7mm-08 and RL-17. Awesome!

[119er]

Finally shot some ladder loads that I made up almost two years ago in 7mm-08. Shooting them from a Remington 700 SPS Varmint with 26" barrel I got an average of 2949fps at the max charge (47.5gr) listed in Hornady's 9th edition! No pressure signs that I can tell and great accuracy, but Hornady was seeing 2800 fps out of their 24" barrel. That is low key 7mm Rem Mag territory.

7mm-08 Rem 700, factory barrel, Magpul Hunter, Timney trigger, Vortex PST 6-24x
Remington brass
Sierra 150 HPBT (.020" from lands)
Federal 210M
Reloader 17

Don't have pics of the targets, I know. Range was busy and I had to get out of there.
Best accuracy at 46.5 and 47.5, both groups had three cloverleaf with two just outside Less than 1 inch but not sure what they measured.

By the numbers: Charge weight/Avg velocity/ES/SD - 5 shot groups
44.5/2724/59/20
45.5/2804/46/16
46.5/2859/12/2
47.5/2949/19/6
Really started closing up as the pressures climbed.

Obviously, my loads, my rifle, so do your own work ups but Dang! This rifles other favorite is the same combo but with RL-15. The velocities are pretty sluggish with that powder but it'll wear out a hole in the paper. Anyway figured I'd share my discovery.

 

[sage5907]

The only bad thing that I have found about Reloader 17 is that it makes me want to shoot more. I first tried it in a 30-06 with 150 grain bullets and it was the best thing that has happened to me since I started reloading more than 50 years ago. Outstanding accuracy and consistency. It also works really good in a 270 Winchester with 130 grain bullets. I've used it in temperatures from the low teens up into the 80's and it works as well or better than IMR 4350 or IMR 4064.

 

[jmr40]

I tried it in my 300 WSM. I've been reading that others have been getting more velocity with it and acceptable accuracy. The load manuals show it almost 100 fps faster in 300 WSM than H4350. But things didn't work as well for me. While working up loads I started getting high pressure signs well below listed max. I found it to work fine when loaded to about the same speed as a max load of H4350. No better, no worse at those speeds.

 

[119er]

I've had okay results with IMR-4064 but the velocity was still somewhat low and it seems that my rifle is allergic to IMR-4350. I have been trying to get the accuracy that the lower velocity loads produce with high velocity for some time and I have finally found the ticket for me. Now I've got to get on the ball with the 162's!

 

[Galil5.56]

2950 fps with 150's in a 7mm-08, with great accuracy... Nice! It's always nice to have rifles that like it fast, with accuracy that only gets better. Seems a lot of folks really like RL-17.

 

[Alliant Reloading]

Well done 119er.

 

[sage5907]

I've also been using Reloader 17 in my 25-06 with 117 grain bullets and accuracy is good. RL-25 is also good and my best accuracy has been with RL-22. Every time I go to the range I let the powders go head to head to see which one will work best in the long term under varying temperatures. Alliant is marketing some really good powders.

 

[119er]

I recently got together some 7mm-08 Lapua brass, neck turning set-up, and an annealing machine so now I'll see what I can do with that. Still need to get a measurement once I've cleaned up the necks to order my bushing neck die. A new barrel once this one falls off will be the next step, and a whole new can of worms.

Alliant powder has been relatively obscure to me, but I suppose that it is just that there is less info in general about it out here on the web. IMR/Hodgdon seems to get most of the attention and has the benefit of being around so long with people that stick to what they've known in the past. Once I had the success with RL-15 I took a shot at RL-17 and it has been the best performer to date! I like the way it meters in my Redding BR-30 too.

 

[Newtosavage]

FWIW, I had tremendous accuracy in my Savage .308 using RL-15 - well under MOA to 300 yards. RL-7 is all I use in my bolt action 7.62x39. I plan to try the new RL-16 next, in my 7x57 and .280. RL-19 has been "okay" in those two rifles - faster but not more accurate than H4831sc.

 

[Gtscotty]

I've had really good luck with RL-16 ( which seems to be similar to RL-17 in performance, but formulated specifically for temperature insensitivity.) Found good sub-max loads for 140gr in a 6.5 CM @ 2,750 fps, 180gr in a .30-06 @ 2,800 fps, and 140gr in a .270 @ 2,970 fps... All Accubonds, all 22" barrels.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Shhhhhh!
It's my go-to powder in 7mm08, .30-06, .338ME w/250, .375Ruger, .260Rem-especially 120-123gr, .257Robt, .257wby w/100gr, .270 w/130, and others. i.e.: .300RUM, 7mmRemMag, etc.
Anywhere IMR or H4350 would be appropriate.
And even during "ObamaAmmogeddon", was available!!! Outstanding powder!

I too see low 7mmMag performance from my 20"bbl 7mm08 w139, 140,150,160, 162gr bullets. Such that I decided against a rechamber to .284win or 7mmRemSAMag.

 

[119er]

I recently bought a couple one pounders of the new IMR Enduron powders and some others before I shot those RL-17 loads. I guess I'll find another use for them or get bored eventually and try them out. I'd probably be more apt to try out RL-16 before those at this point. For now, its new brass prep and searching between my previous 1gr. increments for a sweet spot with 17.

Wish I had searched for it sooner as I began reloading in early 2011 I believe. I had just enough time to get my equipment and processes figured out and a nice little stock of components before things went crazy at the end of 2012. I don't miss the days of hunting high and low for components only to pay high prices when/if found. In the turmoil I ended up buying things that I didn't really need at that point, things I use of course, but the scarcity and politics at the time dictated a now or possibly never approach.