Hey there I am starting to load. 270 wsm for my savage model 11, I'm favoring 150-165 grain bulets for their high BC's. I'm wondering if anyone has any load data for this cartridge with Superformance powder, bullet weight doesn't matter. I'm more just wondering if you've had success with it or not, if heavy or light bullets worked better etc. I'm starting at 63 grains and working up from there in my own tests with 150 grains sst's, any input is appreciated. I have been added unable to find a load from any other source so I took an educated guess from other wsm data as to a safe starting point. Thanks, Skokie.
.270 wsm with superformance
- Thread starter skokie
- Start date
No experience with Superformance, but for heavier (~165 Gr bullets) you may want to look at Retumbo. I have some loaded up, just haven't been able to shoot them yet, but everything I've read leads me to believe it's a good combination for speed/accuracy. Let us know how the Superformance works out, and where you end up with max loads/velocity.
I've got #9, the newest Hornady manual and it doesn't show any loads for Superformance either.
I'm headed out this afternoon to test the loads I've worked up, for speed, accuracy and pressure signs. my tests from 60- 67 grs of superformance with a 150 gr interlock showed no pressure signs. so I'm starting at 67 grs and going up in half-grain increments to 69.5 grains today. I'll be shooting five shots at each powder level and averaging the chrony results and checking group size. I'm also doing some testing of H-4350 loads. how hot do you load with retumbo out of curiosity? thanks, Skokie.
So, I tested up to 69 grns today, with no pressure signs and a top velocity of 3240 fps with a spread of about 20 fps. So all in all a very nice result, I will be loading up from there in .5 grain increments until the case is full, which isn't much more powder. I was unable to shoot groups because the recoil knocked my scope loose, last time I ever pay someone else to mount a scope for me. so I will test that next time. At 3240 fps with the Hornady sst interlocks I have, that is only 25" of drop at 500 yards, and 221" at 1000 (18.42'). Fyi, I also chronied some Winchester super x 150 gr power points, the box says 3150 fps, they actually came in at 3100 fps thereabouts. cant wait to see how hot I can get with the Superformance,
I'm hoping for at least 3300 fps. Im very happy with it so far as it fills the case, is fairly consistant and cheaper than some other powders, at lest where I shop. Skokie.
I'm hoping for at least 3300 fps. Im very happy with it so far as it fills the case, is fairly consistant and cheaper than some other powders, at lest where I shop. Skokie.
I have been using Superformance in two different .270 short mags. Data below is for a Kimber 8400. Obviously I am not advocating starting at the charges I show here. Consult a published manual for starting data, use common sense, work up your load slowly and check for pressure signs throughought the loading process. The load I use for this rifle is 69.6 grs of Superformance. It shoots 3/4 inc groups (5 shot) at 100 yds. Velocity 3380 fps. Cases last two to three reloads before I toss them for safety.
Kimber .270 WSM, Fed 215, Lot 2450, Win Brass, Hornady Superformance Lot 10228112008, Berger VLD 130 Gr., O.A.L. as per SAAMI specification.
Load 1 64.0 gr, primer ok, Case ok, Velocity 3003 fps, Kick - normal, Extraction - normal
Load 2 66.0 gr, primer ok, Case ok, Velocity 3168 fps, Kick - normal, Extraction - normal
Load 3, 68.0 gr, primer ok, Case ok, Velocity 3258 fps, Kick - normal, Extraction - normal
Load 4 69.0 gr, primer ok, Case - slight stretching, Velocity 3360 fps, Kick - normal, Extraction - normal
Load 5 70.0 gr, primer ok, Case - slight stretching (same as load 4), Velocity 3411 fps, Kick - normal, Extraction - normal
Load 6 71.0 gr, primer ok, Case - slight stretching (same as load 4), Velocity 3464 fps, Kick - slight increase, Extraction - slight stickiness
Load 7 72.0 gr, primer ok, Case - increased stretching, Velocity 3533 fps, Kick - slight increase, Extraction - increased difficulty with bolt over load 6
Load 8 73.0 gr, primer slight flattening, Case stretchin similar to Load 7, Velocity 3596 fps, Kick - increased, Extraction - increased difficulty over load 7
Load 9 74.0 gr, increased flattening, Case stretch slightly increased, Velocity 3639, Kick - noticeable jump in kick, Extraction - sticky
Load 10 75.0 gr primer nearly flattened, Case stretching clearly evident, Velocity - 3697, Kick - significant (about equal to .300 Win Mag), Extraction - bolt difficult to open.
Noz
Kimber .270 WSM, Fed 215, Lot 2450, Win Brass, Hornady Superformance Lot 10228112008, Berger VLD 130 Gr., O.A.L. as per SAAMI specification.
Load 1 64.0 gr, primer ok, Case ok, Velocity 3003 fps, Kick - normal, Extraction - normal
Load 2 66.0 gr, primer ok, Case ok, Velocity 3168 fps, Kick - normal, Extraction - normal
Load 3, 68.0 gr, primer ok, Case ok, Velocity 3258 fps, Kick - normal, Extraction - normal
Load 4 69.0 gr, primer ok, Case - slight stretching, Velocity 3360 fps, Kick - normal, Extraction - normal
Load 5 70.0 gr, primer ok, Case - slight stretching (same as load 4), Velocity 3411 fps, Kick - normal, Extraction - normal
Load 6 71.0 gr, primer ok, Case - slight stretching (same as load 4), Velocity 3464 fps, Kick - slight increase, Extraction - slight stickiness
Load 7 72.0 gr, primer ok, Case - increased stretching, Velocity 3533 fps, Kick - slight increase, Extraction - increased difficulty with bolt over load 6
Load 8 73.0 gr, primer slight flattening, Case stretchin similar to Load 7, Velocity 3596 fps, Kick - increased, Extraction - increased difficulty over load 7
Load 9 74.0 gr, increased flattening, Case stretch slightly increased, Velocity 3639, Kick - noticeable jump in kick, Extraction - sticky
Load 10 75.0 gr primer nearly flattened, Case stretching clearly evident, Velocity - 3697, Kick - significant (about equal to .300 Win Mag), Extraction - bolt difficult to open.
Noz
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Thanks for the data, that's exactly what I was looking for. Those are some pretty awesome velocities too. I wonder why there's no data for this in any publications???? Perhaps they haven't got around to it yet. I suppose I'll have to try some of those Bergers, the BC's are quite good. Thanks again, Skokie.
Skokie, I have used IMR 4350, H4350, RL19 and RL22, and H4831 in all of my short mags and haven't been able to duplicate factory premium ammo performance until I started using Superformance powder. When I chrono'd Winchester Super X short mag ammo I found it usually shot between 100 and 200 fps slower than the premium stuff. I have found Federal Premium to be the most consistent in terms of dispersion on the chrono and it clocks right up there with published data. Superformance powders seems to be less effective on the heavier short mags like the .300 and .325. I found it only gave marginal velocity increases in the .325 for example. I'm not a ballistician by trade so I don't know why the superformance powders seem to work better in the .270 WSM's that I own.
Superformance works pretty well too in my Sako .243...I'm shooting a 95 grain VLD at 3350 fps.
l'd be interested in seeing your results, as there is nothing published that I am aware of.
Noz
Superformance works pretty well too in my Sako .243...I'm shooting a 95 grain VLD at 3350 fps.
l'd be interested in seeing your results, as there is nothing published that I am aware of.
Noz
Skokie, again not Superformance related, but I managed to go shooting this afternoon with some 165 Gr matrix bullets over Retumbo in my X-Bolt 270 WSM. These were my results:
All using 165 Grain Matrix VLD, Fed 215M, 2.910 O.A.L.
1: 62.0 Gr Retumbo, 2768 FPS
2: 63.0 Gr Retumbo, 2788 FPS
3: 64.0 Gr Retumbo, 2847 FPS
4: 65.0 Gr Retumbo, 2871 FPS
5: 65.5 Gr Retumbo, 2893 FPS
6: 66.0 Gr Retumbo, 2929 FPS Still minimal pressure signs, bolt extraction minimally sticky, no cratering of primers, minor flattening. I might work up another .5-1 Grain and see if I can net 3000 out of it. Here are the pictures of my groups working up loads:
Shots 1-3, #2-3 touching
Shots 4-6, can't remember order
Here was another load I was working up using RL22 and 150 Grain Nosler BT's. Velocities aren't neck-breaking, but I'm not pushing it (since it would be wasted with the bullet construction on game anyways), and it's pretty hard to argue with the accuracy...
All using Nosler Ballistic Tip 150 Gr, Fed 215M, 2.885 O.A.L. (into lands, will be jumping it .010-.020 with my actual load)
1: 57.0 Gr RL22, 2815 FPS
2: 58.0 Gr RL22, 2886 FPS
3: 59.0 Gr RL22, 2937 FPS
4: 60.0 Gr RL22, 2999 FPS
5: 61.0 Gr RL22, 3021 FPS
Top left was #1, bottom left was #5. Cloverleaf was #2-4
Are you planning on using the loads for hunting or target/competition? Keep in mind that overclocking some bullets will do more harm than good in a hunting situation. I'm in the middle of doing a bullet test in .277 to evaluate how magnum speeds affect terminal ballistics negatively, depending on bullet construction.
Anyways, I'd love to get my hands on some of that Superformance, the numbers look impressive. I'm especially interested in seeing how it would compare to the Retumbo in the 165 Gr weight bullets. Can't wait to see your results! If you want to swap small amounts of powder for testing, drop me a PM.
TT
All using 165 Grain Matrix VLD, Fed 215M, 2.910 O.A.L.
1: 62.0 Gr Retumbo, 2768 FPS
2: 63.0 Gr Retumbo, 2788 FPS
3: 64.0 Gr Retumbo, 2847 FPS
4: 65.0 Gr Retumbo, 2871 FPS
5: 65.5 Gr Retumbo, 2893 FPS
6: 66.0 Gr Retumbo, 2929 FPS Still minimal pressure signs, bolt extraction minimally sticky, no cratering of primers, minor flattening. I might work up another .5-1 Grain and see if I can net 3000 out of it. Here are the pictures of my groups working up loads:
Shots 1-3, #2-3 touching
Shots 4-6, can't remember order
Here was another load I was working up using RL22 and 150 Grain Nosler BT's. Velocities aren't neck-breaking, but I'm not pushing it (since it would be wasted with the bullet construction on game anyways), and it's pretty hard to argue with the accuracy...
All using Nosler Ballistic Tip 150 Gr, Fed 215M, 2.885 O.A.L. (into lands, will be jumping it .010-.020 with my actual load)
1: 57.0 Gr RL22, 2815 FPS
2: 58.0 Gr RL22, 2886 FPS
3: 59.0 Gr RL22, 2937 FPS
4: 60.0 Gr RL22, 2999 FPS
5: 61.0 Gr RL22, 3021 FPS
Top left was #1, bottom left was #5. Cloverleaf was #2-4
Are you planning on using the loads for hunting or target/competition? Keep in mind that overclocking some bullets will do more harm than good in a hunting situation. I'm in the middle of doing a bullet test in .277 to evaluate how magnum speeds affect terminal ballistics negatively, depending on bullet construction.
Anyways, I'd love to get my hands on some of that Superformance, the numbers look impressive. I'm especially interested in seeing how it would compare to the Retumbo in the 165 Gr weight bullets. Can't wait to see your results! If you want to swap small amounts of powder for testing, drop me a PM.
TT
