First .270 Win. handloads

[Bullseye]

I think I did OK here. I tumbled these cases which looked good, lubed them and de-primed with a full length sizer using a Lee RGB set of dies. I checked my Lyman 49th edition. The cases were of different lengths after deburring and chamfering, but reasonably close that I am not awful concerned at around 2.55.
I have H4831 here and the starting load for these 130 gr bullets was 52 gr. and max is a compressed 58 gr. I just randomly picked 53 grains, double checked my beam scale with digital and tricked the powder to be right on for all.
I loaded 6 with Speer 130 gr BTSP and 5 with Sierra 130 gr flat base Spitzer.
I seated the bullets to an OAL at around 3.25. Some were slightly shorter but from what other reloads I have on hand and have shot over the years in my Howa Mossberg 1500, mine look better than most of those.
My only concern is the crimp which I don't think there is any. With my fingers on the bullet, I can't turn or pull them, so I feel I am good to go.
I feel very good about these. My first necked down rifle cartridges I made without any supervision. I am sure this is an accurate account of what I made.
Feeling a little proud of myself this morning. I won't shoot without running this by THR and my more knowledgeable shooting buddy. First image is the Speer in foreground and second is the Sierra in background. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[WestKentucky]

Looks good. Your kinda jumping the gun on moving up from starting load before shooting starting load, but then again I often find my best loads about 3/4 from start to max so your fine there most likely.

 

[ironworkerwill]

You obviously didn't do something right, there's no loose powder scattered about.

I wouldn't worry too much about crimping in a bolt gun. All you need is good neck tension.
Looks good.

 

[GTS Dean]

It's pretty tough to overload a .270 Win with any of the traditional powders like 4831.

 

[gamestalker]

Just to avoid any future problems at the bench, i would make certain your seating die isn't touching the case mouths, other wise you'll end up with a crimp that collapses the shoulders, you don't need to crimp for bolt guns.

GS

 

[FLIGHT762]

You wrote the case case lengths on your reloads is 2.55". SAAMI maximum case length for the .270 Winchester is 2.540". From what you wrote, you're over by .010".

Since you don't know what your actual chamber length is, you should keep the cases trimmed to to maximum of 2.540" to be on the safe side.

 

[41 Mag]

They look pretty good but.....there is always a but right

Just looking at your pictures, what stands out to me is, it doesn't look like your sizing die was adjusted down far enough. Now before anyone gets up in arms, thats just what it LOOKS like to me.

It is clear on the neck that there is a brite area about a 1/16 or so of an inch above the shoulder. It can be seen on all of the loaded rounds but sticks out the most on the two left ones in each picture.

I can't say I haven't done this myself, but usually it was on purpose or for a reason so as to keep a little of the expanded neck there to help center the round. I usually do not make a practice of it however as it usually results in rounds which are harder to chamber. My sized cases have that brite area just about touching the neck shoulder junction.

 

[joem1945]

You should really trim the cases if they exceed SAMMI specs. If you neglect this operation it doesn't take much to find yourself in trouble.

 

[notaglockfanboy]

I am with 41 mag here. It does look like you are not fully resizing the cases which can cause a bolt to close hard, because you are not setting the shoulder back. Don't ask me how I know this, but I shoot a .270win and resizing 100 brass a second time isn't fun.:banghead:

 

[IWAC]

You've already loaded them, so run them through your rifle, and see if there are any noticeable hang-ups, tight bolt closure, etc. Check the max cartridge length, and be sure they are not too long. If so, start all over again...pull the bullets, trim, reload.
It takes time, but double-checking pays dividends!

The ring around the neck of two looks suspiciously like when I adjusted my pistol dies too far, and the case was forced under and beyond the crimp shoulder. As mentioned, it might do to recheck.

Good luck, and stay safe!

 

[readyeddy]

A lot of work goes into those big cartridges. Not to mention powder.

Remember to record every shot. Keep your targets and label them with the load data and gun info. If you chrono your load record the speeds. Date everything so you can match up your records.

Also, make sure you get the copper out of your barrel. If you've shot more than 40 rounds out of your barrel, let the copper solvent soak until you see blue. Sorry for sounding like a nag, but just speaking from experience. I must have fired over a dozen different loads with unacceptable groups until I used copper solvent and a river of blue flowed out of my barrel. Got good groups on the very next load.

 

[Bullseye]

41Mag:

Just looking at your pictures, what stands out to me is, it doesn't look like your sizing die was adjusted down far enough. Now before anyone gets up in arms, thats just what it LOOKS like to me.

I appreciate the keen eye on this and understand what needs done here.
I added a pic to show that I see what you are talking about and totally agree. Ya learn something new everyday! I have plenty more empty cases, 101 to be exact and I am going to get into them and follow up with pics. The case mouth also has a ring around it but that is from the deburring tool.
I will re-adjust my die and will keep an eye on that telltale bright spot.
I have done pretty good with the straight wall cartridges but wanted to practice on the necked down rifle ammo. Thanks everyone for the thinking and comments.
PS: I just cycled both cartridges in my Mossberg Howa 1500 and they feed well and bolt closes as if they were factory. No pushing in or down of bolt. They eject fine and kept the same OAL after all said and done look the same as when I put them in.

 

[IWAC]

The .270, one of my favorite cartridges!

I used to adjust my .270 dies by smoking the case shoulder, and screwing down the sizing die till it made light contact with the shoulder. In theory, the cases will then be matched to the chamber, and will not grow in the shoulder area, because of the slight resizing of the shoulder. I used a Wilson Case Length Gauge to verify, and the brass was always within spec.

There are those who swear by "neck sizing" the brass, sort of like yours, but have to full-length resize when the shoulder moves too far forward with repeated firings.

Sooo, you takes your choice. If your handloads fit in your gun with no problems, fire them, watching for pressure signs, (Maybe you could get your Mother-in-Law to do it for you?) then process all of your brass the same way next time. Or, seeing as there are only 11, pull the bullets, deprime safely (a shot of WD-40 or Kroil in each cartridge comes to mind, let sit a day or so, then FEAR NOT!)
Unless you are competing in serious big-bore matches, which you aren't, because NOBODY uses the .270 for matches. Seems sort of like discrimination, right?
Accuracy is a goodness, but 1 1/2 in. groups at 100 yds. translates to 6 in. at 400 and that's plenty for any reasonable purpose!

 

[Bullseye]

(Maybe you could get your Mother-in-Law to do it for you?)

Awesome, made me laugh. Too bad she's gone now, used her up already on an old blunderbuss back in the 90's.

IWAC - I do have the Hornady Lock and Load Headspace Comparator kit.
I am trying to get my head around this concept but from what I can tell from fired empty cartridges out of my rifle I am getting consistent readings on the calipers with the headspace tool. I have to figure out the die set up to duplicate the headspace I suppose to simply save brass and get more efficient accuracy and performance.
I do have a fella here that can help me in person at the press with this. I am just having a mental block with it.
It would be useless for someone to try and explain it to me here and I imagine a YouTube would be way better than a forum explanation, but I'll get it done.
I am not worried about firing these cartridges as they are, not in the least worried. They won't go off here in the box, so maybe I'll get my tutoring session in and understand the concept better and decide then if they should be fired or pulled but I have done worse things in my day, these don't actually worry me. I think I did OK but need some fine tuning.

PS: added link. I will try this tomorrow, I have a fired case from my rifle to get readings. Here's the vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-UrMTyJ1_E

 

[41 Mag]

I am not worried about firing these cartridges as they are, not in the least worried. They won't go off here in the box, so maybe I'll get my tutoring session in and understand the concept better and decide then if they should be fired or pulled but I have done worse things in my day, these don't actually worry me. I think I did OK but need some fine tuning.

Right, and as long as they chamber fine with no restriction you should be good to go.

I mentioned it because you said these were your first and I was pointing out what I saw.

Like I mentioned I have done it on purpose for some loads but not usually for all of them. I like to have that sizer set to just kiss the radius of where the neck expands into the shoulder. With my rifles this assures that they will usually all chamber easily with no issues.

 

[Bullseye]

Think I got it.
Second image is headspace measurement before resizing and depriming from my rifle.
First image is a headspace measurement after resizing which is between 1/1000 and 2/1000 of an inch shorter.
Third are images of finished resizing cases.
Fourth as well.


Some are different than others as I kept adjusting. It didn't occur to me that I could have just run the longer ones through a second time until I put the die away. I still have to deburr and chamfer to correct OAL which is no greater than 2.54 ( not 2.55 ) and give them all a wipe down and brushing out.

If I had not posted this topic, I would not have learned about the headspace and I thank you guys for the keen eyes. I know these aren't perfect but they are an improvement.
I will be loading them up a few at a time from minimum H4831 powder to what works best at 100 yds and stick with that load.

(My guage was not set at zero after attaching the tool so my headspace was off considerably in images)

 

[Bullseye]

First image - An example of a resized cartridge.
Second image - ( Late Edit ) 101 cases ready to load. Some trimmed, some slightly short but none over 2.540 and none shorter than 2.530. Most right at 2.538.
Deburred and chamfered, primed and cleaned up. I feel pretty good about this.
I also understand the concept of the headspace better and have the cases set back just about 1/1000 to 2/1000 now.

 

[ironworkerwill]

If you resize till you bleed you've gone too far.

 

[41 Mag]

If you resize till you bleed you've gone too far.

Shhh now, we got him doin good, don't shake him up he might mash another one...

My pop's old Wells press lost the spring and ball which support the ram in the up position who knows when years ago. I couldn't tell you how many blood blisters I have mashed on my thumb and finger tips from bumping that handle and it going into full ram position.

Just a mashing wasn't so bad, but that darned primer pin goin in beside your thumbnail, that brings a tear....

 

[Bullseye]

Yeah, I almost took off the corner of my thumb a couple times holding them flat base bullets on the single stage RCBS rockchucker.
Gotta pay attention to everything! Luckily I got out of the way fast enough and pushed up on the lever rather than down when I felt that. Ya think after the first time I'd learn but no ..... I did it 3 times I bet and got lucky so far.

On a side note .... I went ahead and loaded 55 gr H4831 behind these 130 Sierra and Speer 130 gr bullets and did as well load some BTSP 140 gr Hornadys with the same.
I have them bagged up with stickies and info to tape on the targets when I get to the range.
I know we are supposed to start out at the minimum loads for powder but I think I am still being quite conservative at 55 gr.
I have read various places that 60 gr of H4831 is a classic load over 130 gr boat tail. I have also read it would be hard pressed, if you'll excuse the pun, to compress enough in the case with H4831 to make it a dangerous load. ( I DO DOUBT THAT ) I can make a dangerous load packing the car for a short vacation.
With Lyman's manual the max load of 58 gr is compressed.
I think I am going to be fine. I was ever so careful to trickle my loads right to 55 gr. I'll see how this goes, starting with my 53 gr. and then to the 130 gr bullets with 55 gr. and if all is well, I'll shoot off the 55 gr. 140 gr. Hornadys. I do plan to clean the bore at the range between different loads. I did have a different OAL for the 140 gr too. about 3.235.