RL-17 What do you use it in and what have you found

[41 Mag]

Like the longish title says, I'm simply looking for calibers that you DO use RL-17 with, and what have you found with it?

Mainly I know it is a rough fit in the area of the 4350's, and that some report exceptional velocities when using it. I shoot several calibers I would like to play with it in, but would like to get first hand information on what others have found with it.

Do you find it consistent from lot to lot?

Do you get varied results with temp changes, or have you noticed it being overly temp sensitive? If so at what temp range?

As far as accuracy, did you find when working with it that you had one or more nodes when working up?

What calibers are you using it in?

I load and shoot RL-15, 19, 22, and 25, and have for quite a number of years. I know the little nuances with each pretty well and work around them. Of them all I would say that 19 and 22 get the most use over the course of a year, and since I have seen 17 posted in a number of different places with results ranging form dismal to wonderful, I thought I would ask before I picked up a couple of jugs to try out.

 

[Laphroaig]

I bought a # several years ago to try in 7.5 x 55. Every raved about it for that caliber, but my testing didn't do any better than the IMR 4350 that I already was using (168 HPBT's). I do plan to try it for a batch of 175 SMK's that I acquired recently. They say its the powder used in GP11.

One of my sons is going to give it a try in his 270WSM also, as it is advertised as a powder suitable for short magnums. Alliant doesn't publish data for that cartridge however which puzzles me since they do give loads for the other WSM's.

Laphroaig

 

[taliv]

i use it in 260rem and 260AI. shot a little over 13k rounds of the latter. haven't kept track of the former.

very accurate and i get pretty high velocities with it
it's pretty consistent lot to lot.
significantly more temp sensitive than H4350
i don't do nodes or ladder tests etc. with precision rifles

 

[41 Mag]

significantly more temp sensitive than H4350

taliv,

What were your findings with the temp, and at what degree of change?

I would be using it for hunting loads in possibly .243, 25-06, and .270. Our usual hunting weather runs from around mid to low 30's in the mornings up to anywhere from 50-75 or so possibly higher in the afternoons. Most if not all loads would be mid ranged, as I already have great top end loads for them all.

That said, these would also be used more or less by my grandson(s) so if I could get a touch more velocity without added muzzle blast or recoil compared to other loads, I am fine with that. I also realize there isn't any free lunches either. With our loads however accuracy always trumps velocity.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've shot several pounds of it from various lot#'s.
I like it very much.
It gives very similar velocities to H4350, but usually with slightly lower charge weights. It gives accuracy similar to IMR4350, but some of my rifles prefer IMR4350 for best accuracy.

You just have to try it for YOUR rifle.
I've got a load with it for my .30/06 where it gets 3,000fps with a 165gr bullet and amazing accuracy. It's only very slightly above the published max so I'm comfortable with it...
In my 7mm08 with 150 and 160gr bullets, nothing comes close to it....
In the .260, it's not as good as either IMR4350, or H4350, but then the rifle prefers RL22.
Although it should be outstanding in the .375Ruger, my rifle (second barrel, too) much prefers RL15.... but they are ~50fps slower...

I had a Tikka in .308 that insisted on IMR3031; Varget, IMR4064, nor Win748 would come close... same bullet, case, primers, ect...

Unlike the other RL series of powders, it's made by Nitro Chemie of Swtizerland, rather than by Bofor's of Sweden.
irrc; it was primarily intended for use in the .300 WSSM.

I'm a hunter, rather than a long-range target shooter; so temperature sensitivty means little, as long as it goes "bang" when I pull the trigger and velocity is nominal for the cartridge in question. A loss of 100fps at -30degF means nothing to me. I don't think my freezers will go that cold, and I'm a Looonnngggg way from the Artic. And, I don't let my ammo/rifle sit in the truck in the sun at 100degF or more for hours before pulling the trigger...

You just have to let the rifle tell you what it prefers....

 

[41 Mag]

I'm a hunter, rather than a long-range target shooter; so temperature sensitivty means little, as long as it goes "bang" when I pull the trigger and velocity is nominal for the cartridge in question. A loss of 100fps at -30degF means nothing to me. I don't think my freezers will go that cold, and I'm a Looonnngggg way from the Artic. And, I don't let my ammo/rifle sit in the truck in the sun at 100degF or more for hours before pulling the trigger...

I appreciate the input and it is just the sort I am looking for.

The above quote also sums me up pretty neatly as well. I have had some loads like with RL-25 which were fine in 65-70 degree weather, flatten out primers and smear case heads at 85-95 degrees. Granted those were the exception rather than the norm, but still I don't like surprises like that either. The velocity loss isn't a deal breaker with me either. It is subject to happen but at most of the ranges we hunt it would never be noticed. The pressure spikes however on a sunny evening where the ambient temp is still up in the mid to upper 90's might be though. As much as I hate to do so that is why I work up most of my loads during the heat of summer. I am usually good if I can get where I want to in the heat knowing once it cools down it will not be an issue.

As far as our distances that we shoot, well for deer about 250 is about the max unless I am using something with plenty of horse power, with the standard rifles and loads our main LR objective would be ruining the day of a feral hog out to around 300 - 350 if the load is up to it.

I'm looking into the powder simply to play around with something new. I have my staple loads and they shoot more accurately than we can 6 out of 10 times. We know their trajectories out to the back fence so the hogs don't stand a chance, well if we catch them coming out that is.

 

[kelbro]

Works well for me in .243. Developed the load in cool weather. Hunt in cool weather and I haven't tried it in ht weather so I cant help on the temp sensitivity.

 

[taliv]

iirc, i use .56 and 1.70 for fps/* change in my ballistic calculators respectively for H4350 and R17


for hunting, it doesn't matter at all. there is zero reason to load hot. so load a moderate load that will be safe for all seasons, and don't shoot at game past 300-400 yards and you won't have to worry about the change in drop as a result of change in temperature

 

[2ndtimer]

Works very well in .243 Win with 90 gr bullets, high velocity with good accuracy. It is also my preferred powder for my .270 Win., 53.0 gr with 130 gr Nosler gives just over 2900 fps with sub MOA accuracy out of my 22" barrel Marlin X7. My results in the .270WSM were okay, but not as good as some other powders. FWIW.

 

[ironworkerwill]

speed king

Rl17, for me in 7-08, 243, 30-06, even 223.

Its the fastest stuff out there in 7-08. Accuracy is ok with some lighter bullets but better with130 or heavier. Seems to be spikey and hard on brass if trying to eek out performance.
With moderate loads it works very well while giving the reloader the false impression of being a powder-puff load. Simple advice as always- work up. This powder has an agent that is a through and through burn modifier. Not a simple coating. With moderate loads the pressure continues to "push" longer after comparable powders would be declining at a steeper rate.

It's a neat powder for 223. Of course there is not enough room to become over pressure, but with 65+gr bullets fun none the less.

 

[joed]

I'm using it in .25-06 Rem. I get about 200 fps more than IMR4350 and other powders. Can't say if it's temp sensitive or not because it was so hard to get that I'm just trying it now.

Haven't given up any accuracy using this powder. Yes, I'll buy more if I can find it.

 

[redbullitt]

It does a nice job in long barreled 308s with the heavy bullets.

208 amax and a good charge of R17 works quite well. 2400 fps is within reach for most barrel lengths, especially if you have a long throat length like most factory REM rifles have.

I included a link for more info if anyone wants to check it out. I read for a good while before trying it myself. I was very pleased with the results AND I found a use for the RL17 I had on the shelf lol.
http://forum.snipershide.com/range-report-exterior-ballistics/24338-308-win-208-amax-rl17-16.html

 

[Comrade Mike]

It's the only powder I will use in 7.5 Swiss anymore.

 

[stubbicatt]

I like it in my 6.5x47Lapua with the 140's. Haven't tried it in other applications.

 

[Swampman]

I really like it in 7.5 Swiss with 168 grain Berger VLD's. I'm not loading near max, so I haven't spent much time shooting it over the chrono, but POI seems fairly consistent across different temperatures out to 600 yards. My loads were worked up in 100+ degree temps and I don't shoot much when it gets near freezing, so take that into account.

It gave great velocities in my .257 Bob Improved, but accuracy wasn't close to what I get with IMR 4350.

I'm still working on my first caddy so I have no idea of lot to lot variations.