low recoil load for .270

gundog2 · May 23, 2015

My daughter drew a UT youth any bull permit. I reload .243, .270, and other larger calibers. She can certainly handle my 100 grain .243 loads, but I would feel better if she were using at least 130 grain .270 or maybe 150 gr. U saw some 110 grain barnes .270 bullets, not sure if that would be much better than . 243. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Silentstalker · May 23, 2015

I would make sure my .270 had the best recoil pad possible and then load up some moderate loads behind a 130 gr. Nosler partition. Keep shots In her comfort range and shoot it through the ribs. That combo will cleanly kill a bull elk. Good luck to her! My son never did draw that tag. Hopefully my daughter will next year!

txhunter58 · May 23, 2015

LAST EDITED ON May-23-15 AT 05:47PM (MST)[p]

Practice with one of these and put a SIMS pad on the gun. Then you could handload stouter ammo for the hunt, she won't even know the difference.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Horn...z_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products&Ntt=270+ammo

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/88...-grain-core-lokt-pointed-soft-point-box-of-20

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

gundog2 · May 24, 2015

I hadn't thought about SIMMS pad. I will look for it, but I worry it will make the stock too long. My son never drew, this youth bull tag either, but they issued more tags this year. My daughter also drew a cwmu buck tag, she is lucky. I found some interesting info on hand-loading reduced recoil loads on the Hodgon website, using H4895.

Thanks for suggestions.

LIK2HNT · May 24, 2015

Remember the heavier the rifle the lighter the felt recoil.
My daughter was shooting my 7mm Rem mag when she was younger without any problems. It weighed about 10.5 lbs field ready. My son at 13 was shooting my 7mm WSM loaded hot at 14.5 lbs field ready.
Try these loads if needed
https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895 Reduced Rifle Loads.pdf

You can load down any load that uses H4895 to 60% of the max. load. I have only used them in smaller calibers for finish up shots to save fur, and target practice for kids. For elk I would make sure to use a bullet that will perform at the lower speed you will be shooting.

Bill

Muley · May 24, 2015

She shouldn't use a load that you wouldn't use. In other words. What's the lightest load that you would use to hunt elk? If she can't handle that she isn't ready to hunt for elk.

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but I always consider the animal before I worry about what load someone should use.

Califelkslayer · May 24, 2015

gundog,

I prescribe to txhunter's thought process.

Load a loght load, probably a 110 gr bullet, moderate volicity. Let her shoot the gun until she is accurate and comfortable.

Tell her how good she is doing. Then load a top quality 130 grain bullet that is accurate and get the scope sighted in.

When she pulls the trigger at a bull, she won't realize the shenagans....And the bulls will be dead.

I did this to my daughter in Oregon in 2000. It worked like a champ. We were hunting cows the week of Thankgiving in November and she had so many clothes on she probably didn't even know the difference.

ElmerFudd · May 25, 2015

Most of the conventional bullets around 110 or less grains weight are designed for varmints. They blow up fast and don't penetrate deep. I would go to something like a Barnes TSX if going that light in a .270 for big game. Powder gas goes out the barrel at almost twice the speed of the bullet, so reducing powder and using the fastest burning one that is reasonable for the bullet weight will cut recoil a lot. one grain of powder creates almost the same recoil as 2 grains of bullet at a given muzzle velocity. I'd go with the powder that has the lightest recommended starting load weight in the reloading manual with the lightest reasonable bullet that is reasonable. Maybe try the starting load with something with a burning rate around that of 4895?

trophyhunter · May 25, 2015

There was an old timer that lived in Colorado that killed a crazy amount of Bull elk with his .243. It's about using the heaviest quality bullet possible and most of all shot placement. If we can kill Bulls with arrows your daughter should be able to get it done with the .243 or .270. Have her learn to position her self for a double lung shot. That Bull won't go very far before he drops. Personally I would go with the .270 better choice in bullets and expanded range. For her I would try and close to 200 yds and mount a bi-pod to go along with that quality recoil pad.

Your daughter doesn't need to shoot a ton and be worried about recoil. She needs to focus on the kill shot and hit the kill zone. One shot one kill. Double lung or quartering away. Quartering away aim from Behind the shoulder"lung area angle to the opposite side front leg. That will put the shot through the vitals just like archery arrows. Good luck
Remember teach your Daughter to be focusing on the kill zone not the horns...never look at the horns. The rush and adrenaline she is experiencing will absorb the recoil and she will never feel it.
Just my 2cents.

))))------->

Cohntr62 · May 25, 2015

On one hand, I wouldn't pick a .243 for elk, but on the other I know of 2 women from NW Colo. who hunt elk with a .243 and the older lady has killed over 50, the other only a few. And they're not using the best bullets available either, just what's available at the local store. The reality is with any game, a bullet through the lung heart area or one that hits along the spinal column will kill.

Elkduds · May 26, 2015

Have U asked your dau how she feels RE stepping up in recoil? This is a good chance to discuss the reality of hunting a much bigger animal, the need to shoot accurately, and to recognize the limitations of your skill and equipment. If she is willing to step up, then you can go in increments to a fullhouse 270 elk load. A bonded or partition 130 gr bullet making 3K fps is going to devastate any elk if put through both lungs. If she isn't willing to step up for whatever reason, I'd respect that and describe the limitations that puts on her shooting: we have to get closer, we have to get broadside, we have to pass on a shot. Ultimately her confidence will be highest if she has made the important decisions. Either way, I see lots of shooting practice in both your futures, and that's a good thing. BTW, I didn't read how old and what size your dau is.

gundog2 · May 28, 2015

So many good points made here. I would be comfortable using a 100 gr 243 bullet myself, but this would limit my distance and angle. I use a 300 wthby, for max range based on my skill, but that is not an option for my dau. I followed recommendations for loading low-recoil H4895 loads behind a 130 grain 270 bullet. The results were pretty cool, recoil like a 30-30. We will practice with these and then increase charge enough to get 2700 fps muzzle velocity, which should be enough to get descent bullet expansion and penetration within 150 YRDS. She wouldnt't shoot farther than that. I think a low-recoil 270 is better than 243 within 150 yrds, and I would not want her shooting much much past 100 yrds.