To max or not to max... That is my question.

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Supermanofsteel

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Seems most guys talk about getting their handloads up to max and then some. I'm reloading .270 win deer rounds. A factory 130gr Core-Lokt rem is 2900fps. If I were to go max with my loads using a Hornady SST 130gr round, the FPS is up at 3150fps for my rifle. (tested and verified with my chrony)

Now correct me if I'm wrong but won't shooting a max load like that wear out the throat faster?

In my area 85% of the game is taken under 100yrs with 10% taken under 200yrds and the rest under 300yrs. (Estimated data only)

My thoughts are, I've found a charge (middle of the recommend range in the hornady book) that gets me slightly above the core-lokt at 2925fps. If 2900 FPS is good enough for factory rounds, shouldn't it be good enough for my rounds as well. It's accurate, three groups the size of a dime today while stepping up in .2gr increments. It's not so overly fast that it increases the risk that the SST, with it's polymer tip disintegrates too early on close range game before penetrating. My brass will last longer. Minimizes throat wear. If I needed a longer range rifle I'd use my .300wm.

I also had success with a near max round, but it just seems to me the wear and tear on everything is unnecessary.

What do you guys think about chasing max loads and always looking for the fasted round out there. Is it necessary?
 
reallly, it depends what im doing with it

shorter range plinking - i use the lowest accuracy node, saves powder and its short range
long range - use the higher node for the velocity
"extreme" long range, pushed as hard as i safely can to keep the bullet super sonic for as long as possible , of course while keeping the accuracy

hunting - meh as long as the bullet preforms how it should and im getting clean kills i see no reason to chase asfter my max loads
 
The lower the chamber pressure is the lower the peak flame temperature, at 43,000 - 46,000 cup (46,000 psi - 49,000 psi) you are just starting to reach the melting point of modern barrel steels.

So ask yourself if your backside prefers being wiped with soft toilet paper or 60 grit sand paper and how long do you plan to keep it in working order.

My AR15 rifles for practice are loaded to 50,000 psi and the .223/5.56 is rated at 55,000 psi and my brass loves me for it.
 
Even if you did use max loads would that 200 Ft/sec difference make a difference on game?

IMO all it will do is give you a SLIGHTLY flatter trajectory which with normal hunting distances( that you already determined yourself) won't make a lick of difference.

.270 Out to 300 yards on deer? Put it on the lungs and game over.

I always go for maximum accuracy.

As for wear, use a moderate load and you will have hunting grade accuracy for your lifetime and many others.
 
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well, you are right, you don't need max velocity for the ranges you are hunting, but you shouldn't worry about burning the throat out at the rated velocity. If you shoot so much it does wear out, buy another barrel and start over. get a match grade barrel next time and have fun.
 
I don't believe Velocity should be the Be all an end all, I reload my .270 with Varget and get around 2850 -/+ fps with a rem700 24inch, I just yesterday shot a 400m 'deer' target to get an idea of my drop and my accuracy.

Well blow me down I shot a 3 shot group of about 2-3 inches right near the Heart Zone!! I then put one into the Lungs and called it a Day.. what im trying to get at, is Yes my Velocity is a fair bit lower than some Factory and a lot lower than some Re load figures from Max charge of any powder.. BUT for Hunting it kills game like any other .270 and its up to you in regards to working out Your drop compensation at whatever Distances you intend to shoot!

Max loads create more Recoil and yeah can lower the Brass life..


I wouldn't be worried about chasing velocity if your shooting out to 300m IMO, plus with a less than 2900 FPS you can use standard Cup an Core projies in close an not worry about seperations an aslong as you keep your knife sharp , you will eat well ;)

WL
 
Find the spot with the best accuracy. The 270Win in most rifles likes to be close to max for best accuracy. That is why so many people load to max or just over max.

The 270Win, like the 280Rem is loaded down in pressures by most commercial loaders in deference to some supposedly weaker semi auto actions. Recently, I saw a beautiful 96 Swede Mauser that had been customized and rebarreled to 270Win. I thought it was a recent build but it is supposedly over 35 years old. The owner has used it since it was converted and has shot only factory ammo in it. Several boxes per year.

In all honestly, for such short range shooting, you really don't need the extra wear and tear on your rifle using max loads. If the rifle puts the bullets where you want them to go, as long as you do your part, there isn't a deer in the world that will notice the difference.
 
Choose a good bullet, and go with the load that's most accurate with you behind the wheel. Don't be concerned with MV - a 130 gr bullet at even 2800 fps (a very mild load), and zeroed at 200 yds will be about 2" high at 100 yds and 6" low at 300 yds. Load into the more typical range for a 270 and it shoots flatter.

I have never heard of a hunter shooting out the barrel of a 270.
 
Supermanofsteel said:
Seems most guys talk about getting their handloads up to max and then some. I'm reloading .270 win deer rounds. A factory 130gr Core-Lokt rem is 2900fps. If I were to go max with my loads using a Hornady SST 130gr round, the FPS is up at 3150fps for my rifle. (tested and verified with my chrony)

Now correct me if I'm wrong but won't shooting a max load like that wear out the throat faster?

In my area 85% of the game is taken under 100yrs with 10% taken under 200yrds and the rest under 300yrs. (Estimated data only)

My thoughts are, I've found a charge (middle of the recommend range in the hornady book) that gets me slightly above the core-lokt at 2925fps. If 2900 FPS is good enough for factory rounds, shouldn't it be good enough for my rounds as well. It's accurate, three groups the size of a dime today while stepping up in .2gr increments. It's not so overly fast that it increases the risk that the SST, with it's polymer tip disintegrates too early on close range game before penetrating. My brass will last longer. Minimizes throat wear. If I needed a longer range rifle I'd use my .300wm.

I also had success with a near max round, but it just seems to me the wear and tear on everything is unnecessary.

What do you guys think about chasing max loads and always looking for the fasted round out there. Is it necessary?
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There's a lot of good info on this thread bud. But keep in mind that not all rifles are the same. The best thing to do is to experiment with different powder charges starting from the lowest to the max and see which one gives you the best result while still being comfortable for YOU to shoot. At the end of the day, it's your rifle and your shoulder... Experimenting with different bullet seating depths after you have established your preferred powder charge will also fine tune the accuracy of your cartridges. I did this with my Winchester model 70 in 30-06 and I finally got to a point where the shots were going through the same hole on bullseye at 100 yards. ;)
 
Let's see, do you need max loads to to shoot 300 yards? Not really.

Do you need dime sized groups to shoot 300 yard deer? Not really?

Do you need hand loads at all? Probably not. You may not need a scope, some won't need smokeless powder.

Do you need long barrel life? Most people don't shoot out barrels except in their wettest dreams. Those that do don't ask if backing a load off 100 is going to makeit bounce off.

What people could use is a few more shot out barrels.
 
Shot placement is final; mechanical accuracy is usually just a small part of shot placement. Its hard to screw a .270 up so bad that it wouldn't be a 300 yard gun, and yet people still miss. It makes me think that too much time and effort are being spent where it doesn't matter.
 
The throat of a rifle that is loaded with maximum pressure rounds that are fired with plenty of time between shots will outlast one that is loaded with moderate loads but are machine-gunned down the bore. Where you'll see a difference though is with your brass. Brass that is loaded to moderate pressure will have tight primer pockets for more reloads than than those loaded to maximum.
 
Burning out barrels for a hunter is vastly overstated on the internet, as far as I can tell.

I personally know nobody who has ever done it.

How many hunting rifles do you see that have less than 50% finish left, have been used for decades and still have near new bores and internals?

That's real world wear on a hunting rifle - on the outside.

There are plenty of .270's from the '60's around with fine bores, 60 years later.

As for the "max or not", well personally I load almost all my stuff as fast as I can, as long as I'm still getting good accuracy. I've never experienced even moderate throat wear on a real "hunting" rifle, that see's 40 - 100 rounds per year.

I'd bet you a replacement barrel for that .270 of yours, even if you load the snot out of it, you'll not see the barrel burned out through normal hunting use in your lifetime.
 
Northman999 said:
Burning out barrels for a hunter is vastly overstated on the internet, as far as I can tell.

I personally know nobody who has ever done it.

How many hunting rifles do you see that have less than 50% finish left, have been used for decades and still have near new bores and internals?

That's real world wear on a hunting rifle - on the outside.

There are plenty of .270's from the '60's around with fine bores, 60 years later.

As for the "max or not", well personally I load almost all my stuff as fast as I can, as long as I'm still getting good accuracy. I've never experienced even moderate throat wear on a real "hunting" rifle, that see's 40 - 100 rounds per year.

I'd bet you a replacement barrel for that .270 of yours, even if you load the snot out of it, you'll not see the barrel burned out through normal hunting use in your lifetime.
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I have and my father did. But both were magnums (300WM for me and 270Weatherby for him). Now I don't know any other hunters who have but they may exist. Now to wear out a non-magnum? That would be an impressive feat. Maybe if guys spent as much time practicing as they should the market for rebarrelling services would be more robust.
 
Dogleg said:
Shot placement is final; mechanical accuracy is usually just a small part of shot placement. Its hard to screw a .270 up so bad that it wouldn't be a 300 yard gun, and yet people still miss. It makes me think that too much time and effort are being spent where it doesn't matter.
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Yes.

Practice more from all positions, including sitting shots from the weak shoulder.
 
A lot of reloading recipes, show min to max and then show the most accurate which is almost always less than max. I am sure there are some out there that are the exception to the rule. Why stress everything at max or more if you don't need it ?

QUOTE=yomomma;10570828]Max loads are not always the most accurate.[/QUOTE]
 
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