Reloder 26 and the 8mm Remington Magnum.

[Eagleye]

So, now that I have enough RL 26 to actually embark on some testing, I am
going to see how it works in my 8mm Rem Mag.

I will begin with starting loads for RL 25 and work up carefully, watching for
excess pressure signs and chronographing the loads as I move up the scale.

Bullets will be the 200 Accubond & Partition, and the Hornady 220 Interlock.
The latter bullet is out of production, but I have about 400 of them.

I may also see what the 220 Sierra Game King works like, but I am not keen
on a non-bonded boattail bullet at this velocity potential.

I will update as progress is made. Any input is welcome. Cheers, Dave.

 

[Andy]

It would be interesting to compare the MV's achieved with RL25 and RL26. Some people report RL26 as being slightly slower than RL25, and others find it the same or even slightly faster. If slightly slower than RL25, it could be useful in applications where full cases of RL25 do not produce top MV's, given that RL26 is much more dense than RL25. I imagine you top out at about 86.0 grs of RL25 with the 220's and possibly use a full case with the 200's?

I intend to try RL26 in my 6.5X55 with 140's - a full case of RL25 gives top velocities.

 

[Eagleye]

OK, so I have had a chance to shoot a few loads using RL 26. Initial testing indicate [this lot at least] is slightly faster than RL 25 in my big 8mm.

With the 220, I had to stop at 83 grains, since 84 showed measurable case head expansion. [small, but there, on the order of .0006"]
However velocities are decent, at 3045 average for 5 shots. Accuracy is right at moa, so a good, potent hunting load right there.

I have not tried the 200's yet. Will load the Accubonds and the Partitions to see how they work out. Already have a good load with H1000, so not
concerned if they work with RL 26 or not.

More info as I do more testing. Dave.

 

[Andy]

OK, so I have had a chance to shoot a few loads using RL 26. Initial testing indicate [this lot at least] is slightly faster than RL 25 in my big 8mm.

With the 220, I had to stop at 83 grains, since 84 showed measurable case head expansion. [small, but there, on the order of .0006"]
However velocities are decent, at 3045 average for 5 shots. Accuracy is right at moa, so a good, potent hunting load right there.

I have not tried the 200's yet. Will load the Accubonds and the Partitions to see how they work out. Already have a good load with H1000, so not
concerned if they work with RL 26 or not.

More info as I do more testing. Dave.

Another person finding it slightly faster. Alliant states: "The propellant's burn speed falls between that of Reloder® 22 and Reloder® 33", but it still makes you wonder why it's not called Reloder 24.

When I finally get around to it, I'll treat is as falling between RL22 and RL25.

 

[bigbull]

Good to see the big 8 is still used by some, I shot my first one on Oct.15, 1984 and shot my first moose with one that year.
It is the gun I made my longest shot with and it was with the Sierra 220 SBT, one shot through the lungs at close to 500 yards from a treestand.
No Accubonds or Bergers in those days, If you wanted long range performance it was probably a Sierra, jackets and cores going everywhere
but nothing walked away from the shot, life was simpler then!
The 220 Hornady shot well out of my 700 but not as good as the Sierra or the 200 Speer, H4831 or IMR4831 was what worked in my gun(s) I had 2 at one point.
I never chronographed my load but it was pushing 80 grains as per my notes with the 220. The Sierra will work well at long range but up close I would only take lung shots.
Cheers
bb

 

[todbartell]

I, or friends, have used RL26 in 260 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55, 264wm, 280 Rem, 280 Ackley, 7mm SAUM, 300WSM, 300wm...I have found that the burn rate on the stuff we have is slightly hotter than Alliant suggests. It does provide amazing velocity and so far the accuracy is great. Just tonight I was pushing 150gr @ 3100 fps from a 22.5" 280 Rem with no excessive pressure signs