Fortune smiled on me and I ran into a NIB BAR Mk. 2 Lightweight Stalker in .270 Win., the rifle I was looking for at a super price. Needless to say it went home with me (my wife thought the long box and my smile meant roses but ... ).
I have never reloaded for a semiautomatic other than .223 before. I got some small base .270 dies and everything else I needed except for powder. Does anyone have a recommendation for a powder? Should I be looking for a fast or slow powder?
You are going to hear alot of folks say you got to use Varget or 4064 or a midrange powder. But the fact is, most factory 270 is not loaded with such powder and I bet most bars and 7400's are not shot with such fast powder. They are loaded for accuracy and velocity and be under the pressure ratings. So I consider the slower powders just as safe. I think most of these stories that you have to use faster type powder comes from the M1 garand days. But the difference is M1's did use faster powder.
You won't reach your potential with 4064 or varget. I suggest the same thing you would use with a bolt with exception of real slow powders like RL22 or H1000.
I load my semi with 55gr of 4350 and 130gr gameking. Great cycling. Around 2970ft/sec, and very accurate. I started using IMR4064, and the gun's velocity and accuracy was horrible. So I moved on up.
Sure you might have trouble with RL22 or H1000 cycling, but those are darn near compressed loads. Most factorys are not compressed unless you saying light magnums.
You know old elk after me saying that, I do load for a featherwieght winchester 270 that is the most inaccurate gun with factory ammo like 3MOA. But you put 47gr of 4064 and 130gr gameking, it turns into a submoa gun. But doesn't like 4350 or any other thing I put down it including BT. Darnest thing.
Usually 270's shoot best with max loads ..I think the slowest powder in a BAR would be 4350 whatever to make sure the action cycles well. Thats what I would use in a 7 Rem mag as well . Dang with 4064 its probably a subsonic load and they can shoot well
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This all sounds reasonable. I'll look for a faster powder. 4350 is good choice. Someone I know suggested 4831. Anyways, I'll shoot it a bit and see what works best. If I am lucky, the Browning will be like my Husky 06 and be forgiving.
My wife shoots a .270 Winchester in the BAR. Love that gun. Anyway, it took about 12 shots to settle on a load. I started with IMR 4831 and loaded in 1/2 grain increments. On the first set of three I had a very respectable group. By the fourth set of three the group had shrunk down to a clover. This was at 100 yards. The load is at max and I can tell you that velocity is right where it should be and she has shot deer in warm October weather and elk in sub zero December weather and never run into any problems with the gun functioning.
It is true that gas operated semis do have a pressure rise/duration issue, but as Big Country advised you, Browning may have engineered the rifle to make use of the slower powders used in the .270. Why not contact Browning, and ask. Then you can tell the rest of us what THEY think.
I knew there was some reason I like pump actions.
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Jest an ol' man livin' in the mountains.
BAR 270 Win - Powder Choice
and they can shoot well
