Has anybody gotten around to actually testing the 7 WSM & RL26? If you check out Alliant new manual it looks really impressive! It shows that it actually out runs the 7 WBY & 7 STW with 160-175gr bullets with the same powder. I have been looking for some of this super powder and have had no luck. It just seems to good to be true. A short action magnum that can out run the STW! Any feedback would be appreciated. As I shoot a couple of 7 WSM's
7mm WSM & RL 26
- Thread starter bigd7378
- Start date
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 36,933
- 5,128
If I ever find some of the RL26 and RL23, I will be testing it! However, the trick is finding these new powders. :evil:
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 36,933
- 5,128
You are correct, however; this appears to be an impressive powder, generating some impressive velocities.
Cartridge : 7 mm WSM
Bullet : .284, 168, Nosler AccuBond LR 58623 G7
Useable Case Capaci: 70.298 grain H2O = 4.564 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-26
Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms
-20.0 77 53.68 2423 2189 30871 11026 97.4 1.672
-18.0 79 55.02 2486 2305 33118 11302 98.3 1.627
-16.0 81 56.36 2548 2422 35542 11550 99.0 1.583
-14.0 83 57.71 2610 2542 38156 11769 99.5 1.537
-12.0 85 59.05 2672 2664 40977 11957 99.8 1.486
-10.0 87 60.39 2733 2787 44021 12112 100.0 1.438
-08.0 89 61.73 2794 2912 47317 12239 100.0 1.391
-06.0 91 63.07 2854 3038 50829 12359 100.0 1.346
-04.0 92 64.42 2913 3166 54587 12475 100.0 1.303 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 94 65.76 2972 3294 58622 12587 100.0 1.261 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 96 67.10 3030 3424 62955 12695 100.0 1.222 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 98 68.44 3087 3556 67614 12799 100.0 1.183 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 100 69.78 3145 3689 72627 12898 100.0 1.147 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 102 71.13 3202 3824 78029 12993 100.0 1.111 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 104 72.47 3258 3960 83858 13082 100.0 1.077 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 106 73.81 3315 4099 90155 13166 100.0 1.045 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 96 67.10 3144 3688 78171 12218 100.0 1.122 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 96 67.10 2852 3034 48415 13307 99.5 1.359
Cartridge : 7 mm WSM
Bullet : .284, 175, Nosler AccuBond LR 58517 G7
Useable Case Capaci: 69.891 grain H2O = 4.538 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-26
Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms
-20.0 76 52.80 2379 2199 30962 10941 97.9 1.701
-18.0 78 54.12 2439 2312 33196 11202 98.7 1.656
-16.0 80 55.44 2500 2429 35617 11437 99.3 1.612
-14.0 82 56.76 2560 2547 38219 11643 99.7 1.566
-12.0 84 58.08 2620 2667 41028 11818 99.9 1.514
-10.0 86 59.40 2679 2788 44056 11961 100.0 1.465
-08.0 88 60.72 2737 2911 47292 12088 100.0 1.418
-06.0 90 62.04 2795 3035 50739 12212 100.0 1.373
-04.0 91 63.36 2851 3160 54431 12331 100.0 1.329 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 93 64.68 2908 3286 58388 12448 100.0 1.288 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 95 66.00 2964 3413 62631 12560 100.0 1.248 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 97 67.32 3019 3543 67184 12667 100.0 1.209 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 99 68.64 3075 3673 72076 12771 100.0 1.172 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 101 69.96 3129 3806 77337 12870 100.0 1.137 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 103 71.28 3184 3940 83002 12964 100.0 1.103 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 105 72.60 3239 4076 89110 13053 100.0 1.069 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 95 66.00 3073 3670 77571 12097 100.0 1.147 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 95 66.00 2795 3035 48222 13182 99.7 1.387
Cartridge : 7 mm WSM
Bullet : .284, 168, Nosler AccuBond LR 58623 G7
Useable Case Capaci: 70.298 grain H2O = 4.564 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-26
Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms
-20.0 77 53.68 2423 2189 30871 11026 97.4 1.672
-18.0 79 55.02 2486 2305 33118 11302 98.3 1.627
-16.0 81 56.36 2548 2422 35542 11550 99.0 1.583
-14.0 83 57.71 2610 2542 38156 11769 99.5 1.537
-12.0 85 59.05 2672 2664 40977 11957 99.8 1.486
-10.0 87 60.39 2733 2787 44021 12112 100.0 1.438
-08.0 89 61.73 2794 2912 47317 12239 100.0 1.391
-06.0 91 63.07 2854 3038 50829 12359 100.0 1.346
-04.0 92 64.42 2913 3166 54587 12475 100.0 1.303 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 94 65.76 2972 3294 58622 12587 100.0 1.261 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 96 67.10 3030 3424 62955 12695 100.0 1.222 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 98 68.44 3087 3556 67614 12799 100.0 1.183 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 100 69.78 3145 3689 72627 12898 100.0 1.147 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 102 71.13 3202 3824 78029 12993 100.0 1.111 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 104 72.47 3258 3960 83858 13082 100.0 1.077 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 106 73.81 3315 4099 90155 13166 100.0 1.045 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 96 67.10 3144 3688 78171 12218 100.0 1.122 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 96 67.10 2852 3034 48415 13307 99.5 1.359
Cartridge : 7 mm WSM
Bullet : .284, 175, Nosler AccuBond LR 58517 G7
Useable Case Capaci: 69.891 grain H2O = 4.538 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-26
Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms
-20.0 76 52.80 2379 2199 30962 10941 97.9 1.701
-18.0 78 54.12 2439 2312 33196 11202 98.7 1.656
-16.0 80 55.44 2500 2429 35617 11437 99.3 1.612
-14.0 82 56.76 2560 2547 38219 11643 99.7 1.566
-12.0 84 58.08 2620 2667 41028 11818 99.9 1.514
-10.0 86 59.40 2679 2788 44056 11961 100.0 1.465
-08.0 88 60.72 2737 2911 47292 12088 100.0 1.418
-06.0 90 62.04 2795 3035 50739 12212 100.0 1.373
-04.0 91 63.36 2851 3160 54431 12331 100.0 1.329 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 93 64.68 2908 3286 58388 12448 100.0 1.288 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 95 66.00 2964 3413 62631 12560 100.0 1.248 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 97 67.32 3019 3543 67184 12667 100.0 1.209 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 99 68.64 3075 3673 72076 12771 100.0 1.172 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 101 69.96 3129 3806 77337 12870 100.0 1.137 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 103 71.28 3184 3940 83002 12964 100.0 1.103 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 105 72.60 3239 4076 89110 13053 100.0 1.069 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 95 66.00 3073 3670 77571 12097 100.0 1.147 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 95 66.00 2795 3035 48222 13182 99.7 1.387
I agree. Looks impressive and I picked some up. Going to shoot some loads this weekend and see where they are on the chrono.
FWIW, I really do believe the burn rate in QuickLoad is wrong on RL26. Hope to at least prove that to my own satisfaction this weekend. Have some anecdotal evidence but I want to firm it up. QL has the burn at .339 something and from what I have seen and after running muzz examples, I think this stuff is somewhere between .369 and .380. Just my opinion though and doesn't mean it's not good stuff, but I would definitely start low, maybe lower than normal, and work up.
FWIW, I really do believe the burn rate in QuickLoad is wrong on RL26. Hope to at least prove that to my own satisfaction this weekend. Have some anecdotal evidence but I want to firm it up. QL has the burn at .339 something and from what I have seen and after running muzz examples, I think this stuff is somewhere between .369 and .380. Just my opinion though and doesn't mean it's not good stuff, but I would definitely start low, maybe lower than normal, and work up.
- Thread starter
- #5
wildgene
Handloader
- Jul 4, 2011
- 1,597
- 0
bigd7378":1llxof0u said:
...I noticed the same thing w/ RL-17 when it came out, QL didn't like it, but most of my loads for .25 WSSM, .300 WSM, .325 WSM chrono'd pretty close or just above the Alliant data. On the other hand, Superformance never came close to the data MV's in any loads...
TNBillyEarl
Beginner
- Jan 31, 2021
- 75
- 268
I've just started shooting a new to me 7mmWSM. I had a small bit of RL-23 left around this fall so I loaded 10 rounds of 160g Accubonds for this deer season at 68.0g. It shot very well, but the speed scared me - 3150 ft/sec. More on that here:
I had 3 cases prepped that I didn't load, and since I have 3 lbs of RL-26 I googled around and found this thread. I put in 68.0g of RL-26 this morning and seated to standard length. Slinging 160g Accubonds I shot this group below with an average velocity of 2990 ft/sec. This is almost identical to the groupings I get out of RL-23, just about 150 ft/sec slower. Later this spring I'll clean up my brass and start in again, but RL-26 seems to work fine in these short mags.
Thank you Dr. Mike for the QL reference data.
-B
Keeping up w/ @nydan; also loving the 7mmWSM...
Like Dan, I acquired a 7mmWSM this year. I haven't dialed it in, but 160g AB were going over 3100 and functionally accurate. The accuracy was adequate, but the terminal performance was amazing. Great morning in the woods... -B
forum.nosler.com
I had 3 cases prepped that I didn't load, and since I have 3 lbs of RL-26 I googled around and found this thread. I put in 68.0g of RL-26 this morning and seated to standard length. Slinging 160g Accubonds I shot this group below with an average velocity of 2990 ft/sec. This is almost identical to the groupings I get out of RL-23, just about 150 ft/sec slower. Later this spring I'll clean up my brass and start in again, but RL-26 seems to work fine in these short mags.
Thank you Dr. Mike for the QL reference data.
-B
Last edited:
That's the problem!
Charlie-NY
Handloader
- Mar 11, 2005
- 1,384
- 734
I shot 175 LRAB and 175 Bergers at 3,000fps from a 25" Broughton 7WSM bbl using RE26. The Win brass held up just fine. The 160 class bullets could be shot very close to 3,200fps without issue in my rifle.
This puts the 7WSM at the same ballistic performance as the 7PRC but that doesn't make it a 7STW. The STW just has more case capacity and, all else being equal, should be able to outperform either.
This puts the 7WSM at the same ballistic performance as the 7PRC but that doesn't make it a 7STW. The STW just has more case capacity and, all else being equal, should be able to outperform either.
Frankly, I don’t understand the 7 PRC. It matches a 7mm Rem Mag if you know how to do the 7 mag correctly. OK, that’s not nothin’ but it seems to be solving all the problems that I don’t have with my 7 mag? IMO….it should have been a 300 PRC straight necked down to 7mm and left alone?
Now the 7wsm with an 8 twist barrel is entirely more interesting! Fits in a short action which is what a lot of hunters want for this reason or that. I suspect that a 7mm-6.5 PRC will be along shortly(I think it is already being done actually) and will most likely put the original 7 PRC out to pasture.
Now the 7wsm with an 8 twist barrel is entirely more interesting! Fits in a short action which is what a lot of hunters want for this reason or that. I suspect that a 7mm-6.5 PRC will be along shortly(I think it is already being done actually) and will most likely put the original 7 PRC out to pasture.
Charlie-NY
Handloader
- Mar 11, 2005
- 1,384
- 734
The 7-6.5PRC-AW is designed for a specific match discipline and will likely have a rather small following ,IMO. Hunters typically like more velocity to accompany the accuracy that they all look for. The 7PRC is a rather balanced cartridge but it won't do much in the field that a 7 Rem mag or 7WSM can't do. For the young at heart, a few guys have already built 7-300PRC rifles.
You've got to admit it, this hobby is a disease without a cure.
Last edited:
Yoteklr
Work, load, shoot, hunt, repeat
- Apr 19, 2022
- 236
- 448
I used Win 300wsm brass for my first 7wsm, I found Norma 270wsm for my second 7wsm.
It sucks, it makes the 7wsm short neck even shorter when it's all done. But at least I have brass.
A couple of years ago Hornady made a batch of 7wsm.... I'm not doing Hornady for anything.
It sucks, it makes the 7wsm short neck even shorter when it's all done. But at least I have brass.
A couple of years ago Hornady made a batch of 7wsm.... I'm not doing Hornady for anything.
Last edited:
Charlie-NY
Handloader
- Mar 11, 2005
- 1,384
- 734
When I rebarreled by 7WSM I should have chambered it in 7-300WSM or 7-270WSM just to avoid the brass issue. However, I have a set of expensive 7WSM dies sitting on the shelf and a load of 7WSM Win brass that I grossly overpaid to get, so I just did another 7WSM at the time.
Now if I can only get my new 7PRC to shoot as good as my 7WSM did, I'll be happy.
Holy smokes are you right Charlie!
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