Thread: First time reloading 270win

I would completely disregard the blown primer case. It is from the 'practice' batch of squashed and half to completely fucked cases so was probably too short and the primer just moved back and leaked a bit

Originally Posted by Sidetrack

Absolutely loving it and am using AR2209 with the Nosler 130s as per the start of this post.
I like your suggestion about the white dots on black paper. I used the crosses to distinguish from the double reticle image I’m seeing and the red to help me centre it. Standard vert/horizontal targets were getting lost in the noise. Will try this in the next round. It’s going to take time shifting to being a leftie.

51 gn's of 2209 is certainly not a heavy load, should be around the 2900-3000fps range. If a 5 shot group shows that it is a good accurate load, I would suggest you load a few for hunting. And when you have some spare time try a 5 shot group or 2 of the 51.5 and 52 gn's to see if they work as well. Might not be a big gain, or it may give you an extra 50-100fps which will be handy when shooting way out there.

Been awhile since last update. Ran five rounds of the 51gn loads through but ended up kicking myself for my lack of patience which resulted in a less than desirable outcome. Pre run with the 260 to settle in but the rain didn’t hold out and had a light variable 3-5 knot wind crossing the target at about the 2 o’clock mark. Was a less than stellar day with my eyesight as well so the results speak for themselves.

1.6” spread.


Anyhoo, finally got to the optometrist last week (ten years since my last inspection). Usual age related shit so now going from +1.25 readers to +1.75 for the right eye and a correction for the astigmatism that’s developed in the left. Will need cataract surgery in the future but fine for the next two years at least. I’ll wait till my specs arrive before I go back to the range so I can put my best foot forward. Am keen to see how much of a difference they’ll make. On the bright side, looks like I’ll need them to retain my heavy traffic license classes so killed two birds with one stone.

Husky, you’ve peaked my curiosity so I’ll load up as you have suggested and as I have been kindly lent a Caldwell chrony I’ll check speeds at the same time. Not that I’m chasing velocity but it’s a good reference point for a drop chart if needed I guess.
Cheers all.

Bit of horizontal dispersion, thats possibly due to the wind. Vertical looks good. Id move it a click or 2 to the right and just go shoot shit now.

I don’t get too concerned about a bit of horizontal dispersion if the vertical is tight.
It’s normally due to shooter error. Moving head position along the stock. Vertical tends to be load induced.


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This eye problem you have.

Have you tried adjusting the eye piece focus on the scope?

https://www.leupold.com/blog/post/ho...our-riflescope

Electricians wire strippers work to pull bullets too. Cheap as chips.

@Sidetrack Erik Cortina interviews Jack Neary series might have the answer for you, here is a link to one of them, but they are all worth a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQsGYONTNps. Your group is a 'four and one' according to Jack. If the groups are consistently like that then he suggests that powder should be reduced two or three tenths of a grain

its around the inch mark...thats a dead deer out to 300 yards...and the problem is????? go shoot something you can eat.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

This eye problem you have.

Have you tried adjusting the eye piece focus on the scope?

https://www.leupold.com/blog/post/ho...our-riflescope

Electricians wire strippers work to pull bullets too. Cheap as chips.

Yes, had a play with focus adjustment but doesn’t resolve my issue as the reticle in my short sight range. I can compensate for this with glasses but then I can’t focus through the scope out further.
Information is a bit lean on this issue. I’ve seen references on scope attachments?? extending eye relief?? Also wondered if there would be difference between first focal and second focal plane scopes?
Am picking up new glasses this coming week in Dunners and will head to H&F/GC and look through a few different scopes to gauge if there is any improvement or not.
Not too frustrated yet as I can still hunt perfectly fine but with the increased emphasis on range time now that I’ve gone down the reloading path, I would like to at least knock out an obvious variable.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

its around the inch mark...thats a dead deer out to 300 yards...and the problem is????? go shoot something you can eat.

I hear ya, and couldn’t agree more but one of my stronger personality traits is at play here. When I do something I like to do it well, some might even call it being anal

Originally Posted by Dicko

I don’t get too concerned about a bit of horizontal dispersion if the vertical is tight.
It’s normally due to shooter error. Moving head position along the stock. Vertical tends to be load induced.


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Valid comment. Given the eye thing, I guarantee I’m jigging my head around trying to get a better sight picture.

Originally Posted by Sidetrack

I hear ya, and couldn’t agree more but one of my stronger personality traits is at play here. When I do something I like to do it well, some might even call it being anal

OK...so its all a matter of perspective.
you are in the catlins...so your average expected shooting range is???
your longest expected shooting range is???
your PERSONAL longest expected shooting range is??? rangefinder/twiddle n fiddle Vs point n shoot with tiny holdover if think 300-350 ????

you see FOR ME... as I just dont shoot past 350ish and those shots over 300 are about once every 3 years LOL... I know that any bullet from my rifle will group well enough to cleanly kill any animal within those ranges without issue...I also KNOW I dont need that group to be better than an inch to do so.
now my .224 centrefires re different kettle of fish... but even with them a mixed magazine of loads will still hover under or right on inch..dead bunny to 200 everyday of week,wallabies are in big trouble out to 250 and deer to 150....

Originally Posted by Sidetrack

The weather gods smiled at me today. Sea level, 12degrees and no wind. Perfect!!

Centre of target still a bit of a blur for me (yes yes I know, get my eyes rechecked) but results as follows:

Attachment 204578Attachment 204579

No pressure signs on the cases that I can tell. Maybe bolt lift getting a touch stickier from 52gns upwards but not getting any worse at 53gns but I wouldn’t say abnormal.
Also fired the one round from initial batch (51.5gns) that would chamber freely. On target but looks like it blew a primer.

Attachment 204585

Your analysis, ladies and gentlemen, would be appreciated.

Just spotted this. In my opinion that is not a blown primer but a primer manufacturing fault. There was a weakness in the primer cup which perforated when fired. With a blown primer from high pressure the primer would have fallen out of the case.
Regards Grandpamac.

After a quick skim through the thread settling on 51 grains of AR2209 with the 130 grain projectiles seems a bit premature. One tiny group, especially a two shot one, really does not indicate a really accurate load. Max for AR2209 and 130 grain is mostly 54 grains and some data is higher. I have long given up trying to divine pressure by gazing at cases and primers. Today I believe velocity is a much better indicator. I see that you have gained access to a chronograph and suspect that it will tell you that the velocity is only 2,800 fps or perhaps less for your loads rather than the 3,000 fps you were expecting. You may wish to work up your loads until you reach a velocity of around 2,900 fps depending on your barrel length or reach book max.
Regards Grandpamac.
PS my old Nosler manual circa 1976 gives a max of the similar IMR4350 as 55 grains with your projectile for 3071 fps in a 26" barrel.

You will need at least 54 gns of 2209 to get 3000 fps with a 130 gn projectile.


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