Winchester’s Traditional Model 70 Sporter in 270 Winchester Part II

The Hornady Interlock is rated by Hornady for two classes of game; medium 50 – 300 lbs and large game 300 – 1500 lbs with a B.C. of 0.409, it hardly qualifies as a blunt instrument, but it is below the more recent bullet releases with a typical B.C. of 0.460. With a 200 yard zero, drop at 400 yards is 17.3″. Swap in a spiffy GMX Boat Tail 130 grain to get that higher BC and it will drop only 16.7″ at 400 yards.The Interlock cost is 25¢ per bullet, the GMX is 69¢ per bullet… see where I am going with this?

The Sierra 140 grain Game King, despite its heaver weight, is constructed for medium size game at a long range. It has a BC of 0.457 and a price tag of 32¢ per. I tend to use ProHunter Sierra bullets with flat base and slightly broader ogive got my masterful 50 yard shots but, in this case, I wanted a long range 140 grain bullet and the ProHunter BC is only 0.370″ and has 1.5″ more drop at 400 yards. What can I say, I am planning on small antelope.

The Nosler Partition is a hard hitting 150 grain bullet actually has an excellent BC of 0.465, however, its greater weight trims a bit of velocity. It is a stout bullet that could stop heavier game with good velocity, momentum and penetration. I know, only a 416 Rigby can down a big bears, but the State of Alaska includes the 270 Winchester as a big bear cartridge recommendation, citing bullet selection and marksmanship often make smaller calibers more effective than magnum cartridges.

They look better assembled…

The 270 Winchester is an easy cartridge to handload. None of the charges appearing on the table below are compressed. The 130 grain Hornady COL was adjusted down by 0.025″ to better suite the cannelure location and notoriously short (or at least minimum length) new brass from virtually all manufacturers.

Large Rifle Magnum primers were used because they gave more uniform velocity, I developed the loads with them and I have many of them on hand. So I am not suggesting standard Large Rifle primers are inappropriate for the 270 Winchester.

I like Norma MRP powder in this type of cartridge. It usually delivers higher velocity through extended pressure persistence rather than through higher peak pressure. It also seems to burn comparatively clean and is not much influenced by ambient temperature. For folks who don’t like Scandinavian flair, I’ve included  other choices.

I don’t know what’s up with MagPro. It’s like the child you send off to college with great expectations and he or she returns home two months later, tuition and allowance gone and a strong disdain for parental oversight. it looks good, meters cleanly and it has a great name, but it just doesn’t seem to deliver the anticipated energy. Increases in charges resulted in symptoms of excess pressure with no gain in velocity.

My intentions were not be be heavy handed, but to at least keep pace with current factory ammo. The Model 70 showed no signs of distress and cartridge brass did not come out profusely beaten. I would suggest backing off charges 5% and working up from there is necessary. There is a lot to be said for backing of 5% and leaving well enough alone.

Conclusions, without jumping to them…

The Winchester Model 70 in 270 Winchester remains as it began in Part 1, a classic, classy traditional bolt action rifle for the hunter who intends to fill his game tag, rather than entertain the wildlife with an over priced, gimmicky… less than traditional firearm. The Winchester Model 70 and 270 Winchester cartridge make an exceptional North American combination. Accuracy and good looks bundled into a single package. Nice rifle.