.270 Winchester & H4831

Chuck

Chuck

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I'm still experimenting with loads in my Ruger #1B .270. It's still early and I have an awesome varmint load with 110 grain V-Maxs and 53 grains of H-380. I'm getting 3200 fps and groups that can be covered with a dime.

As for a deer load I picked up some H-4831 which is definitely one of the .270's go-to powders. I do have a questions though. Jack O'Connor had a pet load of 62 grains of H-4831 for the .270. He shot thousands of rounds of it from the sounds of things and it was his favourite load in his favourite caliber. The only catch is that it is 2 grains over the listed max from Hodgdon. Has anyone here used O'Connors load? I'm just wondering how much 4831 has changed over the years or is it still the same powder that always worked for Jack?

Any opinions or scientific wild ass guesses would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Chuck
 
Old Jacks load did not work as well for me in my 700, however I would say work your way up slow! It did not show preasure signs however becareful.
I found a health amount + Max of H-4350 with a 130 grain Pro hunter or B-Tip gave me better accuracy slower but still lots to do the job.
 
270

62gr of H4831 with a 130gr partition is Max in my sons M70 and it is very accurate, start with 57gr and work up and see if your rifle can take the Max load, i would give up 100fps for deadly accuracy.
 
.270 H4831

I've used the 62 grain load with various standard 130 grain bullets in several rifles with good results. If using something like a Barnes X or Swift Sirroco (spelling??) back off as they are much longer and raise pressures.

I usually shoot 140 grain bullets now.

Outdoors
 
Alot has changed since JOC used that load.

Go with modern load data.

(I have also heard that some folks suspected his scale was out by a grain or 2):)
 
I may try to work things up a bit but I'll have to see. The #1 is a brutally strong action for sure (Leonard Brownell failed when he actually tried to blow one up) but I don't believe in tempting fate either.

IMR-4350 has given me 1" to 1 1/4" groups with velocity near 3200fps. There's a lot to like there but I also like how H-4831 is known to be less temperature sensitive. If 4831 can give me similar accuracy and velocity I'd prefer the less sensitive powder.

Chuck
 
Chuck

You can get H4350 which is also in the EXTREME line.

The Ruger #1 is a very strong action, but it's really yhe case that is your weak spot.:p
 
Chuck said:
The only catch is that it is 2 grains over the listed max from Hodgdon.
Click to expand...

I have a Hodgdon manual here and find SOME of the loads to be a bit light compared to other manuals. I have some loads that I use safely that are over max in the Hodgdon book.

Having said that, approach Jack's load with caution!!!



sc
 
It takes some wigglin' and jigglin' to get 62 gr. of H4831 into the .270 case.

Ate-up all of Jack's writings over the years, but found 60 gr. of 4831 to be the best in 3 different .270's I had. No problem with pressure, just 60gr. was more accurate using 130 gr. Sierras & Hornadys and Noslers at the time. The same 60 gr. load was also very accurate with Sierra 90 gr. HPs.

Things have changed over the years ... like lawyers, litigation and (way too) heavy trigger pulls. Most of the older manuals show a few more grains of almost every powder than they do know. All seem to stress " follow the data and NEVER exceed, however, data varies from manual to manual. They also stress at the same time that you should start 10 percent under and carefully work-up letting your own rifle be the guide. Most of the ballistics techs are like Philadelphia lawyers ... i.e., their data was developed by them in their test procedures under carefully controlled conditions, blah, blah, blah, ( with that Company's usual indemnification notice printed in every manual ) meaning their data should be used as a guideline only. Most agree that different barrels give different pressure readings with identical loadings. Even the pressure test equipment needs be calibrated individually. All of which means "basically good advice" - so use common sense - start carefully and work up cautiously. Your gun/cartridge combo will likely be the best indication to let you know how your doing.


Although Hodgdon says not, Sierras ballistics techs have found that H4831SC (short cut) generates slightly higher pressures in their test barrels, grain for grain over what "regular" H 4831 does.
 
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