Interesting RL 17 article

[FOTIS]

Enjoy fellas



http://www.6mmbr.com/reloder17.html

 

[DrMike]

Fascinating. I'm still testing it across a wide variety of calibres and cartridges.

 

[SJB358]

I wonder how RL17 would work in a 30-06 with 165 and up bullets. Seems like it has some promise. I know Dr Mike really worked it in the 270WSM and got some very impressive speed and excellent accuracy. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Scotty,

The Alliant data seems to indicate an increase of about 100 fps over RL22 and RL19 with 165 and 168 grain Speer bullets in a 22 inch barrel for the 30-06. I didn't observe that sort of increase in my initial run in the 30-06 and in the 280. However, it did perform exceptionally well in the 270 WSM. I'm wondering if the chemical structure lends itself to a "broad burn" as in a shorter powder column. If that is the case, then you would see significant advantage in such cases as those built on the .308 and the WSMs. Perhaps that is where I need to focus my attention over the coming weeks.

 

[SJB358]

Good to know. Thanks Mike. Makes sense. Some folks are raving about it, and some are ho hum. Most of the other Alliant powders work really well for me. Wouldn't mind trying it in something of mine, just to see what it does. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

I believe it is definitely worth working with. Any addition to the current powder magazine is of interest, if only to permit fine-tuning our loads.

 

[nomosendero]

I know that this powder is designed in part at least for a short mag, or as one said "broad burn", but with my 30-06AI with the 180's seated way out has a powder cap. not far behind a 300WSM, I may need to try it.

I also wonder about my 308 700VS with a 185 Berger, 180BT or 178A-Max.

 

[DrMike]

I am actually more impressed, in terms of velocities, by the Powder Pro series that are listed in the reloading guide for Alliant. These powders appear to offer significant more velocity when compared to RL17 than does RL17 compared to either RL19 or RL22.

 

[FOTIS]

Like I stated a while ago...........

Quickload has not "input" the "magic factor" in the RL 17 predictions yet.

It definitely seems to create some magic results fellas.

 

[30-338]

I tried R-17 last year in my 270WSM with 150gr bullets worked up to a max of 60gr/R-17 with 150gr partitons @ 3108fps,150gr Hornady @ 3117fps and 150gr Sierra @ 3126fps good accuracy published velocity was 3041fps.

In one of my 30-06 worked up to a max of 56.5gr/R-17 with 165gr bullets @ 2714fps published was 2874fps and with 180gr bullet max was 54.5gr/R-17 @ 2790fps published was 2762fps. Accuracy was good about same as I get with other powders but more velocity. I also tried some in the 7x57 wasn't impressed and might try some in the 243/243AI with 80/85 gr bullets.

 

[FOTIS]

I believe it! It truly is great powder. 8)

 

[JD338]

Good read.
I am looking forward to getting additional load data as more folks work with RL 17.

JD338

 

[spires5d]

I've got 2lbs. of the stuff and I plan to load 59grains of RL17 with 160gr. Speer btsp and mag tip to achieve 2931FPS in my 7mmRM. I feel like the powder ought to work out good. The load data came from Alliant powder for my 7Mag. The price of Alliant powders is reasonable too.

 

[str8meat]

anybodey fooled with this in a 338 winnie?

 

[woods]

It definitely show promise in my 30-06

no pressure signs so I'm gonna keep going up to try and hit 2700 fps and then call it quits.

 

[SJB358]

Woods, that is excellent performance out of the 30-06. Man, with a 200gr bullet at 2700, the 06 is really nipping on the 300WM heals. Plus, that 200gr AccuBond is a very slippery bullet. Awesome data, and groups at 200 yards. That is excellent. I might have to try it in my 300 Win Mag also. Scotty

 

[jmad_81]

Well if Dr. Mike thinks it will work on 308 based cases I might have to give it a shot in my wifes 7-08, and maybe in my 243 with some 105 A-max.

Heck I might play with it in my 26" 338 WM and see how it does. Maybe a 280 AI will like it.

If I'm reading everything right it sounds like a fairly slow powder. POP, what your saying is that QL doesn't really have it right in their program then? It's not between RL-15 and RL-19 as far as burn rate goes?

 

[FOTIS]

It definitely show promise in my 30-06

no pressure signs so I'm gonna keep going up to try and hit 2700 fps and then call it quits.

Sweet! Nice shooting!

 

[3006savage]

Well if Dr. Mike thinks it will work on 308 based cases I might have to give it a shot in my wifes 7-08, and maybe in my 243 with some 105 A-max.

Heck I might play with it in my 26" 338 WM and see how it does. Maybe a 280 AI will like it.

If I'm reading everything right it sounds like a fairly slow powder. POP, what your saying is that QL doesn't really have it right in their program then? It's not between RL-15 and RL-19 as far as burn rate goes?

I had a guy run quickload for RL17 in my 06 for the 168 grain Nosler BT and 200 grain AccuBond. My OAL on both rounds was 3.41" and my brass capacity was 68.5 grains. I am using a savage 116 rifle so I set my max pressure at 65,000psi. The max charge estimated at 65,000 psi for the 168 grain BT was 59 Grains and the actual measured velocity was 3012FPS. The 200 grain AccuBond was 54 grains at 2720 fps. In both cases quickload estimated the velocity within 20-30 fps so the program seemed very accurate in my case. This powder was a full 100 fps faster than what I got with any other powder.

My best groups are less than 3/8" with the 180 grain AccuBond at 56 grains at 2820 FPS.

 

[DrMike]

Even adjusting the Pmax to 65k psi, that seems like a pretty stiff charge. What sort of case life do you get with that charge?