270 Win and Reloader 22

[charles p]

I sighted in a 270 recently with the assumption that I was using 130 grain bullets.  I had several boxes of 130 reloads but the first box I used was perfect.  Sight in was very easy and quick.  At hunting camp I noticed the box stated 60 gr of RL22.  The bullet was a Sierra 140!  Now that I have researched the load, I can't find any listing for 60 gr with htis much powder.  Most are far less.

I have never purposely exceeded a max load so somewhere I found this published load.  I've taken several deer plus used this load to sight in.  No signs of pressure. 

Am I crazy.  Does this load exist or am I playing with fire?  Deer are falling dead at the shot, but I could be next.

[qajaq59]

My new 2nd edition Lee manual lists the RL 22 as 55.8 to 60 grains for a 130 grain bullet. The 140 grain bullet lists RL22 as 57.8 to 60 grains.
Huh? Somehow that just doesn't sound right to me. Someone else want to verify that?

[nodlenor]

Hornady #6 lists the 140gr bullet with RL22 as 52.8gr to 59.7gr.

Lyman #48 has it listed at 52.5gr to 58.5gr.

Loadbook has it listed under Hercules using 56gr to 59gr.

Using these books as a guideline I'd say you are over max.

Hornady lists the 130gr bullet using 61.3gr as a max. Could you have looked at the wrong page?

Lyman lists the 130gr with a 60gr max. I agree that doesn't sound right.

Loadbook lists the 130gr as 58gr to 61gr.     

[yooper77]

Since you have hand loaded 270 Winchester ammo you made with 140 grain Sierra bullets and 60.0 grains of RL22 powder.

Questions:
Didn't you work up to this load from a minimum charge to find the best accuracy?
-Don't you have good load developing reloading notes?

If I ever had a doubt on any of my loads.  I pull all the bullets, dump the powder, kill the primers and start over fresh.

yooper77

[SingleShotShorty]

60 grains of RL 22 for a 140 grain bullet seems Hot to me it's approx 2 grains hotter than the max load for a 130 grain bal tip

[dw06]

The Nosler 5th edition shows starting load of 55grs and max load of 59grs. If you worked up the load in your rifle,and it shows no signs of high pressure, 60grs may well be safe in YOUR rifle. I have a 308 that the best load I ever found for it is using IMR 3031 with the 150gr partition and according to todays manuals its 1-1.5grs over max. Like many I don't like running over the max loads,but since I worked this load up in the mid 70s using manuals of that time,and never had any bad signs I will keep using it.

[Autorim]

I doubt that you are playing with fire since you have had good results and, I assume, no signs of excessive pressure such as more difficult extraction or flattened primers. My standard load in MY RIFLE which is a Ruger MKII is not much behind that with a 150 Nosler Partition and I have had no problems. I think it is a good idea with hunting loads to watch for signs of excessive pressure as you do NOT want to encounter problems in the field. I also use once fired brass for hunting - trimmed, flash holes deburred and primer pockets clean and to proper depth.

Also I generally seat out as long as the rifle will let me which is determined by magazine length or rifling lead. I usually seat .015 to .025 off the lead. My OAL in MY RIFLE with the 150 partition is 3.358". Therefore, all of my rifle loads are tailored to individual rifles and kept in zip-loc bags marked as such.

I would suggest backing off 3 or 4 grains and shoot for accuracy.

[charles p]

Found the published load in question.  It is in an Alliant brochure published in 1966.  Shows 60 grains for Sierra 140 SBT.

I'll probably back up some anyway.  Just rechecked cases for pressure signs.  None. 

Rifle is an ADL and bullets are seated long but not touching.

[yooper77]

1966 reloading data is way too old for my taste.

Plus the powder now I am sure isn't the same back then.

I would stick with modern data for load development.

yooper77