Backstory: OK, so I got a Tikka 270WSM. Factory Federal ammo shoots plenty nice in it (0.9-ish inch 5 shot groups); so I known that gun, with me behind the trigger, is capable of it. But there's no way I'm planning on paying $50 a box of 20 on a regular basis! My first choice of powder (IMR7828) for handloads however, isn't doing so hot. Accuracy isn't just totally awful, but it's about 1.6-ish inches at 100 yards consistently -- but 3 out of 5 shots would be tight, with 2 being fliers -- the fliers being random in terms of which shot in a 5 shot group would go wild. So, I did a couple of 5 round groups over the chronograph, and lo and behold; 100% of the "off" shots were showing significant velocity deviations (40+ FPS off the typical velocity of the 3 out of 5 that were making a nice tight group).
My experience duruing load work up for this rifle comfirms that supicion, as I noted that POI will shift about 1/2 or so with 50-ish FPS of velocity change -- so I'm pretty comfortable with the idea that my problem is inconsistent velocity.
I ran all that by a buddy of mine who has been loading for a few decades longer than me, and he noted that his experience with 7828 was similar; velocity deviation and mediocre accuracy.
I bought the 270WSM for a "reach out and touch something" gun, so 1.6-ish MOA isn't really what I had in mind -- 1-ish MOA is what I'm after. Which means, I'm looking for to snag a pound of powder in a flavor more likely to produce consistent velocities and better accuracy.
QuickLoad data suggests that for 130 grain bullets, powder in the neighbourhood of Reloader 25, 7828, etc would produce the best velocity (even R22 would be reasonable), but then my aforementioned buddy suggests 4831 for accuracy -- but QuickLoad suggests that the velocity at max pressure with 4831 would be down near 270Winchester territory (in which case, I'd rather have a 270Win than a WSM).
So, anyone out there with real world experience loading a 270WSM care to suggest a powder that would knock a 130 grain bullet up near the 3300FPS mark while maintaining a fairly consistent velocity/accuracy -- I would much appreciate it. Otherwise, I'll probably be trying a bit of R25 or R22 next (depending on what my local store has in stock that day).
Thanks,
My experience duruing load work up for this rifle comfirms that supicion, as I noted that POI will shift about 1/2 or so with 50-ish FPS of velocity change -- so I'm pretty comfortable with the idea that my problem is inconsistent velocity.
I ran all that by a buddy of mine who has been loading for a few decades longer than me, and he noted that his experience with 7828 was similar; velocity deviation and mediocre accuracy.
I bought the 270WSM for a "reach out and touch something" gun, so 1.6-ish MOA isn't really what I had in mind -- 1-ish MOA is what I'm after. Which means, I'm looking for to snag a pound of powder in a flavor more likely to produce consistent velocities and better accuracy.
QuickLoad data suggests that for 130 grain bullets, powder in the neighbourhood of Reloader 25, 7828, etc would produce the best velocity (even R22 would be reasonable), but then my aforementioned buddy suggests 4831 for accuracy -- but QuickLoad suggests that the velocity at max pressure with 4831 would be down near 270Winchester territory (in which case, I'd rather have a 270Win than a WSM).
So, anyone out there with real world experience loading a 270WSM care to suggest a powder that would knock a 130 grain bullet up near the 3300FPS mark while maintaining a fairly consistent velocity/accuracy -- I would much appreciate it. Otherwise, I'll probably be trying a bit of R25 or R22 next (depending on what my local store has in stock that day).
Thanks,
