Quick Load for RL-17 and a Few Calibers

[Paul Barnard]

I stopped by Sportsman's Warehouse the other day looking for a powder that will work well for several of the calibers that I have in the bullet weights I prefer. I had previously read threads on a few different forums and RL-17 kept popping up. While I was in SW I looked at a couple load manuals and noticed RL-17 showed good to very good velocities in 22-250 with 55-60 grain bullets, 257 Roberts with 115 grain bullets, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5x55 in 129/130 grain bullets and 30-06 in 150 grain bullets. I bought a pound of RL-17. Now that I am home and ready to crank out a few loads, I can't seem to find the threads and the load data that led me to RL-17.

I have no idea how burdensome it is to run Quick Load, but if it's not too much of a heavy lift, I would really be grateful if someone would run RL-17 in the bullet weights I use. I can't offer much in return, but I have a standing invitation with anyone on any of the forums I frequent that if you are ever in the New Orleans area I'll take you out for some world class fishing or a kayak gator tour.

All rifles are modern sporting rifles in as new condition.

Thanks

 

[Dwh7271]

Cartridge          : .22-250 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .224, 55, Nosler BalTip 39526
Useable Case Capaci: 39.834 grain H2O = 2.586 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.350 inch = 59.69 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.25% 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

-12.5   91    35.00   3280    1314   37882   9893     93.1    1.153
-11.2   92    35.50   3332    1356   39579  10060     94.0    1.129
-10.0   93    36.00   3384    1398   41359  10219     94.8    1.106
-08.7   95    36.50   3436    1442   43228  10371     95.5    1.084
-07.5   96    37.00   3488    1485   45188  10513     96.2    1.062
-06.2   97    37.50   3539    1530   47246  10647     96.9    1.040
-05.0   99    38.00   3591    1575   49408  10771     97.5    1.019
-03.7  100    38.50   3643    1621   51681  10886     98.0    0.998
-02.5  101    39.00   3695    1667   54070  10989     98.5    0.978
-01.2  103    39.50   3746    1714   56582  11083     98.9    0.958  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  104    40.00   3797    1761   59230  11165     99.2    0.939  ! Near Maximum !
+01.2  105    40.50   3848    1809   62017  11235     99.5    0.920  ! Near Maximum !
+02.5  106    41.00   3899    1857   64955  11294     99.7    0.902  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.7  108    41.50   3950    1906   68053  11341     99.9    0.884  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  109    42.00   4001    1955   71324  11375    100.0    0.866  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.2  110    42.50   4051    2004   74780  11397    100.0    0.848  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 5% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 5% relative to nominal value:
+Ba    104    40.00   3904    1861   65489  11000    100.0    0.899  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    104    40.00   3671    1646   53406  11121     96.9    0.984

Cartridge          : .257 Roberts +P+ (not SAAMI)
Bullet             : .257, 115, Nosler BalTip 25115
Useable Case Capaci: 47.503 grain H2O = 3.084 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.775 inch = 70.49 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.146% 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

-11.5   84    38.63   2713    1880   39258   9719     98.9    1.360
-10.3   85    39.13   2747    1927   40732   9818     99.2    1.337
-09.2   86    39.63   2781    1975   42264   9910     99.4    1.314
-08.0   87    40.13   2815    2023   43852   9996     99.6    1.292
-06.9   88    40.63   2848    2071   45509  10074     99.8    1.270
-05.7   90    41.13   2881    2120   47228  10146     99.9    1.249
-04.6   91    41.63   2914    2169   49014  10210    100.0    1.228
-03.4   92    42.13   2947    2218   50871  10267    100.0    1.207  ! Near Maximum !
-02.3   93    42.63   2980    2268   52803  10319    100.0    1.187  ! Near Maximum !
-01.1   94    43.13   3012    2317   54814  10370    100.0    1.167  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   95    43.63   3045    2367   56899  10420    100.0    1.148  ! Near Maximum !
+01.1   96    44.13   3077    2417   59083  10469    100.0    1.129  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.3   97    44.63   3109    2468   61350  10517    100.0    1.111  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.4   98    45.13   3140    2518   63691  10564    100.0    1.093  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.6   99    45.63   3172    2569   66174  10610    100.0    1.075  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.7  100    46.13   3203    2620   68740  10655    100.0    1.058  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 5% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 5% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     95    43.63   3108    2466   63038  10197    100.0    1.103  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     95    43.63   2966    2247   51225  10656     99.8    1.200  ! Near Maximum !

Cartridge          : 6.5 Creedmoor Hornady
Bullet             : .264, 130, Nosler AccuBond 56902
Useable Case Capaci: 47.584 grain H2O = 3.090 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.146% 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

-11.5   84    38.63   2604    1958   38927   9277     99.1    1.404
-10.3   85    39.13   2637    2007   40378   9369     99.4    1.380
-09.2   86    39.63   2669    2056   41884   9454     99.6    1.357
-08.0   87    40.13   2701    2105   43450   9533     99.7    1.334
-06.9   88    40.63   2732    2155   45076   9605     99.9    1.312
-05.7   89    41.13   2764    2205   46764   9671    100.0    1.290
-04.6   90    41.63   2795    2256   48519   9730    100.0    1.268
-03.4   92    42.13   2827    2306   50344   9783    100.0    1.247
-02.3   93    42.63   2858    2357   52242   9834    100.0    1.227
-01.1   94    43.13   2888    2408   54215   9884    100.0    1.207  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   95    43.63   2919    2460   56267   9933    100.0    1.187  ! Near Maximum !
+01.1   96    44.13   2950    2511   58404   9981    100.0    1.168  ! Near Maximum !
+02.3   97    44.63   2980    2563   60627  10029    100.0    1.149  ! Near Maximum !
+03.4   98    45.13   3010    2615   62943  10075    100.0    1.130  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.6   99    45.63   3040    2668   65349  10121    100.0    1.112  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.7  100    46.13   3070    2720   67868  10165    100.0    1.095  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 5% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 5% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     95    43.63   2978    2560   62318   9719    100.0    1.141  ! Near Maximum !
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     95    43.63   2845    2337   50661  10171     99.8    1.240

Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 130, Nosler AccuBond 56902
Useable Case Capaci: 52.511 grain H2O = 3.409 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.150 inch = 80.01 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.082% 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

-10.8   81    41.20   2653    2032   40169  10100     99.7    1.391
-09.7   82    41.70   2683    2077   41557  10182     99.8    1.370
-08.7   83    42.20   2712    2123   42992  10258     99.9    1.348
-07.6   84    42.70   2742    2170   44480  10328    100.0    1.327
-06.5   85    43.20   2771    2216   46017  10392    100.0    1.306
-05.4   86    43.70   2800    2263   47610  10452    100.0    1.286  ! Near Maximum !
-04.3   87    44.20   2829    2310   49259  10511    100.0    1.266  ! Near Maximum !
-03.2   88    44.70   2857    2357   50967  10569    100.0    1.247  ! Near Maximum !
-02.2   89    45.20   2886    2404   52738  10627    100.0    1.228  ! Near Maximum !
-01.1   90    45.70   2914    2451   54569  10684    100.0    1.210  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.0   91    46.20   2942    2499   56467  10740    100.0    1.191  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+01.1   92    46.70   2970    2547   58436  10795    100.0    1.174  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.2   93    47.20   2998    2595   60475  10850    100.0    1.156  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.2   94    47.70   3026    2643   62592  10903    100.0    1.139  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.3   95    48.20   3054    2692   64780  10956    100.0    1.122  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.4   96    48.70   3081    2740   67039  11008    100.0    1.106  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 5% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 5% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     91    46.20   2998    2595   62483  10533    100.0    1.145  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     91    46.20   2873    2382   50774  10991    100.0    1.244  ! Near Maximum !

Cartridge          : .30-06 Spring.  (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .308, 150, Nosler BalTip 30150
Useable Case Capaci: 60.345 grain H2O = 3.918 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-17

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.857% 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

-08.6   91    53.35   2763    2544   40209   9111     97.0    1.267
-07.7   92    53.85   2790    2593   41369   9191     97.4    1.250
-06.9   93    54.35   2817    2644   42565   9267     97.7    1.234
-06.0   94    54.85   2844    2694   43782   9340     98.1    1.218
-05.1   95    55.35   2871    2746   45070   9410     98.3    1.202
-04.3   96    55.85   2898    2797   46384   9476     98.6    1.186
-03.4   97    56.35   2925    2849   47733   9538     98.9    1.171
-02.6   97    56.85   2951    2901   49136   9597     99.1    1.155
-01.7   98    57.35   2978    2954   50580   9652     99.3    1.140
-00.9   99    57.85   3005    3007   52070   9703     99.5    1.125  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  100    58.35   3031    3060   53609   9750     99.6    1.111  ! Near Maximum !
+00.9  101    58.85   3058    3114   55199   9792     99.7    1.097  ! Near Maximum !
+01.7  102    59.35   3084    3168   56842   9831     99.8    1.082  ! Near Maximum !
+02.6  103    59.85   3110    3222   58540   9866     99.9    1.068  ! Near Maximum !
+03.4  103    60.35   3137    3277   60295   9896    100.0    1.055  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.3  104    60.85   3163    3331   62110   9922    100.0    1.041  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 5% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 5% relative to nominal value:
+Ba    100    58.35   3110    3222   59218   9547    100.0    1.065  ! Near Maximum !
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    100    58.35   2936    2870   48389   9779     97.7    1.163

 

[TackDriver284]

I can't offer much in return, but I have a standing invitation with anyone on any of the forums I frequent that if you are ever in the New Orleans area I'll take you out for some world class fishing or a kayak gator tour.

Beignets and hot chocolate !!!! Dwh beat me to it. :lol:

 

[Paul Barnard]

Thanks, RL-17 does appear to be a very good powder for my needs.

I'll return the favor any time y'all make it down this way.

 

[bobnob]

PB, I had great results with the 30-06 and R17 with 180g bullets. A nice accurate 2850fps in a 23.5" bbl with Interlocks and NBTs. Also it went great with 115-117g bullets in my 250 Sav AI which would be similar to your 257 Rob.

I liked it for 130-150g bullets in the 270 Win as well.

Of late I've been using it in the 308 Win with 168g bullets, in two rifles. It generates good speeds with 168-180g bullets in the 308, with good load density and excellent accuracy.

Though it's similar burn rate to H4350 you can get a fair bit more in the case with R17.

Excellent product.

 

[Paul Barnard]

Thanks for the info Bob. I am 10 weeks out of shoulder replacement surgery and am going to aim for lower bullet weights for the time being. That Ruger ultralight 30-06 will get your attention with heavy loads.