New member question .270 Win

[Yak Angler]

Hello,

I have been looking over alot of the info here on Handi-rifles and I think this is a great site. I currently own a stainless .270 and .17 HMR handi rifles and think they are both excellent guns and both have been shooting a little better now that i have used some of the advice from this forum and FAQ's. I would like some input about my .270 from those who are familar with this caliber and some of my questions might relate to any rifle caliber in a handi so please don't let the .270 stop you from contributing if you think caliber doesn't matter and found something that worked great on your .223

Basically what i have done to the gun so far is:
Polished barrel- I used automotive polishing compund instead of the recommended JB Paste or flitz but results were amazing-fired 30 rounds through it today to test out the new Bushnell legend 5x-15x scope and the barrel looks cleaner then it did before after only firing 1 round through it.

Forend Mod--I went the reverse direction that many of you have gone when it comes to free floating it. I have filled the empty cavity in the forend with #2 lead shot and used a high density removable foam cut to fit that hold's everything tight once the forend is installed--the main reason i did this was to add weight to the front portion of the gun to help reduce muzzle jump which is something this gun really liked to do before---im not sure how heavy it is now compared to a stock one but i would guess about 1/2-3/4 pound. It did work great for eliminating muzzle jump.

Removed all oil from latch assembly---can't advise if it made any difference to the accuracy with this gun
but from what i have read here it sure won't hurt it.

trigger is stock--i like it the way it is as i live in Ontario Canada and this is my main varmint gun through the winter so gloved shooting is a must and i don't find it that bad with the factory pull anyway.

My questions are:

Is there anything i should do to try and make this gun more accurate that i haven't done already? It shoots about 1-1.5 inch groups consistantly at 100 yards right now with the cheapest winchester ammo i can find.I think its current accuracy is great but you know how it is.

Handloaders what is the legitamate cost per round for .270 not including the cost of reloading equipment just rough ball park using high quality bullets? I am hoping to shoot this gun for less money as it currently costs me $1.00 per round for cheap factory ammo , or atleast reload using high quality components for the same cost as cheap factory loads to get better performance. So i am looking for real world cost for reloading these.

How often do you guys clean your barrels?. I just shot 30 rounds through mine today and it doesn't look bad. I know from what i have read on here these guns will shoot better dirty, so do you guys have a rough number of rounds that you always clean after. Before today I was one of those shoot it once and clean it anyway type of people.

Sorry for the long first post and I'm looking forward to sharing advice with you other Handi-rifle fans like myself.

[whitetailmaniac]

Welcome! I think some of the guys on here have had problems weighting the forend. I think it broke off the lug the forend attaches to. Im sure some other guys will chime in to correct me if Im wrong.

     Chris

[quickdtoo]

Welcome Adam! Chris is right, there's a warning in the FAQs on adding weight to the forend, the stud is only resistance(tack)welded on, it doesn't take much to knock it off, the .270 doesn't have the recoil that the rifle NFG was shooting had, and his forend weighed more, but I wouldn't recommend adding any more weight than a heavy varmint forend would add such as the Gunstock Inc forend which doesn't seem to be a problem for those that use them.

Here's a Handi handloading cost calculator.  http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

Tim

[togojeff]

Handloaders what is the legitamate cost per round for .270 not including the cost of reloading equipment just rough ball park using high quality bullets? I am hoping to shoot this gun for less money as it currently costs me $1.00 per round for cheap factory ammo , or atleast reload using high quality components for the same cost as cheap factory loads to get better performance. So i am looking for real world cost for reloading these.

I can't give you an exact number, but handloading will cut your cost per round roughly in half,
as long as you are not using premium bullets such as Berger VLD's etc. which may negate your savings.
You should be able to better your accuracy with handloading though 1-1.5" groups aren't too bad
if the rifle is going to be used mainly for hunting. Those kind of groups should give you minute of
whitetail to 250 yds.

[MS Mule]

Using Tim's Handloading Cost website and the inflated cost of powder and primers I figured my pet load for .270 Win. at $.56 per round with no allowance for recycled brass. I'm glad I bought an 8 lb. keg of powder and a couple of cartons of primers before the last election.

[LONGTOM]

Others can give you advice on what to do to make it shoot and what not to do.
My only suggestion is to try other ammo.
You will find something it likes.

I will give you this advice from someone who has been a hunter/shooter for more than 45 years and mostly with a 270.
On cleaning.
Shoot it until either a round sounds way to loud and is way off target, usually will shoot high.
On some of my guns that is in the 100 to 120 rounds range.
Others are in the 20 to 60 range.
My old TC custom shop barrel in 17 cal would not shoot until it had 6 rounds through it and then it was good for maybe 8 or 9 rounds then it was done.
That is why I sold it.
To much cleaning and ammo to make it shoot again.
The TC Contender Carbine 223 I got to replace it was the one that would go as much as 120 rounds before it needed cleaning.
The 270 is a heck of a cartridge and will do about anything you want it to at about any reasonable range you care to try.
500 yards is not out of the question for it with the right ammo.

Shoot it and enjoy it and it will serve you well for years.


LONGTOM

[wreckhog]

I have 400 130 gr and 400 150 gr Corelokts bought here for 16 cents a bullet. 4 cents a primer, 10 cents of powder, and 0 cents per brass use (range dumpster diving) get me to 30 cents a reload for basic hunting ammo. I know guys with the same caliber that shoot maybe 3 rounds per year.

[Yak Angler]

Wow thanks for the quick reply's

I tried out the reloading calculator based on some recipes others had listed on it. I used a canadian retailers catalogue for pricing since thats what i would have to go with and the cost came out to between $ 1.50-2.00 per round for medium grade to premium grade bullets but that cost will drop by about .80c per round once i have some brass to re-use. So I guess thats a pretty good cost savings over manufactured ammo as the cheapest ammo around my area is Winchester SuperX 150 grain for $ 20.00 per box. and the more premium loads like winchester supreme elite's go for about $ 50.00 per box so it appears i could reproduce some premium catridges for about the same cost of economy Superx's and core-lokt's. So i might try some of the lower priced federal loads like the fusion etc and if the performance is not any better then im getting currently i think reloading might be the answer.

This gun definitely has potential out to atleat 500 yards especially with the current scope. My gun range ends at 200 yards and i can hit clay pigeons almost everytime at that distance and with some of the ballistics charts i've looked at the premium factory loads achieve decent trajactory out that far too. I sighted in 3" high at 100 yards today and was basically dead centre at 200 yards with the 150 grain superx's and about 2" high at 200 with the 100 grain corelokts which is all i have ever shot from this gun.I should probably try some 130 grain rounds just for a comparison. All that i notice between the 150 grain and 100 grain rounds is the 100 grain rounds shoot flater and i don't have to compesate as much on longer range shots. I only have about 150 rounds total through it since i bought it new.

[Yak Angler]

Thanks for the advice on cleaning, im not use to this keep shooting it until performance falls off so i think i will try to get to 60 rounds between cleaning at first. this will be a personal best for me with anything other than a .22 so if i can hold out that long thats a good start 

[Mac11700]

Wow thanks for the quick reply's

I tried out the reloading calculator based on some recipes others had listed on it. I used a canadian retailers catalogue for pricing since thats what i would have to go with and the cost came out to between $ 1.50-2.00 per round for medium grade to premium grade bullets but that cost will drop by about .80c per round once i have some brass to re-use. So I guess thats a pretty good cost savings over manufactured ammo as the cheapest ammo around my area is Winchester SuperX 150 grain for $ 20.00 per box. and the more premium loads like winchester supreme elite's go for about $ 50.00 per box so it appears i could reproduce some premium catridges for about the same cost of economy Superx's and core-lokt's. So i might try some of the lower priced federal loads like the fusion etc and if the performance is not any better then im getting currently i think reloading might be the answer.

This gun definitely has potential out to atleat 500 yards especially with the current scope. My gun range ends at 200 yards and i can hit clay pigeons almost everytime at that distance and with some of the ballistics charts i've looked at the premium factory loads achieve decent trajactory out that far too. I sighted in 3" high at 100 yards today and was basically dead centre at 200 yards with the 150 grain superx's and about 2" high at 200 with the 100 grain corelokts which is all i have ever shot from this gun.I should probably try some 130 grain rounds just for a comparison. All that i notice between the 150 grain and 100 grain rounds is the 100 grain rounds shoot flater and i don't have to compesate as much on longer range shots. I only have about 150 rounds total through it since i bought it new.

Most defiantly try the Federal Fusion ammo..I've found it to be excellent in just about every rifle I own.In reality..if you can get it for a resonable rate..this ammo could be considered semi-premium since it is a bonded bullet..Another good 270 round I've found is Speers's Nitrex 130 grain Grand Slam factory load. It's probably more than your Winchester PP load..but a very good load and bullet with it..

Good Luck

Mac

[Yak Angler]

The federal fusion runs about 30 bucks a box in my area so i will pick some up the next time im am the gun shop to see how it does.

Its only available in 130 & 150 grain loads

Between those bullet weights is the a general preference for these guns? I have yet to try 130 grain loads through mine

[Mitch in MI]

You could always buy some of that Super X stuff to get once fired brass. If you go that route, you might want to check batch numbers and get a few boxes that match.

[Lazermule]

I have had great results with Federal Fusion as well....

LM

[Mac11700]

The federal fusion runs about 30 bucks a box in my area so i will pick some up the next time im am the gun shop to see how it does.

Its only available in 130 & 150 grain loads

Between those bullet weights is the a general preference for these guns? I have yet to try 130 grain loads through mine

130 grains work very well for me in mine..

Mac

[Oldshooter]

I almost gave my 270 away after sighting it in!    

I was heart broken, well....... disappointed anyway. but I started trying different rounds did a few faq tricks and it did a little better. It likes the hornady 130 gr sp or sst.

However, I bought it to make long range shots(excess of 300 yards) and I have never got any groups that would  justify trying anything like that! 

It does the job inside 175 but my 35 rem Marlin will do as well.

Bottom line; try some different weight rounds but expect no miracles!

[Yak Angler]

I have only shot groups to 200 yards with mine but have had decent results so far and hope that after trying a few more ammo brands might be able to do even better. The results so far are 1-1.5 inch groups at 100 yards and i would say about 3" groups at 200. Like i mentioned in a prior post i can consistantly hit clay targets at 200 yards with the gun the way it shoots now. I bought it to hunt coyotes with on a farm i have permission to hunt. My set up is 300 yards from the edge of a large woodlot that is full of coyotes , so i have never taken a shot any further than 300 yards ever with this gun. That being said i have folded coyotes that hung up at the edge of the field and wouldn't come any closer than 300 yards. those were all shot with the cheap winchester super x's , only problem was some of the ones shot were close to being a miss so i currently wouldn't want to shoot at one any further they way the gun shoots now. But if i could tighten the groups by about 1 " at 200 yards i would feel confident to 500 yards on a coyote size target given the right conditions. I know of people who have shot them close to 500 yards with the .270

[Oldshooter]

Well that aint too bad! I would shoot at a coyote with mine at 300 but would not be confident with a shot that far! Never on a game animal until I get it to tighten up a little. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Yak Angler]

Well i have 3 more weeks to experiment with different ammo as i share hunting rights on this farm with 2 other guys who will be archery hunting for deer until the end of december in the woodlot so i don't like hunting coyotes until they are done bacause once i start calling and the coyotes start howling back or whatever i effectively ruin their hunt. So deer season ends here on dec 31st then i have the whole place to my self until the crops get planted in the spring. Only problem for me now is sitting in the cold at the range testing ammo. Its getting pretty cold around here as of late but atleast the range has 20 foot high berms all the way around so wind usually doesn't affect sighting in.

Looking forward to testing some fusion 130 grain loads this saturday if the weather permits