This will be a mostly technical thread about my current for fun gun project. If reloading or rifles isn't your thing, it might bore you. Hopefully there will be some blood in the making too.
Ive long known that the most effective, dont take a step, deer loads are the ones at the higher end of the velocity scale. Ask people that have shot many deer with a 22-250 and they'll tell you the deer rarely go anywhere but down. That is, until you center a shoulder knuckle and the bullet fails to penetrate both lungs. Ive always been interested in a common cartridge that could push a 80-90 grain bullet at or above 22-250 velocities. It should have relatively low recoil, while providing devastating impact on small/ medium deer.
Ive recently changed hunting property and some of my feeders are set on the edges of VERY thick woods. Yaupon and saw briars so thick that you cant see five yards. The type where tracking can only been done on your hands and knees and good luck dragging a deer back out the typical 40 yards that they run. This re-ignited my interest in a super fast round to drop them where they stand.
Quick research showed there is no factory round that does what I was looking for. An A-bolt in 270 win has been my old standard deer gun so my reloading research started there. I had no desire for a wildcat but I found some people out there loading 6.8spc bullets in to the 270 win with good results. If a 270 win could do it then why not a 270 Winchester Short Mag? Some more research showed Barnes has the exact loads published that Im looking for. 85 Grain TSX flat base coming out of a 24" barrel in the 3800-3900 range. https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/270-Winchester-Short-Magnum.pdf
If a 24" barrel was good, then why not a 28". I knew from other reports online to hope for about 200fps increase when adding the four extra inches to the 270wsm. This would be a suppressed gun so my love for single shots would work perfect. Another 1885 added to the stable but this time in 270 WSM with a 28" barrel. Precision Barrel Work did a beautiful job of threading and squaring up the muzzle to match the AAC Jaeger that's currently in jail.
Next step was to settle on a load out of the options listed by Barnes. I decided on Ramshot Hunter powder because it's known to be less sensitive to temperature changes normally found in fall/ winter hunting situations. I would have never believed it but a quick check of midway and they had all the components, dies, etc in stock all at the same time. I dont do a ton of reloading but I dont think Ive ever been able to buy everything I wanted from one vendor all in one shot.
Components received. Next order of business was to find the lands in the barrel to determine seating depth. My prior rifle reloading experience has been pretty limited so I had never done this before. This was the method I went with and it seemed to work pretty well. Maybe there are better methods?
I did this for both the 85 grn TSX and 90 grn Gold Dots. You can see the significant roll that ogive plays in when the projectile will touch the lands. Both bullets seated on the edge of the lands.
For my first starting loads, I wanted to stick as close to the Barnes loads as possible so I went ahead and seated to their 2.650 COAL. The result does kinda look like an overgrown 22-250.
To the precision gun range to commence testing. The set up. Not the best rest but it works for what I do. The can is a gemtech tracker until the Jaeger is free. The combo is long but not as long as a standard bolt action plus suppressor. Shes heavy but is well balanced for her weight.
First three rounds are the Barnes minimum load of 69 grains. 3875, 3847, 3875. Group was about 1.5" at 100 yards. Very happy for a first attempt.
Next three rounds are 74 grains of the Ramshot Hunter. Wow!! 4093, 4077, and 4115! And that was still .5 grains below the Barnes max load.
Group was a little bigger at about 1 3/4". Very satisfied for a first loading at that high of a velocity. I kind of expected it to be all over the place at that speed.
Spent brass still slides in and out of the chamber easily by hand.
Can anyone tell me how much of a concern is the splattered edge of the firing pin impact? Ive heard conflicting thoughts on it and Ive seen this more than once on factory ammo.
Next step will be to start seating the bullet further towards the lands to see if I can get her to tighten up some. In the meantime I need to find a boar to volunteer to be shot square in the shoulder with that Barnes. Guessing it might shed its pedals but the base should make it through.
As I said, I dont have a ton of rifle reloading experience. Feel free to add any thoughts, comments, or questions. If you see something I could do better, feel free to share.
Ive long known that the most effective, dont take a step, deer loads are the ones at the higher end of the velocity scale. Ask people that have shot many deer with a 22-250 and they'll tell you the deer rarely go anywhere but down. That is, until you center a shoulder knuckle and the bullet fails to penetrate both lungs. Ive always been interested in a common cartridge that could push a 80-90 grain bullet at or above 22-250 velocities. It should have relatively low recoil, while providing devastating impact on small/ medium deer.
Ive recently changed hunting property and some of my feeders are set on the edges of VERY thick woods. Yaupon and saw briars so thick that you cant see five yards. The type where tracking can only been done on your hands and knees and good luck dragging a deer back out the typical 40 yards that they run. This re-ignited my interest in a super fast round to drop them where they stand.
Quick research showed there is no factory round that does what I was looking for. An A-bolt in 270 win has been my old standard deer gun so my reloading research started there. I had no desire for a wildcat but I found some people out there loading 6.8spc bullets in to the 270 win with good results. If a 270 win could do it then why not a 270 Winchester Short Mag? Some more research showed Barnes has the exact loads published that Im looking for. 85 Grain TSX flat base coming out of a 24" barrel in the 3800-3900 range. https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/270-Winchester-Short-Magnum.pdf
If a 24" barrel was good, then why not a 28". I knew from other reports online to hope for about 200fps increase when adding the four extra inches to the 270wsm. This would be a suppressed gun so my love for single shots would work perfect. Another 1885 added to the stable but this time in 270 WSM with a 28" barrel. Precision Barrel Work did a beautiful job of threading and squaring up the muzzle to match the AAC Jaeger that's currently in jail.
Next step was to settle on a load out of the options listed by Barnes. I decided on Ramshot Hunter powder because it's known to be less sensitive to temperature changes normally found in fall/ winter hunting situations. I would have never believed it but a quick check of midway and they had all the components, dies, etc in stock all at the same time. I dont do a ton of reloading but I dont think Ive ever been able to buy everything I wanted from one vendor all in one shot.
Components received. Next order of business was to find the lands in the barrel to determine seating depth. My prior rifle reloading experience has been pretty limited so I had never done this before. This was the method I went with and it seemed to work pretty well. Maybe there are better methods?
I did this for both the 85 grn TSX and 90 grn Gold Dots. You can see the significant roll that ogive plays in when the projectile will touch the lands. Both bullets seated on the edge of the lands.
For my first starting loads, I wanted to stick as close to the Barnes loads as possible so I went ahead and seated to their 2.650 COAL. The result does kinda look like an overgrown 22-250.
To the precision gun range to commence testing. The set up. Not the best rest but it works for what I do. The can is a gemtech tracker until the Jaeger is free. The combo is long but not as long as a standard bolt action plus suppressor. Shes heavy but is well balanced for her weight.
First three rounds are the Barnes minimum load of 69 grains. 3875, 3847, 3875. Group was about 1.5" at 100 yards. Very happy for a first attempt.
Next three rounds are 74 grains of the Ramshot Hunter. Wow!! 4093, 4077, and 4115! And that was still .5 grains below the Barnes max load.
Group was a little bigger at about 1 3/4". Very satisfied for a first loading at that high of a velocity. I kind of expected it to be all over the place at that speed.
Spent brass still slides in and out of the chamber easily by hand.
Can anyone tell me how much of a concern is the splattered edge of the firing pin impact? Ive heard conflicting thoughts on it and Ive seen this more than once on factory ammo.
Next step will be to start seating the bullet further towards the lands to see if I can get her to tighten up some. In the meantime I need to find a boar to volunteer to be shot square in the shoulder with that Barnes. Guessing it might shed its pedals but the base should make it through.
As I said, I dont have a ton of rifle reloading experience. Feel free to add any thoughts, comments, or questions. If you see something I could do better, feel free to share.
