270 winchester and IMR 4831

[webbspinner]

Just loaded some 270 bullets up with IMR 4831 and my speer reloading manual showed 58 gr as max and 56 gr was right at 3000 fps.  So I loaded that load, filled the case up to the point that looked like the bullet wouldnt hardly go in, and re-weighed 10 or 15 times.  anyone got any experience with this load?  First time using this powder for my 270, like the consistency in 25-06 and 7mm RM and 300WM, not top velocity but always seems to be really accurate.  Loaded up with 130 Accubonds.  Is that about right for that powder and case?  appreciate the input.

[jager]

Yep, you got it right! My .270 likes 57.0gr of the same (IMR4831) powder, but it is a "compressed" load in Remington brass. Winchester brass gives you a bit more "room" (not as thick in that caliber), but your velocity will be reduced somewhat. To reduce the "compressed effect", you might try using a "drop" tube when "charging" your cases. An advantage of this load, in addition to delivering top velocity and accuracy, is that you can't possibly create an "overload"! Anyway, great powder and "match" for the .270Win.

[webbspinner]

  Whew, thank goodness, happy to hear that.  First time I have ever loaded that combo, and all my brass is Remington, so I guess this will hopefully be my load.  loaded some earlier with 4320 that has good accuracy but only getting about 3000 fps out my model 70.  Hope this will be a match for velocity and may go up alittle next time, another grain.  maybe even try another powder, but 4831 always seems consistent shot to shot in all my other rifles.  anyone got any suggestions for future loads and powders.  trying to build a long range tack driver. 
Thanks a ton, I appreciate the replies   

[Graybeard]

I'd make sure of that in the most recent Nosler loading manual. The AB is a fair bit longer than other 130s and might not be safe with powder charges OK with others due to the extra length.

I never found IMR4831 to my liking in the .270 I found IMR or Hodgdon 4350 better but then I have never loaded 130s in it either only 140s and 150s.

[webbspinner]

I'll check on that, have loaded for the 25-06 and 7mm for years, stopped for awhile and started again.  Now I have more guns so trying my hand at all of them, looks like everyone likes the H4350 for the 270, but I had the 4831 and looked like it had a following too, so thought I would give it a go.  Went to Cabelas and was a little shocked at how much everything has gone up in the last few years.  I think the last powder I bought was 12-15  dollars a pound,  looks like it might be cheaper online but there are restrictions I guess.  What kinda velocity and charge are you running with the H4350?

[bobg]

  I never used IMR4831. I went with H4831. I stopped about a grain under Jack O'Conners favorite load. 5 shots off sand bags at 100yds. averages 1 1/8 inch groups. This load with 130 Sierra bullets is instant death on the 6 animals i have killed with it. I have never run it across my Crony. I didn't want to be disappointed if it isn't going as fast as i would like to believe it is.

[webbspinner]

Nosler says 55 grains is max for the accubond    Should I pull my bullets and remeasure?  loaded dead on at 56 grains

[bilmac]

I wouldn't tell you what to do with your presumed overloads according to Nosler, that's up to you. I have shot Military surplus 4831 for years and with 130 gr bullets my experience is that you can't get enough in the case for really top velocity, and that the hotter I load them the better my rifles shoot. Another way to get more powder in the case is to tap them a little bit. I hold them up against the drop tube and tap on the side of the case a few times before removing them after throwing the charge. The advice about case capacities is right on, Federal cases are in between the two.

I'm about out of military 4831, we used to buy it by the keg for as low as $.33 a pound. It didn't produce my best accuracy but was close. When I was  struggling to make ends meet and was addicted to shooting metalic sillouetes price was a factor.

 I have been using IMR 4831 for a few years now and it gives me my best accuracy with 150 gr bullets. My advice would be to drop the expensive bullets, when you shoot a 270 the old plane jane bullets will kill just about anything you point it at. That's one of the nice things about the 270, for years it was about the only case size in the caliber, so all the bullets produced were nicely tailored to the velocities it produced. You don't have missmatches like someone sticking a bullet intended for a 30-30 in a 300 mag case.

[BBF]

An old time receipe was to fill the case with H-4831 shake a bit of it out of the neck and plant a 130 gr bullet. Presto all done.

[Siskiyou]

If I have not finished off the last of my jugs of surplus 4831 I am close.  I have had very good results with it in three 270 chambered rifles.  I burn its true replacement H4831 now days and the results are the same.  Most of my loads are close to compressed with 130-grain and 150-grain bullets.

When a hunting partner got a Remington 700 in 270 Winchester he picked up a can of the other 4831.  Which should always be identified as IMR4831 because it burns slightly faster?  I have never purchased IMR4831 because I do not want to setup an accident by using incorrect data for the powder.  It would have been simpler if the new powder had been labeled IMR4832.   But the manufacture wanted to take advantage of the popularity of surplus 4831 which was disappearing from the market place. 

Hodgdon was not to be out done and was ahead of the curve preparing for the supplies of surplus 4831 to disappear.  As the surplus powder disappeared Hodgdon had H4831 manufactured in Scotland, and they followed with H4831SC.

Following the basic rules for load development he came up with a very accurate load using 140-grain AccuBond bullets and IMR4831.  Using the new combination he has shot some very tight groups from a new rifle.  Cannot wait for barrel to break-in, If I was starting new I would consider IMR4831 based on his results.  BUT most likely I would go with H4831/H4831sc because they are part of Hodgdon extreme series which remain stable with changing temperatures. 

The bottomline is the load has been a successful buck taker

[Keith1]

I have burned a lot of the old surplus 4831 and just love the way that the pressure comes on nice and slow.
 
When the surplus was all gone and H4831 came into being everyone said that it was the same and that you could use the same data. One day in haste I went against my better judgement and loaded some 87 grain Sierras on top of 58 grains of the new H4831 in my trusty 25/06. That load was extreemly accurate and showed no signs of high pressure with the surplus powder.

I went prairie dog hunting on a mild day spring day, not hot at all. The first shot when I opened the bolt the head of the brass was much expanded and the primer fell out. That was when I came to know that the 2 powders are different. Very different.

My old 270 would use 60 grains of the surplus and 130 grain anything bullets and shoot very tight groups. With the H4831 it's not very accurate and 58-59 grains  is starting to show excess head expansion. [I load with a micrometer]

Sadly old surplus 4831 is gone however I do have 1 pound left from a different lot. Also sadly my 25/06 barrel is gone due to burning many pounds of the Hodgon product at full throttle plus.

Regards, Keith
Semper Fi

[webbspinner]

I think I'm gonna try one and see how it looks, hopefully no signs of excess pressure.  Pain in the hind end to pull bullets and I think it will be fine, was merely trying to duplicate the fps on my other reloads w/imr4320.  its a pretty hot load and looks fine.  Alot of others are shooting 2 or more grains more than I and having great results.   Was honestly trying to get away from stocking several powders

[BBF]

Also sadly my 25/06 barrel is gone

Regards, Keith
Semper Fi

 You didn't state what your plans are for the shot out 25 cal barrel. Perhaps reboring it for to 270 Win would be an option.

[Keith1]

Scatter,
     That 25/06 barrel has been replaced by a 24 inch 270 barrel from the custom shop. It's almost as accurate as the original 25/06. It's regular diet is 60 grains of RL 22 and Nosler BT. A couple of weeks ago this 270 hit a basket ball sized rock first shot at 803 yards.

      Back to H4831, my replacement 25/06, a M700 BDL really likes this powder and Sierra 90 grain hollow points. Today this load hit rocks at 313 and 605 yards but missed at 420 due to a high cross wind.

       H4831 is still a good powder.
           
              Regards, Keith
              Semper Fi