Judson, I am using a Shilen 26" barrel. The case is a highly modified .300 Win Mag case. I designed a .257 B&B Mag case first and had such outstanding results with the .257 B&B Mag round (4,020 FPS with a 100gr Nosler Ballistic tip and 75gr IMR-4831), that I used the same design for the .270 B&B Mag round. It has the shoulder blown out to minimal body taper, shoved way forward, with a shrp shoulder angle, and a minimal neck length. When I got back to the shop I checked my file on the .270 B&B Mag round and the 81gr load of IMR-7828 was my accuracy load at 3,698 FPS. I changed the load that I had listed at 3,863 FPS was my max load of 83gr of IMR-7828.

When I was working loads for the .270 B&B Mag, back in 1989, I tried H870 but could not get above 3,700 FPS even with heavy loads. I also tried Re-22 and IMR 4831, but got pressure signs before I could get above 3,700 FPS. IMR-7828 gave the the highest velocities and at 1/2" groups, more than enough accuracy for hunting deer. At the time I had a bunch of 130gr .277 Nosler Ballistic tips on the shelf, so I started with working them. They shot so well, I stuck with them. Since this is mainly a long range bean field rifle, used only for deer here in NC, I have stuck with them. So far the 130gr Nosler Ball-tips have proven extremely effective on the deer here in NC. I have also taken a 372 pound black bear with this same load. The shot was about 90yds, the bullet did not past completely thru, but the bear dropped in it' s tracks.

As for the pressure jumps in cold weather with IMR 7828, I have not noticed any signs of excessive pressure in cold weather. I guess that is due to the fact that it does not get that could down here in NC. A cold day down here, late in the season around late December, temps can get down in the mid to pow 20' s at night. These loads were worked up in cold weather, in February and March, and they are not showing any signs. Brass life has been good, as I am still shooting the initial lot of brass I worked up back in 1989. Of the initial 100 cases I started with, I ended up with 88 after the fire forming. Over the years I either lost some cases, scraped some due to split necks, etc., as I am down to 64 cases now. I have never had a head separation, blown primer, or swelled primer pockets.

I have toyed with the idea of trying a couple of new powders, Barnes X bullets, and maybe the Swifts or LRB Technologies J36 bullets. But I hate to to start toying and messing around with a combination that works so well. It' s kind of like a, " if it ain' t broke, don' t fix it" type thing.

I try and post a picture of these case if I can in the near future.