270 WSM Loads in 2013

[Coltdriver]

I have recently acquired my first .270WSM. Been looking at loads for it.

It is pretty interesting how the loads changed between around 2007 and now. Looking through the postings on the web over the years the Alliant Reloader powders appear to have become the most commonly mentioned.

Seems like many are happy with RL22 and Nosler 140 Accubonds. But I have seen some that have tried RL19 and even RL17 with the 140's. Going the other way I read about Retumbo.

So what's the consensus? What load do you have under 140 Grain Accubonds?

I am also surprised that the performance of the 270WSM is just marginally over that of a .270 Win. I had just assumed the velocity would be a good 200 fps over. But I am not seeing that.

 

[JimKirk]

Retumbo ... 71 grains under a 140 gr Accubond.... safe and accurate in my rifle ....It is a Max load .... it may/may not be safe in yours ... work your way up ...

Starting load is 68 grains...

Hodgdon data from their web site ....

 

[gamestalker]

Please let me know what you end up getting out of that cartridge. I've always had an interest in that chambering, so I would really like to hear what you get after tuning your load in real good. .277" has had a special place in my reloading for many years.

GS

 

[JimKirk]

My son got a nice seven point at 160 yards ... about a 170/180 lbs deer... when about two step ... I'll have to get the chrono results next time I'm out at the reloading room...

 

[2ndtimer]

I believe you can still top the typical .270 Win by 200 fps with comparable bullet weights, particularly if the standard .270 Win has a 22" barrel and the .270WSM sports a 24" barrel, as most do. It seems like many of the articles comparing them concentrate on powders that give optimal performance in the standard .270 but aren't slow burning enough to provide top performance in the Short Magnum. Realistically, I got 3100 fps out of factory 150 gr WW Power Point ammo, and matched that with 140 gr Nosler Accubonds and Vihtavuori N-165 powder. I believe I could get even higher velocity with Acccurate Mag Pro, or Reloder 25. H-1000 would be another powder to try if maximum velocity performance is your goal.
I am currently using Reloder 22 in my new Model 70 and Accurate Data 86 Extruded in my old Model 70. (it is sort of a surplus version of Accurate 3100) It gives decent performance, pushing a 130 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip around 3250 at the top end. I actually prefer the milder loads and load mine for accuracy. If that means I am loading to standard Winchester .270 performance level, what is wrong with that? It is still capable of taking any deer I want to shoot as far out as I am comfortable shooting.

 

[kelbro]

2ndtimer, I'm just starting to load for 270WSM after having loaded for 270 for 30 yrs or more. That's what I thought was most attractive about the cartridge. I can load it to 270 levels or to 7mmRemMag levels. That combined with the short action makes this seem like the the 'perfect 270'.