RL33 any good??

[remingtonman_25_06]

Anybody using this stuff with good results?

Am thinking about trying it out in my 7-300 but would like to hear if its lived up to the velocity claims and accuracy/consistency?

If I can gain an extra 100fps with same accuracy and consistency of H1000 why not?

 

[tddeangelo]

I use it in my 264wm. Good speed, good accuracy. I get around 2" at 300 with the rifle, and that's with a 140AB doing right around 3200. If you use it, it is a coarse, bulky powder. It doesn't meter that well, and it will fill cases up quick. My 264 loads have a fair bit of compression.

 

[DrMike]

Should I ever lay hands on any, I will definitely wring it out. I believe there are more than a few cartridges that the burn rate would complement.

 

[tddeangelo]

DrMike, I only got it when I lucked into an 8lber at Powder Valley, and I gritted my teeth and bought it. Turned out to be a good move. The 264 eats it up pretty fast, as do many mags.

It is unbelievable coarse powder, though. I dump from the large jug into a small bowl to then in turn pour into my ChargeMaster, as it's easier not to make a mess/waste powder that way. It sounds like I'm pouring #8 birdshot out! The ChargeMaster does ok with it, but I have to watch...it'll throw overcharges periodically, as it's easy for it to send just a few too many granules out the discharge, and those granules are pretty beefy.

I'd say maybe every 3rd charge or so is overcharged and I dump it and rethrow it. Sort of annoying, but honestly, the ChargeMaster does so well even in this instance that it's faster than throwing from a powder dump and weighing it out on the balance scale.

It is pretty unsettling at first to feel/hear the "cruuuuuuuuuuuuunch" when seating bullets on that much powder, but I checked and rechecked the QL data and my rifle shows where the line is, and I'm still below it (not by much).

 

[DrMike]

That sounds a lot like N570, of which I use a fair amount in large capacity cartridges.

 

[SJB358]

That sounds a lot like N570, of which I use a fair amount in large capacity cartridges.

Seems like N570 and RL33 are always near the top when ran for cartridges where they fit. I don't see much N570 around either though!

 

[DrMike]

I use a fair amount of N570, a little less of N170. However, they work well in the big RUMs and in the 338 Lapua, for instance. I've used N570 in other cartridges that are seriously overbored, and it gives me good performance.

 

[tddeangelo]

DrMike, your apprentice here was the one who suggested RL33 to me, actually. Interesting how he appears as soon as I mention use of it in the 264.....

Hmmm......very interesting indeed. That spider monkey sense must be pretty keen.

 

[DrMike]

Hmmm......very interesting indeed. That spider monkey sense must be pretty keen.

Once you've got it, you never lost it, apparently. :grin: I suspect RL33 will provide a raft of new applications in a variety of cartridges. As I say, I definitely want to get my hands on some.

 

[JD338]

I used it in the 338 RUM with the 300 gr AB. The velocity was slightly better than Retumbo but accuracy was a little less. I need to give it a try with the 250 gr AB's but the 338 RUM shoots pretty good with Retumbo.

JD338

 

[Too Tall]

You men using a RCBS Chargemaster ever try putting a straw in the discharge tube? Makes a way more consistance throw. No big piles on bump.

 

[lanman]

I bought an 8#er back when I could get nothing else. My experience is that it works pretty well with heavier bullets or with a very mild load. I'm using it in a 270WM (mild load), 7Mag with 168's and a 2506AI running 110's. Due to the slow burn rate and the bulkiness of the powder it fills a case quick. I tend to 'normally' run 140's in my 7 mags and I can't fit enough of it in a case to get any real velocity. The 2506 load is fairly mild as well, only because I can't fit any more powder in the case. I really would have liked to get some RL-25 instead. I know a lot of you that hunt larger game than I, and run heavy for caliber bullets, may find it very useful.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Thanks guys. If I can find it ill give it a try. Its at the top as far as velocity goes.

For some reason I dont think you can get enough Retumbo in the case to get it going how I want according to QL its way down on the list far as pressure and velocity.

7828 and ramshots magnum are only 25-50fps slower then RL33 according to QL as well.

 

[tddeangelo]

7828 and/or RL22 are often powders you see rise near the top in QL. They just seem to offer a lot to a reloader. Of course, RL22 is tough at times to find. 7828 is often easier, and if you run QL data on the two for otherwise identical parameters, you'll find they are VERY close in load data/velocity.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Actually the magpro was what I meant to say instead of the ramshot magnum.

I have a bit of rl22 and 7828, as well as few pounds of h1000 and retumbo.

I have always had better luck with rl22 in both speed and accuracy over 7828 in many different loads and rifles.

 

[IdahoCTD]

In my 6.5-300wm I picked up 80fps with R-33. I only shot it a bit and accuracy wasn't quite as good as Retumbo so I stuck with Retumbo. I should probably revisit it along with a switch to WW brass. In my Edge it is right at 3000fps with 100grs and one hole accuracy where H-1000 is 2830fps with 89grs and the same accuracy. It definitely kicks harder.

Kirby Allen did a test and it seems it likes to be within .010" of the lands with the heaviest bullets to perform the best. Seated deeper the accuracy and ES went to hell.

N-570 is really good too but I haven't seen it for sale in over 2 years. It's also about 10-15.00/lb more expensive. The last time I found it for sale I paid 34.00/lb. My .30-338 Norma Imp likes it but I only have 1 1/2lbs.

 

[DrMike]

N-570 is really good too but I haven't seen it for sale in over 2 years. It's also about 10-15.00/lb more expensive. The last time I found it for sale I paid 34.00/lb.

I'd love to see it at that price. I paid $119.95 for two kg on my last purchase. I see the price has dropped to about $96/2 Kg plus shipping and hazmat fees.

 

[jimbires]

I'm using it in my 338 lapua with 300 grain bullets . I just haven't had the time to do much playing .

 

[IdahoCTD]

N-570 is really good too but I haven't seen it for sale in over 2 years. It's also about 10-15.00/lb more expensive. The last time I found it for sale I paid 34.00/lb.

I'd love to see it at that price. I paid $119.95 for two kg on my last purchase. I see the price has dropped to about $96/2 Kg plus shipping and hazmat fees.

96/Kg is only about 40 US/LB. That's not bad for Canada. I bet when we see it again everyone but Powder Valley and maybe Natchez will be right up there at 40/lb. Like I said it was 34/lb 2-3 years ago. Everything has gone up at least 10% since then and 20+% isn't out of the norm at many places.