Blue Dot loads for .270W

Tamar

Well-Known Member
I've had some success loading down my .243 using Blue Dot powder courtesy of both advice and powder from Bewsher500 on here. It means that I can replicate a .223 load (a 65g Vmax going at around 2800fps) which is great as a foxing round, makes a crack no louder than an unmoderated .22 rf and, at least for my rifle, extremely accurate (3/4" groups of 5 at 100yrds).

It got me thinking that I'd like to try a similar thing for my .270W - perhaps replicating a .243 90 or 100g load running again at ~3000fps. Has anyone tried this using Blue Dot, and if so, would you mind sharing load data?

I know what you're thinking - why bother if you've already got a .243:D Perhaps like Hillary on Everest - because it's there, and I like experimenting with things.
 
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I've had some success loading down my .243 using Blue Dot powder courtesy of both advice and powder from Bewsher500 on here. It means that I can replicate a .222 load (a 65g Vmax going at around 2800fps) which is great as a foxing round, makes a crack no louder than an unmoderated .22 rf and, at least for my rifle, extremely accurate (3/4" groups of 5 at 100yrds).

It got me thinking that I'd like to try a similar thing for my .270W - perhaps replicating a .243 90 or 100g load running again at ~3000fps. Has anyone tried this using Blue Dot, and if so, would you mind sharing load data?

I know what you're thinking - why bother if you've already got a .243:D Perhaps like Hillary on Everest - because it's there, and I like experimenting with things.

Red Dot, yes. Blue Dot no.~Muir
 
Speer #11 manual shows a reduced charge for 270win using IMR SR4759;
20gr for 1651fps to 24gr for 1998fps with 130gr jacketed bullets,
16gr for 1548fps to 20gr for 1915fps with 100gr jacketed

Lee Modern Reloading, #2
100gr bullet (.277)
IMR4227
min 25.8gr (2,371fps)
max 30.0gr (2,710fps)


Hodgdon's youth load data
Max load for H4895 is 45.0gr and 2922 fps and 51,000 CUP
Min load 60% of that charge is 27.0gr for 1850 fps
90% would be 40.5 grains for 2,630 fps, about like a 6.5x55 factory load.
100-gr Hornady SPT with 36.0 gr H-4895 for 2,600 fps

2009 Annual Hodgdon Reloading Guide
110gr Barnes TSX with 23.6" barrel
H-4895 43.5 gr 2837 fps 1966 ft-lbs 0.85 inch group at 100 yards
H-4198 36.4 gr 2815 fps 1936 ft-lbs. 0.97 inch group
IMR-4895 42.9 gr 2649 fps 1714 ft-lbs 0.84" group
IMR-4198 34.8 gr 2701 fps 1782 ft-lbs 1.20" group


130gr Barnes TSX 23.6" barrel
H-4198 37.4 gr 2712 fps 2124 ft-lbs 0.51" group

Lyman Handbook 2014
44.5 gr IMR-4064 90-gr bullet at 2,695 fps

 
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Seafire's recipes for bluedot.

110 grain Hornady V Max:

20 grains: 2196 fps
21 grains: 2232 fps
22 grains: 2302 fps
23 grains: 2419 fps
24 grains: 2447 fps...

At 21 grains.. If a zero is set at 3.5 inches high at 100 yds, it will be dead on at 200 yds and be about 3.5 to 4 inches low at about 240 yds...Plenty good for deer hunting when most are taken within 100 yds or less....

130 grain Sierra SP

20 grains: 2092 fps
21 grains: 2117 fps
22 grains: 2153 fps
23 grains: 2181 fps
24 grains: 2237 fps

Caveat, Educational use only, if you do not pay attention with these loads you can produce the proverbial hand grenade (easy to overcharge/double charge).
 
It got me thinking that I'd like to try a similar thing for my .270W - perhaps replicating a .243 90 or 100g load running again at ~3000fps. Has anyone tried this using Blue Dot, and if so, would you mind sharing load data?

Why bother? Factory load Norma V-Max 110 grains is running at 3215 fps and is deadly accurate...
 
Thanks Southern and Sauer90 - much appreciated. Those were exactly what I was after. I'd read about 'Seafire' and tried to track down that data on other reloading websites, but no luck, so your data were really helpful. I appreciate the risks of overfill/double charging so will take care! I'm guessing that as with the .243 data, there is the warning that to maximise brass life the charge should not exceed 23g or similar. Could you confirm that?
 
Why bother? Factory load Norma V-Max 110 grains is running at 3215 fps and is deadly accurate...

Because I was the Elephant's Child who always asked why: I used to take things apart to see what made them tick and I've continued ever since. Tinkering:)
 
Tamar, sounds like you are looking for less of a reduced load for practice or deer, than you are looking for a lighter bullet load shooting about the same velocity as your standard 130-gr deer load. Is this for targets, or hunting practice, or foxes?

For 100-gr or 110-gr at 3,000 fps, I would start with H-4895 because it is more forgiving, you can download it further safely, fills the case well, and the velocity scales down linearly from 100% load to 65%.

100-gr SPT and 42.0 grains of H-4895 (46.0 is MAX )
100-gr SPT and 50.4 grains of W-760, H-414, RL-19 or 4350

110-gr SPT and 42.0 grains of H-4895 (48.0 is MAX !! )
110-gr SPT and 52.5 grains of W-760, H-414, RL-19 or 4350
 
Tamar, sounds like you are looking for less of a reduced load for practice or deer, than you are looking for a lighter bullet load shooting about the same velocity as your standard 130-gr deer load. Is this for targets, or hunting practice, or foxes?

For 100-gr or 110-gr at 3,000 fps, I would start with H-4895 because it is more forgiving, you can download it further safely, fills the case well, and the velocity scales down linearly from 100% load to 65%.

100-gr SPT and 42.0 grains of H-4895 (46.0 is MAX )
100-gr SPT and 50.4 grains of W-760, H-414, RL-19 or 4350

110-gr SPT and 42.0 grains of H-4895 (48.0 is MAX !! )
110-gr SPT and 52.5 grains of W-760, H-414, RL-19 or 4350
I agree. H4895 is superior for useable reduced loads.
~Muir
 
Thanks to all for the input. A great help.

I appreciate that other powders may be better for this specific application and want to try out the H4895 as it seems to cover several calibres that I shoot anyway. When I started reloading, it wasn't available (at least in mid Devon), but I did get a partial tub of Blue Dot, so wanted to see where this could take me. I'll try out some loads based on Seafire's suggestions and see how it goes.

Southern - you're spot on. I was after a lighter bullet load but without getting into the high (barrel burning?) velocities that can accompany such loads. Most of my shooting is <150yrds due to the small fields and hilly terrain, so I don't NEED flat shooting long range cartridges (although I can appreciate their value).

And, as I said before, I just like tinkering:)
 
Thanks to all for the input. A great help.

I appreciate that other powders may be better for this specific application and want to try out the H4895 as it seems to cover several calibres that I shoot anyway. When I started reloading, it wasn't available (at least in mid Devon), but I did get a partial tub of Blue Dot, so wanted to see where this could take me. I'll try out some loads based on Seafire's suggestions and see how it goes.

Southern - you're spot on. I was after a lighter bullet load but without getting into the high (barrel burning?) velocities that can accompany such loads. Most of my shooting is <150yrds due to the small fields and hilly terrain, so I don't NEED flat shooting long range cartridges (although I can appreciate their value).

And, as I said before, I just like tinkering:)

Velocity has little to do with barrel burning, heat is the killer, 'burning' sort of gives it away!

Seafire's stuff is well researched, John has spent much time testing in quite a few rifles, he is a knowledgeable and amenable guy.
The threads at accurate reloading are a hoot to read where the 'sky is falling' brigade start having a paddy.
Internet keyboard expertness rears its ugly head but provides some comic relief.

Blue dot loads are fun to tinker with, provided that the load-one-at-a-time system is used as it is the safest.
It is always worth checking what a double charge of BD looks like in the case (does it overflow or not?) and compare that to the charge being used.
These loads are not for people who are easily distracted while reloading, if you do not pay attention you will make the well publicised blaaaser hand grenade.
Here a little knowledge is a dangerous thing applies, there is little room for error.

I have some nice loads for the smaller deer in .270 / .30-'06 that work very well - surprisingly quiet (no mod needed) and little meat damage.
Producing >1k ft.lbs @ 200 yards (max PBR) they are ideal for Munties n CWD.
My favourite being the sierra 125gn 30-30 pro-hunter in the aught 6 with a blue dot charge, mustard on munti!
 
I agree about the distraction factor. If you have doubts about your ability with general reloading back away from micro charges. A quick look at an old Lyman manual where light charges of very fast powder were published for cast bullet loads will show you the disassociation of velocity and pressure: You can get very high pressures with very low velocities. I won't mess with micro charges anymore, preferring to use bulkier, slower powders that will easily present a double charge to inspection of loaded cases. ~Muir
 
I would not call >50% capacity a 'micro' charge.
An attentive, experienced hand loader will get on well with these loads as they have some application this side of the pond.

These loads produce a 'normal' pressure / velocity curve, nothing untoward - now if you were talking bullseye or similar speed powder...
 
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Sauer - thanks for the heads up on Accurate Reloading. It's been an eye opener;)

I tried out some 19g loads with my current 130g Noslers and they were lovely to shoot - I could keep an uninterupted view of the bullet strike.

I terms of safety - I load using a Lee Loader (whack and thump) so all my loads are done one at a time once the cases are cleaned. Hopefully this will reduce the risk of double charging. Thanks for the warnings!
 
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