Weird results first time reloading for my .270win

[bsanders8181]

So let me just start off with my trusty Ruger Hawkeye in .270 win. It’s what I have and has served me well, but I wouldn’t consider it a tack driver, or maybe I’m not that good with it and need to shoot more.

Being in CA I looked at switching to copper a couple of years ago and have used the Barnes vor-tx 130gr with pretty good results. When I tested some different factory ammo I was able to shoot the Barnes between 3/4 and 1” at 100.

I did have some misses last year so I want to get more shooting in and get more accurate.

Here we go...

I have the Nosler book and so I started with the 130gr E-tip and H4831SC. The powder can says to start at 10% below max listed at 59grs. So I loaded 5 each at 53, 54, 55, 56, and 57 grs.
One thing to note is the book lists the O.A.C.L. As 3.340” and I tried to match the Barnes when I set up my dies and they are at 3.210 out of the box.

First I shot 5 of the Barnes to foul the barrel. Not the best at about 1.75”
Also the measured velocities were 3308, 3083, 3151, N/R, 2973
Seemed like a big velocity spread.

Then things went downhill.

I think the rain was screwing with my chronograph as I would get at least one velocity in each group around 13-1400fps to the point that I put it away before I finished shooting the 5th set. The 53Grs measured between 2972 and 3450, the 54 between 3612 and 3835, the 55gr between 3649 and 3823 and I only got two readings on the 56gr load of 3435 and 3541 before I put it away.

To finish off I shot a pretty quick group with the Barnes to double check.

This was 113yds 40*f and slight to increasing rain.

So here’s my data overload. Can I trust the chrono speeds I got? The Nosler loads only got 2909fps with 55grs.
Do I need to make them longer to match the SAAMI OACL?
Or does my gun just want a different bullet?

The 56gr load showed some shiny surfaces around the primer on 4 of the 5, but only one of the 57gr loads shows this.
All brass is once fired Barnes with CCI large rifle primers.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.


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[Cahunter805]

Definitely can’t trust the chrony results. Need to retest this on a better day.
Post some pics of the brass but I’d say test 57gr again. I’ve found Etips to be finicky to load in a few rifles. I prefer the TTSX. You could also try some of the Hammer bullets.

 

[bsanders8181]

It’s hard to see, but this is one of the 56gr cases with a little shine around the primer.


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[Cahunter805]

Brass looks good to me. Primers look fine in those pics.

 

[JFK]

Those primers look fine to me. I’ve never heard of “shine” being an indicator of anything. Flattened, cratered or blown primers are what I’d be looking for.

I’m still very new to reloading too but also shoot 270. You might try to eliminate a variable or two. If you have had good luck with Barnes try loading up some. You are loading e-tips to the same OAL as factory Barnes but they have different ogive so pressures and accuracy will be different.

 

[UtahJimmy]

Looks like you're a little too close to the Chrono. Move it back so you're muzzle blast isn't hitting it. Causes inaccurate readings.

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[bsanders8181]

Looks like you're a little too close to the Chrono. Move it back so you're muzzle blast isn't hitting it. Causes inaccurate readings.

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I was wondering about that


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[BRTreedogs]

Yeah that's kind of reloading. It can be a pain.
Try coloring your bullets with a sharpie after loading and that may help your chrono pick them up.
I would also lengthen them back out to book.
In general less jump is the point of reloading. That way the bullet has less time to get crooked before enter the rifling.
If your shooting consistently 5/8 with the factory ammo the misses were you. I wouldn't waste time and money unless you really have a hard on for it.
You maybe end up with 10 different powder and 5 different bullet combinations to try totaling 150 combos before you get the rite load.
Split the mouth of an empty case and put a bullet in it long.
Camber it and measure then bump it back 10 thousands and try that as a length.

 

[tt_johnsclist]

I would also lengthen them back out to book.
Split the mouth of an empty case and put a bullet in it long.
Camber it and measure then bump it back 10 thousands and try that as a length.

This^

And I’d leave the chrony at home and just work on dialing in an accurate load that is under or at published values. One less thing to try and figure out! As long as you are keeping an eye on pressure signs it really matters little what velocity you are running.

Edit: chrony after you find a good load if you are shooting long enough distances to worry about fine tuning ballistics


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[bsanders8181]

Yeah that's kind of reloading. It can be a pain.
Try coloring your bullets with a sharpie after loading and that may help your chrono pick them up.
I would also lengthen them back out to book.
In general less jump is the point of reloading. That way the bullet has less time to get crooked before enter the rifling.
If your shooting consistently 5/8 with the factory ammo the misses were you. I wouldn't waste time and money unless you really have a hard on for it.
You maybe end up with 10 different powder and 5 different bullet combinations to try totaling 150 combos before you get the rite load.
Split the mouth of an empty case and put a bullet in it long.
Camber it and measure then bump it back 10 thousands and try that as a length.

Thanks BR
Never shot that good with it. I had some 3 shot groups of 3/4” and 1” but it’s been a while and I had some misses last year that should have been well inside of my effective range (300yds) I just wanted to get better and maybe that’s just more trigger time, but reloading sparked my curiosity so I wanted to give it a shot.

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[Cahunter805]

Chronograph should be about 10-15ft away from the muzzle.
I would replace the trigger if you haven’t already. One of the best things to help accuracy IMO is a clean crisp trigger pull. Also practice from field positions once you get your rifle load dialed in. Get comfortable with your rifle and your shooting will improve.
I see you’re using a front bag. Do you use a bipod in the field? If so I’d recommend using that for shooting your loads also. Use a rear bag also.
With that front bag be sure your sling stud isn’t contacting the bag during recoil. It can catch and throw your rifle off easily. Also the rear bag shouldn’t be in contact with the rear sling stud.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Follow panhandle precicion on YouTube.
If your shooting 3/4 I wouldn't reload for that. It can get expensive and maddening.
But if 1" that's only 3" at 300. That's not a miss unless your squirrel hunting.
I'd burn your time and money shooting that factory ammo.
I've been reloading for years and there's soooooo much I'm still a beginner.

 

[mtswampfox]

always said my chrony was one of the worst investments..trust the poi at different yardages your not shooting benchrest chronies that us peons can buy are not all that reliable or accurate

 

[Wrench]

always said my chrony was one of the worst investments..trust the poi at different yardages your not shooting benchrest chronies that us peons can buy are not all that reliable or accurate

I use it to measure spreads andnothing more.

Shoot at known range, input data and have the program solve for it.

 

[ramont]

How far was your chronograph from the muzzle? Anything less than 15 feet would be too close as far as I'm concerned. If it is closer than 10 feet you were definitely seeing gas speeds not bullet speeds. And if you were reading gas speeds then your velocities will be all over the map.

How long is your barrel?

 

[bsanders8181]

How far was your chronograph from the muzzle? Anything less than 15 feet would be too close as far as I'm concerned. If it is closer than 10 feet you were definitely seeing gas speeds not bullet speeds. And if you were reading gas speeds then your velocities will be all over the map.

How long is your barrel?

Probably 8ft past my barrel maybe less
Barrel is 22”
I’ll leave it at home next time


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[BRTreedogs]

Hope I'm not discouraging ya.
I have a couple rifles that I found the magic load quickly, but that had more to do with matching the bullet weight to the twist.
But if you have a wood stock 270 shooting under 1" I'd be pumped on that. There alot of guys that have 1/2" factory guns out there these days, but I haven't found that to be the norm and they are probably experienced reloaders.
I'd just practice alot with what you have and if legal go practice if the field on small game and coyotes.
I've shoot some 1/4" groups on the bench when it was perfect and I purposely did not drink caffeine.
But on game I fall to pieces and have missed a buck at 25yards.
The bench just isn't the field. So just keep flinging my man.

 

[bsanders8181]

Hope I'm not discouraging ya.
I have a couple rifles that I found the magic load quickly, but that had more to do with matching the bullet weight to the twist.
But if you have a wood stock 270 shooting under 1" I'd be pumped on that. There alot of guys that have 1/2" factory guns out there these days, but I haven't found that to be the norm and they are probably experienced reloaders.
I'd just practice alot with what you have and if legal go practice if the field on small game and coyotes.
I've shoot some 1/4" groups on the bench when it was perfect and I purposely did not drink caffeine.
But on game I fall to pieces and have missed a buck at 25yards.
The bench just isn't the field. So just keep flinging my man.

Thanks BR
I may have fallen in the rabbit hole for the time being. I loaded 20 more for later, .05” longer to get closer to the lands at 56.5, 57, 57.5 and 58.
Plus I bought some hammers and cutting edges to try.


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[elkguide]

Thanks BR
I may have fallen in the rabbit hole for the time being. I loaded 20 more for later, .05” longer to get closer to the lands at 56.5, 57, 57.5 and 58.
Plus I bought some hammers and cutting edges to try.

Let the ($$$$)FUN($$$$) begin!

 

[Wmmichael20]

I've got the older version of your rifle the mark2 and I had to jump up to a 140 tsx and went with what Barnes recommend h4350 and finally settled on a powder charge of 53.4grains I believe. not sure of my velosity but it groups very well.