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.270 Win. Should I start over?

darbur96080

I am fairly new to reloading and just loaded rounds for a ladder test.

.270 Win
Peterson brass (new, expander mandrel, trim, deburred and chamfer)
Barnes 140 grain TSX
Fed LR primer
H4831sc

The Barnes reloading manual listed 53.0 to 58.5 grains. I started at 55.8 and increased at .3 grains up to 58.5 grains. I seated the bullets at .050 off of my max cbto. The oal is 3.160. I am shooting a Ruger M77 with original barrel. Max OAL for bullet and chamber is 3.215.

Upon seating the bullets I started to hear “crunching” on the press downstroke. I have double and triple checked the suggested powder charge in the manual and using Barnes’ online load data. Neither lists 58.5 grains as a compressed load.

My question / concern is that the powder charge is too big and was wondering if I should pull all of the bullets and start over?

Any and all advice appreciated!
 
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58.5 is going to fill the case so the base of the bullet is going to start powder compression...I am pretty sure that is what you are hearing...I would shoot the ladder loads up to that last load of 58.5 looking for pressure signs...I think you will be fine..I have shot 59.5 grains out of my M-70 win. 270 for 50 years with 130gr and I think I shoot 58.5 with 140gr. accubonds....
 
darbur96080 said:
I am fairly new to reloading and just loaded rounds for a ladder test.

.270 Win
Peterson brass (new, expander mandrel, trim, deburred and chamfer)
Barnes 140 grain TSX
Fed LR primer
H4831sc

The Barnes reloading manual listed 53.0 to 58.5 grains. I started at 55.8 and increased at .3 grains up to 58.5 grains. I seated the bullets at .050 off of my max cbto. The oal is 3.160. I am shooting a Ruger M77 with original barrel.

Upon seating the bullets I started to hear “crunching” on the press downstroke. I have double and triple checked the suggested powder charge in the manual and using Barnes’ online load data. Neither lists 58.5 grains as a compressed load.

My question / concern is that the powder charge is too big and was wondering if I should pull all of the bullets and start over?

Any and all advice appreciated!
Click to expand...
So why not just eliminate as I understand the last one that crunched? I don't do ladders but what would it hurt to just drop the last one. Also, never owned or shot a 270. But I have shot thousands of rounds out of various. 280s. 4831SC was my go to powder. One thing I learned was in that case it does better with magnum primers . You might want to try them. Never jumped a bullet in one either although it seems to be very popular these days, again, not sure why. I would start about 1 grain under max at .010 in the lands and back out .002 at a time. I bet you find a sweet spot quick. Then go up and down couple of tenths at a time either way on powder. When you settle on that if you want go .002 once or twice either way to fine tune but chances are you will be in a good place by then. What accuracy would you expect and be satisfied with guessing this is a deer rifle for 400 yrs and under?
 
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My Speer Reloading Manual(#14) calls for 56.0 grains of H4831SC Max Charge for a 0.277 Trophy Bonded Bear Claw(TBBC) SP 140 gr projectile. Check more than one manual for powder charge verification. 2 1/2 grains difference is alot.

Case volume could be the cause of powder crunch, Or!
Length of the bullet.
Depth of seating.
New unfired cases.

Check case condition after each group firing.
-Look for over pressure signs.
Work your load up slowly.
 
The lack of Volume in, the Peterson cases could be, part of the "Problem" they ARE, a little bit, Thicker !
You WILL run into PRESSURE, sooner with THICK Cases ! Personally, I'd stay 1 1/2 grains below Max charge to BE SAFE and to,.. NOT,.. "Lock up",.. your Bolt !
I've just run into the same pressure, "Issues" with, New Peterson cases, in my 6.5 Creed !
And, .. Jiggle your cases and Powder to "Settle" it !
 
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Darbur, I stand corrected...my load for the 270 140 grain was 58.0 grains of H4831...that also is the listed max. in both Lyman and Nosler reloading manuels.....Like Jeff said that is abit of bullet jump and better accuracy is usually closer to the lands.....might want to pull that last load, but the others should be ok.
 
I have a 270 and shoot a lot of Barnes in various calibers. I've shot them for over 20 years. In most cases, they really like to jump. Another thing to remember is because they don't have the lead core and are less dense, they are longer than lead bullets for a given weight. So they end up seating deeper in the case with all else being the same.

I use IMR 4831 in my 270 but my load is compressed with 130 TTSX. You say you are, "...050 off of my max cbto". Is that 0.050 off your max mag length or have you measured the lands and it is 50k off of that? They are not the same and its possible to be 0.050 less than mag length and still be in the lands. Not likely but its worth a check to see.

My older Barnes manual lists the starting as 56 and the max as 60 grains with H4831. So your charge weight should be ok, as long as you are not starting in the lands.
 
FeMan said:
In most cases, they really like to jump. Another thing to remember is because they don't have the lead core and are less dense, they are longer than lead bullets for a given weight. So they end up seating deeper in the case with all else being the same.
Click to expand...
+this
As a non lead copper solid, it is long. The other point I agree with is they seem to always like a lot of jump.

Bill Norris said:
In all my rifles that I have tried Peterson brass I had to reduce the max charge in order to stay away from being too hot. Peterson places a note in each container of brass denoting this possibility.
Click to expand...
+this
Agree that if you are picky about performance, watch this case volume.

With the TSX and TTSX, group performance was all about the seating depth.

I will only add one more anecdotal observation, which is to clean very well between changing from copper solids and traditional bullets. I can't explain why, but it has happened to me too many times and every time I try to skip that step I regret it. Seems to get off to a bad start and take lots of wasted shots to settle in if I don't get a bbl squeaky clean before changes with these. YMMV.
 
Thanks to all for the input.

I am working on hunting rounds out to 400 yds max.

I have measured the cbto using hornady’s guage and comparators. I am .050 from max cbto.

I plan to hit the range Wednesday and will be starting at the 55.8 charge checking for pressure signs between shots.

I am in California so have been shooting copper for several years and gave the gun a thorough cleaning yesterday.

Thanks Again!
 
Assuming that the top charge is safe - it certainly won’t blow up the OP’s rifle regardless - he can reduce the powder compression by either pouring the powder in very slowly through a funnel and/or by using a drop tube. Either method will result in more powder settling, leaving more space for the bullet.

One of the reasons for performing a “ladder test” is to find the top charge the specific rifle/powder lot/bullet combination will take safely. What the OP is doing is correct and prudent - if he sees signs of abnormal pressure he should stop at whatever the charge was. One of the first “pressure signs” is the bullet exiting the barrel.





.
 
Peterson's Brass Quality, is right up there with, Lapua and the Newer Norma, Brass !
Just, a little bit, THICKER and I'm still Testing it, in my 6.5 Creed, to figure it, out !
Would love to see them make it, in .270 WSM,.. heard that, .300 WSM, is coming !
YUP,.. It's, "good" stuff,.. AND,.. American, Made !!!
 
Hey folks, just wanted to say Thanks again for your input. Went to the range today and fired 2 shots at each charge weight. No signs of over pressure.

Averages were:
55.8 - 2852
56.1 - 2873
56.4 - 2884
56.7 - 2895
57.0 - 2912
57.3 - 2928
57.6 - 2929
57.9 - 2945
58.2 - 2948
58.5 - 2953

Going to work and fine tune (seating depth) between 57.3 & 57.6. That should get me 2039 FPS at 425 yds.

Thanks Again!!
 
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