WOW! Reloder 23 in 270 Win

N

NYDAN

Handloader
Sep 17, 2013
1,974
1,595
After what seems like two years I finally got my hands on some RL 23 and tried in out in 270 Win with some 150 gr. Nosler BT's. All I can say is WOW! Every seating depth I shot was good. New cases, once fired cases, three times fired cases - everything shot good. But, I am very thankful that I followed good protocol and started low and work up. The Alliant website was listing charges weights of 57.0 grains and up for 150 gr. bullets. I only needed 55.5 gr. of RL 23 to get nearly 2900 ft/sec. 56.0 gr. of RL 23 gave me 2956 fps - nearly max speed listed for heavier charge weights.

Here are my fouling shots. I just wanted to see how close the first shot would track to latter groups. It tracked very close.

Fouling Shots.jpg

This group is seated very deep with a base to ogive measurement of 2.615" - similar to the depth of Nosler factory 140 BT's that shot so well in my rifle. This corresponds to an OAL of about 3.23".

Ogive-2.615.jpg

This group is seated with a base to ogive measurement of 2.703" - a measurement that worked well with the IMR 7977 powder. This corresponds to an OAL of about 3.32"

Ogive-2.703.jpg

This group is seated long - about .020" off the lands (although it was difficult to get consistent measurements. There seemed to be bullet to bullet variation.) This corresponds to an OAL of about 3.37".

Ogive-2.750.jpg

It is obvious to me that my rifle likes RL 23 with the 150 gr. BT.

I think there are too few data points for any differences here to be statistically significant. However, I think I like the group with the base to ogive measurement of 2.703" best. It is not seated deep and it is not seated long. I would be interested in your opinions as to which seating depth to pursue.

I would be interested to know what the fill %'s are for these loads if anyone could check what Quickload predicts for fill %. If it is relevant, my overfill case capacity is 72.0 grains.

A very happy Dan
 
Some very encouraging results, Dan. If no one runs this by tomorrow morning, I'll address it.
 
I've got 8lbs of that stuff I haven't even tried yet. That looks danged good.
 
NYDAN":e2fxrm9r said:
But, I am very thankful that I followed good protocol and started low and work up. The Alliant website was listing charges weights of 57.0 grains and up for 150 gr. bullets. I only needed 55.5 gr. of RL 23 to get nearly 2900 ft/sec. 56.0 gr. of RL 23 gave me 2956 fps - nearly max speed listed for heavier charge weights.
Click to expand...

Dan I would note that the charge weights Alliant lists in their Reloader's Guide are their recommended MAXIMUM charges. That 57 grain charge for the 150's is their max, not their minimum load.

A quote:

"REDUCE RIFLE AND HANDGUN CHARGE WEIGHTS BY 10% TO ESTABLISH A STARTING LOAD.

DO NOT EXCEED THE LOADS DISPLAYED ON THE SITE OR ALLIANT'S RELOADERS GUIDE."

So... You did well, starting lower, and working up, exactly as Alliant recommends!

Good work. Loads look terrific.

Regards, Guy
 
Here's the last one first. I adjusted for the speed you saw in the burn rate. I also used your guess on COAL and a 24" barrel.

Code: 
Cartridge          : .270 Win. (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .277, 150, Nosler BalTip 27150
Useable Case Capaci: 64.241 grain H2O = 4.171 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.370 inch = 85.60 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-23 ?

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.902% 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

-09.0   87    50.49   2680    2393   44690  10083    100.0    1.373
-08.1   88    50.99   2703    2433   45976  10140    100.0    1.355
-07.2   89    51.50   2725    2474   47296  10196    100.0    1.338
-06.3   90    52.00   2747    2514   48650  10252    100.0    1.321
-05.4   91    52.50   2770    2555   50040  10307    100.0    1.304
-04.5   91    53.00   2792    2596   51467  10361    100.0    1.287
-03.6   92    53.50   2814    2637   52932  10416    100.0    1.271
-02.7   93    54.00   2835    2678   54436  10469    100.0    1.255
-01.8   94    54.50   2857    2719   55980  10522    100.0    1.240  ! Near Maximum !
-00.9   95    55.00   2879    2761   57565  10575    100.0    1.224  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   96    55.50   2901    2802   59192  10626    100.0    1.209  ! Near Maximum !
+00.9   97    56.00   2922    2844   60864  10678    100.0    1.194  ! Near Maximum !
+01.8   98    56.50   2944    2886   62580  10728    100.0    1.179  ! Near Maximum !
+02.7   98    57.00   2965    2928   64344  10779    100.0    1.165  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.6   99    57.50   2987    2971   66155  10828    100.0    1.151  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.5  100    58.00   3008    3013   68015  10877    100.0    1.137  !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     96    55.50   2946    2891   65143  10459    100.0    1.164  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     96    55.50   2845    2695   53224  10829    100.0    1.262

Here's the next one

Code: 
Cartridge          : .270 Win. (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .277, 150, Nosler BalTip 27150
Useable Case Capaci: 63.478 grain H2O = 4.122 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.320 inch = 84.33 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-23 ?

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.902% 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

-09.0   88    50.49   2645    2331   41897  10199    100.0    1.409
-08.1   89    50.99   2669    2372   43123  10254    100.0    1.390
-07.2   90    51.50   2692    2414   44382  10308    100.0    1.372
-06.3   91    52.00   2715    2455   45676  10362    100.0    1.354
-05.4   92    52.50   2738    2497   47005  10416    100.0    1.336
-04.5   93    53.00   2761    2539   48370  10468    100.0    1.319
-03.6   93    53.50   2784    2581   49773  10521    100.0    1.302
-02.7   94    54.00   2806    2623   51215  10572    100.0    1.285
-01.8   95    54.50   2829    2665   52696  10624    100.0    1.269
-00.9   96    55.00   2851    2708   54219  10674    100.0    1.253
+00.0   97    55.50   2874    2751   55784  10724    100.0    1.237  ! Near Maximum !
+00.9   98    56.00   2896    2794   57392  10774    100.0    1.221  ! Near Maximum !
+01.8   99    56.50   2918    2837   59045  10822    100.0    1.206  ! Near Maximum !
+02.7  100    57.00   2940    2880   60745  10871    100.0    1.191  ! Near Maximum !
+03.6  100    57.50   2963    2923   62493  10918    100.0    1.176  ! Near Maximum !
+04.5  101    58.00   2985    2967   64290  10965    100.0    1.161  !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     97    55.50   2925    2850   61672  10537    100.0    1.188  ! Near Maximum !
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     97    55.50   2810    2631   49919  10950    100.0    1.294

The first one(minus the foulers):


Code: 
Cartridge          : .270 Win. (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .277, 150, Nosler BalTip 27150
Useable Case Capaci: 62.105 grain H2O = 4.032 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.230 inch = 82.04 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-23 ?

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.902% 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

-09.0   90    50.49   2651    2341   41965  10181    100.0    1.404
-08.1   91    50.99   2675    2383   43231  10234    100.0    1.385
-07.2   92    51.50   2699    2426   44529  10286    100.0    1.366
-06.3   93    52.00   2722    2468   45859  10338    100.0    1.348
-05.4   94    52.50   2746    2511   47224  10389    100.0    1.330
-04.5   95    53.00   2769    2554   48628  10440    100.0    1.313
-03.6   96    53.50   2793    2598   50072  10490    100.0    1.295
-02.7   96    54.00   2816    2641   51558  10539    100.0    1.279
-01.8   97    54.50   2839    2684   53086  10588    100.0    1.262
-00.9   98    55.00   2862    2728   54658  10637    100.0    1.245
+00.0   99    55.50   2885    2772   56275  10684    100.0    1.229  ! Near Maximum !
+00.9  100    56.00   2908    2816   57940  10731    100.0    1.214  ! Near Maximum !
+01.8  101    56.50   2931    2860   59653  10778    100.0    1.198  ! Near Maximum !
+02.7  102    57.00   2953    2905   61417  10824    100.0    1.183  ! Near Maximum !
+03.6  103    57.50   2976    2950   63232  10869    100.0    1.168  ! Near Maximum !
+04.5  104    58.00   2998    2995   65101  10913    100.0    1.153  !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     99    55.50   2938    2875   62360  10490    100.0    1.180  ! Near Maximum !
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     99    55.50   2819    2647   50218  10920    100.0    1.287
 
Dwh, thank you for the Quick Load projections. I appreciate it.

Dan
 
This combination of components is still working very well for me. I loaded up 20 cartridges with a Base to Ogive measurement of 2.703" and shot groups at 200 yards to sight in the rifle. All of the groups were sub MOA. My last three shots had all three shots within a 2" diameter bulls-eye.

So far I have not had a group larger than MOA.

Also, this powder is a lot cleaner than IMR 4451 or IMR 7977. There is less black powder residue and practically no copper residue. Both times I cleaned the rifle after using the RL-23 I was surprised at how easy it was to clean the bore.

Hoping to get more powder of the same lot, I went back to the store in PA where I purchased this but they had completely sold out.

I plan to stay with RL-23 with the 150 grain bullets. Next year I will try to tweak it just a bit for the BT's and then try it with the 150 ABLR and the 150 Partition.

Best wishes to everyone for a great hunting season.

Dan
 
Good information! I've had a pound of 23 for a while now, I'm hoping to try it in my 280 with 160 grain Nosler AB and a YTBD 150 grain bullet
 
Dan,

Looks like you are on to something good. Way to hang in there and find the sweet spot.
Nice shooting!

JD338
 
Any updates on this load?

I'm going to try it out in my 25" rebarreled Ruger M_77 but am going to run the Nosler 160 grain Partition. Planning on working up a parallel loading using IMR 4831 as I had a trusted elk load years ago using the latter combination @ 52.0 grains with the CCI 250 primer in Remington brass.

Where I've used Reloder 23 in the past it's an "accuracy powder" with decent velocities & is temperature stable. Want to see if it can out shoot my old friend IMR 4831 in my rifle.

41
 
41rem, There really isn't anything new to report. I continue to use that load in my 270 Win. It has been very accurate for me and easy to get 2900 fps with it. I couldn't get the speed with H-4831SC without going way over book values. It has been a consistent performer for me. I really like the powder. I also really like the 150 BT bullet for whitetail deer.

Dan
 
I take it that RL 23 is meant for the 150 gr projectiles in .270?
Can it also be used with the 140 & 130 pills as well?

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk
 
HAWKEYESATX":3rezfpzc said:
I take it that RL 23 is meant for the 150 gr projectiles in .270?
Can it also be used with the 140 & 130 pills as well?

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I think Alliant shows data for all three of them (130-140 and 150)..

The gamechanger to me is RL26 in a 270 with a good 150 grain bullet. It should net you over 3000 FPS and accuracy has been pretty easy to come by. I have had 8lbs of 23 for a couple years and keep passing it up for 26...
 
SJB358":6vdvcjip said:
HAWKEYESATX":6vdvcjip said:
I take it that RL 23 is meant for the 150 gr projectiles in .270?
Can it also be used with the 140 & 130 pills as well?

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I think Alliant shows data for all three of them (130-140 and 150)..

The gamechanger to me is RL26 in a 270 with a good 150 grain bullet. It should net you over 3000 FPS and accuracy has been pretty easy to come by. I have had 8lbs of 23 for a couple years and keep passing it up for 26...
Click to expand...
Good stuff to know! Thank you!

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk
 
I would think that there isn't a lot out there that wouldn't succumb quickly to a 150 gr BT, or a 150 gr NP, or 150 gr AB going 2900-3000 fps or a little over.

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk
 
HAWKEYESATX":2nhgbbds said:
I would think that there isn't a lot out there that wouldn't succumb quickly to a 150 gr BT, or a 150 gr NP, or 150 gr AB going 2900-3000 fps or a little over.

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Same can be said of a 7mm 160 (280 Rem) at the same speed or a 140 out of a 6.5 (6.5x55/6.5-06/6.5x284)..... In my opinion they are all about the same thing, just a couple different headstamps..


Anything in that arena is a good cartridge in my opinion and you have to jump up a bit in bullet diameter to really best any of them.
 
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