COAL question .270 win

[Redbeard417]

I just received some loaded .270 win ammo from a friend who has been reloading for a long time (over a decade), I trust him but the one thing came to my attention when looking at his reloads next to my factory ammo was COAL...He used 150gr SBT, over 50 grains of IMR 4350 (he said the maximum listed was 52 grains in his Nosler manual) the COAL listed by Sierra is 3.270”, while the rounds he gave me measured out at 3.22” and are loaded with 50 grains as I mentioned..he checked the head spacing with a cartridge he placed a bullet into, and seemed confident, but I just wanted to make sure this combination of powder charge and COAL will not be an issue...thanks for the help! Sorry for the lengthy post

 

[jmr40]

COAL is a recommendation, not a carved in stone requirement. Most people will load a little longer rather than shorter though. I load my cartridges as long as possible to fit in the magazine and still chamber without the bullets hitting the lands. Most of my handloads will be a little longer than the recommended COAL and function just fine in MY rifles. They might be too long in another rifle.

That is PROBABLY close enough. But depending on the exact rifle, the brass used etc. it might be a little hot. But if the loads were from someone I trusted I'd shoot them. The problem with seating the bullets too deep is that with max, or near max loads it compresses the powder too much and will increase pressure. This is PROBABLY enough below a max load to be OK.

 

[PWC]

First off, this is why most reloaders do not share thier reloads; it may cause consternation (like you are xperiencing), fit compatability between rifles, legal problems if use causes injury, and more.

IF, all is "as advertised" they will shoot in your SAFE firearm IF the headspace is correct; the bullet will just have some xtra distance from the lands to step over.

 

[CptnAwesome]

You didn't specifically say but I gather from your post he loaded Sierra 150gr SBT. Sierra lists max at 51.7gr with IMR4350. With that being said you should be good to go , you'll just have an extra .050" jump to the lands. Can you hear powder if you shake the cartridge next to your ear? If so you know it's not a compressed charge. If you hear nothing I'd proceed with caution.

Like PWC said , if everything is "as advertised" you should be fine.

 

[Redbeard417]

Thanks very much for the input and the helpful information from you three, I can indeed hear the powder as I shake the cartridges, and am confident in his abilities-Figured better safe than sorry. Thanks again! I’ll be sure to report back after shooting them, and I look forward to starting my own reloading.