RL22 Temp Sensitivity findings

[Guest]

After a lot of deliberation on the rumors of RL22 being one of the most temperature sensitive powders out there, I still decided to try it in my .300 Winchester Magnum. I wish I would have tried it a long, long time ago. Anyway, I worked up a load this summer/fall and got a load that shoots sub m.o.a. consistently and averaged 3,184 fps for 6 shots fired through the chronograph on a nice sunny day of about 75 degrees.

Fast forward now to December. Saturday the high was 24 degrees here in town. I was up on the hill(another 1,000 vertical feet) at about 10:30 in the morning, so I am being conservative in saying the temp was around 20 degrees. Fired six more shots through the chronograph and came up with an average of 3,146 fps.

Conclusion: For a 50-55 degree spread my gun dropped 38 fps in average velocity. After this little test, I am glad I viewed the temp. sensitivity issue more as marketing hype than fact.

Hope this little bit of information is useful.

 

[Richracer1]

How did it group? A 38fps drop is nothing I would even give a second though. My major concern is the changing of accuracy and POI. I reload in the central coast area of CA (70* average and sea level), sight-in and then drive to my home state of Idaho for elk season. Temps during that time is lows of 8* and highs possible in the 50 to 60 range and at 7000 ft.

 

[Guy Miner]

Yup. Reloader 22 has worked out real well for me in the 7mm Rem mag, the .300 Win mag and the little 6mm Remington. I think it's one of the best powders for cartridges with relatively large cases and smallish bores...

Also found that it works very well in my .30-06 with 180 grain bullets.

RL-22 has been the ticket for me, building accurate, high-velocity handloads in several hunting rifles.

 

[Guest]

Richracer1,

During load development I shot 74,74.5,75,75.5,76, and 76.5 grains of RL22 under the 180 grain Nosler AccuBond and they all shot sub m.o.a. for the individual three shot groups. P.O.I. was the same as well. I settled on 76.0 grains

I was so impressed with load workup that I instantly became a RL22 fan for the .300 Win Mag. I have been loading that cartridge for 13 years now...wish I would have tried that powder a long, long, long time ago.

 

[Bigwheels]

Thats great.I was interested in the RL-19 for my 338,& changed my mind because of the Temp difference.Maybe I should try some after all. :grin:

 

[JD338]

I have loaded the 300 WM w/ both the 180 gr PT and AB w/ 75.0 grs RL22 and got sub MOA in 3 different rifles.
I am using RL22 in 257 Roberts, 280 AI, and 338 RUM. Outstanding accuracy in the 280 AI and 338 RUM but I have noticed variances between lots and a couple pressure spikes on hot days.

JD338

 

[Richracer1]

Thats great.I was interested in the RL-19 for my 338,& changed my mind because of the Temp difference.Maybe I should try some after all. :grin:

I currently use RL-19 in my 338WM to propel 225ABs. So far the temp and altitude differences between CA and ID didn't effect my harvesting a cow elk in Oct. My load is 72.5gn RL-19, GM215M primer, WW brass.

 

[7mmfan]

RL-19 works great and isn't temperature sensitive. My buddy uses it exclusively for his hunting and 1000 yard match loads.

 

[Desert Fox]

Reloader 19 has no temp sensitivity issue but Reloader 22 does; At least in my experienced. I still use Reloader 19 for my 243 which is an excellent powder for that caliber but gave up on the 22 long time ago. It was my powder of choice when I started developing load for my 300 Win mag until I encountered erratic performance. Velocity spread by the hundred , double digit SD and throw shotgun pattern. Now, I cannot fault my handloading. I'm very meticulous about it. I was using Federal Gold Medal Brass, Federal 215 Match primers. Brass are segregated, neck turned for uniformity and primer pocket uniformed. It wasn't the fault of the rifle either. It was a sub-minute performer with either H1000 or IMR 7828. So it all point to the powder. Maybe it was only on that particular lot but you all know in this business, bad news travel fast and spread like wild fires. :wink:

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

My only complaint with RL-22 is its lot to lot sensitivity. I guess you can get around that buy buying a 5 or 8lb jug, but I dont exactly have $150 to plunk down on powder. I'm always buying buy the 1lb so I need something a lot more consistent from lot to lot and Rl-22 is absolutely horrible at it. Great accuracy out of all rifles and bullets tried though.

 

[Bruce Mc]

I have found the big velocity variances to occur when a much higher temperature is involved. I've worked up numerous loads with Reloder 22 at 90+ degrees that lost over 100 fps when the temperature cooled down to 60. I think the big problem is the velocity changes from a very hot temperature to a moderate one. I guess if you worked up a smoking hot load at around 60 or 70 degrees you might have a significant problem if you shot them at 95 degrees.

 

[Bigwheels]

I was concerned about how RL-19 performed with a load made @ 70*,& fired after 6hrs in the weather @ -5*.I've had no problem useing H4350,but can't get the velosity I should be able to get with RL-19.

 

[Reloder28]

You are right Bruce. I experienced the same thing with RL22. But, not everybody lives in Texas.

I use RL22 exclusively and it is the finest for me in several cartridges. I'm gonna stick with it.

 

[Mighty Peace]

I think most peoples 300WM love RL22 powder. My Sako m75 300WM with a fluted barrel loves RL22 with 180gr Accubonds. Started out @ 72.5gr and had loads up to 76.0 grains. My 5 shot groups started out at about 1.5" and tightened right up to under 1/2" @ 74.0 then started to spread out again really bad @ 75.0 so I stopped there. So I loaded 74.0 for my hunting loads for the season. I dont have a chrony but I'm very happy with the groups. I have my rifle sighted in for 3.5" @ 100m and puts me zeroed @ just over 300m. As per temperature sensitivity, lets just say that November this year we had +5deg.C down to -38 deg.C with it as cold as -46 with the windchill factor, but I never got a shot at game that I wanted this year

My hunting buddy has the identical rifle which we will develop loads for him this winter.

I have seen a few people use RL22 in their 270WSM but my rifle in270WSM with 140gr Accubonds loves Retumbo. I was goingto try loads for the 300WM with Retumbo, but not now withthe results from RL22

 

[Bigwheels]

Mighty Peace.Go ahead,& try the Retumbo.I use it to push a 220gr.HPBTM with my 300WM.Groups @ 1-1/2" @ 500yds.Haven't tryed anything else.

 

[khh]

RL22 has always givin me top velocity and accuracy . I also have noticed lot to lot variance . I chrono'd RL22 in a 300 WM , 180 partion on a 90+ degree day I had a high of 3124 and a low of 3079 for 5 shots . On zero degree day with the same load and gun had a high of 3005 and a low of 2964 for 5 shots. This itself probably wouldn't bother me to much but it also showed some shift in zero and grouped slightly differnet. Because I hunt in Canada (18 - 24 below zero this year) I Use Hogdgon Extreme powders they show very uniform velocity and grouping no matter what the temp is. they are very consitant lot to lot. Not sure about altitude . Retumbo & H1000 give good velocity and accuracy in my RUM's. I'll still load and shoot RL25 & 22 to use here in Mich. Good hunting KH

 

[stalker07]

I often use Retumbo and RL-22 in loads for my 7mm Rem Mag. Retumbo produced sub-1" groups at 100 yds with the first load i tried with it. 73 grs of Retumbo behind a 160gr AccuBond gives sub 1" at 200 yds out of my T/C Encore Pro-Hunter. I didnt see a reason to develop any further. 67 Grs of the RL-22 will give the same result, albeit with the 150 gr Ballistic Tip. (that's my coyote load...$50 bounty for just the tail, which is usually about all thats left). I honestly don't believe the RL 22 is as sensitive as rumors would lead you to believe. I've used it in temps ranging from 90 F to -6 F...Minimal POI shift. I have noticed absolutely no point of impact shift with the Retumbo, however. Both are great powders...flip a coin...might help some.

 

[Jeff Olsen]

Thats great.I was interested in the RL-19 for my 338,& changed my mind because of the Temp difference.Maybe I should try some after all. :grin:

You should indeed! That stuff is magic in a .338 WM.

-jeff

 

[Jeff Olsen]

I have found the big velocity variances to occur when a much higher temperature is involved. I've worked up numerous loads with Reloder 22 at 90+ degrees that lost over 100 fps when the temperature cooled down to 60. I think the big problem is the velocity changes from a very hot temperature to a moderate one. I guess if you worked up a smoking hot load at around 60 or 70 degrees you might have a significant problem if you shot them at 95 degrees.

But that's true of just about any powder. I have loads using H4350 that I would not shoot on a 100 degree F day!

-jeff