Speer 90 gr TNT HP in .270 win

[NeuseRvrRat]

got a box of these hoping i could load my wife's tikka T3 in .270 into a second varmint rifle so we can spend some quality time splattering groundhogs this spring and summer.

anyway, looking at the speer manual, i've got a number of the powders listed for this bullet on hand. H380, RL 15, RL 19, Varget, maybe some others. Any suggestions on which way to go with this light bullet or do i just need to start experimenting with what i've got on hand?

 

[rbernie]

I load 'em up light with H4895. I'm only looking for 2800fps or so, and H4895 does really well when downloaded.

 

[NCsmitty]

In the early 60's, my buddy and I had 1917 Enfields, his was a 270 and mine was a 30'06.
We began reloading for both, and he started using the 90gr Sierra in his 270 and the powder was the now long discontinued HiVel#2. It was very accurate.
I talked with him a few years ago and that 90gr Sierra is still the bullet that he exclusively loads for that old 1917 Enfield, but I don't know what powder he uses now.

I would think that Varget or IMR4350 or Rel-15 would give you excellent ballistics with the 90gr Speer TNT, as long as the bullet stays together at the higher velocities. I'm not sure if it's jacket can reliably handle 3600fps or not, as I have not used it.

I have a 270 that I have shot the 100gr Speer JHP through, but have not worked up a load. I used Rel-19 in that.




NCsmitty

 

[murf]

my load is 53.0gn imr4064, br2 primer, 3420fps avg. out of a pre-64. shoots 1" @ 100yds. suggest u start low and work up.

murf

 

[gamestalker]

I have had an enourmous amount of experience with this jewel. I loaded them up with RL19 to a velocity of over 3500 fps and couldn't hardly believe the awsome performance. My favorite thing to do was hunt coyote's with them. Coyote's simply explode when the high velocity TNT hits them. I'm talking about little left to identify and a massive spray of blood and fur every where.
Although RL19 works very effectively, IMR4350 and H1000 are also good performing powders with this bullet. Just about any of the nice slow burning powders are very effective at bringing out the best in this bullet. I also had a good result with a Sierra 90 gr. HP with the same powder options.
I remember my first experience way back in the 1980s. My nephew and I were hunting coyote's and had one come in on top of a hill. We were probably at a 45 degree angle below him, when I drove the bullet into his under side. When we climbed the 200 yds or so up the hill to where we had last seem him standing, all we could find was a lot of blood and fur. After a few minutes of searching a small area around the debrie something dripping on our heads caught our attention. It was what was left of the coyote smeared accross the under side of the tree branches. The bullet had literally launched him into the tree! There was hinestly little to identify the blood and fur in the tree as a coyote, no joke.

 

[gamestalker]

One other little tid bit. At 100 yds. I had small speckling on the paper. I guess the bullet starts to come appart some? But for varmit hunting I'm sure that isn't a critical issue, especially if your seeking good explosive varmiting. The Sierra I was speaking about in the above post was exceding 3600 fps. TNT are supposed to hold together better at hyper velocity and didn't exibit any fragmenting at 3500 fps.. It's lots of fun to shoot those little guys.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

excellent replies. thanks for the help. i'll start with some RL19 since i've got a pound on hand.

the speer manual specifically recommends the 90 gr tnt as a varmint round in .270 win, so i would think there wouldn't be many issues with jacket separation at those velocities. i'll report back.