RL 26 - What have you tried it in? Results? And
- Thread starter Bbear
- Start date
Hi bbear,
Welcome!
I have been messing with it a little in a few rifles. I ran some comparisons with the QuickLoad projections as they looked really terrific and potentially game changing for me in a couple rifles. It didn't work out quite that way. I found the projections were off pretty significantly and the results weren't what I thought they would be. Not bad, just not what I thought. So I tested the powder in some rifles to create some beginning data points to work from. I've gotten a little buried lately and haven't finished the new workups in those loads.
I think it has the potential to be a terrific powder and very useful in any rifles you might use RL25 or the like in. Here's the thread where I stuck my first tests:
http://forum.nosler.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=30786
Welcome!
I have been messing with it a little in a few rifles. I ran some comparisons with the QuickLoad projections as they looked really terrific and potentially game changing for me in a couple rifles. It didn't work out quite that way. I found the projections were off pretty significantly and the results weren't what I thought they would be. Not bad, just not what I thought. So I tested the powder in some rifles to create some beginning data points to work from. I've gotten a little buried lately and haven't finished the new workups in those loads.
I think it has the potential to be a terrific powder and very useful in any rifles you might use RL25 or the like in. Here's the thread where I stuck my first tests:
http://forum.nosler.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=30786
I've been hit and miss with it. It worked very well in my fast twist 22-250AI with 77gr Nosler CCs. I tried it in my 280AI with 150 and 168 ABLRs. I hit pressure signs fairly quickly and groups were terrible. My 280AI seems to be having issues with all loads at the moment. Data for both was obtained on Quickload. It shows up at the top for velocity on many of the Q/L cartridge simulations that I run. RL 17 has popped to the top as well. It's doing very well in the 6.5 Creedmore.
Scott
Scott
Ridgerunner665
Handloader
- Oct 28, 2008
- 2,516
- 298
Scott,
Have you checked your 280AI brass for donuts at the neck/shoulder junction....
Donuts sometimes happen on sharp shouldered cases... and they cause exactly the issues you're seeing with your 280 Ackley.
A .284" pin gauge is the easiest way to check for donuts...
Have you checked your 280AI brass for donuts at the neck/shoulder junction....
Donuts sometimes happen on sharp shouldered cases... and they cause exactly the issues you're seeing with your 280 Ackley.
A .284" pin gauge is the easiest way to check for donuts...
Ridgerunner665":1o3taqan said:
Lynn,
I'm using Nosler 280AI brass and haven't had any issues, donuts or otherwise. I have been using the Redding competition shellholders which allow me to size the case to very close tolerances with the chamber. Much like setting the die to partial resizing but with no guess work and repeatable performance. I use them on all my fired brass.
Scott
Been very pleased with it in my 26" barrel 7 Rem Mag with 140 AB....at 71.2 grains it gives 3,200fps and is averaging 1 to 1.5" groups at 200 yds consistently. The only issue I have seen with it is that I do get more smoke from muzzle with it than powders I have used in the past, guessing the "Green" technology is some of that, have any others noticed more smoke cloud off it??
In the 27" 280 Ackley with the 140AB at 63.5 grains it is running 3,265 with superb accuracy and don't notice as much smoke off it as the 7RM.
In the 27" 280 Ackley with the 140AB at 63.5 grains it is running 3,265 with superb accuracy and don't notice as much smoke off it as the 7RM.
MAinAR":2ugcr35l said:
I have tested it in both these guns and have one conclusion for sure, it seems to like fire!
Both guns were tested with Fed 210's and Fed 215gm's. The 215gm's groups were almost 50% tighter in every weight charge tested. It shot very well in both guns with WLRM's also but averaged about 35-40fps slower in both guns.
I tested all 3 of these primers in temperatures from 35 degrees to 85 degrees so far and would tell you to expect on average of speed change of approximately .7-8 fps per degree of temp change.
I have been running it in my 280 AI. I am getting 3115 with the 150 ABLR and around .5-.75" groups. With the 168 ABLR I got one ragged hole but I didn't have the Chrony set up. Based on Quickload I'm guessing this load to be around 2900 or so.
I played with is in a 270 WSM with the 150 ABLR, and it didn't go well. Best groups were 1.5" worse groups were 5". Switched over to H1000 and have a decent load that I'm trying to finish up.
I want to shoot it in my STW at some point, but it is currently scopeless
. I also was able to get my hands on some 142 ABLR this week. Might be a good powder to run them with in the 6.5 SAUM as well if H1000 doesn't pan out.
I'll need to grab some next time I'm in town as I have used the one pound up that I bought.
One thing that I'm noticing is that the extreme spreads over the Chrony have been pretty small with this powder in every thing I have tried it in. Seems like a decent powder to me.
I played with is in a 270 WSM with the 150 ABLR, and it didn't go well. Best groups were 1.5" worse groups were 5". Switched over to H1000 and have a decent load that I'm trying to finish up.
I want to shoot it in my STW at some point, but it is currently scopeless
. I also was able to get my hands on some 142 ABLR this week. Might be a good powder to run them with in the 6.5 SAUM as well if H1000 doesn't pan out.I'll need to grab some next time I'm in town as I have used the one pound up that I bought.
One thing that I'm noticing is that the extreme spreads over the Chrony have been pretty small with this powder in every thing I have tried it in. Seems like a decent powder to me.
Whitesheep
Beginner
- Jan 6, 2015
- 167
- 1
Bbear":35cw79cy said:
The one question from the OP not addressed. Inquiring minds would like to know...
- Thread starter
- #12
I found RL-26 at a local gun shop as well. Yee Ha, I already loaded up some 160 PT,s and 150 LRAB,s in .270. Can,t wait to go try them out. Should be interesting as quick load shows some fine velocity with both bullets. My local gun shop had plenty of reloader powders. I was surprised and rather elated to see powder back on the shelves again.
gerry
Ammo Smith
- Mar 1, 2007
- 6,849
- 1,633
hubcap":35jmszu2 said:
Sounds like some guys at 24hourcampfire have done well in their 270's with RL 26 and 150 gr bullets, excellent speeds and accuracy. I bet it shines with those great 160's as well, looking forward to seeing your results.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,312
- 5,975
If RL26 (and RL23) ever make it across the border, I'm certain I'll give it a try in a Canadian winter. Until then, I'm just pleased that I still have a stash of RL15, RL17, RL19, RL22 and a couple of pounds of RL25. That will keep me busy for a few days. :grin:
I would have stuck with 22 and 25 without arguing, but I figured I was just about out of both, so now was a good time to switch. I got 5lbs of each, so that'll get me back in the ballpark with the loads I need to rework a little. I'll be interested to see how they stack up against the old stand by's. 22 and 25 have been really good to me.
