I want to develop a load this week for my 270 Sako A7 with 24" barrel. I'm under the impression that its almost a clone of the Tikka T3 but with a few minor upgrades.

Any suggestions on bullet, powder? Will be using once-fired Hornady brass with Federal GM210M primers. Not looking for any specific FPS just want a good, accurate load that can be used for whitetail and paper shooting.

A kind of standard load is 54-55 grains of IMR4350 or H4350 or AA4350 with 130gr. bullets but that is with standard large rifle primers. If Federal GM210M primers are magnum large rifle, then you'll have to cut back from that.

I use a load that is also a classic. 130 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip (or Sierra GK), 59 gr of H4831sc ( hot load, so work up with care), CCI BR-2 primer, Rem or Norma cases. I've been using that load for about 35 years. Prior to the Ballistic Tips, I shot the Nosler Solid Base Boattails with that exact same load. And, the rifle is a Sako.

Sorry not sure why marked as Magnum primers. They are just Large Rifle primers. Interesting that you both said 130gr. The factory ammo Ive been shooting is Hornady Superformance SST 130gr and it isnt all that accurate.

My Savage 116 likes Berger 140's using H4831sc. Deadly accurate out to 500 yards.

It could just be the bullet and not the weight, could just be that exact loading of that bullet.

Personally I shoot 150 grainers through my 270 and love them, they are accurate, but so are 90 grain hp's and 130 grain soft points and 140 grain ballistic tips. Work on your load an most any of them will shoot given you have the twist to stabilize it, and the standard 1:10 twist will stabilize almost anything.

The H4831 / Nosler 130 grain partition combo is THE classic .270 load. If I were willing to do a little testing in a rifle with a 24" barrel or longer, I might go with the new IMR 7977. It seems to produce exceptional velocities with bullets ranging from 130-150 grains which should give you a lot of options.

The 270 is not a picky caliber, so a tuned load with most powders will work well. 4350 and 4831 are great, or anything in the same burn rates.

Hmm, ok so H4831 seems to be a favorite. I will probably give that powder a go. And sounds like folks seem to like the Nosler 130gr. Any experience with the Nosler 140gr? I see some folks online have better success with that weight.

Any of the bullets you choose will work well. 4831 with a 24" barrel is perfect, and with the 140 grain is ideal. I didn't get the speeds I wanted with H4831. When it did shoot better, I was at max and above max charges where it shot best. Seat the bullet out a little further than book max, also. I would also recommend a magnum primer, though it's not needed. I run a magnum primer on the slower burning powders, like 4831 and slower. I use 2 different powders for the 140's, other than 4831. But for the 130's, 4350 is ideal, and will also work with the 140's.

Though I shoot Nosler bullets mostly, there is a 140 gr bullet I tried that shot great. I inherited my Dad's Ruger UL in 270 and decided to pass it on to a favorite nephew. I had a box of 140 gr Sierra BTHP bullets and decided to try them out in that rifle. With a medium load of H4831, it shot cloverleaf groups. Per the nephew, it works great on big deer. Odd that nobody ever mentions that bullet. It's tough, accurate, and quite inexpensive.

I have an A7 270 and mine likes Berger VLDs 130 grain 2 thousandths off the rifling, CCI Large Rifle Primers and H4350. I can't remember the charge on the 4350 but i think it's 55.0 or 55.5 grains? I can look if you want to go that route. This is 5 shots. I pulled the first one. The other 4 were fighting over the same hole.

Hey I'd appreciate that. I worked up a load on another rifle starting with a recipe from guys with the same rifle, caliber and it worked pretty well. I think only difference between my gun and yours would be barrel fluting and B&C stock.

Jeeper, you are correct. The GM210M is a standard primer not a magnum. In Federal's primer nomenclature "M" stands for Match, not Magnum. The 210 is a standard large rifle primer. The 215 is the magnum primer.

If you look at the load info on the label of the H4831...I seem to remember 603's 59gr's under a 130 gr'er as Listed for a 270. My former T3 270 would stack that load in usually one hole at 100 yards until I got bored with it...using some ancient Nosler FB SP's, BT's and couple other bullets using my normal WLR's, in WW brass.

As always on the Internet, or in factory on line or manual described loads start a few grains below what the recipe calls for. I've never had a problem...but ONCE....and have seen a guy swear that he followed the "book" and still had to open his bolt with a wooden mallet...dunno if he did or dinnit...but I have had that experience when MY mistake misreading the scale's setting almost cost me a SAKO. NOT MY IDEA OF FUN.
Ron

For something a bit different and yet deadly effective, try a 110 grain Hornady VMAX (catalog # 22720)pushed out by 59 grains of H4831 at around 3,000 fps. For our little CenTex deer and the feral hogs we have in the area, this load has taken 'em down fast and hard.

Thanks for all the help guys. I ended up running to Cabelas last night and found some H4831. Also picked up some 130g Berger VLDs and 140g Nosler Ballistic Tips so I'll work on getting them loaded up.

Any thoughts on where to start charging? Seems like a lot of guys see success with H4831 up towards or beyond the max.

My "Load From a Disk" program suggests that the optimum load for the 130 grainer is 51.6 grains; and for the 140, 48.6 grains. I'd suggest that you start at 51 and 48 grains, respectively, and work your way up from those starting points. In my particular rifle I found that 51.8 was good on 130's and 49.1 worked for the 140's. Since rifles are so different, there's really no way to accurately predict what your particular gun is going to like.

I'd suggest buying a copy of the Nosler reloading book if you are using Nosler bullets. I finally replaced my real old one with the new one (which I hear is now not the newest). Anyway, my point is that the loads I use in several rifles, which I found through trial and error years ago, are ones recommended by Nosler. That was a happy surprise. I guess some loads are just going to be good or great for some calibers, regardless of the make of the rifle.

Thanks! So I've checked 3 sources on the 140gr Nosler (Lyman manual, Hodgdon Online, Nosler Online). All 3 are telling me a range of 54-58gr.

My Browning A-bolt likes:

56.0 grains IMR 4831
Sierra Boat Tail Game King 130 grain
CCI 200 primer
Winchester brass
Bullet seated .025" from lands
Averages around 3000 fps

Have shot several 3-4 shot groups under .5 MOA with this load when I do my part.

Note that IMR4831 is a bit faster than H4831. Don't get near H4831 Max load with IMR4831. Guess how I know that...man, talk about sticky bolt lift...

Berger and IMR 4350 I shoot mine at 55Gr. with CCI 250 primer
I have seen it put 4 thru the same hole at 100 yds

If you cant get what you need with these, sell it all off and start over. Make sure give us a range report.

Don't hold me to this but I believe, years ago when the .270 was my "go-to" I loaded 130 gr bullets over 59.5gr H4831. looking above, this load seems high, so approach carefully