Introducing Alliant Reloder 33!!! and some others for 2012
- Thread starter FOTIS
- Start date
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,459
- 9,296
Oh man, that is good news! I can't wait to give it a test drive in the 338 RUM. 8)
JD338
JD338
Woodycreek
Handloader
- Aug 2, 2007
- 2,240
- 0
Guess I will be splitting a can with you. I love my Retumbo with the 300 RUM but I gotta know if it will do any better!SJB358":116p1bas said:
big rifle man
Handloader
- Dec 21, 2005
- 850
- 0
gotta be honest with you pop, I get just under 3000fps with a 225 grain Partition out of my .338RUM using 84 grains of IMR4350. (This is not max). This load drops anything I care to shoot at (including my Elk this past season at 326 yards). The recoil from this load is substantial and if I start using RL33 and get the velocity up there the effect is going to be more recoil and a definite possibility of scope bite. I guess RL33 is more (maybe too much) of a good thing but my shoulder won't think so.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,502
- 6,507
BRM,
Recoil might not be substantially increased. Recoil is determined by the weight of the rifle, weight of the projectile and weight of the charge. Since the weight of the rifle and the weight of the projectile will presumedly remain the same, the sole factor will be the weight of the charge. If, as is the case with RL17, the charge is generally somewhat lower as the burn rate is somewhat faster than the propellants normally used, recoil will be measureably lower. This might not be a bad thing.
Recoil might not be substantially increased. Recoil is determined by the weight of the rifle, weight of the projectile and weight of the charge. Since the weight of the rifle and the weight of the projectile will presumedly remain the same, the sole factor will be the weight of the charge. If, as is the case with RL17, the charge is generally somewhat lower as the burn rate is somewhat faster than the propellants normally used, recoil will be measureably lower. This might not be a bad thing.
big rifle man
Handloader
- Dec 21, 2005
- 850
- 0
good point Doc, I guess I'll have to develop a wait and see till the powder becomes available. I was a little bit disappointed with the RL17. I did get a velocity increase but the accuracy did not come along with it.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,502
- 6,507
It works well in selected cartridges, less well in many others. Under some conditions, it can and does generate lower velocities than anticipated. Still, the progressive burn characteristics is a big advance in propellant chemistry that can only benefit the shooting community.
bullet
Handloader
- Dec 26, 2007
- 4,975
- 18
I find my compressed charges of RL-17 work well as do my compressed charges of other powders I use for the same cartridges (in my 7mm-08 the charge that is just under max is almost at the base of the neck). RL-17 works well with both standard or mag primers. Since the burn rate is different over the course of the internal ballistic's event, you will have to change your seating depths, because it will require a different OAL due to the timing of the shock wave reaching the end of the barrel and returning to the receiver end of the barrel as the bullet leaves the barrel which is the ideal senario - and of coures you know when this has happened when you have a very small group or you have found the most accurate load from all your load work. RL-17 is not as accurate as W760 in my 7mm-08 but we are talking one shooting 1/4" groups (W760) and RL-17 shooting .465" yet RL-17 is over 100fps faster. When one is hunting that is not going to impact much of anything as far as being able to place the bullet in a good spot unless we are talking about a way off shot past 500yds and that is were the extra fps gives a slight advantage. Also, since my W760 load is slightly compressed and so is my RL-17 there is no real noticeable difference in recoil.
big rifle man
Handloader
- Dec 21, 2005
- 850
- 0
Bullet, I should have mentioned that I tried the RL17 in my .300WSM and not my .338 RUM. I ran through the various loads from min to max with different OAL's but was unable to come up with a group that I was happy with. The velocity increase was there but the IMR4831 that I'm presently using with my 180 grainers gives me 3030 and between one half and three quarter inch groups. For the extra velocity I was getting with the RL17 (and the higher pressure that I observed) the 4831 worked the best for me.
bullet
Handloader
- Dec 26, 2007
- 4,975
- 18
big rifle man":mhjh9j7x said:
Yes, you are not the only one who has found it to be troublesome at times. I find using compressed or close to compressed charges of similar charges of powder, using a variety of powders including RL-17 you will get better velocities and little change in pressures when (used strain gauge), but it is when you step up to just at max with RL-17 that you will experience some higher pressures but not out of the safe zone. Now as I have commented in earlier post, you will not be using RL-17 except in some specific cases and most of the time not your most accurate load although it can for the most part give hunting accuracy in most cartridges. We forget that a lot of our group trouble can be due to other factors such as the process of developing the load chain and for sure the shooters consistency (no reference to your efforts which I am sure were very thorough) along with many other variables. It is not a catch all powder for sure and will end up being very load and firearm specific.
