The 270 AR

[yorketransport]

I had a chance to start working with my new upper in 270 AR that Gunsmith-X put together for me. This one is an 18" barrel that I got from ARP. I'm still trying to find the ideal hunting cartridge for the AR-15 without having to move up to an AR-10 and ending up with a 12# gun! It weighs 10# 3oz as pictured. I'll switch to a smaller and lighter scope once load work is done.


The parent case for the 270 AR is either a 6.5x47 Lapua or the 6.5 Creedmore with the shoulder pushed back and the case trimmed. Brass forming is pretty straight forward using the Creedmore case, but the 6.5x47 needs to be inside neck reamed and outside neck turned. Left to right: 223, 6mm BR, 6.5 Grendel, 270 AR and 6.5x47 Lapua


So far I'm throwing a 130gr bullet as fast as 2760 fps from the 18" barrel. The best performance is coming from a load at 2716 fps though. It's hard to argue with an extreme spread of 2 fps


I'm just starting to work with it but so far it shows a ton of potential as a hunting round out of an AR-15. A 130gr bullet at 2700+ fps is a pretty serious deer killer within real world hunting ranges. I've shot some groups with it so far but only under bad conditions with the MagnetoSpeed strapped on there. This particular barrel is pretty sensitive to having the chrony mounted on there. Today's testing was off of a bipod from the bench at 200 yards. The 15+ mph cross winds made for some significant horizontal spreads but the most promising load had less than .5 MOA of vertical and 1.5 MOA of horizontal spread. It wasn't the highest velocity but I'll give up 50 fps to cut groups in half.

With the right bullet, this could be a heck of a long range round from an AR-15. I'm loading the 130gr Speer Hot Cor right now just because I think it's a great hunting bullet in this weight class. Plus, using a flat base bullet will allow me to run inside the 2.950" mag length without having the boat tail taking up case capacity. Not to mention the fact that there's just no need for a BT or VLD bullet inside of 350 yards.

I'll try and post updates as I keep working on this project.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Always wondered if an ar15 could shot a legal deer round.

[Jason]

Been thinking about a .27cal based AR for some time. Can't wait to hear the updates 

[jay.sharkbait]

Always wondered if an ar15 could shot a legal deer round.

Really?

6x45
.243 LBC
.300 Whisper/blackout
6.5 Grendel/LBC
6 PPC
6.5 BRX
6.8 SPC
270 AR
450 Bushmaster
458 SOCOM
375 SOCOM
.50 Beowulf

And I'm sure there's more.

[JJB11B]

I know a guy that bought one of those 300 win mag AR's that's a heavy S.O.B.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Always wondered if an ar15 could shot a legal deer round.

Really?

6x45
.243 LBC
.300 Whisper/blackout
6.5 Grendel/LBC
6 PPC
6.5 BRX
270 AR
450 Bushmaster
458 SOCOM
375 SOCOM
.50 Beowulf

And I'm sure there's more.

Not into the AR thing, so I'm just ignorant. 

[Blacktail Sniper]

No time like the present to jump right in!!!

But be warned, it can become addicting especially if you consider building one (or 17), keep this in mind:

[bullfisher]

Awesome results york!
Now can you make it sammi spec so we can all have one

[JJB11B]

I think I am going to order the Stoner side charging upper what say you AR Gods?

[Special T]

I think I am going to order the Stoner side charging upper what say you AR Gods?

I would imagine they work awesome with a supressor.

[jay.sharkbait]

I think I am going to order the Stoner side charging upper what say you AR Gods?

The Mega ones are good if weight isn't a big concern. Eisenach arms has a good one, but they a little spendy. I have not used the Stoner.

They are easy to make from a slab sided upper and drilling and tapping the carrier is easy if you use a carbide drill.

[yorketransport]

Awesome results york!
Now can you make it sammi spec so we can all have one

I'd say this is well within the capabilities of the average reloader. AR-15 Performance just got a few more of these barrels and matching bolts in as well as reloading dies. You'd be into it about $400 for the barrel/bolt and an excellent set of Whidden reloading dies. Forming brass is a little tedious, but you can buy formed brass from a few guys.

Maybe somebody needs to just offer loaded ammo for it. I really like the little 6.5 Grendel/LBC as a hunting round but I think this 270 is better. My 6.5 Grendel (from a 19" bolt action) is shooting the 130 Accubonds at 2430 fps and accounted for two deer this year with great results. I can't help but think that a 130gr .277 bullet moving roughly 300 fps faster wouldn't make an even better hunting round. With a 130gr Partition at 2700 fps, I'd consider this an honest 350 yard elk cartridge out of an AR-15. This is getting to the point where even I have to reconsider my views on the AR as a legitimate hunting weapon.

[theleo]

The current issue of Handloader has an article on the slightly larger 7mm Valkerey, the performance puts it rite up there near the 7mm-08. The 22 caliber version really has me considering getting into the AR game.

[Special T]

@yorketransport is the 270AR based off the 270/308/06 case?

I tried to find the answer but I'm sure many here know.  What ammo is just a variation of the base 308 case? Shorter different angles etc? You don't have to get too in the weeds for every wildcat.

Part of the reason I have a fondness of the Grendel round is its based off an extreamly common case.

[jay.sharkbait]

@yorketransport is the 270AR based off the 270/308/06 case?

I tried to find the answer but I'm sure many here know.  What ammo is just a variation of the base 308 case? Shorter different angles etc? You don't have to get too in the weeds for every wildcat.

Part of the reason I have a fondness of the Grendel round is its based off an extreamly common case.

OP says Creedmoor or 6.5x47 Lapua

[Special T]

Sorry I missed that line

[bullfisher]

York, do you havr a 6.5 BRX?

[JohnVH]

My AR15 6.5mm Grendel weighs about the same as my 7mm mag tikka lite, 7.5lbs ish..  Both kill dear easily.

[Firedogg]

How much of a stretch would it be tonresize .243 wssm casings?

[yorketransport]

York, do you havr a 6.5 BRX?

I do, but it never shot as well as I wanted so I'm trying the 270 AR instead. I think my BRX is just a mediocre barrel.

The current issue of Handloader has an article on the slightly larger 7mm Valkerey, the performance puts it rite up there near the 7mm-08. The 22 caliber version really has me considering getting into the AR game.

I believe the 7mm Valkyrie, 270 AR and 257 Bobcat are all based on the same case with different bullet diameters. Any of them would be great hunting rounds.

[C-Money]

This is very cool. The 270 AR appears to have a lot of potential!!

[jpharcher]

Yorkie,
What upper and lower are you running?

[actionshooter]

Cool, The ballistics look great.

[hunter399]

It will be great for hunting,really love the side chargeing handle.

[yorketransport]

Yorkie,
What upper and lower are you running?

Mega billet upper and lower.

It will be great for hunting,really love the side chargeing handle.

I love the side charger. I'll be honest, I hated ARs until I started playing with the 6.5 BRX after a lot of "encouragement" by the member formerly know as BiggerHammer (We still miss you man ) as well as Gunsmith X. Nothing bugs me more than forward assists and shell deflectors so I went with the side charger and I love it! Add to that some of the more interesting chamberings out there right now and I can see a legitimate use for the AR beyond it's role as a mass ammunition disposal device. The 223/5.56 is one of the most overrated cartridges out there IMO.

I'm hoping to get out tomorrow to run another test at 200 yards with the best performer from last week. I'll post up the results when I get back.

[mountainman]

Love my side chargers👍
And Biggerhammer will always be missed..

[Forks]

What happened to Biggerhammer? Sorry for thread jack.

[Special T]

What happened to Biggerhammer? Sorry for thread jack.

He faded into the distance because he was so soft spoken and had no opinions. 😆

[jasnt]

Tagging.

[Forks]

What happened to Biggerhammer? Sorry for thread jack.

He faded into the distance because he was so soft spoken and had no opinions. 😆

That he was.

[Jason]

Love my side chargers👍
And Biggerhammer will always be missed..

Yeah he was pretty to the point and had strong opinions and some guys didn't like that but his knowledge is what defined him.

[MacAttack]

Tagging, I am going to start a 6.5 grendal build, but have thought a while about a 270...

[yorketransport]

Love my side chargers👍
And Biggerhammer will always be missed..

Yeah he was pretty to the point and had strong opinions and some guys didn't like that but his knowledge is what defined him.

I thought it was his arrogance and tendency to "tell it like it is" that defined him. That's what I loved about him!

I got out today and shot the 270 a little more. Groups are holding a touch under 1 MOA at 200 yards, so I'm happy with it. Taking into account the bullet I'm using is just a conventional hunting bullet and the 35* temps today, 1 MOA isn't bad at all. Velocity was 2725 fps from the 18" barrel. I'll probably call this a done load for now and go see if I can kill a coyote or something with it.

Tagging, I am going to start a 6.5 grendal build, but have thought a while about a 270...

If you're looking for a hunting/LR shooting round I think the Grendel would be great. If I were looking for something to use primarily for hunting I'd check out the 270 AR or the 7mm Valkyrie.

[MacAttack]

Tagging, I am going to start a 6.5 grendal build, but have thought a while about a 270...

If you're looking for a hunting/LR shooting round I think the Grendel would be great. If I were looking for something to use primarily for hunting I'd check out the 270 AR or the 7mm Valkyrie.
[/quote]

To be honest, I did a quick search a couple weeks ago and I couldn't find anything on a 270 AR, must not have searched hard. My primary purpose would be hunting, but also, my brother and I thought about building one for my dad. He has never hunted and wants to go boar and deer hunting on his cousins land in Texas. He is 70 years old, so recoil is a concern.

[jay.sharkbait]

Tagging, I am going to start a 6.5 grendal build, but have thought a while about a 270...

If you're looking for a hunting/LR shooting round I think the Grendel would be great. If I were looking for something to use primarily for hunting I'd check out the 270 AR or the 7mm Valkyrie.

To be honest, I did a quick search a couple weeks ago and I couldn't find anything on a 270 AR, must not have searched hard. My primary purpose would be hunting, but also, my brother and I thought about building one for my dad. He has never hunted and wants to go boar and deer hunting on his cousins land in Texas. He is 70 years old, so recoil is a concern.
[/quote]

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