m abandoning the 145ELDX. I tried a fast and a slow powder, different seating depths at the best charges of both powders, double checked nothing on the rifle was loose, etc. I saw some moments of promise, only to meet defeat at the next five shot group. Best five shot was an inch, but the next time I shot the same load it was more like 2”. As Form said, even if I do get this bullet working, I have no interested in a finicky mistress. Onto the next! And at least I have two other loads that do work in this rig!

 

[Mack84]

I loaded some rounds with the 145ELDX to shoot out of my 270 Win. This rifle isn’t particularly accurate, but it will shoot five shots of two different loads into an 1”. I shot two different mid-book charges with the 145 ELDX that were a grain apart this morning and had 3” “groups”. Should I abandon the bullet altogether or try another powder? Or should I continue working the ladder with the powder I used this morning, hoping to see the groups tighten up to MOA at some unknown charge? I would need the groups to tighten to five shots into an inch for it to be worthwhile. I’m a rookie, yep! But I don’t think it’s my loading process as like I said, I have two other loads that are MOA for five shots with this particular rifles. If the 145ELDX, based on the initial load, is most likely a lost cause I’d rather not waste components and time if there’s little chance of tightening things up by a few inches.

This is my plan for my 280 Rem. H4831 is a top shelf powder, and it’s on the listed load data for several bullet weights, so I’ll stick with it, then I’ll try several bullets till I find the ones it likes best. Then tune a happy load from there

 

[Bomberodevil]

This is my plan for my 280 Rem. H4831 is a top shelf powder, and it’s on the listed load data for several bullet weights, so I’ll stick with it, then I’ll try several bullets till I find the ones it likes best. Then tune a happy load from there

You should find a load with H4831 that will give you good accuracy in the 280 Rem. I have a 280 AI and a .270 Win, and the H4831 is my most accurate powder. I may give up 50-75 fps over some of the faster powders, but I’ll be at .5 moa or better. I doubt any critter will ever notice the slower load.

 

[Mack84]

You should find a load with H4831 that will give you good accuracy in the 280 Rem. I have a 280 AI and a .270 Win, and the H4831 is my most accurate powder. I may give up 50-75 fps over some of the faster powders, but I’ll be at .5 moa or better. I doubt any critter will ever notice the slower load.

That’s not much of a sacrifice to me for better accuracy. My mind says it’s worth it. 27” barrel is a lot of length to burn powder and produce gas lol. Been using IMR4955 and a 139SST. 3000-3100fps pretty easy. But lots happier that H4831sc came available, 8 lbs to work with. I’ll try Speer, Hornady, Berger, whatever bullet that shines best.

 

[Mack84]

That’s not much of a sacrifice to me for better accuracy. My mind says it’s worth it. 27” barrel is a lot of length to burn powder and produce gas lol. Been using IMR4955 and a 139SST. 3000-3100fps pretty easy. But lots happier that H4831sc came available, 8 lbs to work with. I’ll try Speer, Hornady, Berger, whatever bullet that shines best.

My thoughts at the time were a long barrel with the 280 Rem, now I wish I would’ve chosen the 280 AI with a 20 or 22” barrel.