Hornady 130gr SST - .270 IMR4064

[Supermanofsteel]

I'm new (Started this winter) to reloading so I'm just looking to get some feedback on the information I have regarding my trying to find the best load for my .270 in a 130gr deer round. Any feed back would be welcome.

The hornady book says for a 130gr SST with IMR4064...

46.8gr = 2900FPS and 48.6gr = 3000fps.

I recently got a chrony this week and I though I was doing alright with a load of 47.2 until I got the velocity results today.

47.2gr is giving me 3118, 3107,3112 fps.

I wanted to be in the neighborhood of 2800 to 2900 fps because my research suggest the SST performs better at that velocity when taking deer under 100 yards.

The 47.2gr was beginning to also show a slight flow back on the primer. Very very slight but you can see it.

Is it normal for a rifle to max out on velocity with a lessor powder charge that what is posted in the book? Is this why it's good practice to always work up to max load? My bullet is sitting approx .010 to .015 off the rifling.

I had decent grouping with 46.8gr but at the time I didn't have a chrony so I was thinking the velocity may not be enough as my shots seemed to get tighter around the 47.2gr mark. I'm thinking of dropping back down to the 46.8 and doing .2 increments in both direction to see if I can get a tight group. This time I will have the chrony so I'll know what the velocity is.

When you guys are trying to find the best load, what step/increments do you change gr's in?

 

[Varmit]

That's good velocity for 4064 which is a fast powder for a 270. To answer your question, I usually try 0.5 grain increments. Don't forget seating depth can effect accuracy too. I've found SSTs to be very accurate. What barrel length do you have?

 

[sunray]

Forget about velocity and work up the load for accuracy. Bambi will not care how fast the bullet that killed him was going. The load doesn't have to be one hole groups either.
And 48.6 is .1 below a full grain OVER max of 47.5 for a 130, according to Hodgdon.
In any case, book values reflect data obtained on the day of the test only, but I think you're looking at Barnes solid copper bullet data. Hodgdon shows the Barnes TSX goes 3013 with a 47.3 grain max load of IMR4064(OAL is considerably longer too. Caused by the length of the copper bullet's lower mass.). An SST isn't a solid copper bullet. Don't think you have a safety issue at all though. The Barnes bullet at max loads gives almost 13,000 PSI more pressure than a lead cored.

 

[horseman2]

From the Sierra Manual, the suggested loads and velocities are in line with your info.
Their accuracy loads are as follows.

Accuracy Load: RE-22/ 56.7grs. 3000fps/ 2597ft. lbs.
Hunting Load: RE-22/ 58.2grs. 3100fps/ 2774ft. lbs.

Occasionally a rifle will exceed book values so as previously stated, accuracy is also a consideration.
I am sure there will be additional info once all of your factors are known: Rifle, barrel length, factory or custom, and age of rifle plus number of rounds down the pipe.

Nosler does not list IMR4064 in their load data. With Re22, the most accurate load was 55.0 grains.
Their listed most accurate powder was H4831SC.

Your bullet has a listed Ballistic Coefficient so starting with your velocity of 3100, you are below 2900 at 100 yards so your velocity concerns evaporate beyond normal hunting ranges for deer.
Starting at 3000 you are at 2800 by 100 yards. Insignificant enough that a deer won't notice the difference.
Come fall when the temperatures are lower, your velocity will also decrease. Testing your velocities in the early AM may change your results.

The Sierra program allows all sorts of variations (Temperature, Humidity, elevation and wind) but testing for those factors for your hunting environment causes changes all down the line.

 

[DFB Plinker]

I have killed in excess of a hundred Whitetails with the venerable .270 win an old parker hale I paid 120 bucks for, a good many years ago. I hunt primarily hardwood forest a long shot being 100 yards. My parker will never be a target rifle it is capable of under 2 inch groups at a 100 yards off the bench in my hunting conditions I am seldom in a position to shoot with a rest. So after making sure that it is shooting the way it was last year I am more inclined to practice shooting at at random targets at random distances and angles up down etc. off hand. That way when it comes time to make meat if I do my job..... There is never a question whether the rifle will do its job or not. If the bullet is traveling 2600 or 3100 is moot the shock and trauma created by a 130 gr. projectile traveling at those speeds has the DRT or Dead Right There affect. Jack O'connor wrote extensively about the .270 win. Oops did I date myself?

When working up accuracy loads I start low and increase by .5 gr increments then start to experiment with bullet seating depths.

Sierra makes a 90 gr. h.p. in .270 that can step along at the 3400 to 3600 fps Coyote grenades!!!

 

[amosfella]

I heard that Colonel townsend liked 49.5 gr of IMR 4064 under a 130 gr bullet...