Doublezranch
Well-Known Member
My son drew a Wyoming elk tag this year so we wanted a load for his 270 wsm that would swat a big cow right off her feet. I my first message was to Rhian to ask if he had any pet 270 wsm loads. He told me to try 33 with 165 matrix bullet. Well, we did and found success. Here's the story...
We loaded Norma 270 wsm brass with 2 separate ladders. The first was 64 grains though 68.5 grains respectively. Velocities were 2650 to the low 2900. After every round he shot, we meticulously looked at brass for pressure signs. We found that 64 through 68.5 grains were not creating enough pressure to seal the chamber. Therefore leaving some powder residue on the neck and shoulder. So I called Rhian again and disscussed our findings. His advice was to try a ladder a bit higher to see if we could get around 3000 fps. That seemed to be the sweet spot for his rifles on a dose of Retumbo.
Back to the bench we went and loaded up another ladder. This one consisted of a monster helping of 33. We started with 68.5 and went up to 71.5. Yes...71.5 grains of powder in a 270 wsm. The powder came up to the shoulder neck junction in the case. I thought for sure we would never be able to fire that round but I knew if we could, it might be something special. Today my 12 year old son Zayne and I went to the range with lots of excitement. He shot loads 68.5 through 70 with minimal accuracy, super velocity but still no pressure and signs and powder residue on the case necks. He looked at me and said...." The moment we have all been waiting for huh dad?" I thought, 71 and 71.5 grains are next. This can't be real. Not only was it real, it was really good. 71.5 brought forth a .5 inch group at 100 with a screaming 3100 fps. (My disclaimer on my velocities are this, these were taken from a beta chrony. I've been tricked before with this machine and know they are not the most accurate.) As I stood in awe.....Zayne noticed that the powder residue was gone meaning a perfect chamber seal. I told him if it wasn't for the assassin brake on the end of that muzzle it would have shot you clean off the bench. We shared a hug, and then headed home knowing one thing, we feel real sorry for the elk in unit 12.
We loaded Norma 270 wsm brass with 2 separate ladders. The first was 64 grains though 68.5 grains respectively. Velocities were 2650 to the low 2900. After every round he shot, we meticulously looked at brass for pressure signs. We found that 64 through 68.5 grains were not creating enough pressure to seal the chamber. Therefore leaving some powder residue on the neck and shoulder. So I called Rhian again and disscussed our findings. His advice was to try a ladder a bit higher to see if we could get around 3000 fps. That seemed to be the sweet spot for his rifles on a dose of Retumbo.
Back to the bench we went and loaded up another ladder. This one consisted of a monster helping of 33. We started with 68.5 and went up to 71.5. Yes...71.5 grains of powder in a 270 wsm. The powder came up to the shoulder neck junction in the case. I thought for sure we would never be able to fire that round but I knew if we could, it might be something special. Today my 12 year old son Zayne and I went to the range with lots of excitement. He shot loads 68.5 through 70 with minimal accuracy, super velocity but still no pressure and signs and powder residue on the case necks. He looked at me and said...." The moment we have all been waiting for huh dad?" I thought, 71 and 71.5 grains are next. This can't be real. Not only was it real, it was really good. 71.5 brought forth a .5 inch group at 100 with a screaming 3100 fps. (My disclaimer on my velocities are this, these were taken from a beta chrony. I've been tricked before with this machine and know they are not the most accurate.) As I stood in awe.....Zayne noticed that the powder residue was gone meaning a perfect chamber seal. I told him if it wasn't for the assassin brake on the end of that muzzle it would have shot you clean off the bench. We shared a hug, and then headed home knowing one thing, we feel real sorry for the elk in unit 12.
