Quickload for .270 with 150gr Nosler Partition

[andyk]

I'm hoping to ask a favour from someone with Quickload.

I currently use 60.5gr of Viht N165 under a 150gr Partition in my 270. Gives me about 2800fps from a 20" barrel (which does make velocity that bit harder to get).

I have come into some Reloder RL22 for a good price and I'm wondering whether I could beat the velocity by a useful amount (at least 50fps) using it.

Before I try, I was hoping someone might be able to run it. If it seems possible, I'll give it a try. If not, I'll save some powder and bullets.

Disclaimer - I fully intend to work up a load from a safe level, I don't intend to just go with whatever max Quickload comes out with. I'm just interest to see if there is any point trying.

Full specs:

Bullet - Nosler 150gr Partition
Powder - Reloder RL22
Primer - Federal large rifle
COAL - 3.330"
Barrel - 20"
Brass - Hornady

I don't have a measured H20 capacity for the brass, so will have to go off whatever is standard.

If it's not too much trouble, I'd also be quite interested to see a QL calculation on my current N165 load.

Cheers

 

[zambezi]

Hi Andy. You specifically request a QuickLoad calculation. I run GRT. Any good for you?

 

[borbal]

This is from the Vihtavuori reloading data for a 150 grain bullet on top of a 270 Win with a 24.4" barrel

Now, I know your barrel is only 20 inches long, so I would expect your muzzle velocities to be about 100 ft/sec less than the listed velocity here.

But you are running almost three grains more powder than the load listed here and I would expect that to add about 150 ft/sec - so overall I would expect a muzzle velocity more like 2900 ft/sec., rather than 2800 ft/sec. from your rifle.....

 

[John Gryphon]

Whatever you shoot with it will have the bullet zip through like a dart unless a boar shield or a good big reds shoulder.

 

[takbok]

@andyk I got similar results with N165. I used 60gr with a 150gr gameking for 2850-2900fps from a 22.5" barrel.

I did try up to 62gr so there is potential for more velocity.

 

[andyk]

Thanks all.

Zambezi - I have to confess I've not heard of GRT but if it does the same then that'd be great, thanks.

John - they tend to only be used for bigger things. I've found them very effective on Reds, even fairly small ones, furthest anything has managed is about 30 feet after it had started to catch scent of me due to an eddying wind. If I got the chance, I'd be quite happy to use them on boar. One of the reasons I chose to start loading with the Partition is the praise Nathan Foster has for it and my experience has borne this out. Partitions are one of the things putting me off going non-lead.

Borbal - indeed, I would expect a bit more velocity but then I do find my .270 a bit slow. Handloading has gone a long way to solve that but I tend to find I'm hitting, and sometimes exceeding max without pressure signs or the velocity I expect. I'm inclined to think I could go hotter but the sensible part of me tells me to stop.

Takbok - good to hear that's being borne out. I could try a little more with the N165. I guess I'm hoping that I could achieve c2850 whilst being nearer quoted loads if I try the RL22.

To anyone else, I realise the deer aren't going to notice 50fps but it's become something of a project. I don't chase velocity in any of my other rifles, it's just to me the the 270 is all about velocity. To my mind, if you're not chasing velocity a little with the 270, then a 7mm/08 would be a better choice.

 

[zambezi]

First run: per Borbal's post, your load using N165 looks to be at the upper end of loading as it skirts pMax. On the upside, since GRT accurately predicts the MV you are measuring, it adds credence to the probability that this model is on the money for this combination:

 

[zambezi]

GRT seems to suggest that RL22 should give similar MV at a lower RL22 charge weight [59gr]. There is also an indicated drop in pressure [pMax - 15%]:

 

[andyk]

Cheers Zambezi.

I think you have saved me some powder!

If I was starting again, It'd be the RL22 I'd choose but there doesn't seem enough to call between them. Particularly as I know the N165 works.

 

[zambezi]

One last thing I spotted, if you were to use an Alliant powder, I note that they publish loads using RL23 or RL26 for this chambering+bullet combo. Link at bottom.

Nosler definitely consider the RL22 powder appropriate for this chambering+bullet weight combo [not exact match], but declare their max load to be quite a bit lower than yours.

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

www.alliantpowder.com

 

[Colonel]

A friend of mine is using a Swiss powder with 140gr Accubond bullets and getting over 2900 in his 270. When I was trying to get a boar load for my 270 using N160 and N560, I found the N160 gave the best velocity.

 

[andyk]

Zambezi - Thanks, maybe the answer is RL26 then, if I really must do this! I have heard of people getting some impressive velocity with RL26, when they can find it.

I do wonder if Nosler's data is a little mild in the powder department and optimistic in the velocity. It says max of 54gr of N165. I've just checked my work up notes from when I loaded my current cartridges and I got about 2,500fps for 54gr, so about 350fps less than Nosler expects. Barrel length may be the reason, but it suggests a velocity loss of nearly 90fps per inch.

Cheers for all your help.

Colonel - Interesting, as if Viht are to be believed the '5' series are meant to be quicker than the '1' series. I wonder if your friend is using RS60? It is meant to be the same powder as RL17 which I have used with 130gr and 140gr loads in the 270 to get 'proper' velocities with sensible loads. I have recently bought some RS60 and intend to compare it with the RL17 to see if it gives the same performance.

 

[Colonel]

I have found that the Partition bullets where not as accurate as Accubond in my 270.

 

[Herne]

I have a preference for 150 grain bullets in my .270. I have tried Nosler Partition, Nosler Ballsistic tips, Sierra Gameking, Sako Hammerheads, (156 grn). Others I don’t recall.

I have had consistent results with N160 in the 2750-2850fps with all of them, each bullet has performed differently in the field, although all satisfactorily.

H

 

[plumber01]

After playing around, I settled on N165, although i have found on all the Viht powders, their velocity figures are somewhat "optimistic" at best !usually by about 5% .I do use mine on a range a fair bit (on the excuse I need to keep it's zero) And for accuracy, from memory, about 58.4 gn N165 with a 140 sierra gave the best results, and even the speer 130gn were quite good , I went out to 600, but scope ran out of elevation for any further. About a 10 inch group at 600, but the barrel just warms up too quickly ! good luck

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

I'm hoping to ask a favour from someone with Quickload.

I currently use 60.5gr of Viht N165 under a 150gr Partition in my 270. Gives me about 2800fps from a 20" barrel (which does make velocity that bit harder to get).

I have come into some Reloder RL22 for a good price and I'm wondering whether I could beat the velocity by a useful amount (at least 50fps) using it.

Before I try, I was hoping someone might be able to run it. If it seems possible, I'll give it a try. If not, I'll save some powder and bullets.

Disclaimer - I fully intend to work up a load from a safe level, I don't intend to just go with whatever max Quickload comes out with. I'm just interest to see if there is any point trying.

Full specs:

Bullet - Nosler 150gr Partition
Powder - Reloder RL22
Primer - Federal large rifle
COAL - 3.330"
Barrel - 20"
Brass - Hornady

I don't have a measured H20 capacity for the brass, so will have to go off whatever is standard.

If it's not too much trouble, I'd also be quite interested to see a QL calculation on my current N165 load.

Cheers

if you want velocity use the 130gr it is better suited to
130s trump 150s acorss teh board on velocity, energy, drop and drift out to 300yds

that said if you desperately want to drive 150s hard in a 20" barrel you will have to get creative or get a longer pipe:

RL22 (no better than what you have)


N560 (marginal increase in MV)


N550 (slight drop)



RS65 (same)



RS52 (same)

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

130gr Partition at 3000fps upwards
more energy from the outset
maintains it out to 300+ yds

 

[andyk]

Cheers Ed.

As much as I like to tinker, that says to me I should be happy with what I have!

Your 130gr calculations are interesting. I currently have a load, yet to be tried on any beast, of a 130gr Accubond propelled by RL17. If the stories are correct, RL17 is the same as RS60. I'm getting about 3050fps with 55.9gr of RL17.

I tried N165 with 130gr Ballistic Tips and found I couldn't get them to go much above 2,900fps. I reached that point where extra powder gave no extra velocity. Even without pressure signs, that's an indication to me to stop!

Looking at the comparison between the RL22 and RS60 for the 130gr for amount of powder burnt, that may give the answer. The faster RS60 is fully burned whereas the RL22 isn't.