Ammo choice for an 18" barrel 270 Winchester

Underthegun

Underthegun

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
140   0   0
Location
Emo,ON
What ammo would be better with this combo? I would like to keep the increased muzzle blast from the shorter barrel to a minimum, and I would also like to get the most performance from the ammo I use. My question i guess is this. Will 150 grain bullets perform better than the 130's out of an 18" barrel? I am not talking about accuracy, just overall performance.
 
I would guess the 150 bullet would be the way to go even heavier if you handload. You are sacrificing a lot of muzzle velocity with a .270 in an 18 inch barrel. Generally the slower, heavier bullets will not be as loud as the faster lighter ones. My 2 cents.
 
You only will lose about 100 fps compared to a 22" barrel so just shoot whatever ammo is most accurate and correct for the game you are hunting.
 
I agree that the short barrel should not factor into the ammo decision. Pick a load suited to the game and circumstances, and live with the (relatively minor) consequences of the short barrel. You can do nothing about the increased noise levels without seriously downloading the round to beyond reason.
 
I'm of the match the ammo to the game school, but having said that, I also have a predisposition to heavy for caliber bullets. Less velocity is lost when when heavy bullets are fired from short barrels, due in no small part to the lighter powder charge used, and the lower initial velocity. This is all very well in theory of course, but a pal of mine was driving 130s at 3100 fps from his 20" .270 Mannlicher stock SAKO . . . according to that particular Chrony.
 
Gatehouse said:
You only will lose about 100 fps compared to a 22" barrel so just shoot whatever ammo is most accurate and correct for the game you are hunting.
Click to expand...

In a .270 with a 130 grain load I suspect you will lose over 200 or very close to it. Seems like velocity loss runs from 30 to 60 fps per inch depending on the cartridge and load.
 
Mike Webb said:
In a .270 with a 130 grain load I suspect you will lose over 200 or very close to it. Seems like velocity loss runs from 30 to 60 fps per inch depending on the cartridge and load.
Click to expand...

I doubt it. Too many tests that have shown that 25fps is average loss per inch until you really start chopping that barrel down past 12"
 
I had a 20" Finnlite at one point, and it did 3050fps with the good ol" 60gr of 4831 and 130gr Hornady's. A 18" barreled H&R singleshot ate the remainder of those handloads and did 2960fps. I'd use 130gr Fusions and go kill stuff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom