Saw my LGS had 5lbs of reloader 15 today. 52$/1 pound though. Good to see Alliant powders coming in again but unfortunately I have purged all Alliant and replaced, not planning to go back. Don't like worrying about availability. wonder how many customers they lost like me?
reloader 15
- Thread starter shorttrac
- Start date
- Location
- Regina, SK
Picked myself up some Reloader 19 the other day. Threw in a 30-06 case and put a 165gr on top, was shooting some tight groups at 200yard.
CreamySmooth
CGN frequent flyer
Sorry, but not legal in Toronto anymore.
I just developed a load using it for shooting hunting practice shots just last week. It seemed to shoot MOA for a few of the different weight charges but this one worked the best. It appears that my newly aquired 7-08 is a real shooter because i'm no marksman. I've only got one bottle left so hopefully it's readily available in the future.
I just developed a load using it for shooting hunting practice shots just last week. It seemed to shoot MOA for a few of the different weight charges but this one worked the best. It appears that my newly aquired 7-08 is a real shooter because i'm no marksman. I've only got one bottle left so hopefully it's readily available in the future.
Don't you hate it when you can't tell which hole belongs to which shot!
Looks like you have a keeper.
I have a very accurate factory M700 Classic in 300 Savage.
While it performs admirably with several powders and bullets,
the real winner is the 150 Partition, chased by a stiff load of RL15.
It shoots one hole - 3 or 5 shot groups at 100M, and less than
1.5" groups at 300M. Best 3-shot groups to date - .040" C to C.
Dave.
While it performs admirably with several powders and bullets,
the real winner is the 150 Partition, chased by a stiff load of RL15.
It shoots one hole - 3 or 5 shot groups at 100M, and less than
1.5" groups at 300M. Best 3-shot groups to date - .040" C to C.
Dave.
Bruce it was confirmed by Hercules that both are made by Bofors. but with rl15 there is some good or bad changes between lot not as the 203b.
so maybe the swedes were giving in rl15 the bad part of their lot, i prefer now the aussie varget.
so maybe the swedes were giving in rl15 the bad part of their lot, i prefer now the aussie varget.
Bofors powders are made with names like RP5, RP 28, etc. various manufactures sell some of them as branded powders, like RL15.
I used to buy drums of the Bofors powder that was also sold as RL15. But I don't recall the name of it. I think I have a picture of it somewhere. maybe I can find it.
I do recall that at least some of the Norma powders were Bofors. I know longer recall which were which.
Bruce. The original Norma 203 [Now obsolete] was marketed by Bofors as RP-3. I bought a bunch from Thomas Higginson decades ago.
For some time after Norma 203 went obsolete, Norma marketed a slightly faster powder designated Norma 202. [I have several pounds of this]
If Bofors marketed a powder similar to N202 under their system, I am unaware of it, but it is likely.
Today we have a newer Number from Norma - 203b. This is not the same powder as the old N203, but is a stand alone powder.
Which of these is the closest to Reloder 15 is anyone's guess, but I would say it's burning rate is very close to the older N203.
Regards, Dave.
Edit: By figures that are available, it appears that RL 15 and Norma 203B may be virtually identical.
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BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Et voila.
Dave, you can't really compare loading data from Norma charts, with loadings from any US manual, or loading guide, in that the old Norma charts were as dead on as could be, while all others are usually exaggerated. So I did some digging and found some interesting figures from early Norma guides and charts.
Norma 203 is by far their most common powder, used in the greatest number of calibres. I used it in the 30-06, 55 grains for 150 grain bullet and 50 grains for 180, with a shown 2700 fps. We had no means of actually testing velocity, but years later when I had access to an Oehler, I still had some of the old original 203 I had once used, so I loaded 50 grains with a 180 Norma bullet and the Oehler read 2690! And this was with a 30-06 of mine that turned out to always read low, as compared to my 30-06 rifles.
Now it gets interesting. An old Norma guide I have gives loadings and velocities for Norma powders, as well as US powders. Here is what I found with the 243.
A 75 grain bullet and 42.1 of N203 (old) gave 3,500 fps. for the 243.
Looking in the section on US powders, they show 42.3 of 4064, for 3,500 fps.
In the old Norma guide, 7x57 and 150 grain bullet, N203 powder, 42.1grain for 2756 fps.
" " " " " " " 4064 powder, 42.3 grains for 2756 fps!
In other words, the old N203 and 4064 can be deemed to be equal.
A couple of years ago I did considerable load checking for two family member rifles in 7-08, hence to my notes.
Using a Savage and a Tikka rifle, 7-08 and 139 grain bullet, 42 grains of 4064 and 42 grains of Re15, got identical results, considering the variances of two rifles and normal chronograph variances.
Short answer, The old Norma 203 seems to be the same powder as Re15 and 4064.
Bruce
Norma 203 is by far their most common powder, used in the greatest number of calibres. I used it in the 30-06, 55 grains for 150 grain bullet and 50 grains for 180, with a shown 2700 fps. We had no means of actually testing velocity, but years later when I had access to an Oehler, I still had some of the old original 203 I had once used, so I loaded 50 grains with a 180 Norma bullet and the Oehler read 2690! And this was with a 30-06 of mine that turned out to always read low, as compared to my 30-06 rifles.
Now it gets interesting. An old Norma guide I have gives loadings and velocities for Norma powders, as well as US powders. Here is what I found with the 243.
A 75 grain bullet and 42.1 of N203 (old) gave 3,500 fps. for the 243.
Looking in the section on US powders, they show 42.3 of 4064, for 3,500 fps.
In the old Norma guide, 7x57 and 150 grain bullet, N203 powder, 42.1grain for 2756 fps.
" " " " " " " 4064 powder, 42.3 grains for 2756 fps!
In other words, the old N203 and 4064 can be deemed to be equal.
A couple of years ago I did considerable load checking for two family member rifles in 7-08, hence to my notes.
Using a Savage and a Tikka rifle, 7-08 and 139 grain bullet, 42 grains of 4064 and 42 grains of Re15, got identical results, considering the variances of two rifles and normal chronograph variances.
Short answer, The old Norma 203 seems to be the same powder as Re15 and 4064.
Bruce
